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Geocaching.com site update May 4th 2011

OpinioNate
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dfx

+dfx

Posted
Posted

I just noticed that the map on the cache page has lost its map-controls. I can't zoom in/out or switch from map view to satellite view. WinXP/Chrome & IE8.

 

Is this another 'save resources' take-away?

 

 

f059c0db-7cc8-47d0-8b8e-e0b95b116b0c.jpg

 

The same is here! So these maps are useless!

 

A week in and this update is going from screwed up to halfway better to a whole lot worse. I would venture to say that map functionality is just about at the top of the list of priorities for a whole lot of cachers. I don't really care what the page layout looks like, although the fixed width and the obtrusive backgrounds are ill-considered at best and downright insulting at worst. But removing zoom and switch type functions is incomprehensible. Could one of the official Groundspeak reps please let us know what the plan is with the maps?

 

There now is a "view dynamic map" link there. Makes me wonder even more what's going on there, and what the reasoning behind those changes is.

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jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted (edited)

There now is a "view dynamic map" link there. Makes me wonder even more what's going on there, and what the reasoning behind those changes is.

I clicked the "dynamic map" and my monitor dissolved in a puff of smoke! No, not really, but I did get a map with the zoom controls, pegman and a selection of map or sat view. Interesting, wonder why the extra click to get what use to be free?

Edited by jholly
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DrmLady

+DrmLady

Posted
Posted

I just wanted to add that since the update was done I am no longer able to use my Blackberry Curve.

Not all of the home page loads up. I see the "play" tab but I'm unable to get to "hide & seek a cache"

I found away around it but it's very limited. I go do a " all near by caches" search.

BUT and this is for all caches. I can no longer see any of the past logs. Does anyone know how I can fix this on my end or what program I can use with my Blackberry.

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strawson

+strawson

Posted
Posted

To help bring it back on track ...

 

I still miss the search box on the front page with my home coordinates already filled in. Can we have that back?

 

Didn't take me too long to find someone else with the same gripe as me.

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JBnW

+JBnW

Posted
Posted

Hmmm...seems the old maps are fully back; including personalization by cache type, find and hides, PQs, list of displayed caches, and the annoying delays when scrolling and/or zooming. Can't wait for the Betas to be finished, but at least these silly things are back.

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jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted

Hmmm...seems the old maps are fully back; including personalization by cache type, find and hides, PQs, list of displayed caches, and the annoying delays when scrolling and/or zooming. Can't wait for the Betas to be finished, but at least these silly things are back.

Not quite. Get some random view. Turn on personalization, say hide my finds. Pan the map. Personalization is still on and so are the smilies. Turn off personalization, and turn it back on to get rid of the smilies.

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Semper Questio

+Semper Questio

Posted
Posted

I'm noticing some very strange behaviour in Chrome - namely trying to log a cache through the 'Log Your Visit' link on the cache page. It doesn't display any of the logging fields, and just has an advert in the middle of the screen instead...

 

I can try and post a screen shot if it helps... anyone else seeing this?

 

Are you using GCTidy? It has not yet been updated for the GC updates and this behavior is one of the problems that popped up with it. If you gave GCTidy, disbale it until they get it fixed and you should be OK.

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dfx

+dfx

Posted
Posted

This link does nothing for me on Chrome and IE8. Anyone else have that problem?

 

Works for me on FF4.

 

Groundspeak claims that these items have been completed. I don't agree. Does anyone else feel that way?

 

Kinda. Hiding founds and hides works, but unchecking the boxes doesn't bring the items back. Something still doesn't work right.

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Artemis&Apollo

+Artemis&Apollo

Posted
Posted

This link does nothing for me on Chrome and IE8. Anyone else have that problem?

 

Works for me on FF4.

 

Groundspeak claims that these items have been completed. I don't agree. Does anyone else feel that way?

 

Kinda. Hiding founds and hides works, but unchecking the boxes doesn't bring the items back. Something still doesn't work right.

