How to Install Voices - TomTomForums.com

**digital-flex** · 07:57 PM

How to Install Voices

This tutorial will walk you through how to install voices on your TT device. I am using the example Silent Directions voice but the steps are the same for installing any other voice found in the forum.

I'm a Windows user so the tools I am using is WinRar to extract the compressed file. For Mac users, the program you can use is StuffIt.

1. Download the voice on your desktop.

2. Right-click the file and select - Extract to 99_Silent_Directions\

3. This will create a folder on your desktop like so:

4. Open the folder and you will see three files: the image file (*.bmp), the voice data file (*.chk), and the index file (*.vif).

There a couple of things to note. If you download a voice, you may find that you only have two files (missing the *.vif), the voice will still work.

Another thing is the numbering of the files. The site http://tomtom.graemelucas.co.uk explains it best:

Quote:

In order for TomTom to recognise your voice, it must be properly named in the format "data[number].chk". Each official voice released by TomTom has a unique file number, for example data04.chk is Tim UK, and data15.chk is Eva - Nederland's. As far as I am aware you cannot change this, however data61.chk to data99.chk (TomTom 5) and data71.chk to data99.chk (Pre TomTom 5), are recognised as 'Special Voices' by TomTom

As you'll see, the Silent Directions is recognized as a Special Voice because the file name has the number 99. You can actually change the number if you want to but I will explain that in the following post.

5. Connect your TT device to your PC or Mac and copy all of the files, the *.bmp, *chk, and *.vif into your voices folder

6. The Silent Direction voice is now installed on my TT. To see if it was successful, disconnect the TT device and go into Change Preferences | Change voice

7. Now your current voice will be displayed. Click on either the left or right arrows to cycle through the voice selections

8. You may get a message informing you if you want to select voices only in your country's language, in my case English US. You want to tap on the option NO.

9. Now continue to tap on the arrows left or right to cycle through the available voices till you see the voice you installed.

10. Tap on select and you have chosen the Silent Directions voice.

**digital-flex** · 01:15 PM

What if I have an existing voice with the data99.chk, .bmp, and .vif?

You can certainly change the number to something that is not used. It is recommended to choose a number between the range 61-130. I haven't actually gone higher than 99 only because I don't install many voices.

So, in the case above:

Change data99.chk to data61.chk
Change data99.bmp to data61.bmp
Change data99.vif to data61.vif

Now you also have to edit the *.vif, so open the file in a text editor like Notepad. You will see a reference of data99.chk. You need to change the 99 to 61 to correctly refence the changes you made.

I choose 61 at random, so choose a number that is available for you.

V01C3DUD3 · 09-21-2007, 09:20 AM

Actually, as of firmware version 6.5, voices go up to 130 I think.

**digital-flex** · 09-21-2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V01C3DUD3

Actually, as of firmware version 6.5, voices go up to 130 I think.

Are you referring to the special voice range?

V01C3DUD3 · 09-21-2007, 11:37 AM

Yes, I am referring to the special voice range. And forgot to mention, well done on the tutorial!

**digital-flex** · 09-21-2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V01C3DUD3

Yes, I am referring to the special voice range. And forgot to mention, well done on the tutorial!

Thanks for the correction. Will update it.

Reinyrooster · 10-26-2007, 04:05 PM

Sorry to sound like a dummy here but I have downloaded a few voices that I want to install in my 910, using Home 2.0 but can't find the folder titled "voices" in either the Home software or on the device itself. I did find on the device a folder titled "Loquendo TTS" which contains the voices, although the file extensions are different then what has been described in this thread.
I'm confused......again.
Thanks for any input.

thaJack · 10-27-2007, 05:06 AM

Is there a tutorial for installing computer voices? I have tried with TomTom Home 2 but have been unsuccessful.

**digital-flex** · 10-27-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reinyrooster

Sorry to sound like a dummy here but I have downloaded a few voices that I want to install in my 910, using Home 2.0 but can't find the folder titled "voices" in either the Home software or on the device itself. I did find on the device a folder titled "Loquendo TTS" which contains the voices, although the file extensions are different then what has been described in this thread.
I'm confused......again.
Thanks for any input.

Go in TTH v2.0
Menu Preferences, Folder Preferences
Set the Downloads folder to the directory where you've copied the voice files or move the files to the directory chosen in the Downloads folder value.
Then click Done
Click in Add maps... then More then Items on my computer, then click on the + before Applications and you should see the plugins

**digital-flex** · 10-27-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaJack

Is there a tutorial for installing computer voices? I have tried with TomTom Home 2 but have been unsuccessful.

Not at the moment, but all you do is insert the CD into your comp and then when you click on Add maps, voices....etc, you should see the voices there.