queries! carl schmertmann (urubu) with a heavy debt to richard thompson (glonch’spride) of new...
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Queries!Carl Schmertmann (Urubu)
With a heavy debt to Richard Thompson (Glonch’sPride) of New Hampshire, whose presentation I borrowed and adapted
Types of Queries
• ALL MEMBERS
Finds by…, Hides by…, Caches near..., Unfound caches near…, My Friends…
• PREMIUM MEMBERS
• Standard Pocket Queries (PQs)• ‘Along a Route’ PQs• ‘All Finds’ PQs
ALL MEMBERS
• From your account page
QueryLinks
ALL MEMBERS
• From any cache page…
QueryLinks
ALL MEMBERS
• Geocaching Quick Linkswww.geocachingadmin.com/search.pl
• Store links as Browser Bookmarks• finds by Flipsican
www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?ul=Flipsican
• hides by Ubertracker22www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?u=ubertracker22
• etc
PREMIUM MEMBERS: Pocket Queries
• PQ = search GC database for caches matching user’s specifications
• PQ results arrive as either• GPX file email attachment
Google Earth (Open file, or drag & drop) GSAK
• ‘Preview page’ in web browser Save as a bookmark for reuse
Pocket Queries
• Limits (as of Feb 2008):
• Max 500 Caches per PQ
• Max 5 PQs emailed per day
• Max 40 PQs per user
• (GSAK gets around these limits)
Standard Pocket Queries: Structure
User chooses• Name of query• Which days to run & send GPX via email• # of caches to return in query• Type & Size• Active/Inactive• Difficulty & Terrain• State• Center Point & Radius
EXAMPLE Standard PQs
• All active caches within 100 miles of 32309 that I haven’t found
• All Puzzle caches in Florida that have never been found.
• All traditional, non-micro caches within 10 miles of my hotel in Orlando
• All Tallahassee caches that are marked ‘no snowmobiles’
• Etc.
Standard Pocket Queries: Starting Out
• Get to your account screen
• On the right hand side, half way down, click Build Pocket Queries
Standard Pocket Queries: Starting Out
Select [Create a new query]
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 1
• Query Name• Pick something useful
• Days…• Can leave blank until
needed• Choose…
• Leave on “Uncheck..” until needed
• Show me ### caches (max=500)
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 2
• Select Type(s)
• Select container size(s)
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 3
• Status• I check:
• I haven’t found• I don’t own• Is Active
• Terrain/Difficulty
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 4
• Within• This will depend on the
application
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 5
• Origin= Center Point
• Radius
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 6
Placed during…
• This can be VERY valuable in an area with >500 caches (like Tallahassee!), because you can break up the search into 2 perfectly non-overlapping parts (before 2008, after 2008)
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 7
• Attributes to Include
• Attributes to Exclude
Standard Pocket Queries: Part 8
• Output to• Usually leave this as
default, change if needed in your situation
• In the format• Always - GPS Exchange
Format (*.gpx)• Always check –
Compress files into *.zip format
Caches Along A Route
2nd Major Type of PQ: ALONG A ROUTE
• Create a route in Google EARTH
• Save it as a KML file on your computer
• Start Building a PQ
• Select [Find Caches Along a Route] option
• Upload KML file to the GC.com site and name it
• Choose other PQ criteria (type, size, active, …) normally
Creating a Route in Google Earth
http://www.geocaching.com/my/userroutes.aspx
Says…
Creating a Route in Google Earth
• Open Google Earth and click the [Directions] tab
• Enter startand end pointsof route
Creating a Route in Google Earth
• Find the top of the route
• RIGHT clickand SAVE PLACE AS…
Creating a Route in Google Earth
• Name the file
• Save as Type KML
Caches Along A Route: Starting Out
Build a New PQSelect [Find Caches Along a Route]
Caches Along A Route
Select [Upload GPX/KML] tab
Caches Along A Route
Select [Browse], pick file, then [Upload]
Caches Along A Route
Click [Preview], then [Select], then [Save Selected Routes]
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Caches Along A Route
Find the new route on the list of “Your Existing Routes”, and start a PQ
…the rest is normal PQ stuff
Let’s Try Some!
Thanks…