Garmin POI Loader Software

Garmin POI Loader allows you to retrieve Custom Waypoints from data files and install them to a compatible Garmin GPS device or a storage card.  A custom waypoint is a waypoint, saved in .gpx or .csv-file format and sent to a POI Loader compatible GPS, using the POI Loader software programme. The data resides in the Custom Waypoint folder in the GPS (and can be accessed under “Extras” in these models’ menu systems). Custom waypoints are reactive to certain triggers created within each custom waypoint (such as a circular proximity zone and mp3 and/or jpeg and/or bmp files that may have been additionally linked to it in a specified manner). The alert is dependent on your GPS-determined location and is given primarily by beep and banner, but can be accompanied by voice (in which case the custom waypoint is termed a Tour Guide).  You can create custom POI’s to direct you around areas or to avoid roads you may not wish to travel (search the phrases "Custom POI" and/or "POI Loader" on the Forum).

Click here  to read about   POI Loader software and download the programme or, to see a list of POI Loader compatible GPS receivers, simply click on the Product Compatibility box middle-right of page. Click here   to download the latest programme and/or updates of it, directly.

Owners of GPSr NOT listed as compatible with POI Loader can still use this data. After downloading the Road Safety Data Zip file below, extract the Zip (please do use the latest version of WinZip or your favoured Zip file management software) and from within the GDB folder open the Combo_Road_Safety_Data_GDB_yyyymmdd.gdb file. Work with the data as you would with any normal waypoint file and it's not required that you load all points - to save space in your GPSr, load just those within your usual area of travel. Set a 'proximity warning' by including the waypoint in a route as a via-point. Some GPS receivers have the facility to work with Proximity waypoints as well (please refer to your Owners Manual).

Community POI Loader Data

Road Safety Database in general

Garmap offers the ROAD SAFETY DATABASE to registered Garmap owners as an optional and free community service to promote responsible and safe driving. We compile this road hazard data from contributions sent to us by our User Community, and while we check the reasonableness of the data, Garmap does not guarantee the accuracy of the information, neither do we embed this data in our mapsets; this is ?Custom Waypoint' (also termed 'Custom POI') data contributed by yourself as part of our community of users, and compiled for you on a regular basis.

We have categorised the database into 'Fn' for Fixed Camera Positions, 'Mn' for Mobile Monitoring sites, ?Hn? for Hazardous road conditions and 'An' for Traffic Control locations ('n' here meaning a further attribute of that group of data).


Definitions

A FIXED Camera is any permanently mounted Traffic Monitor and is not restricted in use to an intersection or specific city street situation. The Fixed Camera positions trigger at least a 10 sec warning as one enters the 'guard-zone' of each location; achieved by setting in the data properties per point a proximity relative to the speed-zone of that section of roadway. We do not make a distinction between Push-cameras and Speed-cameras at traffic light situations since there is no merit in attempting to second-guess the type of camera at these positions. The majority of these installations can and do monitor both types of offence.

A MOBILE Monitor position is any position on a roadway where you have observed regular manned Traffic Monitoring Activity; these sites can be variable as to location, can be sequential within a zone and, for successful prosecution, may lock a reading from within 500 metres of location. Given a clear view, note that traffic speeds can be monitored (not locked) from a far greater distance.

HAZARDS may include pedestrian or animal crossings, dangerous road conditions or crime alert areas (including several other categories). We do not include a speed component in Hazard data, nor should you add a speed component to this data when preparing the data for upload. The reason? Whereas all other F, M & A data triggers a ?Speed alert? (within a set proximity), we specifically preclude the speed component in 'Hn' data to activate an 'Alert' that describes the hazard in an unsafe area.

TRAFFIC CONTROL data relates to any such formal Traffic Station on National Highways and can be associated with Heavy-Vehicle weighbridges and slowing-down lanes but can also relate to regular Roadblock or other traffic management instituted. These latter sites can be variable and because several could also be ad-hoc speed-monitoring locations, the data contains a speed component and they would report as a Speed Alert and not as an Alert.

South African TOLL PLAZA Data is included in the download bundle, titled TollPlaza_Std. The FOUR files within this data mirror the four National Roads Authority vehicle classes, where TollOne for example, covers Motor Cars with or without Trailers or Caravans, and Motorcycles. TollFour addresses multiple-axled Heavy-Transport rigs. You should load only that file relevant to the vehicle you drive, of course.

