Difference between revisions of "Logging a cache"

Revision as of 17:16, 19 December 2005

Important Note:

It is recommended that you always logs your DNF (Did Not Finds). Logging a DNF does not in any way decrease your standing in the community and it assists the cache owners greatly as it indicates to them that there may be a problem with the cache and that maintenance may be required.

Logging an individual cache

Logging a Geocaching Australia cache on the Geocaching Australia website is simple once you can find the cache you are looking to log.

Please note:

While other site caches are displayed on Geocaching Australia, it is generally accepted that you should log the cache on the original listing site. 0

ie. Log your geocaching.com caches at http://www.geocaching.com, your Shutterspots at http://www.gpsgames.org, etc.

To log a GCA cache on GCA:

• Go to the Geocaching Australia Website which can be found at http://www.geocaching.com.au
• Click on the Log In / Register Link which can be found at the top right hand corner of your screen.
• Enter your Geocaching Australia Username and password. If you want the site to remember you so you don't have to log in each time, tick the Remember me: box. Then click the Login button.
• Find the cache that you want to log. This can be done either by:
  • Entering the waypoint id in the Search box at the top right and then hit your <enter> key.
  • Entering the cache name (or part of the cache name) in the Search box at the top right and then hit your <enter> key.
• Click on the cache that you want to log from the list supplied.
• Click on the Log this cache link on the right hand side, just under the word Actions.
• Complete the details of the log:
  • Date
  • Type of Log
  • Coords: These are used to add a waypoint to the cache page. Generally used for moveable or locationless caches.
  • Log
• Click on the Log button when you are done.

There you go, your log has been added to the system.

Logging caches that have not appeared at Geocaching Australia

If you have multiple logs that have not been previously imported from geocaching.com or gpsgames.org, you may use the Log Import Tool to import your logs en masse.

You will require a valid GPX file in order to use the tool. You can create a complete GPX file for all of your cache logs from GSAK as one of the easiest methods.

• Start GSAK
• Create a filtered list containing only those caches that you wish to create a log for.
  • File | Export | GPX/LOC File
  • Ctrl+G does the same thing.
• File type to generate:
  • Tick GPX file
• Waypoint name
  •  %code (Do NOT create a GPX file with smart names)
• File name to create
  • Should be any valid file system and name
• Logs
  • Limit number of logs to export: Set this to 0
  • Always include by logs: Tick this box
• Click the Generate button.

You should now have a file containing only your logs for the filtered list your selected.

You can now load that GPX file to Geocaching Australia by going to the following page: http://geocaching.com.au/my/import

• The importer reads all the caches and logs and updates the database as appropriate:
  • if it's a new cache or log, it adds it to the database
  • if it's a different cache or log, it checks the cache or log in the database and if the text or date is blank or the date is 1/1/1970, it corrects it with the information from the gpx file.
• Click on the Browse button to find the file that you just created.
• Click on the Import button to improt your logs.

That's it. You should receive a notification of how many logs were imported.

Logging a Geocaching.com cache using GSAK

GSAK has an internal function which will:

• Open the geocaching.com website to the appropriate cache, ready at the log screen
• Copy the user notes to the clipboard.

All that remains for you to do is to select the log type, CTRL-V for paste and submit the log!

This is a useful function for using a laptop on a long trip and partially automating the upload of the logs you have typed along the way.

Logging a Geocaching Australia cache using GSAK

GSAK has an internal function which will:

• Open the Geocaching Australia website to the appropriate cache, ready at the log screen
• Copy the user notes to the clipboard.

All that remains for you to do is to select the log type, CTRL-V for paste and submit the log!

This is a useful function for using a laptop on a long trip and partially automating the upload of the logs you have typed along the way.

You only need to make one small change to GSAK to permit this.

In GSAK's "Macros" folder you will find a file called "LogCache.txt". You need to edit that. Find where it says:

#Now call up the log page for this cache
WEB url="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?ID=%gcid"

Add a "#" to the start of the second line so GSAK will ignore it. ie.

#Now call up the log page for this cache
#WEB url="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?ID=%gcid"

Then paste in the following lines just below the one you just edited:

IF Left("%code",2) = "GC"
WEB url="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?ID=%gcid"
ENDIF
IF Left("%code",2) = "GA"
WEB url="http://geocaching.com.au/my/log/new/?add=%code"
ENDIF

Then save the "LogCache.txt" file. GSAK should take you to the appropriate log page now.