Hi Bernd,
our group in Brazil found that in all Garmin Nuvis this problem to print the REF and NAME in the hbox, box or oval, using the default styles.
We are not programmers and we do not know the correct method,, but solved the problem excluding the $ {name} in the line:
highway = trunk {name '$ {ref | highway-symbol: hbox} $ {name}' | '$ {ref | highway-symbol: hbox}' | '$ {name}'; addlabel '$ {name} ({$ ref})'}
 
We proceed as follows:
 
highway = trunk
{
name '$ {ref | highway-symbol: hbox' |
  '$ {ref | highway-symbol: hbox}' |
  '$ {name}';
addlabel '$ {name} ({$ ref})'
  }
 
We do so for highways motorway, primary and secondary.
 
[]s
Marcio
 
-----Mensagem Original-----
From: Bernd Weigelt
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2015 8:04 AM
To: Development list for mkgmap
Subject: [mkgmap-dev] Problem with too large shields on streets with ref andname
 
Hi
 
Could it be, that this rule is a little bit too much for some devices?
 
highway=trunk
                {
                  name '${ref|highway-symbol:hbox} ${name}' |
                       '${ref|highway-symbol:hbox}' |
                       '${name}';
                  addlabel '${name} (${ref})'
                }
The rule ist the same as in the default style, but i break the line to make it
better readable for me.
 
My nüvi 2445 shows annoying large shields if a street has ref _and_ name, my
O650 don't do this, it shows the shieldonly on streets without name.
See the attached screenshots from both devices.
 
 
Bernd