Entering coordinates - some suggestions

[+the pooks]

I find the way we are required to enter coordinates slightly cumbersome. First you have to select from a drop down box N,S,E,W (in my case I live SE, so mine is not the default), then you have to go to the degree box, delete the zeros and enter degrees, then click the mm.sss box, dlete the zeros and enter the mm.sss.

 

Surely there must be a way to do it with less clicks and keystrokes.

 

My suggestion is to keep the existing format, but have an alternative format box available next to it in which you type as follows

33e30.500

22s20.000

 

The above format requires the minimum clicks and keystrokes. Use the N,S,E,W instead of the degree sign or "deg" or "d" and have it all in one sequence. The website could then convert it into the desired format right away. This is only an alternative for entering it, not displaying it.

 

In fact the "alternate box" could also allow decimal format

-33.5012

19.3333

 

as the fromats cannot be confused.

 

Any thoughts

[+Knight2000]

Where are you entering coordinates at? I find it rare to actually have to enter in coordinates.

[+dino-irl]

When setting up new caches, additional waypoints, adding waypoints to logs/photos just off the top of my head.

 

I like this suggestion as I find the current system cumbersome too except for decimal format as that would only confuse people and open an already old debate.

[+Miragee]

If I am creating a new cache, or putting in alternate coordinates, I use "Copy and Paste" from my Mapsource maps. I always download my Tracks and Waypoints after my "caching adventures."

 

Using "Copy and Paste" helps prevent some typos. I've never experienced the difficulties reported by the OP.

[+StarBrand]

I find the way we are required to enter coordinates slightly cumbersome. First you have to select from a drop down box N,S,E,W (in my case I live SE, so mine is not the default), then you have to go to the degree box, delete the zeros and enter degrees, then click the mm.sss box, dlete the zeros and enter the mm.sss.

 

........

BTW - those are decimal minutes and not seconds.

 

MM.mmm NOT MM.sss

 

There has been some discussion about making that a bit easier but I am sure it is low on the priority list. Maybe see it when v2 of the website comes out.

[+tozainamboku]

In the past, several people have offered their code for parsing free form coordinates. There are several good implementations out there. Gecocaching.com should take the offers of help from the geocachers who have developed some of the popular 3rd party tools and incorporate some of the features in the GC.com website.

Edited July 30, 2007 by tozainamboku

[+the pooks]

I find the way we are required to enter coordinates slightly cumbersome. First you have to select from a drop down box N,S,E,W (in my case I live SE, so mine is not the default), then you have to go to the degree box, delete the zeros and enter degrees, then click the mm.sss box, dlete the zeros and enter the mm.sss.

 

........

BTW - those are decimal minutes and not seconds.

 

MM.mmm NOT MM.sss

 

There has been some discussion about making that a bit easier but I am sure it is low on the priority list. Maybe see it when v2 of the website comes out.

Too true decimal minutes it is!

[+the pooks]

If I am creating a new cache, or putting in alternate coordinates, I use "Copy and Paste" from my Mapsource maps. I always download my Tracks and Waypoints after my "caching adventures."

 

Using "Copy and Paste" helps prevent some typos. I've never experienced the difficulties reported by the OP.

I cannot see how one can copy and paste the coords as there are 3 boxes involved viz N,S,E or W, the DEG and then the MM.mmm

 

After looking at some other listings an even better way would be

S23 14.123

E36 30.156

 

The format is then exactly the same as the website, only without all the mouseclicks and backspaces (to clear all the zeroes). My suggestion is to still keep the standard option but have an "alternative entry box" next door that automatically converts and updates the main box. You would then see soon enough whether the computer interpreted your entry correctly.

 

One should be able to enter any of the methods shown in this thread as they are unambiguous (although I like the one shown here the most)

[Backup]

I agree there should be a better way to enter coordinates (along with another way to present it on the cache page). When creating a new cache or entering the coordinates to go chase down a cache I've made errors in the past entering the numbers.

 

For example, when creating a new cache there are 4-8 boxes to fill out, depending on the format chosen. This leaves a lot of room for errors.

 

I don't know if the different manufacturers use a standardized format (probably not). Since there are only a limited number of them, I suggest that the options presented be in the exact format of the different manufacturers. For example I would be offered ONE box to paste in my MapSource format of Nxx xx.xxx Wxxx xx.xxx (It does not allow a degree symbol or spaces between the letters and numbers).

 

Even better yet, rather than the option box, like Google Maps, there is no need to "choose an option" it accepts the data in many formats and does its own internal conversions.