Pocket Queries & GSAK 101. Rich Thompson Mr. Glonch of Glonch spride

Transcription

1 Pocket Queries & GSAK 101 Rich Thompson Mr. Glonch of Glonch spride

2 Pocket Queries & GSAK 101 Welcome! The main topic for this event is how to use Pocket Queries and GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) to manage the caches you'd like to find! There are many ways to apply the concepts that I will present here I have just found this works best for me and though that it might help others. I am not affiliated with any of the companies represented in this presentation. Rules: 1. Have fun 2. ASK QUESTIONS! 3. Don t hesitate to contact me via my , glonchspride@gmail.com with any follow up questions that you may have after the event.

3 Pocket Queries Overview A Pocket Query (PQ) is used to search the Geocaching.com database of active and inactive caches. Must be a premium member of geocaching.com to run PQs They might also contain child waypoints Child waypoints are trailheads, parking coordinates, etc There are many types of search criteria: Type of cache (Traditional, Multi, Puzzle, etc) Difficulty / Terrain of cache Location of cache, based upon: Home Coordinates State Radius Etc And many others Limitations (as of Nov 2010): Max 1000 Caches per PQ Max 5 PQs downloaded per day Max 40 PQs per user

4 GSAK: Overview GSAK is the all in one Geocaching and waypoint management tool. Major features include: Multiple databases Distance/direction from other waypoints (including caches, locations, post codes) Sending/receiving waypoints to GPSr Extensive searching/filtering Extensive Macro language (Don t be scared, many have made macros for free) Backup and Restore and much more! GSAK only runs on Windows operating systems (98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, Win 7) Licensing is very generous: You can use GSAK for free, but after 21 days, a nag screen will come up on program startup (no reduction on functionality though) $25 for Major releases (6.x, 7.x, etc) - No charge for minor updates.1,.23, etc You can install on multiple computers and use with multiple GPSrs that you own with one license All settings, databases, etc can be moved between computers without any problems. Two files that you must download if you do get GSAK:

5 Pocket Queries - Overview There are many ways to run a PQ Radius Zip Code Date Placed Restrict to state Restrict to radius Many others We are going to talk about Date Placed PQs Date based PQs tend to be the most efficient way to get the most from your PQs.

6 PQs Overview Date Placed Based First decision: What to base the PQ on? Radius or State? Radius based is great if you don t care about the states you might get in the PQ or your caching area is easily done in a radius State based works well if you want to get all the caches within a state (getting harder to do with larger states) The three major settings: I haven t found I don t own Is active

7 A simplified example: PQs Overview Date Placed Based From Geocaching.com Into GSAK PQ 1 Jan 1, 2000 to Jan 1, Caches 1111.ZIP PQ 2 Jan 2, 2006 to Aug 1, Caches 1112.ZIP Single Database 2724 Caches PQ 3 Aug 2, 2008 to Dec 31, Caches 1113.ZIP

8 PQs Overview Date Placed Based How to manage your PQs in Windows: Simple concept One Windows folder for each GSAK Database All PQ ZIP files for a single database will reside in a single folder No need to UNZIP GSAK will unzip when importing 1111.ZIP 1112.ZIP 1113.ZIP

9 PQs Overview Date Placed Based It s a little trial and error to dial it in Around is best! From Jan 1, 2000 to Jan 1, 2007 Too High From Jan 1, 2000 to Jun 1, 2006 Too Low From Jan 1, 2000 to Sep 20, 2006 Just Right The next PQ will start on Sep 21, 2006 Be sure to copy the PQ by clicking on the icon

10 Pocket Queries: Structure Create your query Name of query Which days to run # of caches to return in query (1000 always!) Type Active/Inactive Difficulty Terrain Restrict to State Starting Coordinates (if needed and distance of radius)

11 Pocket Queries: Starting Out To get to the Pocket Query screen: Get to your account screen On the right hand side, half way down, click Build Pocket Queries

12 Pocket Queries: Part 1 Query Name What you want Think about keeping this alphabetical e.g. Start with ME 01 for ME Queries Days Leave blank until needed If checked, query will be sent to your and count against your daily PQ count Choose Leave on Uncheck.. until needed Show me xxxx caches 1000! Always.

