Cool HTML Codes

[+buzzy_cacher]

I really don't know what topic to post this in so I will do it here. A lot of caches use HTML in their descriptions. Many profiles (mine included) use it as well. What are some of your favorite codes to enhance your caching page?

 

Thanks, buzzy_cacher

[+wesleykey]

I read cache descriptions on my GPS or on my phone. Flashy HTML gets in the way. Don't use it.

[+ADTCacheur]

The ONLY HTML codes that aren't too annoying on a GPS are such as bold, italic, and other minor font changes that only take up a few letters of space. The most annoying code I've experienced was something that you wouldn't think was so bad looking at the cache page: they'd had links to their 10 or so other caches in the same series. They'd had a long tag for the link information, then the name of the cache, then the basic ending. It was a nightmare to get to the actual description...

[+Ambrosia]

I always have a background on my cache pages. It was nice before the website changed, before it had that grey bar down the left side. Before that, the background image was easier to see.

 

The most important thing to me, is posting a picture in the description, preferably of the site. From there, I guess the biggest thing I use is a different letter color to emphasize something. After that, maybe a different font, like Comic Sans.

 

I mostly try and keep it simple-ish. It's hard, because when I started caching, it was fun to spruce up my pages with fancy html. But then more and more people started using PDA's and then fancier GPSrs and I started seeing complaints in the forums about how hard it was to read a cache page when there was html in it. On one hand, I understand the complaints. On the other hand, I don't really feel that I should change my enjoyment (and others enjoyment) of a pretty cache page on the site. These mobile devices are an extra feature that some people use, and some people don't. But I have tried to change some of my pages, to post pertinent info at the top of the description (terrain description, time expectations, important info), to make sure that people with mobile devices see that right away. If I have other stuff, like history info or links, I try to keep those at the bottom of the page.

 

I guess I use the most html on event pages, because I figure that most of those pages will be looked at on a computer. This is my most recent one, for my 10 Years! Wenatchee Valley, WA Event.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Ambrosia

[+DragonsWest]

I'm still a fan of hand composing HTML (to the 3.2 standard, or the abouts) to dress up a cache page.

 

This is perhaps my best example of putting some thought and effort into working up a cache page.

[+roziecakes]

As a web designer, I am XHTML compliant, but because I know that folks cache with their phones I do not put flashy HTML on my cache pages. I like to separate out my text so that it's easy to read, I change text colors sometimes, bold and italic, and I might put a picture on a cache page, and I always use background images, but other than that I don't do anything fancier because I want my caches to be available to everyone.

 

But if anyone ever needs help with HTML, please let me know, I'm happy to help folks learn.

 

These are a couple of my more HTML-ish cache pages:

 

GC26J6Q

 

GC24GHH

[+breaultm]

HTML for formatting: yay!

HTML to be flashy: nay!

[+bittsen]

<bdo>

 

Yeah, I used to use that one a lot.

[Tahosa and Sons]

As a web designer, I am XHTML compliant, but because I know that folks cache with their phones I do not put flashy HTML on my cache pages. I like to separate out my text so that it's easy to read, I change text colors sometimes, bold and italic, and I might put a picture on a cache page, and I always use background images, but other than that I don't do anything fancier because I want my caches to be available to everyone.

 

But if anyone ever needs help with HTML, please let me know, I'm happy to help folks learn.

 

These are a couple of my more HTML-ish cache pages:

 

GC26J6Q

 

GC24GHH

I like your simple but effective cache write ups, it gets the message across. Thanks for sharing them.

Now here are a couple of mine that I'm partial to. Carolyn's Cache and Truly a Friend. The second one I put a link to a you tube video that puts a little bit of emotion into the cache. And then there is ~DOC~ which also has a you tube link.

[Andronicus]

I read cache descriptions on my GPS or on my phone. Flashy HTML gets in the way. Don't use it.

Don't blame the CO for your GPSr's crapy firmware.

[+drfred]

I strongly encourage people to make nice cache pages. Background images and a nice description can really make a difference.

 

On the other hand, as I was taught early on in this game ~7 years ago, you can have a beautiful cache page but if your cache is just another UPS it will not be memorable.

 

So, please make a great cache page AND a great cache!

 

Typical examples of mine, which are not exceptional, are The Maze and Crossword Mania

[+roziecakes]

 

I like your simple but effective cache write ups, it gets the message across. Thanks for sharing them.

Now here are a couple of mine that I'm partial to. Carolyn's Cache and Truly a Friend. The second one I put a link to a you tube video that puts a little bit of emotion into the cache. And then there is ~DOC~ which also has a you tube link.

 

Thanks I REALLY want to find those caches you posted, they look really cool. Very nice job. Some of the best cache pages I've seen actually.

[+Viajero Perdido]

Scrollbar-free picture resizing:

 

If you have a picture for your cache listing, here's a bit of HTML to make the picture automatically be as big as possible for the given space, without creating those ugly horizontal scroll bars.

 

<div style="margin: 10px 0pt 10px 5px; padding: 0pt; float: right; width: 100%;">
<img style="border: 1px solid black; width: 100%;" src="http://img.geocaching.com/cache/bfdd54fa-d946-4fde-92c5-2ee1a161fd96.jpg"></div>

(Substitute your own image, the stuff between "http" and "jpg", for the one above.)

 

You can see the result on this cache page.