We also provide a TourGuide voice file ? activated on approach to a Toll Plaza and titled TollOne_Voice - to announce the applicable vehicle Class 1 fee and Toll Plaza name. You can use this TourGuide feature file with Travel-Kit equipped, POI Loader compatible, GPSr only.

Should you wish to contribute data

Click here to send in data for your Road Safety Database.  Please do run a check for possible duplication of existing data.  Prefix your data location points with an F, M, H or A attribute, including the road name and the monitoring direction as applicable. IMPORTANT:  please add the prevailing speed-zone limit.  A MapSource *.gdb file is the preferred medium of report since these files are smaller than an equivalent *.gpx file but an email describing the data specified, is suitable for those Plug & Play owners not yet with MapSource.  Please DO NOT list Road Safety data in a posting on the Forum.  We might inadvertently overlook it.

Downloading the data

It is assumed that you are familiar with the Windows environment as it will be necessary to Create Folders, Rename them and Copy/Cut & Paste files within Windows Explorer. You may also need to download a programme or two to maximise your Road Safety Data experience.

You will also need to know the basics of, and have the latest versions of, WinZip , WinRAR or whichever utility you may use to extract *.zip files.

Clicking on words in blue and underlined will take you to a particular website.

A basic description of the process is contained in recommended early reading called the Beginners Guide and there are also ReadMe files that contain more advanced information. If you are new to this quite easy process then we would recommend starting with the Beginners Guide.

To PREPARE the current Road Safety data *.gpx files for download to your Computer, enter your Registration Username and Password. (see below) Right click on the Zip-file of your choice below, or each required in turn and choose 'Save Target As...' or 'Save File'. Do not open/extract the zip files directly off the website.

To DOWNLOAD the Custom POI data to your GPSr, extract the folders (carrying their associated *.gpx and *.bmp files) from their zips into a clean LOAD folder in C:/ using ONLY the folder content of the GPX folder of the Road Safety data set, thus ensuring that the file attributes of the individual files retain the *.gpx file extension. Use POI Loader in Express mode to send this folder to your GPSr Custom POI storage. This process creates a POI folder there with file titled poi.gpi. The load process will overwrite the older data residing in your Custom POI Folder in your GPSr and you should add to the LOAD folder any other Custom POI data you wish to send to GPSr and should therefore not apply POI Loader to portions of the data sequentially. POI Loader has the facility to delete custom POI in your GPSr independently should you wish to do this.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: To prevent the unintended creation of duplicate Road Safety data on your GPSr, download the data into a new, uniquely named LOAD folder on your PC (it's useful to date this folder to the date of the data being loaded); then send all the data you require to your GPSr using POI Loader. Please ensure that the files within remain in the *.gpx format ? if not, you will load the data into your Favourites directory simultaneously deactivating the RS points and from which storage it is awkward to clean.

To download the latest files please login here. If you have not registered on the Garmap website yet, please do so here. You will be redirected to this page after registering or logging in.


The ReadMe files will be of use - we suggest you save copy, the better to follow the steps involved.

A new programme called POIEditor is contained in the download choices - it's intended for the Advanced User so if you're just kicking off in the updating process, prefer to use the Beginners Guide for a while yet, or read on in the Download_ReadMe files.

A REPEATED IMPORTANT NOTE: Within the Road Safety Data zip, and once extracted, you will find TWO folders that are aligned with the two major groupings of GPSr models. The RS_GPX yyyymmdd folder is for POI Loader-compatible GPSr owners (e.g. Street Navigators and similar) and the RS_GDB yyyymmdd folder containing a "Combo_" file is for Traditional GPSr owners (non-POI Loader-compatible units) who may wish to make use of this data.

If you own a Street Nav GPSr and wish to load this data you will use ONLY the content from the RS_GPX yyyymmdd folder in your upload, discarding the RS_GDB yyyymmdd folder. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE GDB FORMAT DATA AS PART OF YOUR USUAL POI LOADER Gpx FILE UPLOAD.

Download_Guides_20100305.zip
Road_Safety_Data_20100310.zip
TollPlaza_Std_20100301.zip
POIEditorSetupV2010002.zip

Contributions received from Andre, Graham, Kyle, Nat, Chris, Hennie, Jacques, Gerrit, Glyn and Alwyn.

Abri du Plooy has created programmes that can automatically download the files necessary and add an @spd attribute to a Road Safety Custom Waypoint.  If you own a POI Loader compatible GPSr, adding an @spd attribute will cause the point in question to raise a continuous warning if you are, and continue at, a speed greater than your chosen setting.  There are two programmes, one basic and free and the other, with more features at a small fee.  Help Files are available within the programmes.


http://www.gatekeepersoftware.co.za

There are many places on Forum where Custom POI are discussed; for a defining Topic on how to set your speed grace limits though, visit the Forum here

For information on how to use this script visit the Forum here

To enter the POI Loader discussion forum please click here.

