GSAK and Google maps

Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 8:55 pm

I was playing around with GSAK customization last night, and I thought some of you might be interested in this little trick. GSAK has a custom URL feature where you can add your own URL's on the menu that pops up when you right click on a cache. I added two URL's that allow you to go to the google map or satellite image centered at the cache location. (It already does this for mapquest and terraserver, but I like google maps and images - they're fast, plus has nice features like pan via mouse drag). Do this by going to Tools/Options, HTML tab, and adding the following to the custom URL's:
Google Satellite=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%lat,%lon&spn=0.005257,0.007102&t=k&hl=en
Google Maps=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%lat,%lon&spn=0.015411,0.027210&hl=en

To bring up the google map or image, right click on a cache and select the custom URL's submenu.

The one thing I can't figure out though that maybe someone else can help with, is how to create one of the little red marker icons that Google uses at the exact cache location. I'm also not sure if GSAK will preserve this customization after installing one of the many updates, but I'll see soon I'm sure.

Enjoy,
Doug

Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 7:40 am

A cool option I didn't know about in GSAK! Thanks!

Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 10:11 am

quote:
Originally posted by abcdmCachers:
I was playing around with GSAK customization last night, and I thought some of you might be interested in this little trick. GSAK has a custom URL feature where you can add your own URL's on the menu that pops up when you right click on a cache. I added two URL's that allow you to go to the google map or satellite image centered at the cache location. (It already does this for mapquest and terraserver, but I like google maps and images - they're fast, plus has nice features like pan via mouse drag). Do this by going to Tools/Options, HTML tab, and adding the following to the custom URL's:
Google Satellite=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%lat,%lon&spn=0.005257,0.007102&t=k&hl=en
Google Maps=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%lat,%lon&spn=0.015411,0.027210&hl=en

To bring up the google map or image, right click on a cache and select the custom URL's submenu.

The one thing I can't figure out though that maybe someone else can help with, is how to create one of the little red marker icons that Google uses at the exact cache location. I'm also not sure if GSAK will preserve this customization after installing one of the many updates, but I'll see soon I'm sure.

Enjoy,
Doug

I see a great application there. I think if you subscribe to GSAK then email the author, he would take it to heart! It sounds like he is very proactive with development on that thing.

[This message has been edited by WISearchers (edited 05-11-2005).]

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:27 pm

quote:
Originally posted by abcdmCachers:
The one thing I can't figure out though that maybe someone else can help with, is how to create one of the little red marker icons that Google uses at the exact cache location.

I found this idea on the gc.com boards. He does it by setting the starting address and ending address to be the same. I remember when I used to be this sneaky.

Instructions are the same as above for adding to GSAK.
===========
Google Satellite(Flag)=http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=%lat,%lon&daddr=%lat,%lon&&t=k&hl=en
Google Maps(Flag)=http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=%lat,%lon&daddr=%lat,%lon&hl=en
===========

Note that the marker will "snap to" the nearest road.

[This message has been edited by jthorson (edited 06-01-2005).]

Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:54 pm

But wait, these are even better (from gc.com)

Google Maps=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%lat+%lon+(%code-%name)&hl=en
Google Satellite=http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%lat+%lon+(%code-%name)&hl=en&t=k

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-11 Posts: 17

This could be done with www.virtualearth.com too.

Now only if you could show more than one cache on a map...

[This message has been edited by SirPoonga (edited 08-11-2005).]