 

I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

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dfx

+dfx

Posted
Posted
I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

Confirmed on FF4.

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Artemis&Apollo

+Artemis&Apollo

Posted
Posted
I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

Confirmed on FF4.

 

Does this me that you have the same problem on FF4?

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jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted

I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

Yes, personalization is broken on FF 3.6

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Artemis&Apollo

+Artemis&Apollo

Posted
Posted
I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

Confirmed on FF4.

 

Does this me that you have the same problem on FF4?

 

I downloaded and installed FireFox 4 and have the same problem as I do with IE8 and Chrome. So as far as I can tell the 'standard' non-beta maps do not work correctly with IE, Chrome, or FireFox. Move the map, zoom, make a change, and the personalization is negated.

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jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted
I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

Confirmed on FF4.

 

Does this me that you have the same problem on FF4?

 

I downloaded and installed FireFox 4 and have the same problem as I do with IE8 and Chrome. So as far as I can tell the 'standard' non-beta maps do not work correctly with IE, Chrome, or FireFox. Move the map, zoom, make a change, and the personalization is negated.

 

Feedback item, feel free to vote.

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dbox

+dbox

Posted
Posted (edited)

This link does nothing for me on Chrome and IE8. Anyone else have that problem?

 

Works for me on FF4.

 

Groundspeak claims that these items have been completed. I don't agree. Does anyone else feel that way?

 

Kinda. Hiding founds and hides works, but unchecking the boxes doesn't bring the items back. Something still doesn't work right.

 

I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

The personalization works by unclicking and clicking again after a zoom :mad:

 

Why do I have to use an extra click to get dynamic map :mad: ?

 

Why did GS change that normal smilie to a strange golden one :mad: ?

 

Why is it not possible to remove that fixed width? For example, my cache cannot be solved because of that :mad: ?

Edited by dbox
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purple_pineapple

+purple_pineapple

Posted
Posted

I'm noticing some very strange behaviour in Chrome - namely trying to log a cache through the 'Log Your Visit' link on the cache page. It doesn't display any of the logging fields, and just has an advert in the middle of the screen instead...

 

I can try and post a screen shot if it helps... anyone else seeing this?

 

Are you using GCTidy? It has not yet been updated for the GC updates and this behavior is one of the problems that popped up with it. If you gave GCTidy, disbale it until they get it fixed and you should be OK.

 

good call! I only installed GCTidy at the same time, as I was hoping some of the new page structure would be 'tweaked', so I hadn't even thought of that. Will confirm when I get home.

 

Cheers

 

Dave

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Frank Broughton

+Frank Broughton

Posted
Posted

I just noticed that the map on the cache page has lost its map-controls. I can't zoom in/out or switch from map view to satellite view. WinXP/Chrome & IE8.

 

Is this another 'save resources' take-away?

 

 

f059c0db-7cc8-47d0-8b8e-e0b95b116b0c.jpg

 

The same is here! So these maps are useless!

 

A week in and this update is going from screwed up to halfway better to a whole lot worse. I would venture to say that map functionality is just about at the top of the list of priorities for a whole lot of cachers. I don't really care what the page layout looks like, although the fixed width and the obtrusive backgrounds are ill-considered at best and downright insulting at worst. But removing zoom and switch type functions is incomprehensible. Could one of the official Groundspeak reps please let us know what the plan is with the maps?

 

There now is a "view dynamic map" link there. Makes me wonder even more what's going on there, and what the reasoning behind those changes is.

 

Whatever the reason, the tools are there again, nice! Thanks Nate!

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Frank Broughton

+Frank Broughton

Posted
Posted

Anyone else get an email from Geocaching.com today re "10-second Geocaching.com Survey"; Asking your opinion about fixed page width??

 

No, but I would have loved to. How do you rate so high?

 

Nope.

 

They send this things to a set amount of users I believe. Not select, just set... you do not rate low Oldman!

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CTForester

+CTForester

Posted
Posted

I just noticed this. The text color has been changed for archived caches where it says:

 

This cache has been archived, but is available for viewing for archival purposes.

