GSAK challenged cachers, post here

[Team Deejay]

Additionally, if you are NOT paperless, GSAK provides two different “printing” options: Grid, and Condensed HTML. Grid is exactly what it sounds like, so can print out whatever info you want on a spreadsheet like grid, but obviously you can’t include descriptions in the grid unless you have very wide paper. The other option, condensed HTML, prints all the info on the cache page (Name, code, description, coordinates, hints, and even logs) in a condensed, user controllable format, where the typical cache takes up about 1/8 of a page (or 8 caches to the page). Of course, if somebody writes a novel in their cache description, it will take up more space, but then again some of these caches with one sentence descriptions only take up about 1/20 of a page, so it balances out. I was using GSAK for the print control long before I went paperless.

Other things you can do:
– When downloading to the GPS, control how the waypoint name and description are sent. This allows you to include difficult, terrain, container, cache type, hints, etc in these fields in your GPS (subject to the GPS limitation).
– Show/printout a set of a caches on a single map without using other software
– Generate a spreadsheet file of caches for forum posts.
– Export your cache database to virtually any other mapping or navigational program
– Generate very complex filters of your database, such as “All the traditional regular size caches within 5 miles of highway 51 between Madison and Wausau that neither my caching buddy nor I have found and are active where the last log is not a DNF”
– Generate a “random walk” cache route (always going to the next closest cache) to make sure you aren’t running into unsolved puzzles, obviously missing caches, etc.
– When downloading to Cachemate on a Palm/Pocket PC, control exactly what data is sent
– One click mapping to show a cache on virtually any mapping website and zero click mapping for Google Maps (you can show the Google maps in a split screen)
– Create a POI file (for advanced Garmin GPSs) with custom icons
– Upload your Cachemate finds back to GSAK and log them on GC.com semiautomatically
– Lots of other stuff

Basically, if it has anything to do with a geocache database, GSAK will do it for you. The hot ticket is that you either have to read the provided documentation here or go to one of the many classes held on using GSAK. I’m sure there are some people who can just look at the program and figure it out, but not many. For most of us, taking a few minutes to read the documentation will work wonders.

[Cachelovskys]

We are using GSAK, Cachemate, and a basic Palm Zire…and can’t image life without. All the information you need (and probably some you don’t) all at your fingertips….with no printing or really any thought.

Multicaches and Puzzle caches are so much easier….I know I can already hear you Marc…if you like puzzles so much, why don’t you come down here. We will make it down eventually.

If anyone needs anymore information or more details on using those two programs (GSAK & Cachemate) I will be more than happy to help.

[EnergySaver]

While I hear GSAK is a great tool, and I’m sure it is … I’ve never figured out why I need it either.

This is what I do:

1. Get a PQ file from geocaching.com, in the GPX format.
2. Delete all the old caches off my Palm and GPSr.
3. Open the file in my Garmin MapSource software, load caches to my Garmin GPSr.
4. Open the same GPX file in my copy of CacheMates “converter” software on my PC, convert it to the CacheMate file for my Palm.
5. Sync the Palm to bring in the CacheMate file.

I do have an old Garmin (an eMap) and running MapSource 6.11 map software … some day when I upgrade to newer equipment and map software, is that when this suddenly gets more involved?

[lagrac]

I’ve got myself a problem with GSAk too, but it has nothing to do with paperless caching. I’ve appealed to everyone I can think of (Justin, GC forums, and Iowa forums). I want to run the macro thing to make my stats in my GC profile look really fancy and detailed like Bandits…. but I can’t figure it out. I have zero patients, so if it doesn’t work the first time, I get really frustrated. Help??

p.s. I’ve already heard the ‘go to GSAK forums and do what they say’ thing. Isn’t there a ‘Macro’s for Dummies’ out there?

[cheezehead]

@lagrac wrote:

I’ve got myself a problem with GSAk too, but it has nothing to do with paperless caching. I’ve appealed to everyone I can think of (Justin, GC forums, and Iowa forums). I want to run the macro thing to make my stats in my GC profile look really fancy and detailed like Bandits…. but I can’t figure it out. I have zero patients, so if it doesn’t work the first time, I get really frustrated. Help??

p.s. I’ve already heard the ‘go to GSAK forums and do what they say’ thing. Isn’t there a ‘Macro’s for Dummies’ out there?

What the heck is Macros anyhow? What’s it do? Besides confuse the heck of of me.

[3 Hawks]

@marc_54140 wrote:

You can use it forever without paying. After so many days however you will get an annoying reminder screen.

I stopped using GSAK because the annoying reminder screen has me waiting over two minutes after every click of the mouse. It takes me forever to load anything.

I could always cave in and pay the nominal fee to resolve that issue. Then again, who really needs to download hundreds of caches in seconds with convenient “smart names?” I’d much rather spend hours downloading directly from GC.com.

OK!!! You’ve talked me into it. I’ll use my Paypal account to drop the $20.00 fee in order to regain full functionality of the software.

