GPX file and Eircode

[GregOD]

hi , My name is Greg , and have just bought a Tom Tom Go 520 .... I'm based in Ireland , and similar to the UK , we have post codes , ours are called Eircodes....
For example , every address has a 7 digit eircode ,
I did think I could input the 7 digit code (Eircode) into the Satnav , and it would recognise the code straight away.
It does not give me this option on the device , but I'm sure theres a work-around.
Having spent a few hours on the device , I see you can create a file , add it to your satnav , and it would hopefully work... I think also this is called a GPX file.....
Does anybody know , how I could read the file , extract the eircode digits , and place them on the TomTom... If this works , I could just enter the 7 digit eircode , and it would reflect on the Tom Tom navigation device. I was wondering can this be done , The Tom Tom 520 is a wifi device. Otherwise , really happy with the navigation device. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Maybe somebody on the forum has already done this with other codes , thks, Greg ,

 

[canderson]

TomTom should be supporting your post codes without extra effort, but I don't know what they've done for Ireland.

As for a *.gpx file...

I suppose it is possible to create a *.gpx file for all of your post codes, though it would certainly be a very big one. Someone would have needed to produce that file already using the post code and the center of each post code as latitude/longitude coordinate pairs. There are three flavors of *.gpx file, and the kind you would need for this purpose would be a 'waypoint' file. TomTom does not support that *.gpx file directly. It would need to be converted to a TomTom *.ov2 file and imported to your device.

The result might be the biggest *.ov2 file ever loaded on a TomTom, but it is possible that it might actually work. You would search for a postcode as a custom POI (point of interest).

If you can find anyone who has reduced all of your postcodes to a single *.gpx file anywhere, let me know, and we'll go have a look at it.

 

[GregOD]

TomTom should be supporting your post codes without extra effort, but I don't know what they've done for Ireland.

As for a *.gpx file...

I suppose it is possible to create a *.gpx file for all of your post codes, though it would certainly be a very big one. Someone would have needed to produce that file already using the post code and the center of each post code as latitude/longitude coordinate pairs. There are three flavors of *.gpx file, and the kind you would need for this purpose would be a 'waypoint' file. TomTom does not support that *.gpx file directly. It would need to be converted to a TomTom *.ov2 file and imported to your device.

The result might be the biggest *.ov2 file ever loaded on a TomTom, but it is possible that it might actually work. You would search for a postcode as a custom POI (point of interest).

If you can find anyone who has reduced all of your postcodes to a single *.gpx file anywhere, let me know, and we'll go have a look at it.

TomTom should be supporting your post codes without extra effort, but I don't know what they've done for Ireland.

As for a *.gpx file...

I suppose it is possible to create a *.gpx file for all of your post codes, though it would certainly be a very big one. Someone would have needed to produce that file already using the post code and the center of each post code as latitude/longitude coordinate pairs. There are three flavors of *.gpx file, and the kind you would need for this purpose would be a 'waypoint' file. TomTom does not support that *.gpx file directly. It would need to be converted to a TomTom *.ov2 file and imported to your device.

The result might be the biggest *.ov2 file ever loaded on a TomTom, but it is possible that it might actually work. You would search for a postcode as a custom POI (point of interest).

If you can find anyone who has reduced all of your postcodes to a single *.gpx file anywhere, let me know, and we'll go have a look at it.

Canderson , firstly thanks for going to the effort of replying. and explaining. the file might be large ok , Tom Tom do have all the eircodes on there file for each address. They have address first and last on the line , is the the Eircode. the 7 digit code. Other Satnavs have allowed just to enter the 7 digit code. Transferring all the eircodes to a singular database file , would be straight forward for Tom Tom who have access, heres a link to there Eircode response. Keying in a UK Post-code would be similar to keying a 7 digit Eircode. I'd love to get the Eircode working , because it would make life easier for road users in Ireland. I did try to get an email for Tom Tom , but none out there.