 

This cache has been archived, but is available for viewing for archival purposes. - This is much better. Isn't this the color it was before the recent change?

 

I'm not getting any younger and the dark red looks close enough to black for me to not notice that a cache has been archived. Please change it back!

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Corfman Clan

+Corfman Clan

Posted
Posted

I just noticed this. The text color has been changed for archived caches where it says:

 

This cache has been archived, but is available for viewing for archival purposes.

 

This cache has been archived, but is available for viewing for archival purposes. - This is much better. Isn't this the color it was before the recent change?

 

I'm not getting any younger and the dark red looks close enough to black for me to not notice that a cache has been archived. Please change it back!

No, that color change was made in a previous update.

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knowschad

knowschad

Posted
Posted
I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

Confirmed on FF4.

 

Does this me that you have the same problem on FF4?

 

I downloaded and installed FireFox 4 and have the same problem as I do with IE8 and Chrome. So as far as I can tell the 'standard' non-beta maps do not work correctly with IE, Chrome, or FireFox. Move the map, zoom, make a change, and the personalization is negated.

 

I have to wonder what version of what browser the developers that programmed this are working with. I can only assume that it is working properly with that version, right?

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knowschad

knowschad

Posted
Posted

I love the new look and the ease of use, great job! The only thing I have an issue with is the "Feedback" tab sticking way out there... kinda annoying!

 

I took care of that with two clicks! (hint Firefox w/ adblock plus and adblock plus element hider)

 

Shouldn't have to. Very few geocachers are tech savvy enough to even know what you are talking about, much less, to do it.

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jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted
I don't seem to be smart enough to quote only part of a reply so: On the later item: For me any change to the map (movement, zoom, add filter items) negates the personalization (i.e. the smiles come back even though they are checked as 'hide'). Again; IE8 and Chrome.

 

Confirmed on FF4.

 

Does this me that you have the same problem on FF4?

 

I downloaded and installed FireFox 4 and have the same problem as I do with IE8 and Chrome. So as far as I can tell the 'standard' non-beta maps do not work correctly with IE, Chrome, or FireFox. Move the map, zoom, make a change, and the personalization is negated.

 

I have to wonder what version of what browser the developers that programmed this are working with. I can only assume that it is working properly with that version, right?

It is a well know problem, there is a feedback thread. The maps are broken as described. HQ is a bit touchy about the problem.

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BigFurryMonster

+BigFurryMonster

Posted
Posted

Oh no! I just came back from a short break and found most of my cache pages garbled. What happened?

 

Trying to assess the damage here. One of my cache pages (this one) relied on the fact that I could use a 30000px-wide and 1px high white image to extend the cache page horizontally. I turned the large space that was thus created into a giant cache maze. Got a lot of nice feedback on that one. Alas, no more.

 

For other pages, the images are screwed up. Images that nicely aligned with surrounding text now either fall back to a small scaled version or take up an entire paragraph without the text wrapping around it.

 

Is there an overview of which HTML is not allowed anymore? The edit-a-cache-page says "You can use HTML in any of the description fields below with the exception of JavaScript and other embedded code."

 

I noticed that simple instructions like:

 

<table align="right" hspace=10 vspace=10><img ...>

 

to position an image do not work anymore. Is it me using non-standard HTML or is geocaching.com a little bit too strict here?

 

Would be nice to have an overview of code that helps to place images nicely on the page.

 

For now, the feedback idea to reverse this has my votes!

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wigoweb

+wigoweb

Posted
Posted

Seems that we are facing a rainy weekend which may keep many home instead of out caching. Perhaps some time spent reading about web site design would help members of this forum to understand what Groundspeak is going through.

 

Do a google search on ----- web design fluid vs fixed ----- or something similar. There are many knowledgeable folks out there in the web design world who differ in their opinions of which is the better approach. As with many of the situations we all encounter, there is no one right answer and certainly no easy answer. Also, check the dates on the articles; this debate has been "raging" since about 2006 and continues into 2011.