Did you know that you can create a personalised ‘TOUR GUIDE’ linked to a pre-recorded voice file on your Nüvi?.

The Garmin Nüvi range (excluding ‘plug and play’ units incorporating a pre-loaded SD card), features a little known, but powerful function that enables users to create an onboard ‘travel guide’ linked to a pre-recorded voice file, activated by a ‘proximity waypoint.’

Road Safety data (downloadable free from www.garmap.com ) working on an identical principle, could activate a linked mp3 voice file when approaching a speed trap. 

The ‘Tour Guide is a useful little tool for learning more about historic points of interest, cultural sites and passing tourist attractions; or even as a pre-programmed onboard memo for the next branch office.

A FEW QUICK DEFINITIONS

What is a waypoint?
A waypoint is a position created and named by the user, and then stored on the GPS for future reference (on the Nüvi, waypoints are stored under the “My Locations” and “Favourites” headings).

What is a proximity waypoint?
A proximity waypoint is a waypoint that includes a user-defined guard-zone around the perimeter of the waypoint. Should you enter the guard zone of that waypoint (cross into a predefined perimeter), the zone triggers a pre-programmed function on the Nüvi.

What is a custom waypoint?
A custom waypoint is a waypoint saved in gpx-file format (using POI Loader software) in the Nüvi’s custom waypoints folder.

Find detailed instructions on how to create your own custom tour guides on the Garmap.co.za website in the POI Loader section, or follow the steps below.

Create Tour Guide points with MapSource

You will require:
- Mapsource on your Computer
- The POI loader application (downloadable free from www.garmin.com)
- A microphone connected to your PC (for recording MP3 files).
- The latest Nüvi software version update – go to www.garmin.com and follow the links to support, updates and downloads (IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NÜVI OWNERS: retrieve the update file manually (executing the file with your Nüvi connected to the PC). 

Follow these steps to create a .gpx file with TourGuide information on MapSource: 

1. Create your .mp3 voice file. Save the file with the word, ‘TourGuide’ in the filename.
2. Open MapSource.
3. Type ‘w’ on the keyboard to retrieve the Waypoint Tool, or go to Tools>waypoint.
4. Point to the location of the TourGuide point on the map. Click once (this creates a user waypoint and opens the Waypoint Properties window shown below).
5. Enter the TourGuide proximity distance in the Waypoint Properties Proximity field:
1. Uncheck the Proximity field and enter a distance (this is the distance as a radius in km from the waypoint at which you want to trigger the TourGuide.
2. Link (in the URL field) the TourGuide .mp3 file to the point with the “Browse…” button. (The initial software release only supports .mp3 files). The .mp3 file name must contain the word “TourGuide” to activate the feature. For example, you can name the .mp3 file, “TourGuide Monument.mp3” or “TourGuide meeting 1.mp3.”
6. Repeat steps three to five for each of your TourGuide points.
7. On completing your TourGuide points, select the “Save As” option under the file menu. Save the files as a .gpx file.
   
   
   
   Loading TourGuide points to a SD Card or GPS unit

   On completing a TourGuide .gpx file, you can load the TourGuide information on an SD card or a GPS unit with the new version of the POI Loader. Follow the steps below.

   1. Launch the POI Loader (Downloadable from www.garmap.com) application and click “Next.”
   2. Select the location where you would like to save the TourGuide information. Click “Next.”
   3. Select the TourGuide .gpx file folder location. Click “Next.”  Depending on the size of the .mp3 files, the load process might take a little time.
   Using TourGuide feature on the GPS unit

   Once you have loaded the TourGuide information on the GPS, go to Where To->My Locations->Custom POI's to view the TourGuide points.
   Find the TourGuide settings under Settings. There you have three options.

   • Off: ‘Off’ deactivates the TourGuide; the unit will not trigger the voice-over when you enter the ‘guard zone’ of the TourGuide waypoint. 
   • Auto Play: ‘Auto Play’ automatically triggers the TourGuide voice-over when you enter the ‘guard zone’ of a waypoint.
   • Prompted: ‘Prompted’ triggers the TourGuide when you enter the ‘guard zone’ of the waypoint, but gives you a choice over whether to play the voice-over or not. You can activate the voice-over with the TourGuide link on the main map page of the unit.