Custom POI Icons

There are various methods of sending customised POI icons to your GPSr.

Contents 1 60 X-Series Custom Icons 1.1 Using Mapsource 1.2 Using POI Loader 1.3 Using xImage 2 See also

60 X-Series Custom Icons

Using Mapsource

You can add customized symbols for your waypoints.

MapSource includes 8 default custom waypoint symbols located on your computer in My Documents\My Garmin\Custom Waypoint Symbols.

You can open these symbols with a graphic editor and use them as templates for creating your own symbols.

You can add up to 64 custom waypoint symbols. These symbols must be in .bmp format and must be named numerically from 000.bmp to 063.bmp.

Custom waypoint symbols can be 16 x 16 pixels (small) or 24 x 24 pixels (large) and up to 32-bit colour.

After you have created customized waypoint symbols, you can add them to a waypoint using the Symbol field in the Waypoint Properties window.

Using POI Loader

POI loader uploads custom waypoints and icons to your GPSr. It supports .GPX or .CSV files and .bmp image file to compatible Garmin GPS or onto an SD card.

If you don't have POI loader you can download it here. http://www.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=927

For 60CSx get the latest Software Beta 2.71 for easy icon upload as the previous version is very critical with the size and type of the .bmp file http://www.garmin.com/support/blosp.jsp

1. Mark your waypoints in Mapsource. Don't worry about the symbol type as this will be replaced with your custom .bmp file.
   
2. Save your waypoints .gpx file. eg. KFC.gpx
   
3. You can create or get the .bmp image file. It is safe if the bmp file is up to 24x24 pixels , 96 dpi and 8-bit colour. The magic purple colour functions to make your irregular outline icon transparent. Magic purple colour in RGB color scheme is R255 G0 B255.
   
4. Your .bmp file name must be the same as your waypoint file name but of different type . In this case eg. KFC.bmp
   
5. Store both files types in the same folder.
   
6. Connect your GPSr to your PC.
   
7. Switch on your GPSr and launch POI loader (if you don't have gStart in Startup folder)
   
8. Point to your custom POI folder and use the Express mode.
   
9. This POI folder is where you will add or delete POI data before uploading to your GPSr. Unlike custom icons via xImage (24 limit), garmin says 3000 limit for POI Loader but some user claimed to have 8000 icons icon uploaded via POI Loader.
   
10. It will load in a few secs. If it takes a long time to load, then there might be some problem. Normally it's the bmp file.
    
11. Once it finishes uploading. Check your your gpsr.
    

Checking your uploaded icons.

1. Find Custom POI enter
   
2. If you have sub folder, select in menu.
   
3. In this case, select KFC enter
   
4. Select Map or just hit Find twice.
   
5. You will see your uploaded icons in the recent find list.

If your GPSr recent finds list is way too long and you want to remove it, 60Csx will automatically shuts down. To get around this, Create a dummy folder with just 1 POI data in it. Upload from this dummy folder to your GPSr. Then, in your GPSr, go to your recent finds list click menu and remove all. After that, re-load from your usual POI folder and you are done.

POI Loader is compatible with: nuvi, 310, 360, Venture Cx, Legend Cx, Vista Cx, GPSMAP 60Cx/60CSx, GPSMAP 76Cx/76CSx, Quest 2, IQue M3/M4/M5/3000 StreetPilot i2/i3/i5/c310/c320/c330/c340/c510/c550/2720/2730/7200/7500

Using xImage

xImage works with certain compatible GPS units to download the splash screen and/or waypoint symbols from your GPS unit. If you have an image editing program on your PC, you can customize the images and send them back to your GPS. NOTE: This is recommended only for users with previous graphic editing experience.

1. Open xImage and click Next
   
2. Select Send images from the GPS, then click Next.
   
3. Select Waypoint Symbol in the Image Type field.
   
4. If Waypoint Symbol are not available in the Image Type list, then your GPS unit does not support downloading those types of images. For a list of compatible GPS units, visit http://www.garmin.com/ximage/.
   
5. A list of your unit's customizable waypoint symbols name is displayed.
   
6. Select the desired name from the list. To select multiple symbols, hold the SHIFT or CTRL key on your keyboard and click on the desired symbols and click Next.
   
7. Point to the desired stored .bmp file location on your PC and click Enter.
   
8. Click Finish to close xImage.
   

The selected images must be of .bmp files, 16x16 pixels, 96 dpi and 8-bit Colour. The magic colour purple (R-255,G-0,B-255) will be transparent in your GPSr.

You also must name your .bmp file from Waypoint Symbol 000.bmp to Waypoint Symbol 023.bmp Giving you a max of 24 icons.

000 will occupy slot 1, 001 will occupy slot 2 and so on.

However the last five icons, 019-023 can be uploaded and be seen in your GPSr custom icon display but not assignable due to some bug.

NOTE: You can also click Back to return to a previous screen and perform additional tasks.

See also

• POI Customisation
• 60/76 CSx Adding new Custom POI with POI Loader without overwriting current one
• Video tutorials