JGeo

I don't know whether it is since the latest site upgrade, but now you can add comments to bookmark lists, and hence create a private bookmark list with solved mysteries and their solutions. Great! Now, I have to find a way to sync my GSAK notes and corrected coordinates with my GC.com bookmarks.

Why are the context-menu's removed, like they were on the etrexes? Like: you are in a map, and want to change its settings. Or want to find points around the location to where you scrolled? I still think the interface is much too 1-dimensional. Cross links should be introduced.

Indeed, a similar request as mine (link to my previous post). I looked for something similar, but apparently missed yours. Only, I didn't connect it to Bookmark lists (I would like it for any cache), and I suggested some display features (shown on top of other logs, shown on printer friendly pages, included as a separate field in gpx files). Regarding the private-user-comments as a type of special log allows it to be implemented using the existing log database, reducing the implementation effort for GC.com. But for full functionality, the comments should be treated different from other types of logs, and displayed differently, on other places, and in gpx files. Private-user-comments could be deleted once a cache is found, although many will object. And they could include additional child waypoints, like final coordinates for solved mysteries, but that would require more effort, I think, and will lead to an endless discussion about what more features could be added. But let's continue the discussion until a good proposal is compiled, and then suggest it to GC.com.

Indeed, a similar request as mine. I looked for something similar, but apparently missed yours. Only, I didn't connect it to Bookmark lists (I would like it for any cache), and I suggested some display features (shown on top of other logs, shown on printer friendly pages, included as a separate field in gpx files). Regarding the private-user-comments as a type of special log allows it to be implemented using the existing log database, reducing the implementation effort for GC.com. But for full functionality, the comments should be treated different from other types of logs, and displayed differently, on other places, and in gpx files. Private-user-comments could be deleted once a cache is found, although many will object. And they could include additional child waypoints, like final coordinates for solved mysteries, but that would require more effort, I think, and will lead to an endless discussion about what more features could be added. But let's continue the discussion until a good proposal is compiled, and then suggest it to GC.com.

I have a request, and I hope it is shared with others. Add a user note to every cache. Every user can log every cache, or post a note. This is similar, although this would be a note type that only a user himself can read. Include this note on top of the other logs, and on the printer-friendly page, so that you have it at hand when going for the actual hunt. Include the note in the GPS files (pocket queries as well), so when downloading to ones GPS device, the note is included for paperless geocaching. Seems like the database infrastructure is present already, but it needs some effort still, I presume. The discussion about solved mysteries could be included in this one: let a user change the coordinate at which he sees a cache. If he solves the mystery, it is updated on all *his* maps and GPX files. He should still be able to see the original coordinates somehow, and they should also be present in GPX files, for archives like GSAK. It is his own responsibility to have the correct updated coordinates. I know this functionality is included in GSAK already, but I like to idea to store my notes somewhere online, and also to have them by a simple GC-to-GPX-to-GPS download in my GPS.

Is it possible to create a button in a Wherigo that takes me to a dialog that enables to enter a value? I want to use input from information obtained on site to calculate the position of the next zone, i.e. by changing a variable, and setting the zone position from that. However, if I want to change the variable (wrong input, for example), I need some 'button' on the screen to go back to the dialog. How could I do that? Or should I use objects to achieve such a thing? * Pick up a pencil triggers a multiple choice dialog * Each choice is a variable * When selecting something, the variable value input dialog is opened * Using the input dialog, a variable is changed, and the coordianates are updated * I drop the pencil Would that work?

When playing a Wherigo, I don't the normal map screen. Right? Can I somehow create a normal waypoint from a Wherigo, navigate to it, while using the GPS normally (with maps, etc.), and then, after completing some task over there, resume the Wherigo and go the next point? That sounds to me a quite normal way of working. But how do I achieve that by coding a Wherigo?

Oh, I don't mean to have this field filled in obligatory. My point is that by making it a separate field (with a blank option), cache-owners are encouraged to think about adding this information. I do agree that there is a significant number of caches where the fun would be spoiled knowning in advance how long the hike will take and what is the distance. And of course, the distance may vary a lot, depending on ones hiking- and geocaching skills. It's just that for a number of caches, especially the ones that would be nice to undertake in a family-setting, it would be very convenient to know in advance what you can expect. There is no problem in putting the distance and/or time information in the cache description. Would work fine. I don't need it in my .gpx file or pocketquery (although that would be convenient). The point is that I notice that often it is not contained in the description, and therefore not listed at all, although it would have suited there fine, for that particular cache. And I would have started that cache with kids and family, were it not that I didn't know what to expect. My point is that by making it a separate field (with a blank option), cache-owners are encouraged to think about adding this information.

In my opinion, "significant hike" and "takes less than an hour" are still a bit vague. I conicider a significant hike to be a daytrip, but for others, more than an hour would be quite significant. A distance would be a better indication, independent of one's walking/biking speed. Don't you agree?

Well, I know the travelling salesman is quite a hard optimization problem. I try to do that myself (with the brain), using the route-drag option of maps.google.com (indeed, the website is what I ment). But I read I can use 'My Maps' to upload waypoints. And now I found the option. It only took a while to convert a gpx file from GSAK to kml format voor maps.google.com. Now it works. Fine! Thanks!

