Cache Listing

March 21, 2015

I have been caching for almost 12 years.

It's been cool to see how the cache page has changed over the years.

Many features have been added which increase the function of the page over those years. At various times I have used them. For instance the send to GPS: Sometimes I want to load just one or two caches as that is all I have time for that day. Or I am using my Fenix watch and it wont work with my Mac caching program because the Fenix is too new of a GPS. Other times I might be planing for a long trip, so I use the Bookmark this page from the search map. I guess what i am saying, is that having multiple functionalities, which are seemingly redundant, still have value. It's like that one weird tool you got years ago. You use it once and awhile, but you would never throw it away as it doesn't take up much space.

However, please, please, please do not ever get rid of the print feature. I have kept every cache page that I have found in a scrap book (many many scrapbooks) and It would kill me to not be able to continue to print them out.

The two maps are not needed. Maybe a nice large map that goes across the top. like on the new search page, that the user could then zoom in and out on to see what they want to see.

I hope this helps, and I just wanna say that I really appreciate how much time and effort goes into to the design and management of the site. I don't think you get told enough, Thank you!~

March 21, 2015

I've been geocaching since August 2011.

The cache pages seem pretty functional to me. The information is generally appropriate and seems to be more or less in the right places.

The two bits I probably use most are:

Find… (links to nearby caches, waymarks)
Other Map Links

Both of which I would say are excellent functionality and save copying and pasting the coordinates to other places.

There are probably ways to make the layout slightly more modern and so on. It might be appropriate, seeing as the pages are essentially pulling data, to provide the option of different display types for people. This would help add accessibility functions for example. Opera's accessibility mode copes fairly well with the page but the layout could be optimised for accessibility better I think.

To comment on the requests:

Existing Community Requests:

In-house geochecker - I do find geocheckers useful and it's always nice when owners provide them for puzzle style caches. Perhaps this would encourage their use so I guess that would be a good thing.

"Last Found" summary - I look at the logs for this

Ability to filter logs by clicking on log type icons - That would be helpful I think.

Add event start and end time fields - I've no interest in events

Edited March 21, 2015 by Blue Square Thing

March 21, 2015

Geocaching for 6 years.

Generally like everything that is available on the cache page.

I like the watchlist as it is fun to see how many people are watching a particularly entertaining cache, or one that is notoriously hard or adventurous to find. It would be nice for the CO (or others) to know WHO is watching.

Thanks for asking!

7.3k · March 21, 2015

We have been geocaching, using Groundspeak only, for 10 years.

I like the cache page the way it is right now...mostly.

I better give some background, since we seem to be freaks now-a-days.

We do not have any mobile devices. No apps, no 3rd-party tweaks, just straight-up old-timey geocachers.

I generally pick an area, go to the Geocaching.com map of that area, then click on the caches. I read all the previous logs and look at any photos that have been added.

I pick and choose which caches we will hunt.

I make up a Notepad file of the chosen caches. For each cache, I include the following information:

GC code and cache name

coordinates

D/T ratings & size

decrypted hint

any extra info from the previous logs, including other people's coordinates

I don't use gsak and we rarely ever use pq's.

What I do is create folders on my desktop. Name them something like "geocaching and the date or area".

I download the gpx file for each cache into the appropriate folder.

I then use GPSBabel to transfer them to our good old 60csx.

The "Additional Details:" list only included "send to gps", and doesn't include the following:

LOC waypoint file

GPX file

Send to my phone

I don't think I have ever used "send to gps"

In the olden days, I used the "print friendly" function, but stopped wasting paper and ink a long time ago.

The "driving directions" feature is hilarious and useless to us.

I don't care if Groundspeak wants to use its resources to create their own geochecker.

I agree with others about removing the "number of watchers" on a listing. It's seems to drive some cache owners insane.

I would seriously like it if the "placed" date was locked, and could not be mucked about with by the cache owner. I have no idea why cache owners can fiddle with that.

I would much prefer the search option "...all nearby caches" to be at the top of the list, but it's not important.

The thing I really, really, really want to ask for is this:

Please don't change the look of the cache page.

The new search page looks "bloated" and has a lot of wasted space. Please don't do this to the cache pages.

If it ain't broke, please don't modernize/update/hashtag it. Leave it as it is...simple and legible.

B.

Edited March 21, 2015 by Pup Patrol

March 21, 2015

I live in Austria close to Vienna, started geocaching in February 2004.