[Team Vaughan]

Lagrac,
I am having the same problem with the macro. The info in the forums is no help whatsoever. If you figure it out or anyone has some pointers let me know.
Chris

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Lostby7, we have done the old school thing just fine and logged over 1000 caches that way. Dick really wants the mapping software to work. We have it on the computer. We’re working on the next step. I wanted to be able to save on paper and ink, so I wanted the paperless/Palm thing. It might be another 1000 caches before we figure it all out, though.

[Lostby7]

@Trekkin’ and Birdin’ wrote:

It might be another 1000 caches before we figure it all out, though.

LOL…same here….I say this as I’m even now downloading it again (this time to my new computer). I decided to give it one more shot. I don’t have a working Palm but I would like to get all those 10-12 caches on each page automatically rather than by writing it up myself. I cache with cliff notes at the moment with about 10 caches per sheet of paper but it takes hours to plan a trip of 30-40 caches.

EDIT …let me say this, it is not starting very well as the initial GSAK splash screen will not go away and the old thinking cursor is working overtime…in other words the program will not open. I wonder if it is Vista compatible?

[lagrac]

@Lostby7 wrote:

@Trekkin’ and Birdin’ wrote:

It might be another 1000 caches before we figure it all out, though.

LOL…same here….I say this as I’m even now downloading it again (this time to my new computer). I decided to give it one more shot. I don’t have a working Palm but I would like to get all those 10-12 caches on each page automatically rather than by writing it up myself. I cache with cliff notes at the moment with about 10 caches per sheet of paper but it takes hours to plan a trip of 30-40 caches.

EDIT …let me say this, it is not starting very well as the initial GSAK splash screen will not go away and the old thinking cursor is working overtime…in other words the program will not open. I wonder if it is Vista compatible?

I run GSAK on my laptop and the laptop’s OS is Vista and it seems to run OK.

[Lostby7]

@lagrac wrote:

I run GSAK on my laptop and the laptop’s OS is Vista and it seems to run OK.

Ah Windows….I had to do a restart and now it will open 🙄

[Team Deejay]

@lagrac wrote:

I’ve got myself a problem with GSAk too, but it has nothing to do with paperless caching. I’ve appealed to everyone I can think of (Justin, GC forums, and Iowa forums). I want to run the macro thing to make my stats in my GC profile look really fancy and detailed like Bandits…. but I can’t figure it out. I have zero patients, so if it doesn’t work the first time, I get really frustrated. Help??

p.s. I’ve already heard the ‘go to GSAK forums and do what they say’ thing. Isn’t there a ‘Macro’s for Dummies’ out there?

Lets do this the easy way. First, make sure the macro is in your Program Files/GSAK/Macros directory. If not, put it there. If you can’t find it, you can pick it up at
FindStatsGen

Next, make sure you have loaded your MyFinds pocket query in GSAK. If not, get it and load it. (Otherwise you will be missing your recent finds).

Next, on the GSAK Menu, select Macro|Run/Manage… Hit the Install Button. Open the little file browser button and navigate to FindStatGen3.gsk. Double Click it. Hit Install. Now double click the new line on the list of installed macros. The macro will run.

On mine, a small dialog box comes up. Choose Options. You will next get a dialog that looks like this:

Now, play with all the options and setting on this dialog box to determine what stats you want to show. Once you get done, you will get an HTML file that looks like

Notice at the top of the browser, there is an address called
file:///C:/Program%20Files/GSAK/html/stats1.html
This means your new HTML page is at c:/Program Files/GSAK/html/stat1.html.

To load this into your profile, navigate to that file (Open up “My Computer” and drill into the directories of your C: drive.) Once you find it, right click it, select open with Notepad. When it opens, on the top menu, choose Edit|select all. Then on the top menu, choose Edit| Copy.

End of macro, beginning of geocaching.com instruction.

Now, go to geocaching.com and edit your profile. Scroll down toward the bottom where you will find an open area called Your Profile Details. Erase whatever is in there, then right click in the open space and select Paste. You will see a whole bunch of HTML code in the box. Now scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and hit “Update Account”. Now you can be just like the Bandits.

[3 Hawks]

Ummmmm……Can anyone else hear those crickets? Time to crawl back into my tech-free cave.

[Lostby7]

@3 Hawks wrote:

Ummmmm……Can anyone else hear those crickets? Time to crawl back into my tech-free cave.

I heard the crickets about 12 seconds after I opened up GSAK and saw lots of “Stuff.” Too much stuff, too many shiny….no like shiny.

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

@Lostby7 wrote:

@3 Hawks wrote:

Ummmmm……Can anyone else hear those crickets? Time to crawl back into my tech-free cave.

I heard the crickets about 12 seconds after I opened up GSAK and saw lots of “Stuff.” Too much stuff, too many shiny….no like shiny.

It’s really not that hard to figure out. Just open it and start pressing buttons and you’ll figure it out. Just make sure to drag a PQ into it before you push buttons or nothing will happen.

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