Stacie R. asks:
Is there a GPS system that will allow me to import my sales territory which is on excel with columns such as Agency Name, Address, City, State, ZIP (similar to mappoint) onto a GPS? I could have 1000 or more addresses based on a several state territory which is why I can't manually add them. Or, can you export excel to outlook and then to a gps from outlook?

You can easily look up client addresses and turn them into GPS waypoints, using the Go to Address command in ExpertGPS. This is great for adding new clients, or for when you only want to convert a few addresses to GPS latitude and longitude (this process is called geocoding).

To import your entire client base from Excel or Outlook, I'd recommend that you use a batch geocoder, and then use ExpertGPS to send the converted (geocoded) addresses to your Garmin nuvi (or other automotive GPS).

I've written a tutorial which will walk you through all of the steps for converting a list of addresses from Excel or Outlook into GPS waypoints. If you need help with any part of this process, or with any other GPS data conversion, just ask the GPS expert. I'm always happy to help.

Additional Information about Geocoding (Converting Addresses to GPS Coordinates)

Geocoding Tutorials with ExpertGPS

Valerie asks:
I own an RV Park in Dillon, Montana. I have been told by several customers that we are not listed on Garmin GPS. How do I be sure that we are listed on GPS systems. I have checked into Google maps etc. This park has been here for at least 10 years. I have owned it since June 2008. Please help as this is a very important issue to my business.

These days, more and more car owners are relying on their dashboard GPS receivers to guide them to your business. If you aren't listed in the GPS POI (Point of Interest) database under the appropriate category (Shopping, Restaurants, RV Parks) or if your address is wrong in the GPS listing, you're going to miss out on business.

Getting a GPS manufacturer to update your business listing can be a real pain - here are some tips to help get you listed correctly.

Start with the Data Providers

NAVTEQ provides POI data to GPS vendors, and you can update your business listing with their Map Reporter.

TeleAtlas lets you send them Map Feedback, including the ability to update or add a business listing.

InfoUSA provides business listings to all sorts of clients, including GPS manufacturers. Visit their Web site and click Update my Listing at the bottom of the home page

Update any Specialty Data Providers

Woodall's RV park database has been used by some GPS and map vendors - make sure your RV park or campground is listed here.

There may be other definitive resources for your particular niche - Fodor's for restaurants, for example. Make sure you're listed, so that any GPS manufacturer that licenses their database will get your listing.

Add your business to downloadable POI files

Start searching for sites that list POI files for your business category: "RV Park POIs", "Antique Shop POIs Garmin", etc. There are plenty of POI trading sites out there that would be happy to have your listing added to their POI database.

Got a favorite POI site? Did I miss an important POI business link in the article above? Add your comments below!

Joe from South Carolina asks:
I am trying to set up a waypoint for 408 richfarm ct, lexington, sc 29072. It plots it with the incorrect coordinates about 5 mi NE of proper location. (it is really off of richmond farm circle, which it plots correctly.) Is your source data outdated?? I want to purchase your software, but I need to know the data will be current.

How can I find the location of this newly-constructed road?

I couldn't find your address using ExpertGPS, and I couldn't find it using Google Maps, either. A look at the 2008 aerial photo in Google Maps shows that there are several new roads being constructed in that development - presumably that's where Richfarm Ct is.

The Go to Address command in ExpertGPS queries an online geocoding service to try to turn the address you provide (in this case, 408 richfarm ct, lexington, sc 29072) into latitude and longitude. There are three main sources of US geocoding data: the US census, Navtech, and TeleAtlas. US census data is collected every 10 years, so it's typically missing new developments. But it's free, which is why many geocoders use it. The service ExpertGPS uses relies on premium data from the private data vendors, which means you get better results.

But the sad truth is that it takes a bit of time from when a new sub-division gets built out until the private data vendors actually get the street geocoded and into their subscription databases. I actually got a hefty brochure in the mail last month from a company who's sole purpose is to speed this process up - by somehow monitoring all of the new construction in the US, they hope to be able to provide geocoding information for new developments at the time they are approved, rather than waiting for the bulldozers to do their magic. Presumably one of the big data vendors will buy them up and we'll all benefit from better address lookups for new construction.

