Gsak (geocaching Swiss Army Knife)

[+ClydeE]

GSAK version 6.0 is now ready for download

 

A few changes of note include:

 

Many speed improvements especially for large databases.

Support for Garmin MapSource GDB format (thanks to GPSBabel)

Custom CSV and TAB delimited text file exports

Many New Macro Commands and functions

The ability to interrogate and set database variables in the macro language

The ability to "embed" settings inside a macro for easy distribution to other GSAK users

New %macro special tag that will allow you to include just about any information in a special tag

Ability to merge and maintain SpoilerSync images into user notes

 

For a complete list of changes see http://gsak.net/help/hs1060.htm

 

Download here http://gsak.net

[+Old Bill]

Thanks Clyde, just DL'd it. Appreciate all the effort you put into making such a useful tool!

 

Is there a way to view the "supported waypoint symbols" by symbol rather than by their name? Mapsource 6.0 only shows the symbols on the GPSr. (Earlier Mapsource versions showed all the symbols you now show on the "setup GPS" screen with their names, go figger.) This makes it kind of tough to sort out which one is which, but I'm hoping that I'm not missing some super easy step. Regardless, it is a huge plus and I appreciate the addition of this feature.

 

And I just know that version 6.1 will have all kinds of non-goecache waypoint symbols available on the "Edit Waypoint" screen, right?

 

Many, many thanks for all that you do!

[+jthorson]

I'm having fun playing with the new lego bricks but...

 

Problems I've had so far.

1. There is no box on the edit or add waypoint to change owner id.

workaround: I changed it with a database replace on the field.

2. When I manually create a new waypoint the the OwnerId becomes "lblOwner"

 

I am in the process of changing my macros to macroflag and macrofilter commands and I am pleased with the truely shareable results.

 

Thanks

Edited August 7, 2005 by jthorson

[+LandRover]

I just updated to the newest version, now I have a couple of macros that don't work.

Macro 1 is a macro that runs a filter to find all disabled/archived caches then moves them to my Archived Dbase.

FILTER <Name="Archived">

MOVECOPY <Settings="Archived">

 

Macro 2 does the same as #1 except it looks for my Found caches.

Now when I run the macro I get an error message that says it can't find the filters that are called out.

FILTER <Name="FoundFilter">

MOVECOPY <Settings="FoundFilter">

 

I have made no changesd other than updating to the new version of GSAK.

The filters are still there, I can run each filter and they still work.

[+LandRover]

When getting an error message in regards to my above post I am given the option to edit the macro. When I click on the "edit macro" button it open a new macro sheet, shouldn't it open the macro sheet in question?

[+ClydeE]

I just updated to the newest version, now I have a couple of macros that don't work.

Macro 1 is a macro that runs a filter to find all disabled/archived caches then moves them to my Archived Dbase.

FILTER <Name="Archived">

MOVECOPY <Settings="Archived">

 

Macro 2 does the same as #1 except it looks for my Found caches.

Now when I run the macro I get an error message that says it can't find the filters that are called out.

FILTER <Name="FoundFilter">

MOVECOPY <Settings="FoundFilter">

 

I have made no changesd other than updating to the new version of GSAK.

The filters are still there, I can run each filter and they still work.

Looking at your example it would appear your macros were only working by luck

 

FILTER <Name="Archived">

 

As per the help file "Syntax - Tokens are surrounded by <> (do not include these when creating a macro)"

 

Another words, the <> (angle brackets) are only to denote the start and end of a token - do not include these when you actually write macro code.

 

Your filter command should therefore be:

 

FILTER Name="Archived"

[+ClydeE]

Is there a way to view the "supported waypoint symbols" by symbol rather than by their name? Mapsource 6.0 only shows the symbols on the GPSr. (Earlier Mapsource versions showed all the symbols you now show on the "setup GPS" screen with their names, go figger.) This makes it kind of tough to sort out which one is which, but I'm hoping that I'm not missing some super easy step. Regardless, it is a huge plus and I appreciate the addition of this feature.

 

The main reason I haven't done this is that I have been unable to source ( unlike Magellan) the individual icon bitmaps for the Garmin symbols.

 

If anyone knows where I can get these please let me know.