Basic Details:

-) Favorites: I'd like to see them on a less prominent place, but it would be nice to see on first glance whether I've already left a favorite point or not, without the need to open the submenu

Additional Details:

IMHO less might be more, because the main attraction should be the cache, not the nifty functions.

-) Distance from Home Location: I don't need this, I can read a map

-) Corrected Coordinates: never used before

-) Quick Link: never used

-) Printer Friendly: sometimes (with tricky multi caches) I want 15 or more logs --> more choices or a free field for a number to enter

-) Driving Directions: never used before

-) Send to GPS: never used

-) Personal Cache Note: never used nor needed

-) Map links: two choices and all others hidden under "additional maps" might use up less space

Owner Tools:

-) Archive and Disable should be just within the log possibilities, one doesn't need them that often (the former one usually just once in a caches lifetime )

-) Owner Maintenance should be visible here, especially the need to use it to get rid of the NM-Sign is well hidden for many young owners

Community Requests:

-) Last Found summary: yes, please

-) Event start / end time : yes, please

TIA,

Edited March 21, 2015 by bevema

2.4k · March 21, 2015

Elements offered on the current cache page:

Basic Details:

Title

Cache Type

Description

Coordinates/Location

Difficulty/Terrain

Size

Favorites

Hint

Map (overview) I really appreciate the map overview and then the zoomed in version. I use those two all the time.

Map (larger, zoomed-in version) Use all the time, very important to me

Additional Details:

Cache Owner

Date Hidden

Distance from Home Location Very important

Corrected Coordinates Love this, although I haven't used it yet. It's been off my radar. Will start using.

Quick Link

Print Friendly very important

Driving Directions I don't use this, although it could be so important to some

Send to GPS

Disclaimer It would be nice to have some sort of disclaimer stating that the cache owner and Groundspeak are not liable for anyone hunting the caches

Personal Cache Note (PM feature) Very important!! I really love that you put this in and now that you've added more space for us to write it's even better

Photo Gallery Really adds to the experience. Love this!!

Trackable Inventory

Attributes I don't use these unless it has a bathroom attribute

Additional Waypoints

Find… (links to nearby caches, waymarks)

Other Map Links - 5

Lists:

Watch - 9

Bookmark - 0

Ignore - 6

Owner Tools:

Edit - 10

Edit Attributes -10

Waypoints - 10

Upload Images - 10

Archive - 10

Disable - 10

Existing Community Requests:

In-house geochecker - 8

"Last Found" summary - 7

Ability to filter logs by clicking on log type icons - 7

Add event start and end time fields - 8

Thanks for asking.

lumbricus

March 23, 2015

Geocaching since 2010, mostly Austria, PM for reasons of comfort

Please don't change the look of the Cache Listing page for webbrowsers in direction worse (less usable, less information) for both big and small screens (on smartphones) with wasting valuable space for fancy web-design-reasons.

Please don't require more clicks or more reloading as there are from time to time already heavy problems for certain European users with loading the page that make the use of the website almost impossible for hours.

A cache that let's say needs maximum 20 lines as gpx is now implemented with 1000 programm lines for scripting (also for other purposes) and at certain times hangs up after getting all necessary informations for displaying the content and still doesn't display it if the following scripts that are not necessary for displaying have a timeout or whatever. That is very annoying.

Basic Details:

Title please keep

Cache Type please keep

Description please keep

Coordinates/Location please keep

Difficulty/Terrain please keep

Size please keep

Favorites please keep

Hint please keep

Map (overview) not necessary for me, I can zoom out in the larger map, current version often doen't give a clue where the cache is

Map (larger, zoomed-in version) please keep

Logged on (link to Found it log) please keep

Additional Details:

Cache Owner please keep

Date Hidden please keep

Distance from Home Location please keep

Corrected Coordinates please keep, very important

Coordinates please keep, second format could be listed in the 'other conversions'-link to save space

Quick Link please keep, I use it very often

Print Friendly please keep

Driving Directions never used this

Send to GPS

LOC waypoint file please keep

GPX file please keep, this is most important for me, I use it both for gps and smartphone

Send To My GPS please keep

Send To My Phone please keep

Disclaimer could take less space and be moved to bottom

Personal Cache Note (PM feature) please keep, very important

Photo Gallery please keep

Trackable Inventory please keep

Attributes please keep, very improtant, also an small screens to see all of them

Additional Waypoints please keep

Find… (links to nearby caches, waymarks) please keep

...other caches hidden or found by this user very important links for me, please don't take them away both for basic and premium members (as 'found by' is taken away in the new search also for PM)

