I am a web developer by trade and so when posting caches I have a hard time posting in just plain text. I think the write up for a cache is important so I like to put some effort into writing some good content and presenting it nicely using HTML. I also like to post links to caches in the area that may be related. At first I just used the huge link that Geocaching.com uses (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_de ... 0558c020f8) - wow that's long. After some looking around (some on COG) I discovered a shorter URL (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_de ... wp=GC17Q5J) - still kinda long in my mind...

Last night I lay awake in bed - I couldn't sleep and so my mind was wandering about Geocaching. I got thinking about this long URL issue. I started to write a script in my mind that could make my life easier - possibly why I couldn't sleep So I got into work early this morning and quickly wrote the script which I am hosting on my http://www.discovergeocaching.com web site. Basically you can add any GC# to the end of this URL and it will automatically redirect to the real URL. Here is an example of the same cache used above:
http://discovergeocaching.com/go/GC17Q5J

So this makes my linking to caches easier - but it could also work for anyone - it should work just fine in forums as well as posting in an email or on a cache description - all you need to know is the GC#

So my point in telling you all this...
1. Feel free to use it if it makes your life easier too - It's not going to change the world but...
2. Is there a way to make this better or more intuitive? Let me know your thoughts.
3. Is there something else that drives you nuts that a simple script might fix? ideas?

-Andy

There is a geocaching toolbar that you can attach to IE (yes people, I use IE.. create a seperate thread to complain) here: http://parkrrrr.com/toolbar.html - You just type in the GC code and it will take you to a website.

There really isnt too much difference between typing
http://discovergeocaching.com/go/GC17JZD and http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_de ... wp=GC17JZD



Find a way to figure out those Bouncy Bunny puzzles by just typing in the GC code. That would be sweet!

This toolbar might be useful for someone who knows the GC# of a cache that they want to go - not too useful in creating a link in a forum post or in a cache description, email, letter to your Mom etc.

You are correct in the number of characters to type - it is less but not by much - the benifit comes down to simplicity for me - I have been working in a University doing web stuff for almost 12 years and have found that the easier and cleaner you make something for people the less mistakes they make - when a file name and a variable is added to a url (ex. cache_details.aspx?wp=GC17JZD) it becomes very easy to make mistakes compared to typing just the GC# (ex. gc17jzd or GC17JZD)

Hmmm. that would be nice...

I don't know. Normally I just copy and paste into the <a href=...></a> command. Now...if you could figure out a way to do that telepathically that would be cool!!!

I do have a suggestion, or maybe more of a pet peeve. Superfluous information in the cache description drives me nuts, especially when I have to scroll through pages of text on my PDA to find one word or a formula for a multi. What would be really cool is if information to nearby caches, or caches in a particular series were linked externally so that I could decide for myself to look up that extra information. Don't get me wrong, there are caches out there that have really great write ups that are informative and provide a neat reference to that particular cache. These descriptions usually cause me to go home afterwards and do a little more research on that area. I like those. What I am referring to is the never-ending database of hyperlinks to cache pages that describe the infinite caches in a particular series or area. I can do without scrolling for 5 minutes to find relevant text at the bottom of a list.

JP: I still use IE too.

Hmm, I guess nobody knows about Geocaching Quick Search
There is even a Firefox plugin so you can just enter the GC number in your search box and go directly to the cache page. It's not just limited to GC codes either.

I've avoided using the link with GC code at the end, mainly because the search engine has broken a couple times in the past, and has had difficulty handling GC codes past GC10000. It's all working now, but I'll still try and use the direct link for my cache page listings, as that has never had any issues.

TOMTEC

Never heard of Quick Search before. I tried it out, and the actual search is not really faster than gc.com, but not having to scroll through all the options looking for the right box is a time saver.



Are these the ones you are talking about? I'll have to try that out. (Apparently it even works for those still stuck with Internet Exploder.)

As for long URLs, I never have an issue... one click in the address bar, Ctrl-C, then Ctrl-V the link where ever I want. I also get to most cache pages simply by double-clicking the listing in GSAK. (For example, I still need to find this cache.)

Wow - I think I am being misunderstood

This script has noting to do with the way people find caches or get to caches on their own initiative - it is not a search tool.

The purpose is to have a human-readable - search engine friendly URL that you can create easily when you need to tell someone the URL of a cache either through an email or in a forum posting or possibly in a cache listing. I just think that...


is easier to remember/read/type correctly - than


That being said - I would rather geocaching.com had an easier/better way to link to caches - I would use that in a second - it isn't rocket science - I wrote ths script in 15 minutes.

I just built the script for myself - thought I would share if it was useful for others.

One thing I have found out since I started Geocaching is that if you get 10 cachers in a room their is at least 5 different ways to do Geocaching - and of course they are all right

Those search tools sound good for quickly getting to a cache you know the GC# of - I don't tend to use IE as a browser - just when testing web sites that build so I won't be using that toolbar. I am sure it works well for some people.

I had a somewhat related feature request for geocaching.com: http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index. ... 176153&hl=
Basic idea is that geocaching.com greps for GCXXXXX and auto-converts it into a link. Unfortunately, the idea was not too well received.

Anyway, for searching with GC code, I set up a bookmark in Firefox with the keyword 'gc', pointing to: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=%s
Whenever I need to look up a cache, I type in the URL box: "gc GCXXXXX". Firefox substitutes the GCXXXX into the %s before loading the page.

-Tochi

Nope, not those ones, but they would likely also do the job. The one I've been using can handle what each of those individual searches do with just one plugin. I just select Geocaching Quick Search from my search engine drop down, type in whatever I want to search for (GCcode, Waypoint Name, TBcode, Coordinates etc...) and it finds them.

Hmm, it looks like his server is down... Click This Link and you'll find the install link around 13th down in the list.

There is also a ton of Greasemonkey scripts out there for those who would like to add additional features to their cache browsing experience.

TOMTEC

I just tried it out. Looks like it only combines two of the searches from the other list (seek by name, seek by waypoint), which is good. It doesn't to the "mail a cacher", seek a profile, find a travel bug.

This thread should actually be split, because we are hijacking the OP. Where are the moderators when you need them?