[+Pengy&Tigger]

Are there any plans to add more user data fields? For example, in the UK, the site does not keep county data in the same way that you have State for US caches, so I like to manually update this in the user data field. It would be overwritten if I used the State field.

 

However, I also want to be able to categorise puzzle caches according to solved/can't be solved/to solve. I could use the notes field, but then I can't filter on it.

 

It would be really handy to have extra custom fields available.

 

T

[+ClydeE]

Are there any plans to add more user data fields? For example, in the UK, the site does not keep county data in the same way that you have State for US caches, so I like to manually update this in the user data field. It would be overwritten if I used the State field.

 

However, I also want to be able to categorise puzzle caches according to solved/can't be solved/to solve. I could use the notes field, but then I can't filter on it.

 

It would be really handy to have extra custom fields available.

 

T

I will add this to "the list"

 

However, please note that the "User Data" (and user notes ) field is not limited to just one piece of user information

 

For a tip on having the user data field represent multiple user information please see this post

 

The same principle can be used with the "user notes" which has no limitation of field length. This would enable you to set up a more verbose coding system that would allow an unlimited number of user data pieces of information. Note that filters for the "user data" will be quicker than "user notes"

[+Camping Hoosiers]

Clyde,

 

As I sit here this morning... working with GSAK to manage my gpx files and export to a half a dozen different kinds of applications. I remember back a couple of years when I used many different applications to do the same things and it took a tremendous amount of time and tweaking to get it all to work.

 

Thank you for GSAK!!

 

Jeff'

[+Old Sailor]

Thanks for GSAK...........

[+Cymbaline]

Just installed the new version (looks a lot faster!), but found a new quirk:

 

- Select a saved filter from dropdown.

- Delete a waypoint

- Filter resets back to NONE

 

Er...

[+The "B" Team]

Clyde

 

I downloaded upgrade and now am a continuous loop that won't open program - any ideas as to what I did wrong?

[+TotemLake]

Great googly goo! Clyde, what ever it was you did to speed up the database, my hat's off to you. What used to take 40 minutes for a GPX export, now takes less than 90 seconds.

 

THANK YOU!

[+Kai Team]

I don't have that large a database, but a couple of times since downloading the update I've taken an action and was waiting for it to occur, then realized it already had (in the blink of an eye!). This baby is FAST!

 

Thanks Clyde!

[+WascoZooKeeper]

Clyde, thanks for the new release. Looks like lots of cool stuff in there.

 

One "bug" I've noticed is that when doing an e-mail update of several databases from a macro, the title bar displays the name of the current database but the grid shows the PREVIOUS database. The updates appear to run fine, but it's a little alarming to watch an update taking place and the wrong database is what's visible on the screen.

[+Ice Tres]

I just tried inserting geocache waypoints into my Legend C (with City Select) using Gsak 6.0 for the first time. Actually, it is my first time inserting any data into a gps. I created a pocket query in gpx format, downloaded the zip file to my hard drive, and then imported the file into Gsak. I then connected the GPS and successfully downloaded them to the GPS. No problem. Well, one problem. When I click on the cache on the GPS map screen, there is very little information I can obtain. Just the name, about 20 characters in a note, the location, elevation and distance from current location. By clicking on the cache on the Gsak program, I see there is lots of other information.

 

Am I not exporting all the information to the GPS?

 

If I am exporting it to the GPS, how do I read it on the GPS?

 

THanks a lot. Sorry for the basic question.

 

Bill

Edited August 7, 2005 by Ice Tres

[+webscouter.]

That is all the information that the GPS will show. You may be able to adjust the data to get a little bit more in the description screen of the gps but most gps units only have 20 characters of data. The information is useful if you carry a laptop or use GSAK to export to a palm PDA.

[+geedunk]

Hmmm, While I'm sure it is me being silly, however...

 

While looking at the counters on the bottom right, I see that I have 386 found caches.

When I double click on the '386' to set the filter, my database shows only 377 caches (out of 4926 7.7%).

 

Any idea where the difference would be?

 

Thanks! and thank you for this wonderful S/W...

 

P.S. I'm running the latest version (loaded it today) Seem to think it was different in the older version as well...

 

Geedunk

[+webscouter.]