Eircode Integrated into TomTom Maps

Eircode

www.eircode.ie

Thanks for popping back to me , Greg ,

 

[canderson]

I'm a little confused. The article says " TomTom has integrated Eircode into its map of the Republic of Ireland". Are you saying that this feature exists on other TomTom devices, but not your 520 maps?
In order to help, we'd still need to find a file somewhere that contains the Eircodes so that we could try to convert it to the TomTom *.ov2 format.
BTW - and so we're 100% clear, none of us here works for TomTom.

 

[GregOD]

Canderson.... I setup TomTom Mydrive connect on my computer. Selected route planner , selected a location , for the purposes of this exercise/education , I choose 'Glasnevin'. You can see the Eircodes are there (7 digits ) , . (for the purpose of this exercise/education they very general addresses.... The 7 digit code is there. On my model of TomTom satnav , I'd like to enter the 7 digit code directly into the Satnav. Remember I can send the address from the Route Planner on my computer to the TomTom . That works fine .... But , if I have no computer with me in the car , I would like to be able to input the Eircode directly , and it would direct to my address , same as you would enter a postcode. I can't go around with a computer all the time. Because the TomTom system is so clear , in terms of screen etc , it would be great to choose an Eircode and off I go. You are so right about finding the file , and converting it to TomTom format . The reason I'm asking about this , many times , I could get a call at home , and I'd be asked whats my EIrcode , I'd give and they would put it into there system.... Thanks for the follow thru and I'm delighted to join the forum , because I wanted to learn more about Navigation , use TomTom to find addresses. Greg

Thanks for the interest in this , I know it can be done , but how !... Greg , Ireland

 

[GregOD]

Canderson... saw this thread on the net .... its giving advice on entering full post-codes on TomTom. I suppose I'm looking to update similarily for Eircodes..... We're very close to a solution..... Thks, Greg

Updating to use full postcodes

When navigating to a location in the UK or the Netherlands you should be able to enter full digit postcodes. If you are only able to enter 4 digits, follow the instructions below. In this cas...

help.tomtom.com

 

[canderson]

Um... hang on a second... I think TomTom may have bit us in this conversation by (stupidly) re-using the GO 520 model for a more recent unit. The instructions I see at that link you supplied would apply to the GO 520 built back in 2007! It's possible to copy files directly to that device since you can see the folders/files on that device.

A different GO 520 was introduced just a couple of years ago. I assumed (possibly incorrectly) that you had the newer version. It is NOT possible to copy files to that one since you cannot see the folders/files on that device.

Which one DO you have? The old model had serial numbers starting with M2 and M4. The more recent ones start with a Z.

 

[GregOD]

Um... hang on a second... I think TomTom may have bit us in this conversation by (stupidly) re-using the GO 520 model for a more recent unit. The instructions I see at that link you supplied would apply to the GO 520 built back in 2007! It's possible to copy files directly to that device since you can see the folders/files on that device.

A different GO 520 was introduced just a couple of years ago. I assumed (possibly incorrectly) that you had the newer version. It is NOT possible to copy files to that one since you cannot see the folders/files on that device.

Which one DO you have? The old model had serial numbers starting with M2 and M4. The more recent ones start with a Z.

Canderson , yep , your research is good , the s/n on the box I have is , ZF6356........

looks like the newer one , ok ,

And interestingly when I connected the device via usb , unable to see the files ,

At least , this saves me all the running around , it was very hard to even research which physical devices allow you to input an eircode.

Every address in Ireland now has an eircode ,

Thanks , Greg

 

[canderson]

There have been a number of 'generations' of TomTom devices. We refer to the current ones as "Nav 4". The ones that had an open file system that allowed access to the files/folders were two generations back, "Nav 2".

So unless/until TomTom sorts this out, as I say, the only way I know to do what needs done is to create a file that will produce the necessary results. You earlier mentioned a *.gpx file. It sounded as though you might know a source for a *.gpx that contained all of the eircodes. If true, we need to know where that might be found so that we can have a look at it.

 

[GregOD]

example , on the attached file , eircode visible , selected from TomTom MyDrive , from my computer ,
At least now , I know the options , and also the possibilities open to me.

only know about .GPX file , because of internet search.

learned a lot from you , you definitely understand the issue ,

thks Greg