STARTED - [FEATURE] Show user-corrected coords on Beta Map, in PQs, and in API

Posted August 18, 2014 · August 18, 2014

I suspect that many of us who use GSAK just don't care now. All of my corrected coordinates are held in GSAK, and when I export to Mapsource to look at a full map and begin my run routing, the icons are already changed thanks to GSAK's quick and dirty Global replace feature, applied to the icon tag in my solved puzzle database.

Posted August 18, 2014 · August 18, 2014

I suspect that many of us who use GSAK just don't care now. All of my corrected coordinates are held in GSAK, and when I export to Mapsource to look at a full map and begin my run routing, the icons are already changed thanks to GSAK's quick and dirty Global replace feature, applied to the icon tag in my solved puzzle database.

I understand.

As a software engineer, I detest work-arounds (long standing or seemingly permanent ones) because the existence of such indicates the software being worked-around is deficient to some degree, and should ideally be fixed.

Edited August 18, 2014 by funkymunkyzone

Posted August 18, 2014 · August 18, 2014

For me, it's no longer a work-around. I don't have a need for or ever use the gc.com map for anything now except occasional travel needs. I'm doing everything in GSAK, and that's a bunch more than I could possibly do on the gc.com site. It offers options that have probably never even made it to these pages, and that's saying something.

I don't see it as a workaround primarily because there are so MANY things I am doing with GSAK, some of which aren't even allowed on the gc.com site. For example, it is possible to automatically create a database that shows (uniquely) all caches a friend and I both need, those I need alone, and those that he needs alone, using different icons for each, and have those displayed in Mapsource as I ponder our next caching run. Technically, since PQs aren't legally shared per gc.com's 'terms of service' or whatever, and there's zero facility for doing this on the gc.com site, one needs alternatives. I think that other site (Project Geocaching?) even allows for this kind of work.

I positively hate the overlapping circles for gc.com PQs. I love the fact that I can define tidy rectangles for PQs with GSAK.

The list is endless partly because of the abilities Clyde has provided in GSAK, and partly because with the use of the API, more is possible.

Posted August 18, 2014 · August 18, 2014

For me, it's no longer a work-around. I don't have a need for or ever use the gc.com map for anything now except occasional travel needs. I'm doing everything in GSAK, and that's a bunch more than I could possibly do on the gc.com site. It offers options that have probably never even made it to these pages, and that's saying something.

I don't see it as a workaround primarily because there are so MANY things I am doing with GSAK, some of which aren't even allowed on the gc.com site. For example, it is possible to automatically create a database that shows (uniquely) all caches a friend and I both need, those I need alone, and those that he needs alone, using different icons for each, and have those displayed in Mapsource as I ponder our next caching run. Technically, since PQs aren't legally shared per gc.com's 'terms of service' or whatever, and there's zero facility for doing this on the gc.com site, one needs alternatives. I think that other site (Project Geocaching?) even allows for this kind of work.

I positively hate the overlapping circles for gc.com PQs. I love the fact that I can define tidy rectangles for PQs with GSAK.

The list is endless partly because of the abilities Clyde has provided in GSAK, and partly because with the use of the API, more is possible.

I agree with what you are saying - particularly the overlapping circle PQs - something I also consider that using GSAK is a work-around for something that so obviously should be included on the website. Unfortunately, and this is not a dig at you at all, but I believe that GS gets away with leaving out such basic but important functionality *because* people figure out and get used to workarounds, and then promote those workarounds as the way to do things.

I kind of liken it to buying a car and one of its wheels is missing, but there's a garage next door that can fit the extra wheel - because the manufacturer knows that garage is there and can fit the extra wheel, and people have just accepted that they need to do it, they never bother to fix the process and put all 4 wheels on before its sold...

Posted August 19, 2014 · August 19, 2014

Some of my friends swear by GSAK but I dislike GSAK intensely. I find the UI cumbersome and unwieldy and just looking at it makes me feel icky

In fact, just like the Swiss Army Knife it's named after it seems to me that it has way more tools than the average person would ever use and the proliferation of them almost drives me to seek out simple and effective alternatives - or even just hand-crank the data I need.

