Creating a POI Database Using Google Earth and KML2CSV

by Rich Menga on Jan 9, 2008 | 3 comments

A common-shared database format between many GPS devices is called a POI (Point-Of-Interest) database. Most people looking for free downloadable POIs fast discover that most people charge to get them. However, with Google Earth, KMLCSV and POI Loader you can create your own for free and share with friends. See video for details.

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Harold
How did you save the address information from Google earth? All ‘m getting is the Cord and Name.
Al
thank you for this video. have a quick question if you don’t mind. once you convert the file into a csv format, what information is included? like it will show the name of the place and the address? any other information is displayed? phone number perhaps? thank you for your time.
http://www.frostedside.com/blog/ Rich Menga
Waypoints in a POI database contain no information whatsoever (other than coordinates and title) so you have to insert it manually.
This is easy to do. You right-click any place you save in Google Earth first and to go Properties. In the large field labeled “Description” (the big box), enter in all the information for that place. It can include anything you wish. This will carry into the CSV file on conversion. The StreetPilot in particular can only display 88 characters, so be sure the description doesn’t exceed that. If it does, it will still go into the GPS fine, but anything the 88-character mark won’t show up.