Earwigo

[+sTeamTraen]

Now that Urwigo is getting some exposure here, I'd like to remind people that you have even more of a choice for building cartridges.

 

Earwigo is a 100% Web-based builder that works on any Web browser (well, IE6+ and Firefox 3+ anyway), and requires no software download.

 

Some features:

- Earwigo is available in multiple languages (en/fr/de/cz/pt/dk/sv); translation is done by the community and new translators are always welcome.

- Cartridges made with Earwigo can be multilingual (you can make two or more language versions of a cartridge while only writing the code once), with correct accented characters - on non-Garmin devices, you can even build a cartridge which runs in Russian or Japanese.

- Cartridges can be made "Play-anywhere" with a single click.

- You can import your existing cartridge files from the Groundspeak builder, and also re-export back to the Groundspeak builder if you decide to go back (or to move to Urwigo).

- Zones are built interactively with Google Maps, or by pasting coordinates which you might have lying around, say in a GPX file.

 

Support is off-site via a Google group (aka mailing list/"lite" forum). We have a Wiki, and some nice tutorial documentation is getting written. It's not as clever as Urwigo (no drag-and-drop) but you can work on a cartridge when goofing off at work as well as at home.

 

For the moment, Earwigo requires manual signup, for which please send me an e-mail (*not* a "Message Center" message) via my Geocaching.com profile; click on my name at the left of this post. (Don't send forum PMs, please.) At some point I hope to be able to move to open sign-up using your Geocaching.com account, but that depends on some other things which are not yet settled.

 

Officially, Earwigo is in alpha testing, but enough people are using it every day to make me confident that it is a fairly reliable way to build cartridges.

 

PS: Can this maybe get pinned too?

Edited July 15, 2015 by Ranger Fox
At sTeamTraen's request

[+º]

I'm using Earwigo and it works Already got my first Wherigocache online. Awsome.

 

Thanks Nick for all the work.

[+TheHarvesters]

I'd also like to publicly praise Nick for his hard work on this. An excellent web-accessible developer tool for Wherigo cartridges.

 

As many of you will appreciate this is far and away better than the 'official' development tool. I stumbled across it in this forum when I wanted a simple way to set zones (outside of the US!) using a map tool.

 

I now find it totally intuitive and the support forum is excellent too, with suggestions from all and sundry being responded to - releases of updates to the tool are frequent and well managed.

 

Thanks Nick!

 

My first cart/cache has been 'live' for just two weeks now and I'm enjoying the feedback - you must take some of the credit for that.

 

Paul.

 

I'm using Earwigo and it works Already got my first Wherigocache online. Awsome.

 

Thanks Nick for all the work.

[zak195]

what is the website?

[+TheHarvesters]

what is the website?

 

You need to send sTeamTraen a request to get access via the personal message option in his Geocache profile. This method makes his site/access management easier.

[+sTeamTraen]

what is the website?

The sign-up procedure is documented in the OP of this thread. If you are a Premium Member, or you have found 100 or so caches, or your profile shows that you know how to program a bit, I usually say "yes". Otherwise, prepare to demonstrate that you're not going to require a lot of handholding, which I don't have the resources for. (I used to get quite a few people with very few finds, who asked a lot of very, very basic questions about Wherigo which were not specific to the Earwigo builder, and that takes up a lot of time, at least if I want to stay polite.)

Edited August 19, 2010 by sTeamTraen

[+sTeamTraen]

As of a few hours ago, direct compilation from Earwigo isn't working. I suspect that there may be a problem with the Web service at Groundspeak's end.

 

For now, a workaround is to generate a GWZ file and upload it by hand for compilation at http://www.Wherigo.com/cartridge/compile.aspx.

[+sTeamTraen]

Direct compilation seems to be down again. As before, there's a workaround - see the previous post in this topic.

[+GeoGeeBee]

I just finished my first cartridge, using Earwigo. Thanks for providing this resource, it is much easier to use than the alternatives.