Have you claimed more than one find on some caches? This might be multiple finds on an event or bonus finds on a cache. That is why I only log one find per cache even if the cache owner allows more than one find.

[+ClydeE]

Just installed the new version (looks a lot faster!), but found a new quirk:

 

- Select a saved filter from dropdown.

- Delete a waypoint

- Filter resets back to NONE

 

Thanks, one for the first maintenace release

[+Ice Tres]

AH, thanks for the information!

[+ClydeE]

I downloaded upgrade and now am a continuous loop that won't open program - any ideas as to what I did wrong?

Please email me directly with the error you are getting.

 

The error dump is preferred, but If you don't get one, please send a screen shot of the error

[+ClydeE]

Hmmm, While I'm sure it is me being silly, however...

 

While looking at the counters on the bottom right, I see that I have 386 found caches.

When I double click on the '386' to set the filter, my database shows only 377 caches (out of 4926 7.7%).

 

Any idea where the difference would be?

 

Thanks! and thank you for this wonderful S/W...

 

P.S. I'm running the latest version (loaded it today) Seem to think it was different in the older version as well...

 

Geedunk

Intentionally or not you have multiple found logs for the same cache in your GSAK database.

 

For a more complete explanation of this please see this post

[+geedunk]

Have you claimed more than one find on some caches? This might be multiple finds on an event or bonus finds on a cache. That is why I only log one find per cache even if the cache owner allows more than one find.

I don't think so - but I may have..

 

However, I would think that the GSAK filter that counted 386 caches (or hits on the 'found' column) when applied to the database filter would show me the same number of caches... unless the bottom 'counts' number is not actually counting caches?

 

[well, Clyde answered my question while I was typing my reply from the other answer]

 

Thanks everyone for helping me see how this works!!!

Edited August 7, 2005 by geedunk

[+ClydeE]

Clyde, thanks for the new release. Looks like lots of cool stuff in there.

 

One "bug" I've noticed is that when doing an e-mail update of several databases from a macro, the title bar displays the name of the current database but the grid shows the PREVIOUS database. The updates appear to run fine, but it's a little alarming to watch an update taking place and the wrong database is what's visible on the screen.

Actually this is not a bug, but rather a "side effect" of the new speed improvements in the macro language. If you prefer your macro worked exactly as before enter the following command at the very beginning of the macro:

 

SPEEDMODE Status=Off

 

For a more complete explanation of this, please see SPEEDMODE in the Macro commands in the help file or online here http://gsak.net/help/hs21000.htm#macspeedmode

[+Team Rand]

Clyde thanks for the continued great job. One thing is if there are any plans in the future to add the Garmin Street Pilot so that we can download waypoint to it. Right now I use easy GPS to download to the steet pilot and GSAK for everthing else. Keep up the great work.

[+ClydeE]

Clyde thanks for the continued great job. One thing is if there are any plans in the future to add the Garmin Street Pilot so that we can download waypoint to it. Right now I use easy GPS to download to the steet pilot and GSAK for everthing else. Keep up the great work.

We are talking about the 2610 or 2620 right?

 

These units use yet another different implementaion of the Garmin protocol.

 

GSAK actaully uses GPSBabel for all GPSr communications so when GPSBabel supports them so will GSAK

[+Team Rand]

Yes Clyde, I was talikg about the Garmin 2620 Street Pilot. uess I will wait unti GPSBabel supports it.

Thanks again for the great program

[+trippy1976]

I know I'm missing something really simple here... but even though Firefox is set as my default browser, GSAK opens everything in IE. I can't seem to find a setting for htat.

[+ClydeE]

I know I'm missing something really simple here... but even though Firefox is set as my default browser, GSAK opens everything in IE. I can't seem to find a setting for htat.

Yes, there is a subtle difference.

 

All offline pages that GSAK generates are files with the extension of .htm

 

So GSAK will uses the "open" option on whatever program you have associated with the extension of .htm

 

The implication being that even though your default browser is Firefox, you somehow have the "open" action for .htm files associated with IE

[+trippy1976]

.htm and .html are both associated with firefox. This is when it pops up live windows after a double-click. I associated .aspx with firefox for kicks and it didn't help.

