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Have an idea for Cache ratings.


Guest MTBguy

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Guest MTBguy

What if you could rate a Cache (difficulty & terain) after you find it and that rating would be averaged with the other ratings of other logged visiters. That would be the rating displayed on the "seek a Cache" page instead of the rating the cache hidder aplied to it. That would give a more accurate rating for each geocache. What do you think? Is it possilble?

 

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Todd (MTBguy)

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Guest bwware

I think that is a wondeful idea! I always get so scared that I rated my cache wrong or I plan on a trip being a 1/1 or 2/2 and I take the kids when it turns out that the kids should have stayed at home! I would like a user rating scale!

 

Ever Onward,

 

Bill

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Guest gstrong1

Somewhere on one of these threads is a pretty universal cache rating system that works rather well.Takes into account a lot of variables & gives you a set of numbers that are reasonable.I don't have a link to it in front of me, but it is a nice set-up.I'm sure someone will post the link here.

 

I'm back. Try this! http://www.cordianet.com/snd/GCRS.zip

 

------------------

Gary "Gimpy" Strong

Rochester,NY

 

[This message has been edited by gstrong1 (edited 04 August 2001).]

 

[This message has been edited by gstrong1 (edited 04 August 2001).]

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Guest Markwell

Jeremy had said that he had monitored the forum on cache ratings, and indeed liked the work the community did.

 

Jeremy, didn't you say you'd adopt these guidelines as "official?" I think the best way to do that would either be to link to ClayJar's site on your "Hide a Cache" page with an icon for "Cache Rating Calculator" or to create your own ASP version (which some people offered to help with).

 

Where standest thou on this subject?

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Guest jeremy

It's pretty cool. Is this what everyone wants as a rating tool? Any options to add to it before I make it a geocaching.com official cache rating?

 

Looks pretty straightforward to convert to ASP. I'll definitely add recognition for all who contributed if it's a go.

 

Jeremy

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Guest brokenwing

quote:
Originally posted by jeremy:

Looks pretty straightforward to convert to ASP. I'll definitely add recognition for all who contributed if it's a go.


 

Jeremy, in case you want the original VB source, it is below. This was posted before, but I thought I'd go ahead and post again so you'd have it if you need or want it.

 

To those that didn't need the source, I apologize for the long post.

 

Be advised that, for brevity, I left out any non-critical code like splash and about windows, exit and about button code, as well as most of the form load stuff. This is the meat...

 

----Start code----

 

modMain:

Option Explicit

Public strEquip As String

Public strNight As String

Public intLength As Integer

Public intTrail As Integer

Public intOvergrown As Integer

Public intElevation As Integer

Public intDifficulty As Integer

Public intMax As Integer

Public sglTerrain As Single

 

frmTerrainQ:

Private Sub cmdContinue_Click()

If optEquipYes.Value = True Then

sglTerrain = 5

intMax = sglTerrain

Load frmDifficulty

Unload Me

frmDifficulty.Show

Exit Sub

End If

 

If optNightYes.Value = True Then

sglTerrain = 4

intMax = sglTerrain

End If

Load frmTerr2Q

Unload Me

frmTerr2Q.Show

End Sub

 

frmTerr2Q:

Private Sub cmdContinue_Click()

 

Dim intIndex As Integer

Dim sglVL As Single

Dim sglVT As Single

Dim sglVO As Single

Dim sglVE As Single

Dim sglDec As Single

 

For intIndex = 0 To 3

If optLength(intIndex).Value = True Then

intLength = optLength(intIndex).Index + 1

End If

Next intIndex

intIndex = 0

 

For intIndex = 0 To 3

If optTrail(intIndex).Value = True Then

intTrail = optTrail(intIndex).Index + 1

End If

Next intIndex

intIndex = 0

 

For intIndex = 0 To 3

If optOvergrown(intIndex).Value = True Then

intOvergrown = optOvergrown(intIndex).Index + 1

End If

Next intIndex

intIndex = 0

 

For intIndex = 0 To 3

If optElevation(intIndex).Value = True Then

intElevation = optElevation(intIndex).Index + 1

End If

Next intIndex

 

If intMax = 4 Then

sglDec = sglDec + 0.25

computeDecimal

Exit Sub

End If

 

If intLength > intTrail Then

intMax = intLength

Else

intMax = intTrail

End If

 

If intOvergrown > intMax Then

intMax = intOvergrown

End If

 

If intElevation > intMax Then

intMax = intElevation

End If

 

computeDecimal

End Sub

 

Private Sub computeDecimal()

If intMax = intLength Then sglVL = 0.25

If intMax = intTrail Then sglVT = 0.25

If intMax = intOvergrown Then sglVO = 0.25

If intMax = intElevation Then sglVE = 0.25

 

sglDec = sglDec + sglVL + sglVT + sglVO + sglVE

sglDec = sglDec - 0.25

If intMax = 1 Then sglDec = 0

sglTerrain = intMax + sglDec

 