13 Pocket Queries: Part 2 Of Any type Selected types These will depend on the application Any container Selected containers I find that I don t use this section GSAK can do this later on

14 Pocket Queries: Part 3 That (And) And I check: I haven t found I don t own Is Active I usually leave these as default (nothing checked) GSAK can filter these later

15 Pocket Queries: Part 4 Within This will depend on the application If you want to limit by state, ensure to select it here

16 Pocket Queries: Part 5 From Origin This will depend on the application State based PQ: then nothing changes here Radius based select the beginning point of the radius: My Home Coordinates or Waypoint Name or Postal Code or By Coordinates Within a Radius of will vary on your application

17 Pocket Queries: Part 6 Placed during If you using dated place PQs then first time doing this will be trial and error Start with Jan 2000 to Jan Each PQ should be around caches This will allow for inactive caches to become active without you having to adjust the PQ

18 Pocket Queries: Part 7 Attributes to Include Attributes to Exclude I never select these Some cachers forget to assign attributes to their caches and this would drop them from the PQ Regarding attributes: In order to get the attributes in your PQs, they must have the GPX version set to GPX in their account preferences. ManagePreferences.aspx

19 Pocket Queries: Part 8 Output to Being that these PQs are set for >500 caches, you will have to visit your PQ site to download them. s from geocaching.com will only be a notification that the PQ is ready. In the format Always - GPS Exchange Format (*.gpx) Always check Compress files into *.zip format

20 PQs Date Placed Based You will eventually end up with PQs with dates like this: For those that want to know, this report was created with a GSAK macro called PlacedPQ get it at:

21 Pocket Queries: Notes Reminder! Ensure your results are not maxed out to 1000! Try to keep your PQs to hit around when PQ is run, this will display at the top of the page: Another place for info on PQs Brdad did a great write up on how to do data based PQs: (awesome site!)

22 GSAK: Main Window Tool Bar Search/Filter Bar Cache listing Cache Info

23 GSAK: First settings: Part 1 Go to: Your Owner ID#

24 GSAK: First settings: Part 2 Go to Tools Options You will need your Owner ID#

25 GSAK: First settings: Part 3 Go to Tools Options Locations Type your Home Coordinates here WARNING: Do not type on a line that starts with #

26 GSAK: First settings: Part 4 Go to Tools Options Abbreviations Check this if you like State names to be abbreviated

27 GSAK: Establish a Database Go to Database New Name the new database Click Create

28 GSAK: Loading PQs 2. Ensure path is correct Go to File Load GPX/LOC/Zip File 1. Load type is Folder 3. Select correct database 4. Select Clear database before loading 5. Click OK

29 GSAK: PQ Report Results after loading PQs Total number of caches in ALL zip files Total number of caches after duplicates removed Individual file statistics WARNING: If any GPX file has 1000 caches you will need to adjust its PQ.

30 GSAK: What Next? Sorting Click any column heading to sort A to Z, nearest to farthest Click again to reverse the order Filtering Cache Type Cache Difficulty Cache Terrain State Cache owner Distance from Home (or other waypoint, coordinate, etc) It goes on and on Polygon filtering is one the most powerful ways to filter!

31 GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 1 Access the tool at: Or In GSAK go to: Tools GSAK polygon/line drawing tool

32 GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 2 Start Polygon Left Click on map to move map Zoom In/Out

33 GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 3 Click Click Final click At start of polygon. This will close the polygon Click Click Click Click Click The coords will show on the right hand side of screen Left click once to select them then Ctrl-C to copy

34 GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 4 1. Open GSAK 2. Ensure the correct database is selected - Select Search Filter or Click the icon 3. Select the Arc/Poly Tab and Click Polygon 4. Paste the coordinates into the area below the # symbols (Ctrl-V) 5. Apply any other filters and click Go

35 GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 5 To adjust the polygon hover over polygon and more handles will appear Click on them to move them at will. All handles can be moved at any time! Once to let go of one of the new handles, two more will be created so that you can dial it in even more. Copy the new coords to the filter to check your progress.

36 GSAK: Transfer caches to GPSr GSAK talks to many makes of GPSrs Set your make and model in the GPS Setup menu 1. Select Brand 2. Select Model 3. Click OK

37 GSAK: Transfer caches to GPSr Send Waypoints to GPS Settings 1. Change GPS Symbols if you d like 2. Change the Waypoint name A very useful feature - for explanation on how to use it see: 3. Click Send

38 Wrap up! Q & A

39 More Stuff Use GSAK for awhile prior to moving on

40 Backup and Restore GSAK Tips and Tricks A great way to not only backup your settings, databases, and macros but to move all or part of them to another computer Corrected Coordinates Awesome feature to keep track of all those puzzle/multi caches coordinates Your Finds Managing your finds in GSAK and running statistics on them Well Rounded Caches To find all Terrain/Difficulty combinations Challenge Caches Find caches based upon location, date placed, etc Google Maps in GSAK Local NH cacher, String Theory (aka Markp99), developed a great Macro for GSAK to show your filtered caches in Google Maps

