Problem viewing my cache pages

[+slukster]

I have received word from a few of my local cachers that they are unable to view my cache pages when loaded to their Oregon/ Colorado GPSr's. I use a lot of HTML in my cache descriptions and think this might be part of the problem but I can't figure it out. Another local cacher uses a lot of HTML as well but they have not had problems with the pages loading to these GPSr's. Can someone please take a look at my cache pages and help me figure out what might be the problem? Here is one that definately is a problem:

Head Hunter Has Gone Fishing

 

HTML for page:

 

<table class="FFG448" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"

background="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3241547889_08e36a1d6b_o.jpg"

width="100%" align="center">

<tr>

<td>

<center><img border="0" align="middle" width="394" height="86"

vspace="10" hspace="10"

src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3241416487_0493e6e4f9_o.jpg" />

<br />

<img border="0" align="middle" width="385" height="400"

vspace="10" hspace="10"

src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3242254526_d2eb604a59_o.gif" />

</center>

<table width="100%" align="center" background='' cellpadding="5">

<tr>

<td>

<center><font face='Comic Sans MS' color="#000000" size="+2">After

working hard for so many years, creating the best shrunken heads

his village has ever seen, this headhunter is in need of some time

off.  So he has decided to go fishing. But he did not go

alone.  He brought some of his closest friends with

him.</font></center></td></tr></table>

<br />

<center><img border="0" align="middle" width="500" height="486"

vspace="10" hspace="10"

src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3241476345_09fd9d6dbf.jpg" />

</center>

<center><font face='Arial' color="#600083" size="+2"><b>**There is

no puzzle to solve in order to find this cache.  It probably

could have been listed as a traditional cache.  It will be fun

for the whole family!!**</b></font></center>

<table width="100%" align="center" background='' cellpadding="5">

<tr>

<td><font face='Comic Sans MS' color="#D40B00" size="+1">Park in

the main lot and it will be a .30 mile hike to this cache.

Following the pointer on your GPSr will lead you down the road and

then down a fairly steep slope to the cache. If steep inclines are

not your thing then you can continue down the road further towards

the entrance to the park and you can find more level ground for an

approach.  <br />

<br /></font>

<table width="100%" background="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<tr>

<td>

<center><font face='Comic Sans MS' color="#006800"

size="+1"><b><font face='Comic Sans MS' color="#D00000"

size="+1"><b><img align="middle" width="114" height="164"

src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2700127586_5d2538b457_o.gif" />

</b></font></b></font></center>

<table width="100%" background="" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

<tr>

<td>

<center><font face='Comic Sans MS' color="#680030" size="+1">Just

Snoopin' for caches!!!<br />

<br />

You are visitor #<br /></font>

<center><font face='Comic Sans MS' color="#680030"

size="+1"><img src="http://ctr.vendio.com/cgi-bin/honesty-counter.cgi?df=gen.1333125.00009" />

<br />

to this cache

page</font></center></center></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table>

[+burtsbodgers]

Hi

As an oregon user, most HTML shows badly when converted to the gpx files which are downloaded to the units.

Also images are not displayed, but shows up as HTML in the listing.

To be friendlier to users of these units try and steer clear of the Dreaded HTML

[+g-o-cashers]

There are several ways to download caches to the Oregon/Colorado. The display of raw html usually happens when users use the "SendToGPS" button which downloads one cache at a time. If they use pocket queries or download individual files using the "GPX eXchange File" button and copy the file onto the unit this usually won't happen.

 

The issue with SendToGPS seems to be either a bug in the Groundspeak site or Garmin Communicator.

[+TheSurfcaster]

I load my orgeon via GSAK. When there is one of Slukster's caches the description does not appear. You see the waypoint # and coordinates only but no description(verbage). If you look under hint the hint is there and if you look under the logs, the logs are there.

[+BigA800]

It happens all the time with GSAK files which are generated from PQ and then sent to GPS in GSAK. If that is a problem then avoid HTML. GSAK is the gold standard. No one is going to give up GSAk for a few problem caches

 

There are several ways to download caches to the Oregon/Colorado. The display of raw html usually happens when users use the "SendToGPS" button which downloads one cache at a time. If they use pocket queries or download individual files using the "GPX eXchange File" button and copy the file onto the unit this usually won't happen.

 

The issue with SendToGPS seems to be either a bug in the Groundspeak site or Garmin Communicator.

Edited October 5, 2009 by biga800

[+StarBrand]

It happens all the time with GSAK files which are generated from PQ and then sent to GPS in GSAK. If that is a problem then avoid HTML. GSAK is the gold standard. No one is going to give up GSAk for a few problem caches

 

There are several ways to download caches to the Oregon/Colorado. The display of raw html usually happens when users use the "SendToGPS" button which downloads one cache at a time. If they use pocket queries or download individual files using the "GPX eXchange File" button and copy the file onto the unit this usually won't happen.

 

The issue with SendToGPS seems to be either a bug in the Groundspeak site or Garmin Communicator.

I stopped using GSAK with my Colorado and Oregon units. No need for it anymore in my book. But I don't try to keep any offline data either.

 

If GSAK messes up the transfer of the HTML - then maybe it is a GSAK issue.

