FAQ regarding how to update files already on the site.

Thanks for the note (I was not aware of this)

It would suggest that it may be a good idea for a contributors to download the file as soon as they see that you have posted it.

This would ensure the above never happens PLUS it would ensure they had a "Clean" copy.

I will download all of mine... just to be sure.

Thanks for all your hard work

Thank you, I will be updating a file I just uploaded, I have created favorite places to eat PoI and will have to keep it updated so this is important.

What about a POI that may no longer be updated by the original poster? Do you have a procedure in place to take care of that?

I downloaded a POI found and noticed an entry missing from the list. I updated my own version plus added a few additional one (expanding the scope of the POI a bit). I then emailed the submitter letting them know of the one missing entry that I thought should be in there. I haven't heard back yet but to be fair it has only been a couple weeks ago.

But it got me thinking, what if someone goes away and has POIs in place here. If someone was willing to take over the maintenance of that POI, how would we go about doing so?

Not really anything you need to answer right here and now, but if you hadn't thought about it yet, something to keep in mind.

Thanks,
PT

Another thing that I have noticed about some of the POI's is I know where the location of the particular POI and I put in the GPS coordinates from the file to check it to make sure that it is right and it takes me to a different place in another state. So updating and actually searching the coordinates on google map would really help elimate taking someone to the wrong place.

PS those particular files I have already updated for my use and I would be willing to share that information to the original creator of the files.

I didn't know this. I'll download the POI files I've contributed to make sure I have a clean copy.

A good thing, too, as I've tweaked a few coordinates for the Choice Hotels file, but the changes haven't been significant enough to update it.

Again, thank you for all your hard work.

I would like everyone to take a moment and hop over to this page: http://www.poi-factory.com/node/452

This is a sample of what the new database will look like once we get some more inputting tools built to make it happen.

If you look at the Actions are you will see that you will now have the opportunity to submit a new location on your own without contacting the author of the file first. The maintainer of the file and Miss POI will see that there is a POI waiting for approval and we can add it to the file.

If you also look at the way that the Top Contributors: area is put together it lists who has made a contribution and how many locations they have added.

This will cut out some of the updating issues that we have had in the past.

For more info on the new system read this http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6903

Miss POI

that is great. good idea.

Good idea. It keeps everything in sync.

Thank you for your contribution of the Choice Hotels file. It was the second thing I added......right after WalMart !!

I'd like to take this opportunity to gripe about my Magellan Maestro and the way it handles POI files. It will NOT take duplicate names AND it does not tell you about it. It just happily and silently throws out duplicate entries. Unless you are aware of this quirk, a MM user can end up with a LOT of missing entries.

Why mention this here? I don't know how individual files are created but it would be nice if the NAME field didn't have duplicates (Comfort Inn Portland, Comfort Inn Seattle, etc.) I DO NOT, of course, expect the original authors to take extra time just for the benefit of Magellan users because they have done enough already........but if it could be done quickly and easily..........????

I fixed mine when I loaded it but the fix was a kludge (not pretty but it worked). If it wasn't so ugly, I'd offer it as an "update".

I really like this option. I have been really busy over the last few months but will be adding to my file soon. Thanks for having this site.

In the FAQ I have found, you mention 4 columns CSV with LineFeed/Carriage Returns. But I am not sure if this is in info FAQ for csv in general or the faq on acceptable csv files. I am asking because I have noticed that POIEdit seems to drop this part out of the CSV.

In short, can you point me to the FAQ for acceptable csv please?

It's really tough just keeping up with the 100's of new posts each day.

I'll be updating my POIs soon.

dd

It would be nice in looking up points. For example, I've looked up a cemetery name and come up with the exact name in two different locations about the same distance from my location so you have to do some other things to determine the correct one whereas if something else was put in the POI name to identify where it is it would be a lot easier.

Definitely glad to know you do this. I suppose that would be really messy to have to clean up the same errors over and over....