[+Onslow Fisherman]

Hi,

Would I be able to get access to this builder. I have had some experience with Wherigo building have just recently had one published. I have been using the GS builder but find that it has limitations, particularly some math functions that I would like to be able to use in my next build.

I am a PM with almost 500 finds and almost 100 hides of various types.

Jim

Edited April 22, 2011 by Onslow Fisherman

[+Mickey and Goofy]

Can anyone tell me how to make my game a "Play-anywhere" game in Earwigo I can't figure out how to do it in Earwigo. I do have my game loaded in the edit screen. do I use the "Alternative starting location" numbers in my coords or what?

Edited May 11, 2011 by Mickey and Goofy

[+sTeamTraen]

Can anyone tell me how to make my game a "Play-anywhere" game in Earwigo I can't figure out how to do it in Earwigo. I do have my game loaded in the edit screen. do I use the "Alternative starting location" numbers in my coords or what?

It's not in the editor - it's one of the "relocation options" on the "Manage cartridges" menu, available when you're telling Earwigo to compile the cartridge or at least build the Lua file.

[+Mickey and Goofy]

Can anyone tell me how to make my game a "Play-anywhere" game in Earwigo I can't figure out how to do it in Earwigo. I do have my game loaded in the edit screen. do I use the "Alternative starting location" numbers in my coords or what?

It's not in the editor - it's one of the "relocation options" on the "Manage cartridges" menu, available when you're telling Earwigo to compile the cartridge or at least build the Lua file.

 

In the "Compile cartridge" is it the "Relocation options" - "use alternate start point"? That is what it looks like and I will give it a try.

Or should I use "Play Anywhere"?

Edited May 12, 2011 by Mickey and Goofy

[+Mickey and Goofy]

Can anyone tell me how to make my game a "Play-anywhere" game in Earwigo I can't figure out how to do it in Earwigo. I do have my game loaded in the edit screen. do I use the "Alternative starting location" numbers in my coords or what?

It's not in the editor - it's one of the "relocation options" on the "Manage cartridges" menu, available when you're telling Earwigo to compile the cartridge or at least build the Lua file.

 

In the "Compile cartridge" is it the "Relocation options" - "use alternate start point"? That is what it looks like and I will give it a try.

Or should I use "Play Anywhere"?

 

Got it - Thanks for your reply and Thanks Warwigo!

 

I tryed both "alternate start point" and "Play Anywhere" the alternate set the start at a long way away! The Play Anywhere worked great.

 

Thanks again

Lon

[+sTeamTraen]

I tryed both "alternate start point" and "Play Anywhere" the alternate set the start at a long way away!

If that wasn't what you expected, please post in the Earwigo Google Group and we'll look at it as a possible bug. It should set the start point to whatever alternate value you specified in the cartridge. But it's quite old code, which I suspect doesn't get used very much.

[+sTeamTraen]

I don't normally post Earwigo release notes here, but I released a new feature today which will be of interest to people who want to make cartridges with correct European (in particular) accented characters.

 

Earwigo is the only Wherigo builder which can handle accented characters correctly, but up to now it was hard to use them in conjunction with the standard way of downloading cartridges from Wherigo.com, because of the way in which the recompilation procedure (when the user downloaded the cartridge) works. To allow both Garmin and non-Garmin (PocketPC, smartphone, emulator) users to display accents correctly, you had to create two cartridges - which meant creating two listings at Wherigo.com.

 

Today, I've added the ability to display accented characters on both Garmin and platforms, from the same compiled cartridge. This means that you can now upload a single cartridge file to Wherigo.com and it will display accented characters correctly, regardless of which platform it is downloaded to.

 

No modifications are needed to cartridge data; this new functionality will be included next time you generate the Lua file for your cartridge.

[Ranger Fox]

By all means, please feel free to continue posting Earwigo updates to this topic! I encourage all third-party developers to do the same in the topics related to their own Builders and Players. Without our third-party developers, Wherigo would not be where it is today, nor enjoyed by as many people.

[+jeffshly]

I'd like to build a Wherigo cache using Earwigo. How can I get access to the Earwigo site?

