What is the format of a Garmin .gps file?

[Privateer]

Am I right in thinking that a .gpx file is similar to an xml file?

I think that I've created a valid .gpx file (GPSBabel "GPX XML" type) but I'm getting a message from POILoader "No valid data was found in the specified folder, therefore no data was written. If you need further assistance, please call Garmin Support". Well that was a nicely coded reply - tell me which file and where in that file there was invalid data!

It's either the input file "Universal csv with field structure in first line" which GPSBable uses OK for TomTom file or it's the .bmp that I've been experimenting with as well.

I've tried to post some code of the .gpx file (as examined via a basic text editor) here, but unfortunately it contains illegal BBCode i.e. GT sign which is a bit of a nuisance.

In the meantime. I shall go back to basics to use both a .csv file and a .bmp file combination that I know works and then try the modified .csv file and retain the same .bmp file so that only one file is changed at a time.

However if somebody could confirm whether or not a .gpx file is of similar structure to an .xml file then I would at least know that I'm heading in the correct direction, or not!

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[Privateer]

Also What information can I put in a Garmin .gpx file? Can I put in a telephone number, which I can make a paired mobile phone use?

Are there any other attributes that I can put into a .gpx file to make a more interesting or enhanced POI?

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[sussamb]

You may find this helpful if you use BaseCamp http://www.poi-factory.com/node/47699
_________________
Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[Privateer]

Hi sussamb,,

I'm trying to create .gpx from .csv using GPSBabel.

I didn't know that BaseCamp could be used for creating POIs, I thought that it was only for creating routes.

I will have look at BaseCamp tomorrow.

Just to clarify, can I convert .csv file to .gpx file using BaseCamp?

Also what other attributes (apart from longitude, latitude, name and possible phone) can I use to create an enhanced POI?

I will want to look at creating TourGuides at some point as well, but I need to be able to walk before I can run!!

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[Kremmen]

There's loads of info you can include. There are schemas available but they are too heavy in content.

As you've found, an online converter is the best route.
_________________
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[fruit]

You may find this site useful...
Tricks, Tips, Work Arounds, Hints, Secrets and Ideas for the Garmin nüvi (nuvi) GPS (and others)
http://ghayman.net/GARMIN.TnT/

[M8TJT]

Great link fruit.

[Kremmen]

As it happens ... that's the site I used when I needed info for the Converter. It has been mentioned before, although, it did go down for quite a while and returned under a different addy.
_________________
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[Privateer]

Hi fruit, thanks for the link. It looks a good resource with a lot of information.

Unfortunately I wasn't abel to do anything on my Garmin POIs yesterday as I had a few jobs to do around the house in the morning and then go to work in the afternoon and evening.

Well, I installed BaseCamp this morning and my initially impression is that it's unintuitive for creating POIs and that it's very limited in what file formats it can import. BaseCamp can't import .csv files which is a major headache!

It looks like I'll continue to try an use the following method:

• Keep master list as Excel .xlsx file.
  
• Manually extract relevant data to .csv (I may later try to learn VBA in order to automate process).
  
• Use GPSBabel to convert to .gpx format.
  
• Use POI Loader to create .gpi file.
  

Well, that's the theory - I just need to experiment to put it into practice.

I would like to keep a central master list so that I can create TomTom, Garmin, and possibly other types of POIs from one source, which makes data maintenance much easier and change control possible.

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

[sussamb]

You could also use JaVaWa's RTWtool (Route, Waypoint, Track tool), it has an import wizard for CSV files, which you can then export to GPX or GDB or clipboard and then paste results into a BaseCamp list.

http://www.javawa.nl/rtwtool_en.html
_________________
Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[Kremmen]

This tool looks like it creates one POI from the data entered.

If it does what it claims then adding further POI's should be a doddle.

http://gpx-poi.com/
_________________
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

[Allan_whoops]

Try 'Extra POI Editor; http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/

as that converts OV2, csv, xls, to GPX and vice versa. I use it to convert to the various formats that I need and it is easy to use.

This page may also help http://gpx-poi.com/

[Privateer]

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