Hello:

Since I really don't know how to create a POI file and I don't want to mess-up the existing on this site, I would like to announce a couple of locations that I know exist (Houston, TX) but they are not registered yet in the POI files so the person that created the original files can update the list and they are as follows:

1.-Starbucks:

FM 1960 & Hwy 59
19763 Hwy 59
Ste K04
Humble, TX 77338
(281) 548-1511
30D 00'14.75"N---95D 16'14.84"W (google earth)

2.-Starbucks:

FM 1960 & Aldine Westfield
3031 FM 1960
Humble, TX 77338
281-821-3868
30D 01'15.24"N---95D 22'51.85"W (google earth)

3.-Starbucks:

Hwy 59 & Cummins
3800 SW Freeway
Bld A
Houston, TX 77027
713-623-6570
29D 43'46.59"N---95D 26'16.15"W (google earth)

4.-Costco Wholesale (Galleria)

3836 Richmond Ave
Houston, Texas
77027
(832) 325-5850
29D 43'59.46"N---95D 26'27.06"W

Thanks a lot: FRGG

Frgg,

You can send a note to the maintainer of the file and advise them of the update.

I manually put my local costco into my garmin 205W since it doesn't appear in the poi file I downloaded here. When it opened, they called it Culver City but now I think the same Costco is called Marina Del Rey.
I also didn't see the Hawthorne(CA)Costco.

Sorry: I downloaded the latest Costco Poi and these stores do appear in the data base but not when I search for one in my 205W.

Thank You guys:

I know that manually I can put my new POI'S but I wanted to share the new places with everybody and keep the orginal file updated

Yes, but what mariner was indicating is that the best way to do that is to contact the file maintainer for that file directly so that they can update the file.

Also, it's very helpful to have the coordinates in the decimal degree format so that the file author doesn't have to convert them.

I know it is a poi for Florida but if it's an outline to be used as an example, I think it should include the state, zip and phone number if available in the address column...

Edit: I downloaded it with Garmin CSV - regular line breaks and there were not state or phone number included, when I tried Garmin CSV - no line breaks (easier to import) they were....????

2nd edit Is this a bug or me?

Gary, that is a system the never took off so we are rarely using it. We are still working on a design that will accomplish what we are trying to achieve. It would be nice to have a system that would allow you to dump the entire data set into it instead of needing to data entry each location one at a time.
So we are back to just making POI Files the original way until we come up with a better idea.

Miss POI

Thanks for the Costco update. As I mentioned in the response to your email, I have applied it to the Costco-USA files (CSV and GPX) and sent updates for the Costco-CAN_USA files (CSV and GPX) to Miss POI.

Dom

Yes I have seen this happening and creating out of date poi files and different versions of the same thing. Thank you for bringing this up.

I wanted to add a ghost town to that poi. I know of a ghost town not in the poi and would like to add it to the poi.

How do I get this change made?

thanks,

noahjokc

Send it to Miss Poi and she will forward it to them. (It will lessen her work load if you take the time and send it directly to the maintainer though)

And for practice you can open the poi with excel if you have it, using the format you see, add the location and then load it to your gps and see how you did... That's how I started...

Edit: Another solution: start a new thread if there isn't an existing one for the poi in question and submit the location there. (Usually if there is a thread about the poi file it will be included on the download page for the poi file)

Edit edit: I looked at the Ghost Town USA file and it appears that you will have to send the update info to Miss POI...

Appreciate the quick response.

here is the entry I wanted.

-107.361667,37.871667, Carson Ghost Town Colorado

noahjokc

I updated the file and will submit it to Miss Poi...

I'm adding a location to one of my files, but not sure how to do a line break in the comment column. Can I type backslash n to do it?

In Excel, use ALT Enter.

Sorry, I forgot to explain I was using the online form to add an entry, and if there's a way to do it there.

After downloading some POI files to my garmin and driving around today I was surprised to not see any Tim Horton's and a London Drugs on the wrong road. I went home, downloaded POI Organizer onto my Mac, added some Tim's locations and revised the location of the London Drug store.

After reading this thread, I'm still unsure how I should go about sharing these updates. I don't really need them since I know where all the locations are, but they would be useful for visitors. And I'm hoping people would do the same updating for their locations.

Also, the node/452 post comes up as a forbidden area!

Some stores, like walmart or lowe's have their own thread. You can post updates there. Otherwise you can just email the maintainer with the updates.

The maintainer is listed on the main poi download page.

Daniel

How do I update the loaded POI file in my GPS without duplicating the already downloaded file?

I did a few searches and checked the FAQ's, and may have missed the answer, but I'll ask it here.

I installed the Red Light camera POI file last year. I'd like to update it.