[+sTeamTraen]

I'd like to build a Wherigo cache using Earwigo. How can I get access to the Earwigo site?

Read post #1 in this thread.

[+76-CJ7]

How do I get access to Earwigo to build a cartridge?

[+sTeamTraen]

How do I get access to Earwigo to build a cartridge?

Read post #19 in this thread.

[+T00LB0X]

I was hoping to give this a try but as I am new to Geocaching and only have 10 finds I guess I will have to wait.

 

I am quite good with computing and programs and used to compile Z80 langauge, (zilog) on my spectrum. LOL. Also done quite a bit over the years using PC's.

 

I like to learn new things and find out how they work and was thinking of making a Wherigo as my first Geocache.

 

I will be back in a few months time when I have the 100 finds.

 

T00LB0X

Edited February 5, 2012 by T00LB0X

[+sTeamTraen]

I was hoping to give this a try but as I am new to Geocaching and only have 10 finds I guess I will have to wait.

It says "or", not "and", in my post about requirements. :-))

[+twin_57103]

I have been trying to get registered...have sent 2 messages from geocaching and at least 4 emails...sorry to post this here, but I cannot get through...your email server thinks I am spam. twin_57103

[+spikep]

First of all. I'm really loving the Eaewigo builder. It's super easy but I'm stuck.

 

I'm missing something.

 

I have easily built the zones but I'm not sure what to do next. The cartridge I'm trying to build will take you from zone to zone. Once you enter the zone, it should trigger you to go to the next one. No questions needed seeing this is my first one and I'm just trying to make a simple one.

 

Let me use the example:

 

Zone 1 - Start

Zone 2 - Moonpie

Zone 3 - Ice Cream

Zone 4 - Final

 

Do I need to make it a task to move from zone to zone? And if so, what would the Statement look like? And where do I do this? Should I built statements under Cartridge => Events?

 

Thanks in advance! Once I figure this out, I know a bunch of areas in the DC area that need a Wherigo

[+MightyReek]

First of all. I'm really loving the Eaewigo builder. It's super easy but I'm stuck.

 

I'm missing something.

 

I have easily built the zones but I'm not sure what to do next. The cartridge I'm trying to build will take you from zone to zone. Once you enter the zone, it should trigger you to go to the next one. No questions needed seeing this is my first one and I'm just trying to make a simple one.

 

Let me use the example:

 

Zone 1 - Start

Zone 2 - Moonpie

Zone 3 - Ice Cream

Zone 4 - Final

 

Do I need to make it a task to move from zone to zone? And if so, what would the Statement look like? And where do I do this? Should I built statements under Cartridge => Events?

 

Thanks in advance! Once I figure this out, I know a bunch of areas in the DC area that need a Wherigo

 

What you have to do is, when the player enters the Zone 1, set Zone 2 active and show a message with the instructions leading him to Zone 2.

When the player exits Zone 1 set Zone 1 inactive, and so on...

[+spikep]

I'm going to assume this is performed under events?

 

Should it looks like this?

 

Set value Cartridge:MEGA CAVERN:Name => Zone:Start:Active

Set value Zone:Start:Active => Zone:Moonpie:Active

Set value Zone:Moonpie:Active => Zone:Ice Cream:Active

Set value Zone:Ice Cream:Active => Zone:Final:Active

Set value Zone:Final:Active => Cartridge:MEGA CAVERN:Complete

 

Or am I still missing something?

Edited June 6, 2012 by spikep

[+sTeamTraen]

In the definition of the zones, set them all to Inactive, except for the zone called Start, which you set to Active (check the "Active" and, presumably, "Visible" boxes; generally, you will want to have all zones "Visible").

 

Then, for the zone called Start, add two events, one for Enter and one for Exit.

 

In the Enter event for zone Start, add a statement:

Set value Zone:Moonpie:Active => Constant:True

That makes the next zone active (available) as soon as you enter Start.

 

In the Exit event for zone Start, add a statement:

Set value Zone:Start:Active => Constant:False

That makes the Start zone inactive when you leave it (assuming you don't want the player to go back there).

