MnGCA

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

OK, so I have a question about puzzle solutions. I should mention that I use gsak to manage my PQ and to send the caches to my gps.

So when you solve a puzzle, do you add the final as a child waypoint, or do you set the final as the caches coordinates.

I've seen mention of both these methods and I am wondering what people recommend (I have an Oregon 450).

pfalstad · Geocacher Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 967 Location: Edina

From the right mouse menu, I select "Corrected Coordinates..." and enter the final there, which is much quicker, plus you can add a column to the view to see what caches have corrected coordinates. Also you can filter on that, so you can pick out only solved or unsolved puzzles.

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

timewellspent · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:42 am Post subject:

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

speedysk1 · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:44 pm Post subject:

pfalstad · Geocacher Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 967 Location: Edina

RonGerth · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject:

Are you using GSAK? If so there is a check box in the middle of the entry screen that allows you to lock the coords into place.

Pear Head · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:03 pm Post subject:

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

I did a test, and just loading my PQ files didn't cause any problems. I actually have a backup macro I use to copy all the solved, found, placed caches from my default database to a backup one when I want to do a full reload clearing out the old data.

JJnTJ · Geocacher Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 218

For what it's worth, I've had the same "Solved Puzzles" GSAK database since October. It obviously grows and shrinks as I solve and find puzzles. I do maintain a complete GSAK backup on a different physical drive it case it all goes wonky, but nothing's gone wrong yet.

I also recommend moving caches from your "Solved Puzzles" database to your "My Finds" database when you find them. The Corrected Coordinates will be retained as you update the DB with your "My Finds" PQ. The benefit is that you get to keep the corrected coordinates, which in certain parts of town *cough*GoldenValley*cough* can aid in potential brute-forcing efforts.

I <3 GSAK. Very Happy

Pear Head · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:14 pm Post subject:

Hal-oween · Geocacher Joined: 10 Mar 2009 Posts: 164

Actually, I keep my solved, found and unsolved puzzles in one GSAK database and when I am ready to download to my GPSr, I run a macro called
FilterAvailableAndSolved.gsk
It filters on the "corrected coordinates" and filters out the unsolved and found caches. I keep the found ones in the database so I have a record for if people ask me how I solved something.

KRedEP · Geocacher Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 721

KRedEP · Geocacher Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 721

Can I ask a question too? I load my caches to my Oregon 450 using a PQ for non-puzzles, and for my puzzles I filter my GSAK unfound puzzle caches with corrected coordinates and export a GPX file, also to my Oregon 450.

It seems that if I have the same cache in both my PQ and my GSAK the coordinates in the PQ take precedence, and I end up with the published coords in my Oregon. Do you find this too? So to work aroud this, when I run a PQ, I select all types except puzzles, so I don't overlay my corrected coords. This becomes a problem when there are no corrected coords, such as solve-in-the-field types of caches, or like a challenge cache where once you meet the criteria, you go to the published coords. If I am uncharacteristically organized, and notice a cache like this in advance, I will just change the corrected coords in GSAK to reflect the published coords. But often I miss many. So then when I'm out caching, I don't have these puzzles loaded.

Does anyone else have a better way to do this?