Do I have to uninstall what is in my GPS and reinstall the POI file with all the updates?

I'm sure if there is a link to this answer one of you guys will post it for me. Thanks in advance! Cheryl

If you are using POIloader to load the file to your Garmin GPS then every time you run the POIloader software it will create a file called poi.gpi. This file is then transferred to the POI folder on your GPS and overwrites the one that is already there.

Hi Cheryl,

There is more than one way to add POIs to what is already in the GPS, but this is the simplest way.

Every time POI Loader runs, it overwrites all POIs that were loaded in the past. That is why all POIs should be kept in the same folder on the PC. That way, older POIs you want to keep are overwritten in the GPS and reinstalled into the GPS.

I keep all my POI files on the PC in a folder I have created:
My Documents/Garmin/Custom POIs. Inside the Custom POIs folder, I made a number of subfolders such as Red Light Cameras, Rest Areas, Walmarts, Etc. The names of these subfolders become categories in the GPS menu WhereTo?/Extras/Custom POIs.

Every time I update Red Light Cameras, I download the new file from POI-Factory right into its subfolder so it overwrites the old file kept on the PC.

The Rest Areas and Walmarts haven't changed, and their old files are still in their subfolders. When I run POI Loader, I browse to the Custom POIs folder. POI Loader then loads all POI files inside including all subfolders. The new Red Light Camera file, the old Rest Areas, and Walmarts are all included.

See my FAQ -

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/30728

dobs108 Syosset NY - nuvi 760

I knew you guys would come through for me! Thanks so much.

How to install large # of files Garmin 765T dose not let me load more than 20 files

Thanks

I tried to go to the pages...node/452 and 6903, I am not authorized to see this page?

I always run my POI's through the EPE editor to check for exactly what you have found, POI's showing up in a different state. With the editor, it makes it very easy to review the locations.

See this link for the editor:
http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/Extra_POI_Editor

Might be like around Christmas, being naughty or nice but lately I've been pretty nice so that's not it...

Then I thought it might be because I'm new and haven't been promoted with my active user windmill yet, but the I see you so that can't be it either. So maybe I was a tad naughty, or The links are so old they are obsolete.

I came here to ask how long the POIs take to be posted, I have uploaded 3 so far, haven't heard or seen a thing yet. Will they email me or notify me when I log on?

You may want to look at the post by Miss Poi http://www.poi-factory.com/node/31712?page=2 she has been sick.

I would like to make additions to this file, stores in the state of PA. I'd gladly do the edit but I don't see a contact form for the original author Brian May. What would I need to do to get the new file published? Thanks.

Thanks for sharing the additions.

Clicking on the file maintainer's user name (when you're logged in) will take you to their profile page. Look for a tab near the top that says "contact".

If the tab is missing or the user doesn't respond, then let me know (via my contact tab) and I'll figure out another way to get the file updated.

Thanks,

Jonathan (aka JM)

Brian May has a contact tab here http://www.poi-factory.com/user/100583

It shows he last updated the file jan 10 2010 so thats not to bad.

Ok, that Contact tab wasn't visible to me before. Maybe I had to make a post before the system allowed me to see that. I don't know but it comes up now and I will contact him (and then JM if I don't hear back). Thanks!

Has Google Documents ever been considered as an online "database" for the group's files? Input Forms can be created that allow additions or Edits to be submitted and collected right there with the spreadsheet document (the Form submission data automatically goes on a second sheet). I think this would make it very easy for authors, as opposed to them trying to keep various emails & copies of files organized. Google has a spreadsheet file type that can be edited online and downloaded as either a .CSV, Excel, or delimited .txt file format.

Read and Read/Write access can be assigned to each Google document, and a link to the file could be displayed on this site. The downside is, members would also need a Google account. Just food for thought. I can set up an example if anyone is interested in experimenting with the idea.

While it sounds good, I for one probably wouldn't put my files for POI online. Once the file is online, all control is lost to whomever has access. While having many have the ability to update, which relieves some burden, control over how the data is presented, strict formatting requirements and the quality of the data is lost.

if you read the terms of service, you lose the rights to most of the stuff you store or post there. The main reason I don't have a Facebook account.

With google docs Editing access is still limited to named individual(s), but it can be several and its real-time to avoid multiple copies.