[+fegan]

Here is one that definately is a problem:

Head Hunter Has Gone Fishing

Loaded this cache on my Colorado 400t, running the latest software (3.00)...all I see is:

 

"**There is no puzzle to solve in order to find this cache. It probably could have been listed as a traditional cache. It will be fun for the whole family!!**

lot and it will be a .30 mile hike to this cache. Following the pointer on your GPSr will lead you down the road and then down a fairly steep slope to the cache. If steep inclines are not your thing then you can continue down the road further towards the entrance to the park and you can find more level ground for an approach."

 

Note that the entire first paragraph is missing and a few words ("Park in the main") are missing from the third paragraph. You definitely have some issues with the Colorado/Oregon if almost half of the text is hidden. Try simplifying your HTML...getting rid of the tables would be a good place to start. I only use basic formatting and layout (<b> <i> <center> <br> <a href=> <img src=>) and have never had any issues.

 

Good luck!

[+Rockin Roddy]

It happens all the time with GSAK files which are generated from PQ and then sent to GPS in GSAK. If that is a problem then avoid HTML. GSAK is the gold standard. No one is going to give up GSAk for a few problem caches

 

There are several ways to download caches to the Oregon/Colorado. The display of raw html usually happens when users use the "SendToGPS" button which downloads one cache at a time. If they use pocket queries or download individual files using the "GPX eXchange File" button and copy the file onto the unit this usually won't happen.

 

The issue with SendToGPS seems to be either a bug in the Groundspeak site or Garmin Communicator.

I stopped using GSAK with my Colorado and Oregon units. No need for it anymore in my book. But I don't try to keep any offline data either.

 

If GSAK messes up the transfer of the HTML - then maybe it is a GSAK issue.

 

Sounds fairly logical to me.

 

I didn't see the OP asking others not to use GSAK so they can view their caches, just asking if others had noticed this.

[+fegan]

If GSAK messes up the transfer of the HTML - then maybe it is a GSAK issue.

I did NOT use GSAK in my testing. I used the [GPX eXchange File] button on the cache page.

[+TheSurfcaster]

When I add an image to a cache page my coding would be(example) <center><img src=img.geocaching.com/cache/log/display/4d39f71a-5aea-45d4-a84f-a660fa34b8a2.jpg">

 

Could it be because Slukster's coding does not reference "img.geocaching.com" the the Oregon is having the problem?

[+Red90]

I suspect it is mostly due to using a table in the HTML. The units don't do tables.

[+slukster]

Thank you all for the input. The program I use is actually designed to upload to Ebay for auction pages so that might have something to do with it as well. I will have to revamp my HTML to cut out using tables and see how it goes. I have TheSurfcaster and bigA800 who have been helping me test things as I make changes. Hopefully I can straighten things out. If I figure things out I will post my results. Thanks again!!

[+Maingray]

Yeh it's the table code. Only time I see raw html like that is with tables. GSAK -> ORR html works perferctly.

[+fegan]

Could it be because Slukster's coding does not reference "img.geocaching.com" the the Oregon is having the problem?

No. It doesn't matter where the images are hosted...they won't display anyway.

[+g-o-cashers]

html tables can be a problem but usually they don't result in seeing raw html -- you just see some strangely formatted text where the table should be.

 

I've never seen a problem that GSAK introduced that want a problem with the PQ data.

[+Red90]

The OP did not say anything about seeing raw HTML, did he??

[+slukster]

All of the HTML in my listings was created by the program I use. I just type in the info in special fields and it formats it automatically. After using it for some time now I have become more familiar with HTML and can manipulate the raw HTML but for the most part I have not had to do it.

[+fegan]

Another thing I see about the table code for your cache page...they're nested tables (look at the last line, a string of </td></tr></table> tags. Perhaps if you removed the nesting (e.g. ending the 1st table before you begin the 2nd) it could eliminate some of the other issues (i.e. missing text).

 

The only reason for the tables is to display a background image behind only a portion of the page. If you can live without the background image, you could remove the tables completely.

[+slukster]

I was successful in revamping my cache page to be viewable on the Colorado/ Oregon. As was suggested it was the tables that were screwing things up. The only thing that sucks is that I lose the ability to put a background image on my cache pages. I always had fun finding an appropriate pic to add in the background. I know I can add a background image through GC but that background only shows up around the perimeter of the page. Oh well, not a big deal.

 

My project now is going to be going through all of my 44 active caches to change the code around. Man, the things I do to satisfy all of you snooty Oregon/ Colorado owners. Thanks again to all for your help.

Edited October 7, 2009 by slukster

[+shutle64]

Gsak has a macro that will strip all the html out of of a description of a cache. The macro is called StripHTML

 

http://gsak.net/board/index.php?showtopic=...ost&p=86301

[+burtsbodgers]

Hi

I have just loaded the cache into my oregon

I used the send to GPS tab

The description text appears ok but is not easy to read as it has a lot of HTML text amongst it.

The HTML text is the pictures which are spread amongst the description!

[+g-o-cashers]

See my first post on the topic (#3).

 

Red90 -- I knew my answer would eventually become valid even though it didn't answer the OP's question