Custom POI icons?

[+geokitebuggy]

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I export a gpx file from GSAK containing all my unfound caches and want to put it into my Nuvi 660 as custom pois. This works fine using POI Loader - most recent version. I fail to get any icons brought across with this data that will show up on the Nuvi screen. Is there some way to make this happen? It would be nice to see cache icons on the screen while driving.

 

When I downloaded cache info into the Nuvi as waypoints, the cache icons came across. The BIG problem is that the NUVI 660 has no way to delete waypoints except individually. I went through the delete routine 500 times to get rid of the waypoint data I didn't want. I'm not going there again...

 

Help appreciated!

[+XopherN71]

You need to have the BMP icons saved the same name as the POI file (well, minus the extension).

 

Example:

 

UnfoundCaches.poi

UnfoundCaches.bmp

 

NewCaches.poi

NewCaches.bmp

 

SpeedAlerts.poi

SpeedAlerts.bmp

Edited April 4, 2008 by XopherN71

[Motorcycle_Mama]

Yeah, the icons you may have associated with Waypoints do not transfer to the Custom POI file. If you want a custom icon to be associated with the Custom POI file, you must create or download an icon to go with it.

 

The icons should be saved as a bitmap (BMP file extension) using a graphics program. Microsoft Paint will work just fine. Be sure to save as a 256 Color bitmap. The size should be 24x24 or smaller. I have found that 18x18 or smaller works best.

 

POI Loader supports transparency in the form of magenta in BMP files for icons. The color shows magenta on a computer but when loaded to the GPS unit it is transparent. For a transparent background, set the background as RGB color 255,0,255.

 

Then as indicated above, you need to put them in the same folder with your Custom POI file(s) and be sure to name them exactly the same other than the file extension. You need to have an icon for each POI file.

 

Then when you run POI Loader the icons will be associated with the POI file.

 

Note that the Custom POI files need to be CSV or GPX files for Garmin GPS units. Also, note that you must be zoomed in fairly closely on most Garmin units and in a 2D map mode in order for the icons to show on the screen. Try zooming in if you don't at least see the default gray dot.

 

You can have subfolders under your main folder, if you want. The folders will create categories. You can't have more than one level of subfolder. The files themselves will create the subcategory.

 

For example, it might look like this.

 

> My POI (Main folder)

>> IHOP (subfolder)

... IHOP.csv

... IHOP.bmp

>> National Parks (subfolder)

... National Parks.gpx

... National Monuments.gpx

... National Recreation areas.gpx

... National Parks.bmp

... National Monuments.bmp

etc.

 

In this example, IHOP and National Parks show up as categories and then under National Parks, the subcategories of National Parks, National Monuments, and National Recreation Areas show up.

 

Here are some screenshots of what it would look like.

 

This is a shot of the folder and files on my computer.

http://i18.tinypic.com/4q8bl8m.jpg

 

This is how the first level shows up on my GPS unit.

http://i9.tinypic.com/4t6c8ye.jpg

 

When I select the National Parks category, this is what I get.

http://i2.tinypic.com/62qyi4z.jpg

 

Then if I select National Monuments, I get this.

http://i8.tinypic.com/4kbd8jc.jpg

Edited April 4, 2008 by Motorcycle_Mama

[+geokitebuggy]

Thanks so much for the help! I already have .bmp icons from MS Streets&Trips that I can use.