 

Since the geocaching site update, I've been paying more attention to some of the sites I view regularly. The NY Times, Washington Post and Philadephia Inquirer all seem to use a fixed width. So do CNN, ESPN and Nascar. Actually, this morning the Nascar homepage seems to have a tiled background which fills the white space on both sides of the fixed width content and provides a rather distracting and garish border on both sides of the content. Go take a look at these sites or perhaps the sites you visit frequently and compare their layouts to the work that Groundspeak is doing with our favorite site.

 

I think we would all agree that Groundspeak is trying to improve the site. A major hindrance for Groundspeak is one that is also very common among many large organizations. They just don't seem to communicate their intentions very well at times. When an update occurs, almost everyone in the Groundspeak user community seems to be surprised by some of the new features and the effects of those features.

 

If we had known what the goals of the new site update were, we might have understood why some of the changes in appearance occurred. If there were some way to choose between the "old" design and the "new" design during a transitional period, the user community might have been more accepting of the changes.

 

Many people just don't like change. Many people think about change within the confines of their own experience and don't consider how many other users might be involved. There are changes that haven't been addressed that are sorely needed from within my experience. I don't particularly care for the layout of the Hide and Seek a Cache page. The items that I use are at the bottom of the page forcing me to scroll down. Other users may need frequent access to the choices toward the top and those users see no reason to make a change.

 

All in all, I hope that Groundspeak keeps improving the site and their communications with all of the members of the geocaching community.

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Chokecherry

+Chokecherry

Posted
Posted

For awhile the beta maps for me were tolerable and then suddenly last weekend or so if I zoom the caches just flat out vanish from the map meaning I have to use the map zoomed out which renders it kind of useless for me when I'm doing my rural caching trying to find roads not yet on the road maps.

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niraD

+niraD

Posted
Posted
Also, check the dates on the articles; this debate has been "raging" since about 2006 and continues into 2011.
Since only 2006? I joined the Web Design Group in 1998, and the the debate between fixed-width and fluid design was already raging. Those weren't necessarily the terms that were being used, but the issues were the same.
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technetium

+technetium

Posted
Posted

Is there an overview of which HTML is not allowed anymore?

 

Anything that might control the with of an element :(

Om my cachepage a small table got extended to the whole width of the page: Ugly :mad:

 

For now, the feedback idea to reverse this has my votes!

 

Unfortunately this in the top 50, which means HQ will ignore it:

http://feedback.geocaching.com/forums/75775-geocaching-com/suggestions/1788753-listen-to-your-customers-and-have-a-look-at-the-to

 

Tc

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OpinioNate

OpinioNate

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Geocaching.com is receiving a hotfix momentarily to correct the following issues:

 

  • Find logs and hidden caches show up on Maps Beta after 5 minutes, down from 15
  • Smiley icons have slightly modified to add contrast
  • yyyy-MM-dd and dd/mm/yyyy date format options added to profile settings
  • PMO cache icons on Maps Beta no longer appear in a different color than their typical cache type counterparts, the shape remains a circle to distinguish from regular caches
  • Added PMO caches to the Maps Beta legend
  • PMO caches are now hidden on Maps Beta for basic members when zoom is below level 13 (the point at which icons grow larger)
  • Favorites counts were added to Maps Beta cache info bubbles

 

Thanks!

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Dgwphotos

+Dgwphotos

Posted
Posted

Geocaching.com is receiving a hotfix momentarily to correct the following issues:

 

  • Find logs and hidden caches show up on Maps Beta after 5 minutes, down from 15
  • Smiley icons have slightly modified to add contrast
  • yyyy-MM-dd and dd/mm/yyyy date format options added to profile settings
  • PMO cache icons on Maps Beta no longer appear in a different color than their typical cache type counterparts, the shape remains a circle to distinguish from regular caches
  • Added PMO caches to the Maps Beta legend
  • PMO caches are now hidden on Maps Beta for basic members when zoom is below level 13 (the point at which icons grow larger)
  • Favorites counts were added to Maps Beta cache info bubbles

 

Thanks!

