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GSAK Corner On The Road #2

Richard Thompson Mr Glonch of Glonch’sPride July 28, 2009 GC1V678. GSAK Corner On The Road #2. GSAK Corner On The Road #1. Welcome to all! The main topic for this event is how to use GSAK, along with PQs, to manage the caches you'd like to find!

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GSAK Corner On The Road #2

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  1. Richard Thompson Mr Glonch of Glonch’sPride July 28, 2009 GC1V678 GSAK CornerOn The Road #2

  2. GSAK Corner On The Road #1 • Welcome to all! • The main topic for this event is how to use GSAK, along with PQs, to manage the caches you'd like to find! • There are many ways to do the concepts that I present here – I have just found this works best for me and though that it might help others. • I am not affiliated with any of the companies represented in this presentation. • Rules: • 1. Have fun • 2. ASK QUESTIONS! • 3. Don’t hesitate to contact me via my email, gsakcorner@gmail.com with any follow up questions that you may have after the event.

  3. Pocket Queries Overview A Pocket Query (PQ) is used to search the Geocaching.com database of active and inactive caches. Must be a premium member of geocaching.com to run PQs They might also contain child waypoints Child waypoints are trailheads, parking coordinates, etc There are many types of search criteria: Type of cache (Traditional, Multi, Puzzle, etc) Difficulty / Terrain of cache Location of cache, based upon: Home Coordinates State Radius Etc And many others Limitations (as of Jun 2009): Max 500 Caches per PQ Max 5 PQs downloaded per day Max 40 PQs per user Using GSAK with PQs, these limitations are eliminated!

  4. GSAK: www.gsak.net Overview GSAK is the all in one Geocaching and waypoint management tool. Major features include: Multiple databases Distance/direction from other waypoints (including caches, locations, post codes) Sending/receiving waypoints to GPSr PDA output (including CacheMate support) Extensive searching Extensive Macro language (Don’t be scared, many have made macros for free) Backup and Restore and much more! GSAK only runs on Windows operating systems (98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista) Licensing is very generous: You can use GSAK for free, but after 21 days, a nag screen will come up on program startup (no reduction on functionality though) $25 for Major releases (6.x, 7.x, etc) - No charge for minor updates .1, .23, etc… You can install on multiple computers and use with multiple GPSrs that you own with one license All settings, databases, etc can be moved between computers without any problems. Two files that you must download if you do get GSAK: http://gsak.net/GSAK101_English.doc http://gsak.net/GSAK201_English.doc

  5. GSAK Polygon/Line Tool Overview Great tool for 'dialing' in your search areas Access the tool at: http://gsak.net/google/polygoneditor.html Or In GSAK go to: Tools → GSAK polygon/line drawing tool

  6. Pocket Queries - Overview • There are many ways to run a PQ… • Radius • Zip Code • Date Placed • Restrict to state • Restrict to radius • Many others… • We are going to talk about Date Placed PQs in this event! • Date based PQs tend to be the most efficient way to get the most from your PQs.

  7. PQs – Date Placed Based • First decision is to base the PQ on: • Radius or State? • Radius based is great if you don’t care about the states you might get in the PQ or your caching area is easily done in a radius • State based works well if you want to get all the caches within a state… (Becoming harder to do with NH and other states!) • Commentary: Hope geocaching.com will expand its limits on PQs soon!

  8. PQs – Date Placed Based • From Jan 1, 2000 to Jan 1, 2007 • From Jan 1, 2000 to Jan 1, 2006 • From Jan 1, 2000 to Oct 1, 2006 It’s a little trial and error to ‘dial it in’… Around 490 is best! Too Much Too Little Just Right The next PQ will start on Oct 2, 2006… Be sure to copy the PQ by clicking on the icon

  9. PQs – Date Placed Based • You will eventually end up with PQs with dates like this: • For those that want to know, this was created with a GSAK macro called PlacedPQ – get it at: • http://tinyurl.com/mrqyrn

  10. Pocket Queries: Structure Create your query Name of query Which days to run # of caches to return in query (500 always!) Type Active/Inactive Difficulty Terrain Restrict to state (NH)? Starting Coordinates (if needed and distance of radius)

  11. Pocket Queries: Starting Out To get to the Pocket Query screen: Get to your account screen On the right hand side, half way down, click Build Pocket Queries

  12. Pocket Queries: Part 1 • Query Name • What you want • Think about keeping this alphabetical • e.g. – Start with “NH –” for NH Queries • Days… • Leave blank until needed • If checked, query will be sent to your email and count against your daily PQ count • Choose… • Leave on “Uncheck..” until needed • Show me xxx caches • 500! Always.

