I heard about this at the Februrary GGA meeting and checked it out this evening. It looks pretty cool. For those of you who haven't checked it out, here's the URL:

http://gsak.geocaching.com.au/

Enjoy!

Awww, nuts! I thought maybe it was a real "knife". I already own around 137 pocket knifes, so I was interested in one more. You broke my heart, man!

O.K., tekkies, get to work explaining if this program is right for women, children and old geocachers! Thanks in advance

I download this program and have been testing it.

It is very much like Watcher and EZGps combined in most respects, however it does have some additional features.

One of those that I like very much is an easy way to convert files for different mapping programs. So far it is the only one I have found that does a good job of placing waypoints in MS Streets and Trips.

Overall I will keep it for mapping but will use Spinner and Plucker for PDA work

I've been using V2 for a couple of weeks. Since it's the only program I've tried, I can't compare it with others, but it works really well.

Loading Pocket Query GPX files is a matter of drag and drop, and after loading there are numerous sort and filter capabilities. Examples: you can sort on any column of the table, or pick a cache as the "centerpoint" and order caches by distance therefrom.

Ok. Now I'm down to using one program for processing my GPXs.

This program is well written with lots of flexibility.

I've now ditched GPXSpinner since I mainly used it to get my waypoint names from GCxxxx to MakesSense names in the GPSr.
Since GPSBabel is bundled with the GSAK and automatically called, I now no longer have to call it to write my waypoints to my SD card either.

I like the multiple "database" feature that I can keep lists of waypoints in seperate databases for archiving or such.

Now if they can get this program to process Benmarks then I'm good.

I haven't tested the HTML webpage capabilities since I don't use them on my PocketPC.
You Palmers want to chime in on that?

Kenneth

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I received my Gpsmap 76 on Friday, and found that gsak succeddfully uploaded waypoints to it with no problem. So now I don't have to worry about carpal tunnel syndrome from entering them via thumb-toggles as on my old Magellan.

My extremely generous brother in law has loaned me his Garmin Vista until he retires from the military in a year or so. I've also managed to get cables for the new toy so I can now do mass uploads of data to my GPS rather than hand keying them in the unit.

I know there are several answers to do this, but how do you go about converting the wayopoint names to "makesense" names as kennethpruitt put it? Do you just load the file into something like a .csv and modify the names before loading them back into a .gpx file?

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks,

S-4-C

quote:

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I know there are several answers to do this, but how do you go about converting the wayopoint names to "makesense" names as kennethpruitt put it? Do you just load the file into something like a .csv and modify the names before loading them back into a .gpx file?

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If you're talking about what I think you're talking about.. on my Rino it loads everything - it shows the GC id as the waypoint, but when you "select" it, you can scroll through the info (ID, coords, direction/distance, etc) you'll see the makesensename. That's the way I do it.. especially when zoomed out a bit. Otherwise it'd be too cramped. That's just me.

GSAK will do that. They're called "Smart Names." You open the GPX with GSAK and then export it with the smart name option checked. Works pretty slick.

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Ra! Ra! Ra!

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Originally posted by Strapped-4-Cache:
<snip>

I know there are several answers to do this, but how do you go about converting the wayopoint names to "makesense" names as kennethpruett put it? Do you just load the file into something like a .csv and modify the names before loading them back into a .gpx file?

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The GSAK can do it, or GPXSpinner can.

Editing files manually will most likely make you go crazy and place caches with names like "~" or "EZ2C"...just kidding Erik.

Kenneth

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I exported files to the GPS with the Smart Names option checked and it worked like a charm.

Still curious about how to change the cache waypoint name from GC to MC, VR, etc., but this will take care of me for now. Just gotta break open some time to cache now.

Thanks all,

- Mark (S-4-C)

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Now if they can get this program to process Benmarks then I'm good.

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There is no "They" - just me (a humble geocacher from Australia who gets to work on this program in my spare time). Benchmark support is coming in the next release.

quote:

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Still curious about how to change the cache waypoint name from GC to MC, VR, etc., but this will take care of me for now. Just gotta break open some time to cache now.

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Currently GSAK will not do this. You need to use something like GPX spinner if you want to do this right now. Howver, GSAK will also supports this (any many new features) in the next release.

Cheers
Clyde (GSAK Author)

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Originally posted by ClydeE:

quote:

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Now if they can get this program to process Benmarks then I'm good.

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There is no "They" - just me (a humble geocacher from Australia who gets to work on this program in my spare time). Benchmark support is coming in the next release.

quote:

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Still curious about how to change the cache waypoint name from GC to MC, VR, etc., but this will take care of me for now. Just gotta break open some time to cache now.

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Currently GSAK will not do this. You need to use something like GPX spinner if you want to do this right now. Howver, GSAK will also supports this (any many new features) in the next release.

Cheers
Clyde (GSAK Author)

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Welcome Clyde,

When I referred to "they" it was more a general term. I'm glad you came to the GGA boards to discuss your program.
Let me be first to say thank you for your program. There are now quite a few out there for helping cachers, but yours seems to be...well the Swiss Army Knife of programs.
I used to program for a living and I know what goes into making a program that is well written and meets the needs of your audience.

Keep up the good work and if you're ever in the states, drop in on the GGA group. We'd be happy to meet you face-to-face.
Oh...and of course your always welcome here...

Kenneth

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Ga'Day Mate

I use your program and it is great. Thanks for all your work and effort to make this available to the Geocaching community.

Come on up to Georgia and we will slip some shrimp on the Barbee.

quote:

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Originally posted by ClydeE:

quote:

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Now if they can get this program to process Benmarks then I'm good.

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There is no "They" - just me (a humble geocacher from Australia who gets to work on this program in my spare time). Benchmark support is coming in the next release.

quote:

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Still curious about how to change the cache waypoint name from GC to MC, VR, etc., but this will take care of me for now. Just gotta break open some time to cache now.

---

Currently GSAK will not do this. You need to use something like GPX spinner if you want to do this right now. Howver, GSAK will also supports this (any many new features) in the next release.

Cheers
Clyde (GSAK Author)

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Thanks for the warm welcome.

Bummer, I just had a closer look at my post and noticed all the typing errors.

Sorry about that – my fingers go faster than my brain (not hard)

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Originally posted by Aksor+Raskol:
Awww, nuts! I thought maybe it was a real "knife". I already own around 137 pocket knifes, so I was interested in one more. You broke my heart, man!

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How about a USB Swiss Army Knife?

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Some of those that wander are lost!

Bump....

Seems GSAK has been updated a few times since last discussed.
It is now on version 3.03 GSAK Homepage.
You can see what has changed here.

Anybody used it for benchmarks yet?

Kenneth

Well...just saw in the Groundspeak thread on GSAK that Clyde is changing the software to shareware.
If you use this tool, I suggest to pay for it as it is truly one of the better Geocaching tools.

He has a link for Paypal payments on the main website.

Kenneth

So now you can change the icons to whatever you want for the different types of caches (and even different if found, archived, etc).

There is also a button for exporting to Cachemate on the toolbar.

Wish I'd got to play with it more but my GPSr died today.

Kenneth

P.s. Can an admin move this thread to the Technical forum as I think it would be easier found there in the future?