 

Why not go back to the old smilely icons? They weren't broken, and I highly doubt that they would increase the CPU loads on the servers.

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Team Yofa

+Team Yofa

Posted
Posted

Forcing all tables to 100% width is not a good idea as it completely destroyed the formatting which was essential in defining the type of puzzle. I had to replace the html with an image as it didn't matter what I tried the html parser just overwrote every style I applied with the pre-defined styles. Not good.

Alas, this has been true for 10 of my puzzle cache pages as well. Why are they forcing 100% table width?!? I've fixed some of mine as you have, with replacement fixed images, but many of these tables contained values that were far easier to edit as html text (when cache maintenance requires such changes).

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The Jester

+The Jester

Posted
Posted

Forcing all tables to 100% width is not a good idea as it completely destroyed the formatting which was essential in defining the type of puzzle. I had to replace the html with an image as it didn't matter what I tried the html parser just overwrote every style I applied with the pre-defined styles. Not good.

Alas, this has been true for 10 of my puzzle cache pages as well. Why are they forcing 100% table width?!? I've fixed some of mine as you have, with replacement fixed images, but many of these tables contained values that were far easier to edit as html text (when cache maintenance requires such changes).

One of the guru's on the GSAK forum was recommending using nested DIV statements, their width parameters are being honored.

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Dr.MORO

+Dr.MORO

Posted
Posted

Is it my imagination or has map personalization become the default setting? If so thank you.. big improvement!!!!!

 

Domo!!!

 

I noticed this soon after GC.com was back online this evening.

 

At first, is was a "?" with a :blink: , then soon turned to a "!" with a :lol:

 

That's Great!

 

Why wasn't it so in the first place?

Then again, some upgrading the "beta" maps was needed as well as the servers, I guess.

 

Great work Hampsters!

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jholly

jholly

Posted
Posted (edited)

Geocaching.com is receiving a hotfix momentarily to correct the following issues:

 


  •  
  • Added PMO caches to the Maps Beta legend

Thanks!

 

Perhaps, but this is what I see

Capture.jpg

Win7 Home Premium

FF 3.6.17

PMO's are still round brown spots.

 

Edit: I also noticed that on the beta maps the hidden cache icons are still clickable.

Have a map that shows found caches, note the position of a found cache.

click personalization to turn off found caches

Click the area where the found cache is located and up pops the bubble.

This might not be much of an issue with widely separated finds, but with a number of finds and unfounds clustered together it is a problem.

 

Edit: The beta maps are definitely better. So good in fact, I will probably start using them most of the time. Still miss the PQ, but I can live with out that for now. Good job on this hotfix, thanks for the work.

 

Breaking news: This morning (5/14) the PMO legend is there. Strange.

Edited by jholly
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searchjaunt

+searchjaunt

Posted
Posted (edited)

Geocaching.com is receiving a hotfix momentarily to correct the following issues:

 

  • Find logs and hidden caches show up on Maps Beta after 5 minutes, down from 15
  • Smiley icons have slightly modified to add contrast
  • yyyy-MM-dd and dd/mm/yyyy date format options added to profile settings
  • PMO cache icons on Maps Beta no longer appear in a different color than their typical cache type counterparts, the shape remains a circle to distinguish from regular caches
  • Added PMO caches to the Maps Beta legend
  • PMO caches are now hidden on Maps Beta for basic members when zoom is below level 13 (the point at which icons grow larger)
  • Favorites counts were added to Maps Beta cache info bubbles

 

Thanks!

 

It seems that I don't get smileys anymore for my found caches on the beta maps. The normal icons are shown instead-> seem to be back now. The personalisation of the beta maps doesn't remember the personalisation when I leave the page. On the original maps, the problem that the personalisation doesn't even get remembered when zooming in/out and moving the map is still not fixed.

I'm using FF 4.X

Edited by searchjaunt
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