...nearby caches of this type, that I haven't found very important links for me, please don't take them away also for basic members as this is ruined in the new search for them. There are basic mebers with a large numbers of found and hidden caches who contribute a lot to the game and who now are practically excluded from identifying unfound caches by the new search

...all nearby caches, that I haven't found very important links for me, please don't take them away also for basic members as this is ruined in the new search for them. There are basic mebers with a large numbers of found and hidden caches who contribute a lot to the game and who now are practically excluded from identifying unfound caches by the new search

...all nearby waymarks on Waymarking.com never used this

Other Map Links please keep maybe allow hiding some of the maps per default

Lists:

Watch please keep

Bookmark please keep

Ignore please keep

Owner Tools:

Edit please keep

Edit Attributes please keep

Waypoints please keep

Upload Images please keep

Archive as there is a 'log a new visit' links, I personally don't need this

Disable as there is a 'log a new visit' links, I personally don't need this

Existing Community Requests:

In-house geochecker nice to have, but only if really well thought out

"Last Found" summary

Ability to filter logs by clicking on log type icons nice to have, espcially for show all my logs, owner logs and NM, NA, DNF, write note for caches with many Found it where you have to look at hundreds of logs to see important infomation posted a while ago

Add event start and end time fields It is now enforced anyway to add start and end time in the description, I'm able to read the complete listing of an event.

March 23, 2015

Corrected Coordinates please keep, very important

I also miss the possibility to have corrected coordinates for most other types of caches. I would use corrected coordinates not only for ? and Multi-Caches but also for Virtuals, Wherigos and Letterbox Hybrid where the final is not at the header. Even for Traditionals this could be handy if previous finders posted better coordinates.

And please keep corrected coordinates on the map when switching to 'view larger map'. And please keep all waypoints on 'view larger map'. Or don't link to the (old) general map but allow for enlarging the window of the 'detailed map'. Now these informations (both corrected coordinates and waypoints) are lost and only header coordinates shown at 'view larger map'. This is irritating as coming from the new search corrected coordinates are kept, but still not marked as corrected.

It would be nice to have corrected coordinates shown and marked on all maps (when also other caches are displayed) e.g. with a red dot in the upper right corner like 3rd party apps do to help knowing which of all the caches out there already have corrected coordinates.

March 23, 2015

I posted once already in the thread, but have a few additional comments based on other posts.

I wish that the default color for text was black instead of grey. With my imperfect eyesight, I find grey text hard to read

YES! And actually this applies site-wide. Though gray text affects low-vision users the most, everyone reads more slowly when the contrast is low. I forget about this because I have a user style sheet set up to override the unpleasant site specs. The only reason for text to be gray is fashion; fashion is often wrong, and certainly is in this case. Overriding with a user style sheet is a poor correction, because without a lot of ongoing tweaks, it cannot allow colored text even when it's reasonable (for example, headings, links, disabled choices, etc).

Remove the "watchlist" link from my own caches, while i already watch them

This would be problematic for a couple of reasons.

First, the link should not be totally removed, as it's confusing when pages change their format modally. If the link were to be disabled, the visible text should remain, but grayed out, with a mouse-over saying "disabled because you are the owner". This would not save any space on the page.

Second, I can conceive of reasons to use the link. If I'm about to send the cache to someone else for adoption, I might want to put it on my watchlist first. I might have email filters that put watchlist emails in one folder and owner emails in another folder, to be examined on different schedules and for different purposes, so I might want to put a cache I own on my watchlist also. These usage examples may be a bit far-fetched and occasional, but they illustrate that it's likely that some cachers want the option -- after all, if only one in a thousand cachers use a feature, that's still several thousand people in the world.

this forum thread is only the initial step ... helps us to develop the User Insights games that we build and play with the community ... please don't worry that we are packing all research on decision making on the feature into this single week; it is just the tip of the iceberg.

I certainly agree with your approach. Other forms of input, such as the games you mention, are extremely useful. Furthermore, approaching the user community in various ways gathers input from various groups. I note for example that few of the responses in this thread are from people who primarily use the mobile interface -- I suspect they are a much higher portion of the community than represented here, so other ways of reaching them are needed.