Load frmDifficulty

Unload Me

frmDifficulty.Show

End Sub

 

frmDifficulty:

Private Sub cmdContinue_Click()

intIndex = 0

For intIndex = 0 To 4

If optDiff(intIndex).Value = True Then

intDifficulty = optDiff(intIndex).Index + 1

End If

Next intIndex

 

Load frmResults

frmResults.Show

Unload Me

End Sub

 

frmResults:

Private Sub Form_Load()

Dim strTerrReason As String

Dim strTerrRLvl As String

Dim strTerrR1 As String

Dim strTerrR2 As String

Dim strTerrR3 As String

Dim strTerrR4 As String

Dim strTerrR5 As String

 

Dim strDiffReason As String

Dim strDiffRLvl As String

Dim strDiffR1 As String

Dim strDiffR2 As String

Dim strDiffR3 As String

Dim strDiffR4 As String

Dim strDiffR5 As String

 

txtTerrRate.Text = sglTerrain

intTerrlvl = Int(sglTerrain)

strTerrRLvl = "A level " & intTerrlvl & " terrain ranking is defined as: "

strTerrReason = strTerrRLvl

 

strTerrR1 = "Handicapped accessible. (Terrain is likely to be paved, is relatively flat, and less than a 1/2 mile hike is required.)"

strTerrR2 = "Suitable for small children. (Terrain is generally along marked trails, there are no steep elevation changes or heavy overgrowth. Less than a 2 mile hike required.)"

strTerrR3 = "Not suitable for small children. (The average adult or older child should be OK depending on physical condition. Terrain is likely off-trail. May have one or more of the following: some overgrowth, some steep elevation changes, or more than a 2 mile hike."

strTerrR4 = "Experienced outdoor enthusiasts only. (Terrain is probably off-trail. Will have one or more of the following: very heavy overgrowth, very steep elevation (requiring use of hands), or more than a 10 mile hike. May require an overnight stay. )"

strTerrR5 = "Requires specialized equipment and knowledge or experience, (boat, 4WD, rock climbing, SCUBA, etc) or is otherwise extremely difficult."

 

Select Case intTerrlvl

Case 1

strTerrReason = strTerrReason & strTerrR1

Case 2

strTerrReason = strTerrReason & strTerrR2

Case 3

strTerrReason = strTerrReason & strTerrR3

Case 4

strTerrReason = strTerrReason & strTerrR4

Case 5

strTerrReason = strTerrReason & strTerrR5

End Select

 

If sglTerrain <> intTerrlvl Then

stradddec = " The decimal value represents the fact that you selected multiple items that would account for a level " & intTerrlvl & " Rating."

strTerrReason = strTerrReason & stradddec

End If

 

txtTerrReason.Text = strTerrReason

 

txtDiffRate.Text = intDifficulty

 

strDiffRLvl = "A level " & intDifficulty & " difficulty ranking is defined as: "

strDiffReason = strDiffRLvl

 

strDiffR1 = "Easy. In plain sight or can be found in a few minutes of searching."

strDiffR2 = "Average. The average cache hunter would be able to find this in less than 30 minutes of hunting."

strDiffR3 = "Challenging. An experienced cache hunter will find this challenging, and it could take up a good portion of an afternoon."

strDiffR4 = "Difficult. A real challenge for the experienced cache hunter - may require special skills or knowledge, or in-depth preparation to find. May require multiple days / trips to complete."

strDiffR5 = "Extreme. A serious mental or physical challenge. Requires specialized knowledge, skills, or equipment to find cache."

 

Select Case intDifficulty

Case 1

strDiffReason = strDiffReason & strDiffR1

Case 2

strDiffReason = strDiffReason & strDiffR2

Case 3

strDiffReason = strDiffReason & strDiffR3

Case 4

strDiffReason = strDiffReason & strDiffR4

Case 5

strDiffReason = strDiffReason & strDiffR5

End Select

 

txtDiffReason.Text = strDiffReason

 

End Sub

 

----End code----

 

Thanks, I can't wait to see the rating system up on the web site!

 

brokenwing

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BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Count me as one who is VERY grateful to brokenwing, clayjar and anyone else who worked on it. Had a very frustrating time last week with one rated 1.5- should have been a 3 or so... 2 hot, sticky, hungry babies and one frustrated hubby did not make for geocaching fun! eek.gif

 

Please, please make it official!

 

 

------------------

~~Smiles~~

Mav

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Guest faithwalker

Works for us. Go For It...And thanks to all involved.

 

...Faithwalker & DaMama...

 

[This message has been edited by faithwalker (edited 04 August 2001).]

