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zulu431

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Post Garmin POI's for Newbies - POI Installation Instruction     
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Please can anyone help me, I have Garmin and am new to Garmin. I'm trying to find out how to download POI's to the device?

Thank You





Paradox187x

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 255W







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I've got a Garmin Nuvi 255W, but I shouldn't think the procedure would be very different on any Garmin model.

First you'll need to download POILoader. It's a free download.

Next create a folder on your computer, I label mine "Custom POIs" just where you keep your other GPS files, manuals, etc will be fine.

I find it's then best to create subfolders for the POI sections on this site (only those you know you'll download are fine), eg "Road Safety", "Tourist locations", etc. See here:
johmazz2006 wrote:
All your downloaded files MUST be in the same directory,
i.e. C:\Garmin\POI or in sub directories under POI.
C:\Garmin\POI\Safety
C:\Garmin\POI\Tourist_Locations
C:\Garmin\POI\Shopping
C:\Garmin\POI\Restaurants
..................etc etc
When you use the POI Loader, it loads everything into a single file called POI.GPI


Then download the POI's you want to use into the relevant folds we just created. I know there are various types. I try where possible (but be aware these may be different for you) to download the
-"Garmin POI BMP"
-"Garmin WAV (Audio alert for Nuvi 2xx models)" (you might have to use the MP3 file instead of the WAV)
-"Garmin GPX (proximity alert, phone dial, etc." setting the proximity distance to whatever you want).

Now that you've got those files in the subfolders, run POILoader & select the main "Custom POIs" folder we made. The program will combine all the POIs into one file & if you have your GPS connected & you tell it to, it will upload that file.

I create that folder structure so that it can be easily navigated on the GPS unit via the POIs section & also so when you want to update any particular POI you know which section it exists in within this website & simply overwrite the POI files you already have & run POILoader again.

Simple as pie.

")
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chris333333333

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 200







Post Loading Custom POIs     
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I am a complete newbie to this, but one thing I have realised is that you don't use need both the .csv and the .gpx files at the same time; it's one or the other.

So as stated by Paradox187x: for my nuvi 200 I download the .bmp, .wav and .gpx files into the appropriate folder structure on my PC then use POI loader which turns them into one poi.gpi file on the device.

First time I tried to load I got an error about missing sox.exe, but I downloaded it and copied into the same folder as my POILoader.exe, deleted my custom POIs and reloaded - worked fine the second time.

Cheers,
Chris

(who was wondering for a while why there were two of each of his custom POIs loaded)
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coleman

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 760







Post Loading Custom POIs     
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Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. I am going to try the 3 folder system and see how it goes.
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Paradox187x wrote:

I create that folder structure so that it can be easily navigated on the GPS unit via the POIs section & also so when you want to update any particular POI you know which section it exists in within this website & simply overwrite the POI files you already have & run POILoader again.


Hmm. On my 1490T I can't see the folder structure on the device. On the Change POI page I have "Garmin Safety Gamera." and my own "Custom POIs". If I tap on these then it just toggles the selection box, - doesn't show any sub-folders.





r.dolan

GPS: Garmin street pilot 2720







Post Re: Garmin POI's for Newbies     
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When you go to the site and find the POIs you want. State Parks, for example, you follow the prompts to doown load them. On my computer they go to the Documents/Downloads file.
As you download different POIs they will go to the downloads file. Now say you have four different groups.
copy and past them or move them to a file Garmin POIs, for example.
Then Open the POI Loader and it will prompt you to send them to your unit. Be sure your path and the path that appears are exactly the same.
Also, if you want to add just one more POI. You have to load all your POIs at once. If you add just one, it deletes the old oned.
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gdarby

GPS: Garmin 755T







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If I understand this correctly, If I download 6 different POI files and upload them, the next time I need to add a POI I have to re-load them all plus the new one.
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hatchm

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 3790T







Post Re-loading POIs     
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I tried to load one POI and found that I had wiped out all of my other POIs. You must reload the whole lot or lose the earlier ones. Because of this I have a separate folder on my PC with all of the POI files so that I don't have to download them again...
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johmazz2006

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 765, Garmin 3950LMT, Garmin 2455LMT, Navman40, Garmin StreetPilot 3







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gdarby wrote:
If I understand this correctly, If I download 6 different POI files and upload them, the next time I need to add a POI I have to re-load them all plus the new one.

That is correct. Keep all your POI files on your computer in the original subdirectories under POI and each time you download an updated poi file to those directories, it will ask to over write the original file. Say yes, then reload using POI loader as usual.
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bernienchris

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 265W







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Suggest we make this topic a sticky....
Cool
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car

GPS: Garmin







Post Re: POI Loader     
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johmazz2006 wrote:
gdarby wrote:
If I understand this correctly, If I download 6 different POI files and upload them, the next time I need to add a POI I have to re-load them all plus the new one.

That is correct. Keep all your POI files on your computer in the original subdirectories under POI and each time you download an updated poi file to those directories, it will ask to over write the original file. Say yes, then reload using POI loader as usual.

I guess, for avoidance of doubt: @gdarby, when you want to update your data, download the updated file(s) and overwrite over the top of the existing ones.

i.e. download (where relevant/exists):
- Garmn POI BMP (the icon for the map)
- Garmin MP3 (or WAV if you have a 2xx model)
- one of the following, in the following order of availability:
Garmin GPX > Garmin POI > Garmin POI GPX > Garmin POI CSV
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syd_norton3

GPS: Nuvi 760







Post Re: POI Loader     
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gdarby wrote:
If I understand this correctly, If I download 6 different POI files and upload them, the next time I need to add a POI I have to re-load them all plus the new one.

Thats the way I understand it as well.
syd
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pool100

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Post 2 ways to add POIs     
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Either use the POI loader, or just paste .gpi files into your "POI" folder in your Garmin set.





johmazz2006

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 765, Garmin 3950LMT, Garmin 2455LMT, Navman40, Garmin StreetPilot 3







Post Re: 2 ways to add POIs     
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pool100 wrote:
Either use the POI loader, or just paste .gpi files into your "POI" folder in your Garmin set.


You HAVE to use POI Loader to get the updates into your GPS. ALL your poi files are grouped/coded into 1 (one) POI.GPI fole and then loaded to your GPS.
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bernienchris

GPS: Garmin Nuvi 265W







Post Re: 2 ways to add POIs     
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johmazz2006 wrote:
pool100 wrote:
Either use the POI loader, or just paste .gpi files into your "POI" folder in your Garmin set.


You HAVE to use POI Loader to get the updates into your GPS. ALL your poi files are grouped/coded into 1 (one) POI.GPI fole and then loaded to your GPS.


I have 3 GPI files on my 265W and I know I only put one on there, I believe that the Web Updater has put the others on there as well???
And they do seem to have different info on them, and they do seem to work (I think??).

I have also read on here (somewhere) that you can rename your GPI files and load a few of them, but it's not something I've tried yet, still pretty new at it myself as yet.

Cheers,
Smile
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