41 Backup and Restore GSAK Tips and Tricks GSAK will automatically backup your files to a folder on your system Go to Tools Options 1. Enable is checked 2. Prompt and Frequency are personal preference 3. You can change the path to wherever you d like External Hard Drive, Dropbox, etc

42 GSAK Tips and Tricks Backup and Restore to move to another computer This feature can be used to transfer all of your settings, databases, and macros to another computer e.g. Home desktop to a laptop to GSAK on the road On the main GSAK computer go to: File Backup 1. Change the file path where you d like to save the file 2. Select the databases you d like to transfer 3. Ensure Save GSAK Settings is checked 4. Click Backup

43 GSAK Tips and Tricks Backup and Restore to move to another computer Copy the backup file from the first computer to the second On the second computer: go to File Restore 1. Navigate to where the file is on the second computer 2. Select the databases you d like to transfer 3. Ensure Restore all GSAK Settings is checked 4. Leave checked 5. Click Restore

44 GSAK Tips and Tricks Corrected Coordinates A great way to keep track of your puzzle/multi caches coordinates Select the cache you want to apply a Corrected Coordinate on and either: Right-Click Corrected Coordinates or Waypoint Corrected Coordinates 1. Input new coordinates here 2. Click Save Two important notes: 1. Upon import of PQs into a database with the Clear Database option checked, this WILL NOT delete corrected coordinates 2. Selecting Database Remove WILL delete corrected coordinates

45 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Managing your finds in GSAK and running statistics on them You will need to download your My Finds Pocket Query first Go to: Scroll to the bottom of the page, under My Finds, Click Add to Queue You will get this file in Download it and open GSAK

46 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks In GSAK, select Database New Title the database ex - MyFinds Click Create

47 GSAK Tips and Tricks Your Finds 1. Select File Load GPX/LOC/ZIP 2. Load Type = Load file(s) 3. Browse to the My Finds PQ file 4. Uncheck Clear Database 5. Click OK

48 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Running Statistics on them with All Purpose Statistics Generator in GSAK Go to: Click on the most recent version Click Open

49 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Runing Statistics on them with All Purpose Statistics Generator in GSAK 1. Click Install the macro 3. Select Macro Run/Manage 2. Click Go

50 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Runing Statistics on them with All Purpose Statistics Generator in GSAK 1. Select FindStatGen3.gsk 2. Click Run

51 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Runing Statistics on them with All Purpose Statistics Generator in GSAK 1. Select OK (This might not show up on first run of the macro)

52 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Runing Statistics on them with All Purpose Statistics Generator in GSAK Important Select your My Finds database here Important Your EXACT geocaching.com user name There are a ton of options here Try different combinations When you are done with your settings, Click OK

53 Your Finds GSAK Tips and Tricks Runing Statistics on them with All Purpose Statistics Generator in GSAK The results will be shown in your internet browser There is much more info as you scroll down in your browser Check the link for the macro It is updated often and many new features are added all the time

54 Well Rounded Caches GSAK Tips and Tricks To find all Difficulty/Terrain combinations (81 in total) e.g. 1/1, 1/1.5. 5/5 GC15E8N is the NE Well Rounded Challenge Cache In GSAK, there are many tools to assist you with this Sorting by the Terrain and Difficulty columns and comparing them with your finds Macros: Fizzy Challenge Macro Great macro note you will need to used the Stats Macro for your finds prior to running this macro Well Rounded Nearest Finds nearest terr/diff caches»

55 Delorme Challenge Challenge Marco GSAK Tips and Tricks Unbelievable marco incorporates many of the US Delorme Challenges into one Marco! Produces a list of pages you have and don t have Exports to Google Earth: Get it at:

56 GSAK Tips and Tricks Google Maps in GSAK Local cacher, String Theory (aka Markp99), developed a great Macro for GSAK to show your filtered caches in Google Maps MyGME v3 - Install the macro as explained in the Statistics section Filter your caches Draw a polygon around the area you want to map In this example, a caching run is planned around the Pawtuckaway State Park Import this polygon in to GSAK to filter your caches Use the new tip at the beginning of this document to import!

57 GSAK Tips and Tricks Google Maps in GSAK 3. Select Marco Run/Manage 1. The imported polygon 4. Select mygmev03 macro 2. Run your filter with other options if you like e.g. Traditional only, less than 3/3 terr/diff etc. 5. Click Run

58 Google Maps in GSAK GSAK Tips and Tricks 1. Try different options These are the settings that I usually use 2. Ensure Last active filter is set 3. Click Run

59 GSAK Tips and Tricks Google Maps in GSAK Map Type Zoom functions Display functions Cache list Map can be printed for quick reference in the field Especially if zoomed in