Blog for John Shults

GSAK NUVI MACRO File Management Procedures and Guidelines

Before performing the following, you’ll need to install and the GSAK Nuvi Macro.
Read and follow this link

When you run the NUVI macro, it’ll put the output into a single folder.
It makes 4 or 5 files (depending on the Nuvi model picked) and they’ll
be named Geocaching Tour Guide plus some extensions…

This tutorial will help you setup your GSAk and NUVI to hold multiple
POI/GPX files to allow many more Geocaches to loaded into your Nuvi.
Each NUVI model holds a different total number of caches.
EX: Model 200 can hold up to 5000 caches
EX: Model 750 can hold up to 25,000 caches

---

Here’s the step by step process……..

Managing File ON the PC.

1. Open the FOLDER where the Nuvi Macro writes the files it creates.
   EX: file location – C:\Program Files\GSAK\poiloader
2. In that folder make empty sub-folders that match up with each POI file you want to use.
   EX: Home, Reno, OrangeCo, Riverside, LongBeach
3. Leave that file folder window open. You” use it again later.
4. With one of the Database files selected in GSAK (EX: Home) run the Nuvi Macro.
5. Then when the Macro finishes and BEFORE clicking GO in the POI loader</strong,
   look at the Folder Window still open from above. you will see the 4 DEFAULT files made in the Folder.
6. MOVE the 4 files into the folder you want EX: Home
7. Change Datafile in GSAK to the next file (EX: Riverside) and restart the Nuvi Macro
   (don’t touch the POI Loader window at all right now)
8. When the Macro finishes you’ll see 4 more files in the folder again, move the files to the appropriate sub-folder.
9. Keep repeating the above TWO STEPS until you’ve done them all…

---

If you don’t have GPS handy, that’s OK. You can transfer to GPS now OR later..

Installing caches onto Nuvi

1. When you’re have your NUVI GPS ready, connect USB and NOW click the POI LOADER window.
   (if the POI Loader is not running still, restart it from the START MENU)
2. Just leave the defaults and click GO… It’ll take all the file from all the folders and contents
   and make them into some SPECIAL Garmin file format and then put it ON the GPS.
   DON’T TOUCH the FILES on the GPS directly. You can’t open or edit them
3. Unplug GPS and it’ll go back to “navigate mode”.
4. Look in the EXTRAS and you should see a folder for each you made above.
   You are all ready to go Geocaching, ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

Notes on using this procedure

NOTE:EACH model Nuvi has a different limit as to how many POI’s TOTAL it can
handle. EX: Barry’s 2xx series can’t handle my HUGE 18,000 records
file. So, start small and build up. It’ll be like 5,000 on the 2xx
if I remember what I read on some forum.

NOTE:There’s NO need to do the delete option in POI Loader unless you really
want to clean EXTRAS like if you’re selling the unit. Each time you
run the POI Loader, it overwrites the SPECIAL file. If you were to
remove one of the above sub-folders, it’ll go away on next time it
installs the next file. (think of it like a huge ZIP file with the
folders and files).

NOTE:If during the POI Loader running, it complains about a specific folder
this is most likely caused by a record IN that database named WEIRD.
We had one cache we hit called “” and the QUOTES were IN the name.
This is a BAD name as far as the LOADER is concerned and it fails.
Go back the GSAK and delete or RENAME that record.

---