 

Edit: Not sure I'm being clear. Inside GSAK, I not too particular about what displays the offline HTML. Outside of GSAK, I would like my cache pages to open up in Firefox to the online cache page.

Edited August 8, 2005 by trippy1976

[+ClydeE]

.htm and .html are both associated with firefox. This is when it pops up live windows after a double-click. I associated .aspx with firefox for kicks and it didn't help.

 

Edit: Not sure I'm being clear. Inside GSAK, I not too particular about what displays the offline HTML. Outside of GSAK, I would like my cache pages to open up in Firefox to the online cache page.

Hmm, GSAK just does a windows hook to "open" for the extension type.

 

How are you doing the file association?

 

You can have many actions associated with a file extension, it is the "open" action that must be explicitly associated with your default browser.

[+GrandpaKim]

.htm and .html are both associated with firefox.  This is when it pops up live windows after a double-click.  I associated .aspx with firefox for kicks and it didn't help. 

 

Edit:  Not sure I'm being clear.  Inside GSAK, I not too particular about what displays the offline HTML.  Outside of GSAK, I would like my cache pages to open up in Firefox to the online cache page.

Hmm, GSAK just does a windows hook to "open" for the extension type.

 

How are you doing the file association?

 

You can have many actions associated with a file extension, it is the "open" action that must be explicitly associated with your default browser.

In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options..., and click on the File Types tab.

 

In the Registered file types:, scroll down to HTM and single click on it. Then click on the Advanced button. In the Actions: box, single click on Open and then click on the Edit... button. If it doesn't say firefox in the Application used to perform action: box, click on the Browse... button and find the firefox application (mine is C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe). Click on the program and then click on the Open button. Then click on the OK button twice.

 

Now do the same thing for the HTML file type (although for me, Windows changed it for me automatically). Finally, click on the Close button.

[+trippy1976]

Firefox is already my associated application for every action for files of type .htm and .html. Appreciate the very thorough instructions, but that does not appear to be the issue in this instance.

[+GrandpaKim]

Firefox is already my associated application for every action for files of type .htm and .html.  Appreciate the very thorough instructions, but that does not appear to be the issue in this instance.

What does it say in the Application used to perform action: box? Mine has the program name, followed by a space, -url, another space, and "%1":

 

C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE -url "%1"

 

This works for me. When I click on a cache and select Show online (in browser), it opens up a firefox window with the cache description from GC.com.

[+trippy1976]

That's exactly what I have.

[+ClydeE]

That's exactly what I have.

Sorry, for the confusion.

 

Offline pages are .htm files, but you are referring to the online page.

 

Online pages are not files and are opened by opening a URL - Http://geocaching.com for example

 

I am honestly not sure where this association is stored, but in your registry or somewhere you have a http:// open associated with IE

Edited August 8, 2005 by ClydeE

[+The Jester]

However, I also want to be able to categorise puzzle caches according to solved/can't be solved/to solve. I could use the notes field, but then I can't filter on it.

I've used the "corrected co-cords" column for this - a puzzle cache with cc's are solved, without not solved. You can filter on this column and use it to 'remove' unsolved puzzles.

[+benjamin921]

50,000 plus databases

[+ClydeE]

50,000 plus databases

Is there a question in there?

[+trippy1976]

AHA. Well, this is somewhat unlikely to be a broad issue, but if you have installed Avant Browser for IE, it kind of hijacks the URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol open action. Had to delete the line and whala... works great.

[+ClydeE]

However, I also want to be able to categorise puzzle caches according to solved/can't be solved/to solve. I could use the notes field, but then I can't filter on it.

 

Yes you can.

 

Just tick the "user notes" only for a Full text search

 

The "default" search should cover most of your filters, but with the use of the RegEx option you can get some very powerful filters on just the user note.

Edited August 8, 2005 by ClydeE

[+benjamin921]

50,000 plus databases

Is there a question in there?