[+Spire67]

Zones

I have created a cartridge and have set up zones. I then spread the zones out to the locations they need to be in. However they are just pin points and do not have any perimeter markers. I can't find anything in the tutorial as it seems to suggest they are created automatically. Is there a check box that needs setting?

 

I have requested access to the google group to get support, but thought I would try here in the meantime.

 

Also I am developing the cartridge with another user. I assume we need to be careful that we dont work on it at the same time or we will overwrite each others changes. Is there any way of numbering the versions so if we mess things up we can revert to a previous version of it prior to the problem?

 

Thanks

Neil

Spire67

[+sTeamTraen]

Sorry, I was away a few days.

 

I have created a cartridge and have set up zones. I then spread the zones out to the locations they need to be in. However they are just pin points and do not have any perimeter markers.

I just spoofed your account and your zones look fine. They are a bit small (zoom the map) but they all have legitimate perimeters.

 

I have requested access to the google group to get support, but thought I would try here in the meantime.

That's definitely the way to go. Did you get access to the group yet? I don't remember all the requests which I receive.

 

Also I am developing the cartridge with another user. I assume we need to be careful that we dont work on it at the same time or we will overwrite each others changes. Is there any way of numbering the versions so if we mess things up we can revert to a previous version of it prior to the problem?

You can make external backups (see the "Backup" and "Restore" options in "Manage cartridges"). But provided you are moderately disciplined there is little risk, because of the way Earwigo is set up. For example, if you work on Characters and your colleague works on Items, there should be no conflicts. In fact as long as you don't work on the same object (zone, item, etc), you should be OK.

[+FamilieW.]

Hi,

I have a problem with the timer-section.

I want to get an Input from the player (Multiple-Choice) and the player only should have 10 seconds to answer. As far as i understand, i cannot interrupt the input after 10 seconds. So i tried

1. to ask whether the counter ticked in the getInput function of die inputscreen.

2. to count the tick as a boolean-variable and use a ifelse in the getInput function of the input screen

3. lower the duration of the counter to 1 second, then increase a variable on every tick and give out the variable (it was 0 at all time)

 

None of this worked. Where is my failure in thinking?

thanks a lot and sorry for my poor english.

 

Greetings from hamburg

Janko

[+sTeamTraen]

Please ask support questions in the Earwigo Google group (see the sign-up link in the e-mail that you received with your logon details). There are plenty of people in that group who know much more than me about building cartridges.

[+Harbcache]

I have created a cartridge which is almost ready to be published. When I try to upload the GWZ file at Wherigo.com I get this error:

 

Error Occurred

Exception of type 'System.ApplicationException' was thrown.

 

I have previously uploaded an older version of the cartridge (for testing purposes) which worked fine.

 

Does anybody have any ideas about what is going wrong?

 

Thanks,

 

Harbcache

[+sTeamTraen]

Please go to the Google group (info in your Earwigo sign-up e-mail) for support on this kind of thing. There are plenty of people there who are better than me at cartridge debugging.

[+The Pollywog]

Gona have to check this out

[+sTeamTraen]

It is becoming very dull to receive messages from people who want an Earwigo username and send me a request through my profile, while unchecking the box that sends their e-mail address.

 

Because life is too short, if you do this, I will no longer spend time clicking on your profile link to send you a mail telling you to resend the message without hiding your address. I will just ignore your request. If you can't work out that I probably need your e-mail address to sign you up for an account, you are unlikely to be able to construct Wherigo cartridges. Srsly.

 

I really regret having to write this - I hate it when organisations and individuals feel themselves obliged to make stupid rules to handle clueless people - but, sadly, that's the way it is.

[Mavi222]

Hey, I wrote you a message on Geocaching.com asking if I can get access to the earwigo.net, I've sent it with email address not hidden, and I never got any reply. What should I do to get an access? Thanks a lot for reply, Adam 'Mavi' K.

[+sTeamTraen]

Hey, I wrote you a message on Geocaching.com asking if I can get access to the earwigo.net, I've sent it with email address not hidden, and I never got any reply. What should I do to get an access? Thanks a lot for reply, Adam 'Mavi' K.

