LeBuckZoo

Singing in a barbershop chorus or quartet.

You can also leave your GPSr connected to the computer and S&T will show your current location and (relatively) good directions to your next stop. But no, it's not a smart enough program to download maps to the GPS.

I just fought this problem as well... in my case it WAS Activesync. It took over the serial port and wouldn't let it go. There's settings in the "connection settings" area that you must change to release the port. Even then, when you reboot the computer, ActiveSync seems to regrab all the serial ports... it's a PITA!

How about: "Your Cache Ain't Nothin But Trash" (Huey Lewis) "Songs From The Wood" (Jethro Tull) OK, so Huey spells it "cash", but it's the thought that counts

(twjolson @ May 11 2005, 12:34 PM) There's nothing in our sport that allows disrupting graves. Period. I sincerely doubt that any cache that required you to "disrupt a grave" would ever get approved. The caches that I've visited in graveyards were very respectful and really worth the visit. Often they were to help memorialize the work of some important individual. Thus, your basic concept there is false. We're not disrupting graves, unless you count walking around them and talking about them disrupting. And if that's the case, then you need to review the idea of picnics, small (bored) children playing "tag" etc. in cemeteries. In fact, the cachers at remote graveyards are more likely to be respectful and report improper behavior than most other visitors.

I gotta say. This is a GREAT addition to the arsenal of tools that I use regularly... THANK YOU! <snip/edit> replace problem issue with the reading of the changes in version 1.02... Thanks again!

To me, the DNF is a note for the hider and future hunters. I read it with the words "Looked for it but" in front of the DNF. If a hunter couldn't even start to find a cache of mine and there's something I could do to help (like posting directions to parking, as happened to me), then I like to get DNFs. If someone drove to the parking area, got out, then realized they didn't have time to go look, I don't really need to know. If someone went, looked, and didn't find (even if they plan on returning and trying again) I'd really like to know (as a DNF). To me, notes are more commentary or TB drops than DNFs. I also use notes if I'm returning to a cache that I already found (even if it's a traveling one -- see this one) because I only want to "find" it once.

This is getting outside the scope of features I have planned for GSAK. However, if you really wanted to do this you can configure your data store to a network drive. This would probably only be viable on a lan or a very fast broadband connection. I use two computers also. I keep my desktop up to date, then when I'm ready to go out, I backup my database to a networked folder on my laptop, then restore it on the laptop. When I get back, I backup my laptop to the same networked folder and restore my desktop's database. It seems to me that there should be a way to use the autorun macro (whatever it's called) to recover certain databases that were saved to a network drive... In essence that's what I do now. I don't see a macro command that does anything with backup/recovery though. (And would that help solve this idea?) It's not a lot of work, so it doesn't really matter to me if it's in a macro, but to someone who's out every day, it might make a difference.

That was me... I use GSAK and export to HTML (up to about 800 locations) then convert it to iPod Notes (a sort-of HTML format) using a program that I wrote. The program is available (freeware) at http://www.topcats.net/Software/ The iPod can hold and interrelate up to 1000 4K text documents. The HTML listings are often bigger than 4K once converted, thus I typically keep about 750 listings on my iPod at any time. These listings have a master index and many sorted index files (all thanks to GSAK). In order to make it reasonable, I usually export no more than 3 logs per cache and select the checkbox that puts the hint on the same page (cutting the file count almost in half). The program reads an HTML file directory and writes ".HPD" files into another directory, splitting and linking as needed. Then all you do is copy that folder to the "Notes" folder on you iPod (as a hard drive). So, why don't I use the "vcf" format from GPSBabel that goes into the address book? Because GSAK's HTML export allows you to create all those neat indexes, including indexes based on bearing from center, distance from center, name, etc... and this seemed like a cool way to do it, and I'm a programmer who works insanely busy at some times, then no work at others... this was one of the "no work" periods. Alan LeVezu LeBuckZoo PS this was discussed Here and starting Here LeBuckZoo edited for clarity

Sorry about the OT start... maybe this should be moved to the "route" thread and continued. I'd already read that thread a while ago (and added a note). But hadn't seen any real movement along it recently, so was trying to figure out my own solution using GSAK. Somehow I didn't connect the two! BTW, Thanks for your thoughts and efforts on this subject. So, the question goes back to, can I help? Alan

OK Robert Thanks for the info I'll take it from there... So... Next question... If I'm putting together a repository of interstate intersections in the GSAK format for general public use and volunteer edit/update, should I post that here? (I haven't done it yet, but I see no reason not to.) Alan

Hi all Clyde - Thanks again for the software. I'm really starting to use some of the more "obscure" filters now that I'm getting really into the program. This question is only indirectly for you... (as in, you may know the answer, but the WWW is a really big place) I've now got my PQs set so that I get a big enough area to work from and am starting to use the GSAK "points" filter. I understand that one of the intended/possible uses of this filter is to enter in all of the freeway exits and then find caches within a certain distance of them. So... Here's my question, is there a listing for coordinates of interstate intersections already available somewhere on the net (so I don't have to hand enter them)? If so, is it already in the format needed for GSAK? With intersection names commented in? (listed in order of desire) - Again, same as my last question, if not - that's OK... but then, should there be? Thanks in advance! Alan

I may get Markwelled on this, since I'm sure it's covered somewhere... but... KA said So... what's the policy on approvers and multis? Since we're supposed to give the coords of the multi (even one that takes incredible puzzle solving to figure out) how do you guys deal with that? I'm confident you have a really good set of guidelines for it, I'm just curious as to what they are? Thanks

New software on this topic - to convert GSAK's html files to iPod's Note format.

