GSAK Macro

[mojave_rattler]

Once this website is fully up and running, would there a possibility that a GSAK Macro would be created that would allow the Lonely Cache Project information to be imported into GSAK. The DGP had a macro that I liked but haven't had much luck in finding it since the DGP site stopped updating.

[rocketsciguy]

I'll second that. Even though they're out of date, I still use the GSAK macro to include the CPs in cache names on my GPSr. Luckily for us, Corfman Clan wrote those GSAK macros, so I'm sure he'll make a compatible datatable available on the LCP site and update the macro to point to it. Right? (Please? )

[Corfman Clan]

Yes, our plan is to include a way to retrieve the cache data similar to how was done on the DGP. On DGP, a file was created when the site was updated and made available for download. This file included data for the whole DGP. We'll probably create the file on the fly with a user specified area of interest, but how we do it remains to be seen. Possibilities are:

• Radius search
• Bounding box search
• By State
• By point range

Once that's available, I'll create a GSAK macro to import the data just as I did for the DGP.

[mojave_rattler]

That's great to know Corfman Clan. Thanks again for all the heard work you have done thus far.

[gjhiker]

Great news! A method of downloading a group of caches (by points, by state, by radius from a point, etc.) would make the site really useful for us. We would like the option of getting this file in .gpx format. We are Mac user's and prefer to use Basecamp and/or MacGPSPro.

[Corfman Clan]

Great news! A method of downloading a group of caches (by points, by state, by radius from a point, etc.) would make the site really useful for us. We would like the option of getting this file in .gpx format. We are Mac user's and prefer to use Basecamp and/or MacGPSPro.

I think you misunderstand what data will be made available. Data to create way points, etc will not be made available. Basically, the following data will be included:

• GC code
• Current point value
• Point value after next find
• Region (not sure how we'll do this if in multiple regions).

So, you see, gpx format makes little sense.

[gjhiker]

OK, that would work. What we are looking for is a way to get a list of caches of a certain point value or higher (say 50 points or more) within a certain distance of a certain location (say within 100 miles of our home). If I can download a file (presumably in flat-file tab-delimited form) with GC Code and point-value then I could merge it with a Pocket Query derived from the same criteria. I could then take all the caches meeting my point criteria and load them into my GPS.

[Corfman Clan]

OK, that would work. What we are looking for is a way to get a list of caches of a certain point value or higher (say 50 points or more) within a certain distance of a certain location (say within 100 miles of our home). If I can download a file (presumably in flat-file tab-delimited form) with GC Code and point-value then I could merge it with a Pocket Query derived from the same criteria. I could then take all the caches meeting my point criteria and load them into my GPS.

We are planning to add some features that take advantage users authorizing LonelyCache use of his/her Geocaching.com membership such as creating bookmark lists, etc. that I believe will be a big step in helping you accomplish the above. See the Tying LonelyCache to Your Geocaching.com Membership topic for more details.

[ZenGuru]

Great job on putting this site together

When you get a chance to work out the GSAK import macro, will you post the results here or in the GSAK fora? My GSAK DB would really like to update its stale DGP stats.

Thanks for all the hard work.

[larsslc]

The new LCP site looks great!!!! I believe the next priority should be to update the macro that will import the LCP points and regions into GSAK. Then we can use the powerful filter tools in GSAK to get the lists of high value caches in our area and download them into our GPS (along with their point values). I am certain that many of the high value LCP caches will now be seeing some action. Thanks for all of your work.

[CougarOx]

Great job on putting this site together

When you get a chance to work out the GSAK import macro, will you post the results here or in the GSAK fora? My GSAK DB would really like to update its stale DGP stats.

Thanks for all the hard work.

ZenGuru speaks for CougarOx. I'm really looking forward to adding the LCP data to GSAK as well. Thanks for the great work!

[Corfman Clan]

I started looking at this today and the ability to download the LonelyCache data ended up being way easier than I expected. The bulk of the work will be in updating the GSAK macro, not getting the data into GSAK. I'm not sure when we'll push an update out, probably within a week or two, but the ability to download the data will be included. Then, a short time later, the macro will be published.

[rocketsciguy]

I started looking at this today and the ability to download the LonelyCache data ended up being way easier than I expected. The bulk of the work will be in updating the GSAK macro, not getting the data into GSAK. I'm not sure when we'll push an update out, probably within a week or two, but the ability to download the data will be included. Then, a short time later, the macro will be published.

That would be awesome! I still use my own customized version of your GetCP (name?) GSAK macro to affix CPs to waypoint names when loading my GPSr. (Mine also adds Favorite Points and a "Solved" flag). It would be excellent to be able to update/replace those point values with LonelyCache Points. Looking forward to seeing this feature one announced!

[Corfman Clan]

I decided to tease you a bit

The LonelyCache Import macro is essentially complete and so is the supporting code on LonelyCache.com. I'm not sure when we'll push an update out but that shouldn't be too long now.

With DGP, a file was updated on the DGP website and the import macro retrieved a copy. We're doing things a bit different for LonelyCache. Basically, the import macro will request the data for a set of states, and the LonelyCache website will generate the data and reply to the macro with it. The macro will build the set of states from the caches in the current GSAK database, so only data from states you have caches in will be generated. It's fairly smart about it too, so if you change GSAK databases and run the macro again, it won't download a state it already has data for.

The macro interface is essentially the same as it was for the DGP Import macro, as you can see in the following image. The big difference is that I removed the Cache Type stuff since LonelyCache doesn't do that and I added importing the County.

LonelyCache Import

LonelyCacheImport.jpg (44.18 KiB) Viewed 112476 times

[rocketsciguy]

I decided to tease you a bit

The LonelyCache Import macro is essentially complete and so is the supporting code on LonelyCache.com. I'm not sure when we'll push an update out but that shouldn't be too long now.

Oooh! I'm all atwitter with anticipation!

[Corfman Clan]

I must say it's really nice to have the point and region data in my GSAK DB again!

I decided to change things around from what the macro was like and am finishing things up. Basically, the macro will be taking advantage of the custom data table that was added in GSAK version 8.1. This means the macro will no longer be limited by using the user_data fields. Yes, you may drool... or twitter...

[AZ WANDERING BEAR]

That is really cool that the macro will produce it's own columns for data. I did rework my GSAK database and free up two user columns just for LC data. But that exercise just helped me tighten up how I organize caches of interest via the user columns. Now I just have more space available to facilitate planning. Thanks for all the hard work on the site, it has already far surpassed DGP and there is more to come I suspect. Eagerly awaiting release of the macro. Things just keep getting better and better.

[Corfman Clan]

The LonelyCache Import macro is now available at the GSAK macro library: LonelyCache Import.

[skeeper]

Sweet Russell. Very sweet. Thank You!

[AllWright]

The Macro works great! I'm back in business! Woohoo!!!