I get that it's very powerful but I just can't bring myself to properly try to get to grips with it. In programming terms I'd compare GSAK to Assembly Language while the tools on geocaching.com are more like Visual Basic or even something as simple as Tynker or Sploder.

Personally I'd much prefer to see Groundspeak continue to develop and improve the tools on geocaching.com and package them in ways that make them easy to use for the average non-geek. I don't want to have to resort to additional, cumbersome all-things-to-all-men style tools in order to achieve comparatively simple objectives.

Posted August 19, 2014 · August 19, 2014

Yes, it does supply far more tools than the average person would ever use. And quickly, you realize that you don't need to interact with them, using only the bits and pieces that suit your particular situation.

Posted August 19, 2014 · August 19, 2014

Interestingly I chanced upon a gc.com workaround for the corrected coords on the map issue. Apologies if someone already mentioned this somewhere, but if you do the following, you will see the cache icons on the map in the corrected locations:

1. Update the coords on a bunch of puzzles

2. Create a pocket query that includes those puzzles (if you're lucky, it will be over a small area and if you're even luckier there might not be many/any other puzzle icons in the area)

3. Preview the pocket query on the map. I only tested this by using "Map this location" from the pocket query preview, not selecting the pocket query from the map screen - don't know if that also works.

4. Voila - puzzles shown in their correct locations.

Posted August 19, 2014 · August 19, 2014

Interestingly I chanced upon a gc.com workaround for the corrected coords on the map issue. Apologies if someone already mentioned this somewhere, but if you do the following, you will see the cache icons on the map in the corrected locations:

1. Update the coords on a bunch of puzzles

2. Create a pocket query that includes those puzzles (if you're lucky, it will be over a small area and if you're even luckier there might not be many/any other puzzle icons in the area)

3. Preview the pocket query on the map. I only tested this by using "Map this location" from the pocket query preview, not selecting the pocket query from the map screen - don't know if that also works.

4. Voila - puzzles shown in their correct locations.

This is true; I use it and I am glad for it, but still I miss the feature that would show these caches with corrected coordinates in different color (e.g. red). Now they are mixed on map with other mystery caches that are shown on their original coordinates, and one has to click on each cache to see whether it is already solved or not.

And of course, an ideal solution would be if the caches with corrected coords showed on map at the new spot immediately after updating the coords at GC.com, without having to create a Pocket Query

Posted August 20, 2014 · August 20, 2014

Interestingly I chanced upon a gc.com workaround for the corrected coords on the map issue. Apologies if someone already mentioned this somewhere, but if you do the following, you will see the cache icons on the map in the corrected locations:

1. Update the coords on a bunch of puzzles

2. Create a pocket query that includes those puzzles (if you're lucky, it will be over a small area and if you're even luckier there might not be many/any other puzzle icons in the area)

3. Preview the pocket query on the map. I only tested this by using "Map this location" from the pocket query preview, not selecting the pocket query from the map screen - don't know if that also works.

4. Voila - puzzles shown in their correct locations.

This is true; I use it and I am glad for it, but still I miss the feature that would show these caches with corrected coordinates in different color (e.g. red). Now they are mixed on map with other mystery caches that are shown on their original coordinates, and one has to click on each cache to see whether it is already solved or not.

And of course, an ideal solution would be if the caches with corrected coords showed on map at the new spot immediately after updating the coords at GC.com, without having to create a Pocket Query

Absolutely agree - on the main map with all the other caches, and with a different (coloured) icon, this would be very helpful... Well, it's been 3 years since started, so maybe the next release?

Posted August 21, 2014 · August 21, 2014

Interestingly I chanced upon a gc.com workaround for the corrected coords on the map issue. Apologies if someone already mentioned this somewhere, but if you do the following, you will see the cache icons on the map in the corrected locations:

1. Update the coords on a bunch of puzzles

2. Create a pocket query that includes those puzzles (if you're lucky, it will be over a small area and if you're even luckier there might not be many/any other puzzle icons in the area)

3. Preview the pocket query on the map. I only tested this by using "Map this location" from the pocket query preview, not selecting the pocket query from the map screen - don't know if that also works.