ClydeE wrote: Well... like I said... I'm a programmer. I built a cheap and dirty app that converts the HTML output from GSAK to the format that an iPod likes to see. Yes, it does the cross linking etc. You can get a very beta version at http://www.topcats.net/Software I decided to have it convert any htm file that it finds in the source directory into an ".hpd" file. This file is designed to work in the iPod's Notes folder. Limitations: The iPod will only handle 1000 files and it will only display the first 4K worth of data. (Hey, remember that an iPod is supposed to be a music playing device... I don't really want to hear any whining about these limitations. ) There's no documentation. I built it for me! But, it should be relatively straightforward to use. I'm listing it here in case other requests for it come up. Thanks again for the great software! Alan Alan

As I said, no problem! Just thought I'd ask! Alan

Unfortunately, it displays them... it doesn't tank... it just shows all of the tags EXCEPT the few it recognizes as text. In other words, I see When I open an html file. What's different is that the name of the file in the iPod is not listed, but the title (from the <title>Cache Name</title> tag) is, and whenever an <a> tag is present, it does show as a link. If Clyde has the "good judgement to just walk away" I wouldn't be upset. As I said, I'm also a programmer and will write an HTML stripper for the iPod if I need to myself. I was just wanting to know if it was easy for Clyde to do. Thanks again for the comments. Alan

Sort of... according to the article posted: in addition it supports the <a> tag... The link I gave earlier: http://www.macworld.com/2004/09/secrets/se...actor/index.php gives the details on this. Alan

OK Robert, The "Custom Export" option in GSAK allows me to try the vcard option, but I'm not sure that I've got the command line right. For instance, I'm not sure how to get multiple .vcf files (one for each cache, for instance) or even if I really need them (it appears that I do, but I'm not sure). [edit - answered my own question, I don't need multiple files] ----- Edited and added following comments Now I've played with it, and this does seem to work, but it's still not as optimal as a mini-html file. The indexes that Clyde includes in those really makes it cool! I was hoping that maybe he could just add a checkbox to the HTML export for use this way? Alan PS BTW, The iPod crashes with more than 2000 contacts in it - I didn't put that many into my query, it just thought there were that many in the vcf file.

I don't think so. Although I haven't played with it yet. Since it's not natively supported in GSAK I haven't tried it too far yet. In addition, I'd rather have the links through a main "index" document like the html type. Alan [edited typo]

Hi ClydeE, et al I'm a very happy customer of GSAK that wants to see if it's possible to do something... this may be a half GSAK and half GPSBabel question for all I know. I'd like to export to multiple individual text files. Similar to the HTML output option, but without most of the HTML formatting... I'd like the files to be individually named (by waypoint or whatever). And then... I'd love it if I could go further and get the same index type files like the HTML output, but with only simple linking. Why? (you may well ask...) well... I've got this toy called an iPod... and I learned that it can do some stuff that may not be obvious: http://www.macworld.com/2004/09/secrets/se...actor/index.php If it can be done, (or even partway done - where I can finish it myself) I'd love it. Being a programmer myself, I could do it, but if it's already done, or simple for someone to do, then I'd rather not! Thanks in advance

I know this is a minor complaint, but since I do a bunch of technical writing it's something that kinda bothers me... one of the log types is "needs archived"... shouldn't that be either "needs to be archived" or "needs archiving" or even "need archived"? It's really bad english the way it is now... Alan LeVezu

Thanks for the Official answer. I understand that approvers may not want a list posted, but somehow there must be a way to get a message to the area approver without knowing who it is? If a cache is submitted, how does the reviewer get it to review? Perhaps an equivalent system could get a message to the approver. I assume that the reviewer is assigned by coordinates, couldn't a message be sent (via the webpage) that included coordinates and then get routed to the right person? It might be simpler than having a bunch of questions get repeated to the boards. (BTW, I do web design, and yes, I'm familiar with the hassles of web page maintenance etc. too - If it's the hassle vs benefit thing, then I understand that.) Thanks for the answer BTW, I already sent my question off to Hemlock (I'm assuming he's the one for NorCal East, since Krypton has a cache listed in San Jose - NorCal West). Alan

Thanks... is this the only place to find that answer? I'm sure I'm not the first person to ask! Alan

With 25 finds under our belt, we're getting ready to place our first cache, but want to ask a question of the local reviewer before we get too involved with a particular site. Is there a list of the approvers? Or is there a generic way to find who the approvers are in my local area? (BTW - This seems like a standard kind of question for newbies like me. ) Alan LeVezu LeBuckZoo