MnGCA

Liberty! · Geocacher Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 6

I would really like to see a counter with the number of MN caches on the main page Very Happy

Pear Head · Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: MN Geocache counter

sparkyfry · Geocacher Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 345

Pear Head · Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:55 am Post subject: Re: MN Geocache counter

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: MN Geocache counter

bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3673

We'll soon have an API, hopefully in the form of web service, that we can use.

WestSideDaddy · MnGCA Board Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 549

LucidOndine · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:32 pm Post subject:

If the data agreement is the one made in reference to the game development agreement, I believe we are able to legally scrape anything from gc.com.

--Checking--

The data license agreement that I signed a few years back as President should permit this; there is no where in the agreement that would suggest the MnGCA cannot scrape data from geocaching.com.

In short-- there isn't any reason we can't legally do this.
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The Lucid Network (tm)-- More Bars in More Places!

Pear Head · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject:

kc9gbo · Geocacher Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 148

I don't think it would be any different than the "scraping" that the Wisconsin Geocaching Association does for their recent logs module. That is something that I would like to see here as it is fun to see where folks are caching on a rainy or snowy day and I can't get out. Plus, it great fun reading logs also!

Pear Head · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:55 pm Post subject:

kc9gbo · Geocacher Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 148

Yeah, I understand that. That's why the "" as I wasn't sure how things were called out in the agreements.

LucidOndine · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject:

In case my gchat pm wasn't received, an email search for [GEO ~WZS-305183] will yield the document.

The agreement specifically allows us to extrapolate information from GPX files, but does not mention scraping. The information can be obtained in both ways, but scraping would make it easier.
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The Lucid Network (tm)-- More Bars in More Places!

Pear Head · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 4:20 pm Post subject:

After reviewing the agreement, I don't believe it covers scraping either.

To obtain it through GPX files would probably be ok (I'd have to really read it and how it relates to "the game"), but at this point it's not worth the work that would be required to maintain the GPX files for a counter.

Depending on any game development that may still occur, we may end up with the number of active caches as a byproduct of the game coding, although the last game idea wouldn't have required the loading of all caches in the state, only of ones that were touched by the game. Maintaining a full list of caches in the state is a bit of a pain (just to keep the PQs flowing right).
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Hmm...

kc9gbo · Geocacher Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 148

So Mn. is pondering a game? If so I'd like to see something along the lines of the lonely cache game Wis. uses, although maybe I'm just partial to it.
Sorry if I keep refering to the Wis. site but I do see some things there that I like and would enjoy in Mn. also, especially since I live so close to there.