[mkgmap-dev] Update on missing POI Labels on some devices and some questions...

Sat Dec 7 15:52:45 GMT 2024

Hi Scott

There is some consistency across Garmin models I've come across for a set of
standard POIs that have a (semi-)defined meaning; but I don't know if Garmin are
breaking this with devices like XT, Tread...

By semi-defined I mean they respond to appropriate 'FIND' searches and some
devices actually show what considers the POI to be. There are various lists of
these around the internet and, from a mkgmap distribution,
./examples/styles/default/points shows usage.

Sticking to these can make a reasonably well-featured map that works on many
devices.

Many POI types don't show at low resolution!

For the POI you've mentioned, I've noted from experimentation:
 0x14 No icon. Country. Big font. no subtypes	{major country}
 0x1e No icon. has name. State {province/region}. no subtypes

I don't think you get any difference in the final map and behaviour whether the
input is MP or from OSM (osm.pbf, o5m, etc format)

https://www.mkgmap.org.uk > Documentation is a starting point for help.

Ticker

On Fri, 2024-12-06 at 10:47 -0800, scott taggart wrote:
>   As I posted here on 2024.12.01, I was having issues with POIs not displaying
> labels for some garmin devices (specifically the XT2 and Tread) when
> generating /img files using mp file input to mkgmap.  I did some exploration
> and discovered this (maybe well known but not by me):
>    * Each device model displays POIs differently (i.e., type 0x100 does not
> show the same thing). There seems to be no consistency across models (Felix
> echoed this in a follow-up post).
>  * Each model displays labels for each POI type differently (some show no
> label, others show small vs big text).  There seems to be no consistency
> across models.
>  * I attempted to use the custom "[_point]" feature of the mp files and mkgmap
> but the custom point bitmaps only work for some garmins.  Even then, it didn't
> help with my missing [poi] labels.
>  * Prior to the labels not working on the XT2 and Tread units, I always used
> the 0x1400 POI code type for my labels.  With a lot of cross-model
> experimentation I discovered a single POI code (0x1E00) will display large
> text on all garmin models I was able to test with (Montana 6XX and 7XX, XT,
> XT2, Tread).  I have no idea if this POI code will work with all garmins that
> support custom maps.
>  
>  Questions:
>   * Are these issues with each model behaving differently with respect to POI
> types well-known?  If so, how are they gotten around by (OSM) map builders? 
> How can a single map be built that has POIs and labels that are consistent
> across more than one device.  What am I missing?  
>  * How does OSM handle this?  I presume that an OSM map generated for an area
> works on all garmin devices?  I will admit that I don't know what the OSM map
> limitations are across garmin models.  Does the JOSN model allow the devices
> POI maps to be loaded on a per-map basis?  If I were to switch to JOSN model
> for mkgmap input, could I get around all the device limitations I am running
> into with the mp file format?  Can someone recommend a good tutorial on
> getting up to speed on generating JOSN for simple map input to mkgmap?
>  * OSM uses the JOSM model to feed mkgmap.  Does that model allow for more
> flexibility and control than the "mp" input file model?  I presume the MP file
> format is obsolete.
>  * Is there any better documentation for the MPO format than the CGPSMAPPER
> pdf file floating around on the internet?
>  * Can anyone recommend either a different website or people whom I may
> contact for further help with any of this?
>  
>  Any and all help is appreciated.
>  
>  
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