roolku

If you like arial views, try here: http://www.edinburghguide.com/travel/maps/index.htm (click airphoto). You should be able to make out the logs under which the caches are hidden. Roolku

I have updated the map to use the smaller but more visible icons and also added an arial view Roolku

A lot of activity since I last looked. Let's see. * No, I don't have a professional licence: about box * you need the latest version of the OS edition for this to work which you can get here: http://www.memory-map.co.uk/dl_mm_OS_2004.htm * for the icons to be imported they need to be at the right place - you might want to check that the *.csv has the correct path by looking at it with a text editor * you should be able to import them manually by using the menu: overlay/icons and then add, although the script then won't know what ID numbers they have * sorry about the cvs/csv confusion. it doesn't really matter what it is called as long as it is consistant. I would recommend using csv (comma separated values) * where the output file (the one after the -o) goes and what it is called doesn't really matter (although the extension should be correct: *.csv (or mxf for my fist version)) * for birders problem: I assume you have installed msxsl, did you also get the MSXML 4.0 (step 2) ? * if you run it again in debug mode - before you press a key, can you get me the c:\program files\gsak\temp\babel.gpx file and email it as an attachment to roolku@blueyonder.co.uk so I can see if it works here Well, if everything works, this is what you get: example

Argh! I think I know the problem. There is a typo in the command line. It should read: msxsl temp\babel.gpx csv.xsl -o d:\gps\mmo\geocache.csv csv.xsl NOT cvs.xsl See if this cures it. If not, can you tick the box that says debug in the "GPSBabel Custom Export" dialog box and see if there are any error messages? It should just read: -------------------------- C:\Program Files\GSAK>msxsl temp\babel.gpx csv.xsl -o d:\gps\mmo\geocache.csv C:\Program Files\GSAK>pause Press any key to continue . . . ---------------------------- Cheers Roolku

You can only have one symbol (blue blob IIRC) for all waypoints with standard gsak export. That is why I developed the extra script. Cheers Roolku

Okay, the file/link in the original post has been superseeded now. I have prepared a self-extracting archive that should make things a little easier in step 3 (if you trust me not to send you any viruses). This is the link. It should prompt you to open or download - select open if you don't want to keep a copy. After a while a dialog box should ask you: Unpack all files to: Change the entry to c:\ and click ok. This will put all the files in the right location (step 4) provided gsak is installed in c:\program files\gsak and you can continue with step 5 Alternatively you can download the zip file from here and extract it manually. Both, the zip and the exe, contain a readme.txt with instructions. Let me know if you need more help.

Since the new version of memory map (free upgrade on MM site) now allows the import of CSV files, I have redone my xsl script. Here are the instructions from the readme.txt: ------- One thing that always annoyed me when exporting caches to Memory Map was the fact that there was only one type of icon unlike with for instance Ozi Explorer, where you get different symbols/colours for found/not found/owned etc caches. I tracked the problem down to gpsbabel which will always create the same single icon, as well as the limits that Memory Map puts on the mxf format by only allowing a limited number of icons. The latest version of memory map (free upgrade on MM site) now allows the import of CSV files and supports the use of custom icons. So I have created a xsl script that improves the export from GSAK to Memory Map via csv files and supports: * 9 different cache types (including micro) * colour coding (as in GSAK): Owned, Found, Unavailable, NotFound * a travel bug indicator * categories to selectively hide caches (e.g. only show Owned) * link from icon to cache page on the web My solution to the problem makes use of the fact that gpx files are XML files (they are a bit messed up though, but good enough for what I wanted to do) which can be easily transformed using XSL and I also used the generic "GPSBabel custom export" option in the file/export menu of GSAK. So if you are still with me, here is the quick guide on how to use it: 1) get msxsl.exe from microsoft and copy in GSAK directory (usually C:\program files\gsak) link 2) if you don't have internet explorer 6 you will need to get MSXML 4.0 and install it link 3) get the zip file from my website link 4a) put the xsl script in the GSAK directory (usually C:\program files\gsak) 4b) extract the icons from the zip file to c:\program files\gsak\icons (if you extract the zipfiles with directories to c:\ it should put things in the right place automatically) 5) in GASK open "File/Export/GPSBabel custom export" and put the following line in the box that says "GPSBabel statement ..." (you might want to adapt the output path to your requirement) msxsl temp\babel.gpx csv.xsl -o d:\geocache.csv 6) change the other options to your taste and click okay and you should get a geocache.mxf file ready for import into memory map ------- If all goes as planned you can now import the file d:\geocache.csv and see the caches plotted on the map. Cheers Roolku (edited for more clarity)

Maybe I should let Haggis Hunter answer this as it was his idea but since I have been involved a little I thought I'll give it a go. I can only support this idea. That is what it was created for. The original plan was 22. At the moment there are 17 and looking at the distribution I expect about 3 more to come. Team Bostik said it would help out with one or two caches, but they are currently on holiday until 15/8. And Firth of Forth & I are currently working on another one. With Ben Nevis coming up I would expect 2 more weeks until it is complete. (correct me HH if I am wrong). I think a bike will come in very handy. Good suggestion with the hire shop. We will look into it. I tried to plot the caches on a map, but it will either be very big or not contain much detail. The order from the south to the north is the order in which they are listed in the first cache of the series (a click on the logo will get you there). Having been up and down the Walkway many times recently setting and finding caches, I think it is feasible (maybe even on foot). I would estimate the overall distance along the water at 20km (but this is excluding the running around for the multies). Most caches are relatively easy to find although one was a DNF for me the first time I tried. I hope you will enjoy it. Good luck. Roolku P.S. For those of you who don't know what we are talking about, here is the link to the first cache in the series.

