How to Track Solved Puzzles

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:54 pm

I've seen a variety of things done for tracking / recording the coordinates for solved puzzles. With winter upon us, it appears to be a good time to stay indoors and work some puzzles. The question is - how do I track the coordinates? Feel free to share you method(s).

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:57 pm

My method uses GSAK. I use the child waypoints ("Final Location") to store my solution. I also set "User Data" to "Solved" so that I can track which ones are solved but not found yet. The other thing I use is the "User Notes" to track my notes, methods, internet references, etc.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3259

I use GSAK and amend the posted coordinates. This way when I load them into the Oregon the icons show in the right locations. This is helpful because you cannot change the coordinates of a geocache in the Oregon (you have to set a new waypoint instead, but the original stays in the dummy location). The only danger is that you mix up solved and unsolved puzzles in your upload but it's pretty obvious from the screen when a ? icon is at dummy coordinates versus actual.

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:50 pm

gotta run wrote:

I use GSAK and amend the posted coordinates.

Same here.

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:57 pm

GSAK has a corrected coordinates field. You can enter the actual coordinates for a puzzle cache , and it will generate a nice yellow triangle to tell you it's been done.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3259

marc_54140 wrote:

GSAK has a corrected coordinates field. You can enter the actual coordinates for a puzzle cache , and it will generate a nice yellow triangle to tell you it's been done.

Ja dat's what I said.

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:17 pm

Old school. Support the paper industry.

Keep printouts in a folder. One side has completed puzzles with all pertinent updated info on the sheets, the other side has works in progress.

The above is if you're organized. Otherwise, have sticky notes and pieces of scrap paper all around your computer, plus various files all over the desktop screen, not labeled accurately enough to know what's in any of them. Hope you can find what you need for when you go for the find.

Hand enter coordinates. Pray. wink

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:54 pm

I write them down on the back of my hand.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3259

Team Hemisphere Dancer wrote:

I write them down on the back of my hand.

But how do you find them in winter then?

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:49 pm

gotta run wrote:

Team Hemisphere Dancer wrote:

I write them down on the back of my hand.

But how do you find them in winter then?

I follow Marc!

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:58 pm

Printed cache pages with notes all over including in my truck, bedroom, desk drawers, etc. I don't keep track of past solve coords and usually trash them over time which haunts me later.

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:11 pm

Besides using GSAK's "corrected coordinates", I quite often put the solve in User Notes (Right click on line, then select Add/Change/Delete Note). This is quite helpful when I have a partial solve and will be coming back to the puzzle some time in the future.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-11-26 Posts: 3259

Team Black-Cat wrote:

Besides using GSAK's "corrected coordinates", I quite often put the solve in User Notes (Right click on line, then select Add/Change/Delete Note). This is quite helpful when I have a partial solve and will be coming back to the puzzle some time in the future.

Ooooh...that's an excellent idea.

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:43 pm

Team Hemisphere Dancer wrote:

gotta run wrote:

Team Hemisphere Dancer wrote:

I write them down on the back of my hand.

But how do you find them in winter then?

I follow Marc!

I always had a weird feeling I was being followed.....

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-19 Posts: 730

I use several methods. In GSAK I have a master puzzle database that I upload all puzzles into, and use the corrected coordinate field for all solves. About once a month, I user tick/filter all the caches that have corrected coordinate icon and print out a copy! I now have an up-to-date hard copy of all puzzle solve coordinates.

I also have paper copies of puzzles within 30 miles from home. They are kept in binders that are tab divided into solved/found; solved/unfound; virtual (gather info/offset types); and unsolved.