4. Voila - puzzles shown in their correct locations.

This is true; I use it and I am glad for it, but still I miss the feature that would show these caches with corrected coordinates in different color (e.g. red). Now they are mixed on map with other mystery caches that are shown on their original coordinates, and one has to click on each cache to see whether it is already solved or not.

And of course, an ideal solution would be if the caches with corrected coords showed on map at the new spot immediately after updating the coords at GC.com, without having to create a Pocket Query

As a companion feature, several people have asked for or endorsed the idea of having the corrected coordinates feature on other cache types. That would be quite useful for multi-caches where one is only able to partially complete it. Off the top of my head I can think of three multi caches that I started but didn't complete in one outing. I probably have the coordinates of the next stage to be found written down somewhere but I have no idea where. If I could have added corrected coordinates to a multi cache, *especially* if I could do it through the official app, I wouldn't have to start from the beginning if I ever want to complete those caches

Posted August 21, 2014 · August 21, 2014

As a companion feature, several people have asked for or endorsed the idea of having the corrected coordinates feature on other cache types. That would be quite useful for multi-caches where one is only able to partially complete it.

Yup. Guess what else populates some of the slots in my "Solved Puzzles" GSAK database? Half-solved multis, specifically set up with the coordinates of the next stage I need to visit. All of those are mapped (usually with Mapsource, sometimes Basecamp) along with the usual collection of unfound traditionals, etc., so that I can see what's in the neighborhood when I'm headed to a given area. I got SO tired of losing track of caches that I needed to visit in a given area (solved puzzles and multis, i particular) because they didn't appear in the 'right' place on the gc.com map. As I say, I no longer use their mapping for anything but the odd check for new stuff. Any real work is done exclusively within GSAK. Now are they not only mapped, those same coordinates are always sent to my GPS.

Posted August 21, 2014 · August 21, 2014

As a companion feature, several people have asked for or endorsed the idea of having the corrected coordinates feature on other cache types. That would be quite useful for multi-caches where one is only able to partially complete it.

Yup. Guess what else populates some of the slots in my "Solved Puzzles" GSAK database? Half-solved multis, specifically set up with the coordinates of the next stage I need to visit. All of those are mapped (usually with Mapsource, sometimes Basecamp) along with the usual collection of unfound traditionals, etc., so that I can see what's in the neighborhood when I'm headed to a given area. I got SO tired of losing track of caches that I needed to visit in a given area (solved puzzles and multis, i particular) because they didn't appear in the 'right' place on the gc.com map. As I say, I no longer use their mapping for anything but the odd check for new stuff. Any real work is done exclusively within GSAK. Now are they not only mapped, those same coordinates are always sent to my GPS.

We get it - GSAK does everything a cacher could ever dream of and you love it.

There are probably umpteen other specialist tools out there that do all sorts of things too.

This thread though is about the wish to see a particular aspect of the functionality of the website that we all use enhanced in useful ways.

And we're back on topic

Posted August 22, 2014 · August 22, 2014

We get it - GSAK does everything a cacher could ever dream of and you love it.

It's no different than having to use a script (which gc.com keeps breaking with their tweaks) to get the doggone GC codes displayed next to the icons on the map. Has everyone forgotten how much functionality we also lost in just the mapping system alone here? That's why I don't bother with gc.com now. It's not that they're not responsive enough -- they've regressed too far in areas that were important to me to bother using their UI to do my usual business, and it became necessary to move on. Good luck in your quest to even get us back to where we used to be in some respects. People can continue to talk into deaf ears or move on to someone who provides them with what's needed. I don't see the point in beating a dead horse, or trying to work around all of the issues when it's not necessary.

There are probably umpteen other specialist tools out there that do all sorts of things too.

No doubt, but having fiddled with most of them, I can tell you there's nothing quite like what I'm using now.

This thread though is about the wish to see a particular aspect of the functionality of the website that we all use enhanced in useful ways.

As noted, good luck with that. If you're tired of waiting, there are alternatives coded using the gc.com API by people who DO listen (and don't find it necessary to roll back their code all the time). Edited August 22, 2014 by ecanderson