In the meantime, my advice to you if you're not able to find the address of a newly-constructed street or building using ExpertGPS is to: 1. check your spelling 2. check Google Maps or another online mapping service 3. enter the nearest cross-street, and go from there 4. use the Urban Photos view in ExpertGPS - can you see the new road? 5. run Google Earth - if you can find the road there, add a Placemark, and copy and paste back into ExpertGPS.

Maxwell asks:
I'm trying to use my Garmin NUVI 350 along with your software. Here is my intention: 1. able to punch in multiple locations like 60-80++ addresses in the US at a time and be able to see those locations on my computer. 2. those 60-80++ addresses need to be transferred to my NUVI 350 that way I can triangulate the locations and go to those locations with the route already set from computer. Questions for you: 1. Is your software capable to do those 2 things I would like to do? 2. If yes, where can I find the user guide how to do it on your software?

How to Convert Street Addresses to Waypoints for my GPS?

The process of converting street addresses (1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC) into GPS waypoints with latitude and longitude (38.89859, -77.035971) is called geocoding. ExpertGPS has a built-in geocoder, the Go to Address command on the Help menu, which can geocode addresses in the United States, Canada, and dozens of other countries throughout Europe and Asia. Just click Go to Address on the Go menu, type in the address, and press the Find button. ExpertGPS will convert the address into a latitude and longitude that your GPS can understand, and the map in ExpertGPS will jump to show the address you entered. Then press Waypoint to create a GPS waypoint at this location.

The second part of your question asked if it was possible for ExpertGPS to create routes to these addresses that your Garmin nuvi 350 could follow. ExpertGPS can create routes and send them to Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance, and Eagle GPS receivers. Unfortunately, Garmin has removed the routing capabilities from its low-end nuvi GPS receivers. The Garmin nuvi 350 and other 200 and 300-series nuvis can't record GPS tracklogs, and they can't follow a route sent from the PC. For this, you'd need something like the Garmin nuvi 750.

Batch Geocoding

If you really have more than a few addresses to convert to GPS coordinates, you might be better off using a free batch geocoder. Paste in a list of addresses, geocode them, and then paste the result into the Waypoint List in ExpertGPS.

Related Topics
Ask the GPS Expert: How do I make a map showing all these addresses I have in my Excel spreadsheet?

Maxwell asks:
I'm trying to punch in multiple locations like 60-80 addresses in the US at a time and be able to see those locations on my computer.

Batch Geocoding: Converting Addresses to GPS Coordinates

The process of converting street addresses (17150 East Gale Avenue, City Of Industry CA 91745) into GPS waypoints with latitude and longitude (N34.00016 W117.93220) is called geocoding. ExpertGPS has a built-in geocoder, the Go to Address command on the Help menu. But if you have more than a few addresses to convert to GPS coordinates, especially if they are in an Excel spreadsheet or some other delimited format, you might be better off using a free batch geocoder. Paste in a list of addresses, geocode them, and then paste the result into the Waypoint List in ExpertGPS.

Here are the steps I used to convert the address data below into GPS waypoints I could view on the map in ExpertGPS or send to the GPS receiver in my car as Points of Interest (POIs):

Arrange your data in Excel, and make sure it has a header row. I found some Excel data listing all of the Walmart stores in California - the sample data is listed below.

Sample Excel Address Data: All Walmart Stores in California

Go to www.batchgeocode.com/, and paste your delimited address data into the form in Step #2. Press Validate Source, and then Run Geocoder.

After the geocoder finishes geocoding your addresses, select the output (Step #6 at batchgeocode.com) and paste it into the Waypoint List in ExpertGPS. The geocoded results should look like the ones below:

Geocoded Results: CA Walmart Stores with Latitude/Longitude

When you paste the geocoded results into the Waypoint List in ExpertGPS, you'll need to match up the columns in your geocoded data with the data columns in ExpertGPS. Make sure you're working with hddd.ddddd coordinates, WGS84 datum in ExpertGPS! Check the box that says your data has a header row. Match up bg_lat to Latitude, bg_long with Longitude. I put the store name data in ExpertGPS' Label field, and the address in Description. When you're done, click OK and ExpertGPS will create new waypoints for each address. You can double-click any waypoint to view it on the map, or send the entire list to your GPS receiver.

Related Topics
Ask the GPS Expert: How can I convert a single address to GPS coordinates for my GPS?