In my experience they are the worst in August. I will be wearing the midge-net I swapped at the 2nd Scottish Cache Bash. Now I just have to work out how to drink beer while wearing it. Roolku

I hope to clear the 30km radius tomorrow. But I have to keep finding closer ones as well that keep popping up. Roolku

Use the number from this picture: http://img.Groundspeak.com/track/log/a74c5...780a614ac96.jpg and see if you can retrieve the TB again. Roolku

Personally I like a little more breathing space as temporarily disabled caches get re-activated and may drive the count over 500 for individual queries. Also I don't use the "is active" flag as than I won't have an indication that caches get disabled or archived - they would happily live on in my local GSAK database. Roolku

I think markandlynn got it right - you need to set your home co-ordinates. I got my notification sorted by distance from home until I disabled it in favour of pocket queries. Roolku

Yes there is. Select "Locationless (Reverse) Cache" as type, then select countries, click on the first country, scroll down shift-click last country. Bingo. Roolku

I'm a bit puzzled there Roolku ?? Why do you need to download all the UK caches every week ?? (remember I'm knew to this game LOL). Surely you only need certain subsets of that lot ?? So I must be missing something?? Ullium. Yes, but I don't know which subsets I will need in the future. So I am building up the logs for all of them in the gsak database in case I will get into the area. For example cache A is found 4 times in week 1, 5 times in week 2 and 4 times in week 3. If I only get one pocket query in week 3 I will only get 5 logs. If I import them regularely into gsak, I will get all 11. Roolku

I still think that there could have been a better way to restrict the volume and server memory than this blanket restriction to 5 past logs They are clearly doing themselves a disservice. If I knew I could get all the logs in the pocket querry I wouldn't need to download all UK caches every week. Roolku

For those who don't read the UK forum but use GSAK in conjunction with Memory Map, this might be of interest. Cheers Roolku

Me too, me too. I assumed that pocket querries only contain the last 5 logs so I don't use them directly but import them into GSAK regularely and build up the history there (you have to be careful with the interval - if a cache is found more often that 5 times inbetween updates you get gaps). Obviously this means I don't get the logs from before I started doing it, but better than nothing. Incidently I always wondered if an old time GSAK user with old logs (Pharisee?) would be willing to export his database as gpx and contribute the file to the community. Cheers Roolku

I am sure there is a way to properly escape the apostrophy, but I can't find it at the moment. As a workaround I suggest you use: <xsl:when test="starts-with(Groundspeak:cache/Groundspeak:owner,'Lennie')"> Roolku

I know there are some GSAK and Memory Map users here, so I thought I would share the following with you: One thing that always annoyed me when exporting caches to Memory Map was the fact that there was only one type of icon unlike with for instance Ozi Explorer, where you get different symbols/colours for found/not found/owned etc caches. I tracked the problem down to gpsbabel which will always create the same single icon, as well as the limits that Memory Map puts on the mxf format by only allowing the following icons: Dot = 37, House = 118, Fuel = 145, Car = 112, Fish = 130, Boat = 121, Skull = 22, Flag = 23, Camp = 111, Deer = 129, First Aid = 138 My solution to the problem makes use of the fact that gpx files are XML files (they are a bit messed up though, but good enough for what i wanted to do) which can be easily transformed using XSL and I also used the generic "GPSBabel custom export" option in the file/export menu of GSAK. The script will search through the following list for every exported cache and assign the icon as soon as the condition is true: own = House = 118 found = Camp = 111 not available = Skull = 22 multi = Car = 112 virtual = Boat = 121 other non-traditional = Flag = 23 micro = Dot = 37 bug = Fish = 130 everything else (unfound traditional larger than micro without bug) = First Aid = 138 So if you are still with me, here is the quick guide on how to use it: 1) get msxsl.exe from microsoft (here) and copy in GSAK directory (usually C:\program files\gsak) 2) if you don't have internet explorer 6 you will need to get MSXML 4.0 (here) and install it 3) get the xsl script from my website (here) and put in the GSAK directory (usually C:\program files\gsak) 4) in GASK open "File/Export/GPSBabel custom export" and put the following line in the box that says "GPSBabel statement ..." (you might want to adapt the output path to your requirement) msxsl temp\babel.gpx mxf.xsl -o d:\geocache.mxf 5) change the other options to your taste and click okay and you should get a geocache.mxf file ready for import into memory map I hope this makes sense. The script can be tweaked if you don't like my selection of icons etc. Let me know if there is interest. Cheers Roolku (edited to create clickable links)

I only noticed because I had placed two bugs in one cache myself and was surprised to see someone had only taken one (they are both still there actually). I tried again with a fresh download and clean DB. The gpx file contains both TBs, the offline html only one. Email is on its way. Cheers Roolku

I just discovered that the offline page for caches shows only one travel bug even if there are two (haven't found a cache with three or more yet). Is this a bug or a known limitation? Cheers Roolku

Darn it, you really want me to come HH, don't you? Event cache. Hm. Well. I'll see what I can do. Postie's latest notice makes it even more appealing. Roolku

Don't know if _the_ best, but I have just done the "East Lothian Quartet" and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I better go and log it now.... Roolku

Not sure about Glasgow, but if you make it to Edinburgh, there are several caches within easy walking distance of the city centre. And don't forget the multi caches if you got the time. The are well worth it. You can do a search for GCHXMH (which is bang in the middle) on http://www.geocaching.com or http://stats.guk2.com/caches to get caches close to it. Use www.multimap.co.uk to get an idea where they are. Roolku