Sometimes, for the family-walk-multi-cache-type, it would be quite nice to have the roundtrip distance listed on the GC.com cache details page. Now, a cache owner can decide himself whether or not he lists the distance on the page (in plain text). It should stay that way, in my opinion, as for some multi-caches, the mystery of the distance is part of the challange. But by making it a separate input field (with for example 0-1 km, 1-5, 5-10, 10-20, >20 km, and 'undisclosed' options), it triggers at least the cache publisher to think about whether or not to include and disclose the distance. Alternatively, the cache attribute icons could be used (with different icons for the different distances ranges). Advantage of a separate information-field would be that it could unambiguously be included in a pocket-query .gpx file (and loaded in GSAK for example). Before I suggest/request this to GC.com, I would like to start a discussion here on the forum to poll if people agree or disagree. Would you like a separate roundtrip distance entry on (multi-)cache pages, to be entered by the cache owner?

Can I add a poll, somehow?

There are multiple sites that use Google Maps, and that can load gpx files, but none of them I know of can do AUTOROUTING. That seems to be the whole point. I'm afraid I have to make that myself.

Does anyone know of a way to get (geocaching) waypoints loaded onto the standard Google map? The geocaching.com google map (very nice by the way) does not allow for autorouting. But the standard google map page does not allow for showing my own waypoints. Or does it?

I use Notifications to get early warnings about near published caches, but temp. disabled etc. ones as well. However, I'd like to filter on the 'found by me' status. It would be nice to receive notifications about new, disabled, enabled, updated, moved caches in my neighbourhood, but only for caches I have not yet found. Now, I get emails (and SMSs, as I forward them to my phone number) of all cache status changes, but that is much more than I would like to receive. This does not seem to be possible at the moment. Would anyone agree that this would be a nice additional feature of geocaching.com? In addition, it would be nice to include the GCxxxxx ID in the email subject. Thereby, I could (using Procmail and some cUrl scripting) filter easily myself on which caches I did find and which I didn't, with my own webserver. Seems easy to add seven characters to the Notification email Subject line. Do you agree? I did send those suggestions to geocaching.com, but they replied that I should propose these in this forum first. JGeo

I get 'Archive, Temporarily Disable Listing, Update Coordinates, Needs Maintenance' notifications as well, and those I consider important for caches I'd still like to find. To avoid looking for a cache that just got lost, or a multi where a point just got missing, etc. But not for the caches I already found, of course.

Can I exclude the caches found by me from the notifications? Notifications are emails (sent to my mobile phone through an email-to-mobile service) sent immediately when something new appears for certain caches. Now, you can only filter on radius from a certain point, and type of notification (published/disabled/user not/enabled/etc.). But I would only like to receive information for caches that I didn't yet find. How is that possible? And if it isn't, could this feature by added? It would save a lot of emails and SMS's (and cost).

With the new Flash spoiler pictures and images on the cache pages, it is harder to print them (which seems quite essential for spoiler pictures). Is the only way to disable JavaScript, or is there some easier method?

When I print a cache page (which I do most often for mystery caches I want to solve off-line), sometimes images are required to solve the puzzle. And some cache owners don't show the image inside the cache description, but only the link to it is shown in the spoiler section of the page. In principle, that I would regard as an error by the cache owner, but on the printer friendly page, the image is not shown, nor printed, nor is there any remark that images are available on the cache page, which might be crucial for solving the cache puzzle. It would be nice to have at least a remark, and even better, the image should be shown and printed. Do you agree?

For trackable items, there is a tag id code required to be able to log them. Is'n it strange that this is not (optionally) required for geocaches themselves? I want to make sure that my cache is found by someone, before s/he can log it, by providing a code in the cache container, by which, and only by which, the finder is able to log the cache on internet. Of course, I can go and check the logbook, but an "electronic check" would be preferred. This could be made optional, to allow for the 'classic' logging without verification. Do you agree? I suggested this to Groundspeak, but they would like to see a public discussion first.

With a mobile browser which does not support frames (in my case: Palmscape on a Palm, connecting through IR to a mobile phone) it seems impossible to browse the GC.com site (for viewing CG pages while travelling). Or is there a workaround, to view the GC pages without frames? If so: what is the http address?

I have a problem with GSAK and Cachemate. Anybody else? When I create a cachemate .pdb file, and select "intstall to Palm after conversion", the .pdb file is no longer installed to my Palm, but I have to add it manually. I do not know since which update this doesn't work anymore, or whether it is my own problem, since I reinstalled XP some weeks ago. However, when I double-click a pdb file, it is installed, so the file association does work. How do I get GSAK to call the Palm install tool automatically again? JGeo

I find it a bit complicated to open the five mails, open each attachment, then unzip it, then open the .gpx file in GSAK, then proceed to the next attachment, etc. An option in the queries to select only caches that have been updated of logged in the last X days would do the same job. And I don't think this is much effort to implement.

The maximum number of caches in a single pocket query seems to be 500. In the Netherlands alone, there are already more then 2000 caches at the moment, so I need 5 queueries to update them all on a regular basis. It would be convenient for me if everything could be combined in a single file. And it yould be even more convenient if I would only get the changes since the last queuery was send. This last option, I think, would not only save me a lot of mailbox space, bur would save a lot of bandwidth on the geocaching.com server as well, so it would be adavantageous in both ways. How about this idea? I sent this to contact@Groundspeak.com, but they replied I should post this in the forum. As I think the point of my suggestion is overlooked, and the advantageous point is missed, this option will not be implemented soon. Therefore, my question to the forum is: is there another way to bypass the maximum number of 500? I would like to get all the Netherlands (2000+) in a single .gpx file somehow. The response of Groundspeak was "Yes, 500 is the maximum number of caches you may download per query. We do this to limit the load placed on our site."; but this doesn't make sense to me, since having 5 queries to do the job only imposes a larger load on the site servers.