 

Secrectly hidden in there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J/K

Nope. Just amazed at that many in one data base

Edited August 8, 2005 by benjamin921

[+Jack_Sparrow]

clyde, tanks again for gsak - i am on my way for my paperless caching solution but the procedure is a little bit too complex at the moment:

 

first i prepare pics from mapquest in a special zoom factor from yagcu and

from spoilersync the pics with html in the cachedescription.

than copying them in two diffent directories ./cache/berlin/maps/ etc

i modify the CACHE.HTM file like

------------------------------------------------

<img src="./maps/<#code>.gif"><p>

<a href="./spoiler/<#code>.html">Spoiler</a><br>

------------------------------------------------

and generate the html code. movin to sd-card into my dell...

 

all things are fine, but is there any way to simplify the complete procedure with gsak?

 

a. is there any chance that the custom urls are executable and wrote there result into the html-code?

b. can i put the downloaded pics via macro into the user_notes?

c. are there other possibilities to modify the CACHE.htm file, like font style etc..

d. what does the function cache density mean exactly? i gave gsak 500km and get as a result the top 50 caches with a 390 left behind???

 

a lot of questions, but the first one is the most important one...

 

thanks in advance

theo

[+Cornix]

This topic was brought up in the German speaking forum:

 

Is it possible to add more 'stop words' to the smart name algorithm, for example the German or French articles (der/die/das, le/la/les)? On the other hand 'die' could be omitted in German but perhaps not in English.

 

So a better solution would be to have a user editable stop word list.

 

Cornix

[+wu8c]

I would like to compose a Waypoint Name to my GPS utilizing GSAK that is something like this:

 

The 4 characters after the "GC" (Yes, the %drop2),

then a hyphen,

Then 5 characters of the Cache type code such as; LetBx, Virtl, Multi, etc

and these 5 characters would be replaced with "Micro" if the cahe is a Micro.

 

e.g. 3Q3S-LetBx, 4ABC-Virtl or 5XYZ-Micro

 

Is this possible? It was with GPXSpinner before they upgraded and dropped the Micro override

[+GrandpaKim]

I would like to compose a Waypoint Name to my GPS utilizing GSAK that is something like this:

 

The 4 characters after the "GC" (Yes, the %drop2),

then a hyphen,

Then 5 characters of the Cache type code such as; LetBx, Virtl, Multi, etc

and these 5 characters would be replaced with "Micro" if the cahe is a Micro.

 

e.g.  3Q3S-LetBx, 4ABC-Virtl or 5XYZ-Micro

 

Is this possible?  It was with GPXSpinner before they upgraded and dropped the Micro override

I don't think so. However, you could use this: %drop2"-"%con1"-"%typ1, which would give: 3Q3S-U-B, 4ABC-V-V or 5XYZ-M-T. Or you could use this: %drop2"-"%con=2"-"%typ=2, which would give: 3Q3S-Un-Le, 4ABC-Vi-Vi or 5XYZ-Mi-Tr.

 

Edited: To fix a typo.

Edited August 8, 2005 by GrandpaKim

[+tozainamboku]

I would like to compose a Waypoint Name to my GPS utilizing GSAK that is something like this:

 

The 4 characters after the "GC" (Yes, the %drop2),

then a hyphen,

Then 5 characters of the Cache type code such as; LetBx, Virtl, Multi, etc

and these 5 characters would be replaced with "Micro" if the cahe is a Micro.

 

e.g.  3Q3S-LetBx, 4ABC-Virtl or 5XYZ-Micro

 

Is this possible?  It was with GPXSpinner before they upgraded and dropped the Micro override

I don't think so. However, you could use this: %drop2"-"%con1"-"%typ1, which would give: 3Q3S-U-B, 4ABC-V-V or 5XYZ-M-T. Or you could use this: %drop2"-"%con=2"-"&typ=2, which would give: 3Q3S-Un-Le, 4ABC-Vi-Vi or 5XYZ-Mi-Tr.

I see that Clyde has added a new special tag %macro that lets you run a macro that returns a string. I suppose using this you could generate just about anything you want for your waypoint name. I'm sure someone could post a macro that does just what you want.

[+ClydeE]

This topic was brought up in the German speaking forum:

 

Is it possible to add more 'stop words' to the smart name algorithm, for example the German or French articles (der/die/das, le/la/les)? On the other hand 'die' could be omitted in German but perhaps not in English.

 

So a better solution would be to have a user editable stop word list.

 

Yes. Making this a user editable list would be the way to go. Good suggestion.