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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
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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 Flipsicanwww.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] 2 1 3
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…