However, I would point out that quite a few good analysts post here. I would therefore suggest that when you have a set of changes well along the path of development, that you bring them back here for comments. Of course you cannot allow the design to be an unending back-and-forth, and some users will be unhappy no matter what the design includes (even if the design is "no change"). Yet even on that point, bringing in the good analysts in the community prepares them to show other users what's good about the changes and how to use the changes to improve their geocaching experience.

Edward

4.1k · March 23, 2015

I have been playing this game for eleven years. I manage all of my caching through Geosphere (iPhone), and use that to correct coordinates, write personal notes, and transfer cache information to my gpsr, so I only look at the website for limited purposes.

Send to GPS. This seems to cause a lot of problems and is probably only necessary for certain units. The GPX button though is essential if I have not otherwise loaded a cache into the app - generally with new caches that interest me or question mark caches that otherwise are excluded from searches.

Favorites are of no use to me but I understand that some people like them. The same is true with the driving directions. The proliferation of attributes diminished their value. One zoomable map (that could be user set) would be better than two, but it is certainly not a major issue. When I visit the site, the additional maps and find links are important.

I use the quick link at times. But it would be helpful if there was a search box that did not need to be overwritten to find a different gc code.

Inventories are fine, but perhaps people who have found the cache could log trackables as missing since a large percentage of the listed items are not there.

I like to know how many people are watching a cache. It's sometimes useful to identify if there might be one kind of an issue or the other.

I would not use a last found summary. If I want to know that I can look at the logs and it would simply add clutter for me.

A field for event days and times would be helpful.

Edited March 23, 2015 by geodarts

4.1k · March 23, 2015

Duplicated by accident

Edited March 23, 2015 by geodarts

March 23, 2015

I have been geocaching since 2012, but only really got started in 2013. I will soon reach 3000 finds.

I don't think there's anything that should be removed from the cache listings.

That being said, here are my comments on selected items:

UTM coordinates can probably be hidden (the other conversions can be required for some mystery/puzzle caches, so make sure you keep that)
Print: I rarely print a cache page except when going out of my normal caching area, and then usually only for Earthcaches. There are some mystery/puzzles that require printing the cache page, so make sure you keep this feature.
Corrected coordinates are a must-keep feature.
Links to download a cache - I use GCDroid for geocaching which uses the Geocaching API to fetch caches, so I almost never use the download feature.
Find... section:
- I rarely use the "other caches hidden or found byt this user" feature except when I find a cacher who seems to create a lot of "wow" geocaches.
- I sometimes use these: "nearby caches of this type, that I haven't found"
- I sometimes use "all nearby caches, that I haven't found"
- I never use "all nearby waymarks on Waymarking.com"
[*]Maps:
- I find the mini map less useful than the zoomed in map since you can't drag it around to see the area.
- The zoomed in map further down the page is significantly more useful since I can pan and zoom to see the area.
- Maps should support the same map type selected in the geocaching.com/maps view (ie. if my preference is Leaflet, use that instead of Google Maps).
- Links to other online maps - I don't think I've ever used those.

Existing community requests

Logs - It would be nice to allow filtering by log type by clicking that log type, but I don't see myself using it much
In-house geochecker - after the recent hack of one of the third-party geo-checker sites, it would be nice if geocaching.com had one built in. If this is built, it should offer the option to show an additional hint to those who have solved the puzzle. It should also support the ability to show/hide the number of correct/incorrect solutions, and show/hide a list of those who have attempted the solution. Maybe make the whole geochecker a premium only feature?
Last Found summary - this should be shown on the popup on the map and at the top of the cache page. It should show the last 4 or 5 log type icons. ie. 4 Found icons. 4 DNF icons, etc... Many of the 3rd party apps (GSAK, GCDroid, etc...) do this by parsing the logs. This helps me in deciding if I even want to attempt to find a cache.
Event start/end times - good idea. Especially if integrated into the "Add to calendar" feature. Right now when I click the Add to Calendar, I have to go edit the event to specify the start time and duration (google calendar) otherwise it shows as an all-day event.

Other irritations:

Make all image links show up on page, or open in a new tab. It's annoying to click an image only to have it navigate away from the cache page. This mainly applies to owner-provided images as the images posted with the logs already do this.

March 23, 2015

Hello! I am a premium member and have been geocaching since July 2014. I have currently found 467 caches.

Additional Details:

Personal Cache Note (PM feature)--

I use this to insert the coordinates for Puzzle caches I have solved. Unfortunately, this feature isn't available on the app. I would love to be able to have access to this in the app, then click on the coordinates instead of having to call the information up on the geocaching website (on my phone) then copy/paste into Google maps.