  13. Pocket Queries: Part 2 • Of • Any type • Selected types • These will depend on the application • Any container • Selected containers • I find that I don’t use this section – GSAK can do this later on

  14. Pocket Queries: Part 3 • That (and) • I check: • I haven’t found • I don’t own • Is Active • And • I usually leave these as default (nothing checked) – GSAK can filter these later

  15. Pocket Queries: Part 4 • Within • This will depend on the application • If you want to limit by state, ensure to select it here

  16. Pocket Queries: Part 5 • From Origin • This will depend on the application • Most of the time, I will use By Coordinates andwithin radius of • Within radius of will vary

  17. Pocket Queries: Part 6 • Placed during • If you using dated place PQs then first time doing this will be trial and error… • Start with Jan 2000 to Jan 2006.. • Each PQ should be around 490 caches • This will allow for inactive caches to become active without you having to adjust the PQ

  18. Pocket Queries: Part 7 • Attributes to Include • Attributes to Exclude • I never use these – some cachers forget to assign attributes to their caches and this would drop them from the PQ

  19. 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

  20. Pocket Queries: Notes • Reminder! - Do not have results that are maxed out! • Try to keep your PQs to hit around 490 – when PQ is run, this will display at the top of the page: • Another place for info on PQs… • http://www.markwell.us/pq.htm (awesome site!)

  21. GSAK: Main Window Tool Bar Search/Filter Bar Cache listing Cache Info

  22. GSAK: First settings: Part 1 Go to: http://www.geocaching.com/account/default.aspx Your Owner ID#

  23. GSAK: First settings: Part 2 Go to Tools → Options You will need your Owner ID#

  24. GSAK: First settings: Part 3 Go to Tools → Options → Locations Type your Home Coordinates here WARNING: Do not type on a line that starts with #

  25. GSAK: First settings: Part 3 Go to Tools → Options → Abbreviations Check this if you like State names to be abbreviated

  26. GSAK: Establish a Database Go to Database → New… Name the new database Click Create

  27. GSAK: Loading PQs Go to File → Load GPX/LOC/Zip File 1. Load type is Folder 2. Ensure path is correct 3. Select correct database 4. Select Clear database before loading 5. Click OK

  28. GSAK: PQ Report Results after loading PQs Total number of caches in ALL zip files Total number of caches after duplicates removed Individual file statistics WARNING: If any GPX file has 500 caches you will need to adjust its PQ.

  29. GSAK: What Next? • Sorting • Click any column heading to sort A to Z, nearest to farthest • Click again to reverse the order • Filtering • Cache Type • Cache Difficulty • Cache Terrain • State • Cache owner • Distance from Home (or other waypoint, coordinate, etc) • It goes on and on… • Polygon filtering is one the most powerful ways to filter!

  30. GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 1 • Access the tool at: • http://gsak.net/google/polygoneditor.html • Or • In GSAK go to: Tools → GSAK polygon/line drawing tool

  31. GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 2 Start Polygon Left Click on map to move map Zoom In/Out

  32. GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 3 Click Click Click Final click At start of polygon. This will close the polygon Click Click Click Click The coords will show on the right hand side of screen Left click once to select them – then Ctrl-C to copy

  33. GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 4 3. Select the Arc/Poly Tab and Click Polygon 1. Open GSAK 2. Ensure the correct database is selected - Select Search  Filter… or Click the icon 4. Paste the coordinates into the area below the # symbols (Ctrl-V) 5. Apply any other filters and click Go

  34. GSAK: Area (Polygon) Searches: Part 5 To adjust the polygon – hover over polygon and more handles will appear – Click on them to move them at will. All handles can be moved at any time! Once to let go of one of the new handles, two more will be created so that you can ‘dial it’ in even more. Copy the new coords to the filter to check your progress.

  35. Wrap up! • Q & A • Be sure to check out theGSAK Corner segment on the Granite State Geocachers Podcast at: • www.gsgcradio.com

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