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Guest Markwell

Please, Please, Please, Please, Please put it on the site. I'd like to make sure there's a link and adequate descriptions on the Hide a Cache Page - something like "Please use the calculator 'here' (include link) to verify that your proposed ratings take into account the standards that we've all..blah, blah, blah, blah"

 

If we just say "Here's a calculator" people think "I don't need a calculator to rate my cache" and they'll never even try it. Until they get used to the standards we hammered out in the other forums, we all should be using the calculator to verify.

 

In the ideal world people would either use the calculator to suggest a rating and tweak it if necessary (which is what I do), or rate the cache and verify that they're in the ballpark with the calculator. Whichever way, I would want to encourage (but not mandate) it's use for all caches for at least a short time.

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Guest MTBguy

WOW! My first and I've actually sparked a change on the best site on the internet! The GCRS works better than what I suggested because you do not have to wait for seekers to find and rate it to get the average. LOVE IT!

 

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Todd (MTBguy)

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Guest Markwell

Thanks Todd for spurring us on. We had originally talked about the difficulty and terrain ratings here, and brokenwing and clayjay tweaked through the software version here but we needed someone to come along and indicate that they didn't know about it to bring it back to the front burner. Thanks!

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Guest brokenwing

quote:
Originally posted by k2dave:

Maybe there should be 2 ratings - the owner and the ave seeker rating.


 

k2dave has an excellent point here. As others have said, we should not make the rating system mandatory. But by not doing so, the possiblity still exists that cache placers will rate their caches off. With a second cache finders rating, this might give folks a feeling of the accuracy of the posters rating. I envision averages from all finders for difficulty and terrain listed right next to the posters rating, along with each finders individual ratings listed with their log entry.

 

This would require that the rating standard be listed on the seek portion of the website as well as the hide portion.

 

Obviously, This is a future step, after getting the initial standards listed on the site. Consider this another of the wishlist items...

 

Thanks,

brokenwing.

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Guest dwr50

I just spent all day writing up a cache level system guideline... and NOW I find this thread! What I have written might have some value. How do I forward it to the group for comments? It's three pages long.

 

------------------

dwr50

"Full-Time RV'ers can REALLY cachin"

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Guest dwr50

The question was How do I send it.Zip file,ascii,cut & paste... it's 3 pages long.

I've never sent something this log to a group.

 

------------------

dwr50

"Full-Time RV'ers can REALLY cachin"

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Guest Scaphites

I just did a test rating

 

no

 

no

 

1/2 to 2 miles

 

no trail

 

light overgrowth

 

basically flat

 

in plain sight

 

1/4 was the calculated rating, isn't the 4 kinda high? It is not a 10 mile hike, no thick overgrowth, no steep elevation, and you wouldn't have to stay overnight. Would we have to live with the calculated rating or could we change it? confused.gif

 

Kevin

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Guest ClayJar

trail" is what got you. For example, if it's in the middle of a pasture, I'd consider that a very wide trail, instead of "no trail". icon_smile.gif

 

Now, as to whether you can say that a "4" is way too high and needs to be a "3" or a "2.5", just remember that we're humans and have more sense than computers, but do have a reason for changing it.

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Guest ClayJar

trail" is what got you. For example, if it's in the middle of a pasture, I'd consider that a very wide trail, instead of "no trail". icon_smile.gif

 

Now, as to whether you can say that a "4" is way too high and needs to be a "3" or a "2.5", just remember that we're humans and have more sense than computers, but do have a reason for changing it.

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Guest aldarion

Another thought... The difficulty rating of caches may change over time. One site I visitied was 1.5/1 with "no bushwhacking needed". The cache was left early in the season. When I got there the weeds had grown over my head, requiring significant whacking to get there. 2 sets of ratings (one averaged over time) would help in this scenario.

 

------------------

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

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Guest ClayJar

Okay, I think it's about time to point out that the rating is not the be-all and end-all of the thing. Could a "finders' rating" be useful? Perhaps. Would it be neat to take into account the fact that a cache may get more overgrown as the season progresses? Probably. Would it be interesting to keep a geographical database of rainfall estimates and long-period time/temperature profiles in order to automatically adjust ratings for estimated growth patterns? Eh, maybe, I guess.

 

What's my point? There are a lot of things that would be neat to add, some of which will be very useful. Other things would be really neat ideas, but they're probably much better served by leaving the simple system in place and merely noting it in the write-up.

 

I already read the logs to see what people have to say about the cache. (Oh, and that's why I think people should definitely submit at least a small log on the site, since it is very useful to see if, say, a cache has become harder/easier since being placed, or if I should carry extra DEET.) But as to actually displaying a numeric "finders' rating", that would be on the edge between usefulness and effort/complexity.

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Guest PharoaH

I would love to see the GCRS as an official part of this site. I trust what the group came up with for the GCRS and I think that's enough.

 

As far as averaged ratings, I'll pass. There just is no substitute for a good cache description. If the cache description isn't good enough, you can e-mail the cache owner (or even a previous cacher) to further assess the terrain. Finally, if the rating is really that far off, other cachers will say so in the log.

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