Check your spam filter. I sent you a reply on 2012-10-06 at 22:41. I've just resent it to the same address.

[+Isonzo Karst]

FYI, for me, cart complilation at Earwigo wasn't working yesterday nor today.

The workaround in post #7 does work

[+ngrrfan]

Check your spam filter.

Thanks for the reminder. Your reply to me ended up in my spam box as well.

[+juheja]

FYI, for me, cart complilation at Earwigo wasn't working yesterday nor today.

The workaround in post #7 does work

Same here for three days now.

 

Getting a bit tricky since there is a certain day I want this to be published...

[+sTeamTraen]

FYI, for me, cart complilation at Earwigo wasn't working yesterday nor today.

The workaround in post #7 does work

Same here for three days now.

 

Getting a bit tricky since there is a certain day I want this to be published...

Please continue to use the workaround (which isn't a huge amount of extra effort). I've asked Groundspeak to investigate why the compilation Web service isn't working.

[+elonka]

FYI, for me, cart complilation at Earwigo wasn't working yesterday nor today.

The workaround in post #7 does work

Same here for three days now.

 

Getting a bit tricky since there is a certain day I want this to be published...

Please continue to use the workaround (which isn't a huge amount of extra effort). I've asked Groundspeak to investigate why the compilation Web service isn't working.

 

No luck compiling here either, I just get a blank screen. Would be nice if it were working for the Wherigo Creation Event this weekend, but I guess we'll have to do the workaround via http://www.Wherigo.com/cartridge/compile.aspx

[Geo-Magician]

I guess we'll have to do the workaround via http://www.Wherigo.com/cartridge/compile.aspx

 

Just a quick update to let you know that:

a) The www.Wherigo.com compile function is working again.

Nick has added some code that produces a warning and some workaround information if www.Wherigo.com has a hiccup again.

[+Lightning20]

Im figuring out the earwigo and it seems to be great but I am having trouble getting my media files on and when I do that they don't show up on the webwigo

[+Lightning20]

never mind I figured that out but now I want to pick up an item at one zone and then at the next zone use it to "scan" to get the next question and i can't get it to work

[Geo-Magician]

never mind I figured that out but now I want to pick up an item at one zone and then at the next zone use it to "scan" to get the next question and i can't get it to work

 

Lightning20,

 

sorry that I have missed your post. I hardly ever read this Earwigo News thread because I normally know what is going on with Earwigo. If you want quicker help please post your problem as an individual thread (button "Start New Topic" top right corner) and start the topic with Earwigo (example: Earwigo: How do I pick up objects, how do I use objects).

 

Your question is almost one month old. Do you still need help on this or were you able to get the information from the tutorial http://earwigo.net/WWB/wiki/ ?

 

You can find help how to create items: http://earwigo.net/WWB/wiki/doku.php?id=create_your_first_cartridge&DokuWiki=a0e19c8a2079c870f4361dd37060bcd1#creating_items

 

and

Creating Item/Commands: http://earwigo.net/WWB/wiki/doku.php?id=create_your_first_cartridge&DokuWiki=a0e19c8a2079c870f4361dd37060bcd1#creating_item_commands

plus Item Events: http://earwigo.net/WWB/wiki/doku.php?id=create_your_first_cartridge&DokuWiki=a0e19c8a2079c870f4361dd37060bcd1#item_events

should help you with your pick up and also with your scan idea.

 

Let me know if you need more help (prefereably by starting a new "Earwigo: How do I ..." topic)

 

Wish you a splendid new year 2015 , GeoMagician

[+Nosynel]

I have hit a brick wall trying to create a Wherigo using urwigo. It works fine in the emulator and then when I test it on my android phone or others have tested it tested by friends on their garmins it doesn't work. So I am hoping I can get help here.

Thanks

Nellie

[+hcy]

Just want to say that Earwigo is a very great tool!

[Schildkröte1]

I love it, becouse it works better than Urwigo and you dont need extra software