I'm reposting this, as th OP was at the start of a session on stats and downloading into excel.

Question/Request... Is it possible to get all the National Park Visitor Centers added to the Mega File. If you didn't know any better, you would think that the current file (National Parks) was the Visitor Centers instead of Campgrounds... tks

Hi ki4nai,

I would think the National Park Visitor Centers would make a great addition to the POI Megafile. How is the project coming along? The megafile only contains pushpin collections that are freely shared and at this point we don't have that data.

Larry, wish I had the data for the info, but I don't, was wishing for this add-on from someone else who may have the contacts to obtain it...

I've given up on converting the MegaFile to anything else. I got it into Excel and dropped a number of columns that won't go anywhere in other programs. I ran the resulting CSV file through GPSBabel to convert it to GPX. It took a long time to complete (86,600 POIs in the November edition) but it finally did. When it was done I tried to load the GPX file in Mapsource but it doesn't like it.

It works fine if I just take one, or a few, pushpin sets and convert them. But the full meal deal seems to be too much, either for the converter or for Mapsource.

So I've given up. If I need something specific, it's just as easy for me to download it from POIFriend or POI Factory already in GPX format, usually complete with the necessary icon. Or I can peel it out of the MegaFile, if I can't find it anywhere else, and convert a much smaller chunk.

...ken...

I'd love to get my hands on the csv (or Excel) copy of the POI Megafile.

My question about the csv file is if/how the icons are included in the file before I start to create the file.....marty

December Update

... and very Happy Holidays to you, too, Larry, and Gladwin, and all those involved in contributing to this great POI Megafile.

Me. too! I just wish we could get the data directly from Larry as an option.

Regards,

Bill Lee

Love the mega files, BUT, seems like a few of the files are outdated, or contain incorrect information....ie, Moose Lodges that have RV Hook-ups, Elk lodges that have RV hook-ups, Coast 2 Coast locations. As time permits, I'll try to provide updates

It's always great to see folks ready to provide updates to the locations in the Mega File. To avoid duplicate effort and a multiplicity of databases, please note that each of the data sets in the Mega File has a "home base" somewhere, and most likely an owner who would like to get the updates. In Larry's excellent production, many of the source files come from the Discovery Owners site (including the ones you mentioned). In using the Mega File in Streets and Trips, a right click on a location icon, then choosing "Show Information" will often reveal the email address of the source file owner. Or, if you go to the Discovery Owners site MAP OVERLAYS and chose "Sorted Alphabetically", then make any selection from the drop-down list, then look at the appropriate entry (e.g. Elks Clubs) you will usually see the email address of the person responsible for that set of files. I'll bet the contact person will be happy to get your update suggestions. Or, if no one responds to your emails, you might even volunteer (to Bob Cook, the coordinator of that site) to be the new volunteer!

Bill Halberstadt
(The volunteer who maintains the US Walmart database used at DiscoveryOwners and in Larry's Mega File)

Bill, thanks for all your hard work with the POI collections. It's much appreciated.

And here's now the first POI Megafile in the new year:

January Update

POI Megafile is a free update available on page #1 of this thread (here)

So these are done in the upcoming Streets and Trips 2011. Don't delete your 2010 POI Megafile just yet. S&T 2011 is not in stores as of the time of this writing.

P.S. To be one of the first ones to try Streets and Trips 2011, visit some of the upcoming RV shows. Here's one: http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/4181-come-arizona-first-try-streets-trips-2011-a

I will definitely be getting this when I purchase 2011... it will work in 2011 I trust?

The question I have is will it come with good instructions on where and how to load it into your laptop so it will work. Nothing worse then getting an add-on and not being able to use it because the author never gave any use instructions with it. I'm getting older and brain is moving right along with me.

Oh yea, will be checking with the owners of the files.. What has happened, is that I've called and spoken to a number of Elk lodges in South Florida, and they advise that the changes in Zoning (just as the changes with Wal-mart) have caused them to stop allowing overnight stays. Some lodges are listed as being set-up for RV's but have none. I know that the lodge themselves are at fault on a lot of the info, as they may not be RV'ers and understand the difference.. Thanks of letting me know where to find the file owners.

January update won't open in the 2010 version. Where do I find the December update again? Mine is getting slow and starting to "freeze up".