Attributes--

I use this feature to see if a cache is kid-friendly and also if it is winter-friendly. I really like this feature.

I have never used these features--

Corrected Coordinates, Quick Link, Print Friendly, Driving Directions, Disclaimer, Additional Waypoints

Existing Community Requests:

In-house geochecker--

If there were an in-house geochecker, I would request that it be an option to add to new puzzle caches. When puzzle caches are being submitted ask the question, "Would you like to add a geochecker?" It would be nice to inform the submitter about them.

March 23, 2015

I've been caching since April 2011. My input is in red/bolded below.

Owner Tools:

Edit Making edits in the small box and in the raw HTML can be cumbersome. I know you can drag the dialogue box to make it bigger, but not having a preview of the html without simply resubmitting the listing is pretty inefficent. Not sure if you are looking for feedback on this aspect of the geocache page, but as a cache owner, it is something I feel could use some work. Editing cache listings should be as easy/straightforward as when you first submit caches, at least in my view. Having a whole different interface for making edits might mean that less people will bother making edits to their listigs, and keeping them current/relevant..
Edit Attributes
Waypoints
Upload Images
Archive
Disable

Existing Community Requests:

In-house geochecker I use a 3rd party checker, but if one was incorporated with the site I would probably use it as well, especially if it is customizable like some of the other checkers are. And it would be really awesome if the cache listing automated "corrected coordinates" for you once you got a success on the coord checker. This could be done if the checker was in house, I imagine.
"Last Found" summary
Ability to filter logs by clicking on log type icons
Add event start and end time fields

In general, there isn't something that really jumps out as me as needing change on the cache listing page. But I would also probably be ok with a different look, or feel as long as the functionality still exists. For example, on some 3rd party apps I use on my tablet, the cache listing is divided into tabs and this seems to work pretty well. There's a tab for basic info, for waypoints, trackables, for logs, for attachments etc... I wouldn't mind if the website was also organized in some fashion as well, might intiually be confusing to folks though as it offers a bigger change from what we're used to seeing. Live and learn though [].

15.3k · March 23, 2015

Personal Cache Note (PM feature)--
I use this to insert the coordinates for Puzzle caches I have solved. Unfortunately, this feature isn't available on the app. I would love to be able to have access to this in the app, then click on the coordinates instead of having to call the information up on the geocaching website (on my phone) then copy/paste into Google maps.

FWIW, there are a few apps that can use the Personal Cache Note for puzzle solution coordinates. Neongeo is one of them. But if you use the Corrected Coordinates feature for puzzle solution coordinates, then the solution should be available to any app that downloads PQ data.

March 24, 2015

Basic Details:

Title: Important

Cache Type: Important

Description: Important. Would be more useful if more cachers used this as described.

Coordinates: Important (UTM coords not so much)

Location: If this is the state/country, yes it is important. I do not use it a whole lot, but when I do it takes a moment to find it. I would like to see it more prominent.

Difficulty/Terrain: Yes, but still needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Size: Yes. I absolutely hate “other”. Get rid of it. Every cache has a size. And like Virtual, make an event size. Wouldn’t hurt to make it automatic. It’s about time nano became a size.

Favorites: Yes. Not very important to me, but I am starting to use it more.

Hint: Important. I appreciate a quality hint. I detest “none needed” and the like. Caches go missing and I often use the hint to double check.

Map (overview): Not important. Not very useful.

Map (larger, zoomed-in version): Important. I use it and also use it to access the map.

Additional Details:

Cache Owner: Important.

Date Hidden: Important, but I don’t understand the point of making this different than the published date. They should be the same.

Distance from Home Location: I don’t use often use it, but it is helpful for the few times I do.

Corrected Coordinates: I don’t use it. I run everything through GSAK anyway and correct coords there.

Quick Link: Not sure what this is a reference to.

Print Friendly: Not important.

Driving Directions: Not important.

Send to GPS: Important, although I don’t use it often. Great when I need it though.

Disclaimer: I get it and I ignore it.

Personal Cache Note: I really like this feature and use it. Be great to be able to pull up all my notes.

Photo Gallery: Important. I use it occasionally. I liked it when it was part of the home page too and I could click when I saw something interesting.

Trackable Inventory: Important, but not accurate due to cachers.

Attributes: Important. Should be required to use when creating a cache.

Additional Waypoints Find (links to nearby caches, way marks): Use it occasionally.

Cache Listing

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment

Link to comment