I am going to need to redo my PQ's and was suggested to do it based on posted dates and was wondering if anyone knows the date ranges to set up the PQ's with? Also if anyone has them for NH that would be helpful too. Thanks I am hoping to fix some gaps that I have been finding in my PQ's

Rob,

I run my queries only for active caches I have not found, so the date ranges should in my opinion be personal to each cacher. The PQ feature now displays how many caches are selected when you submit it. No need to preview the results. Do not set it up to generate the query, submit the details, see how many and adjust accordingly.

Stop at about 475 or so. That way at caches are reactivated there will be room. After you know the date range rename the query and save it and carry on. Run them once to build you DB and then as needed. I need about 7-8 queries for ME, 10 for NH and 12 for Mass.

I regularly add all new caches by running the latest query and then when I am planning a big caching day, I run updates on all queries in the few days before I am going out. Once I have run all queries for a state, I run the archive options macro to catch inactive caches that are not updating. That way I don't waste time looking for inactive caches which remain in my GSAK DB unless I run the macro.

This occurs because the pocket query updates the caches in the DB, but the inactive ones remain unchanged. The archive options macro will find caches that are not updated so you can get them out.

It takes time to get them set up, but it can save lots of time later.

This will eliminate those gaps and your data will be more complete.

Do you have the link for the archive options macro?

Here are mine. I use the "not in my ignore list" so I get all the caches out there so I can take a new cacher out, any time, anywhere and find anything out there.

#1) Jan 1 2000 to July 15 2005 498 Caches

#2) July 16 2005 to July 22 2006 496 Caches

#3) July 23 2006 to April 12 2007 494 Caches

#4) April 13 2007 to October 3 2007 486 Caches

#5) October 4 2007 to May 27 2008 492 Caches

#6) May 28 2008 to August 28 2008 493 Caches

#7) August 29 2008 to January 20 2009 496 Caches

#8 ) January 21 2009 to now 474 Caches

Will have to keep and eye on that last one as it is getting close.

The posted dates will vary depending on which caches you have found. Unless you want to do all Maine caches like I do - if you want that, I will give you the dates I am currently using.

My instructions for creating PQs by posted date are here (http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2260).

What I don't understand about this whole thing is why can't we do this all in one PQ.

I know they say it is because they only have so much server space or what ever.

Then they only allow 5 PQs sent to you in a day. I just had to run 8 PQ's to come up with these and soon it will be 9. The only difference is I didn't have them sent to my email.

It seems like this could be done easier these days, but I'm obviously not and expert on these things.

I agree with that! I'd much rather get one 5000 cache PQ in one day than have to get 10 in 2 days.

I think the biggest reason they don't allow it is that large files are harder on the server than multiple smaller ones. That is why they only let you get a "My Finds" PQ once a week.

I'd pay more to be able to get larger PQs.

Since you have done a little over 500 finds, if you go through all the trouble to adjust the dates you will only be able to eliminate one PQ. So I would just pick the option "I haven't found" and you will get all the caches in the state you haven't found.

I think we are getting a great value now. Add $20 and that would do the trick.

I'll have to send a letter.


I agree with that! I'd much rather get one 5000 cache PQ in one day than have to get 10 in 2 days.

I think the biggest reason they don't allow it is that large files are harder on the server than multiple smaller ones. That is why they only let you get a "My Finds" PQ once a week.

I'd pay more to be able to get larger PQs.

Look at this this way Ekidokia,the more caches in Maine that you do the less PQ's you will need to get them all.:D

Do you have the link for the archive options macro?


Use the GSAK Macro Index, it comes up early because it is alphabetic.

Do you have the link for the archive options macro?

No I do not, what is the link?

What I don't understand about this whole thing is why can't we do this all in one PQ.

I know they say it is because they only have so much server space or what ever.

Then they only allow 5 PQs sent to you in a day. I just had to run 8 PQ's to come up with these and soon it will be 9. The only difference is I didn't have them sent to my email.

It seems like this could be done easier these days, but I'm obviously not and expert on these things.

One explanation I heard years ago was that Groundspeak was concerned about competition. This is a huge database that (in theory) is a moneymaking enterprise. If someone else could easily PQ all the caches, and put a different spin on the website, they could effectively 'steal' the business. Again, this was back around '04, maybe it was true then, don't know, but it sounds plausible. The 500 limit would only dole out a very small percentage at one time, reducing the risk of a stolen database.

That does sound more like it. Glad I didn't send the letter.


One explanation I heard years ago was that Groundspeak was concerned about competition. This is a huge database that (in theory) is a moneymaking enterprise. If someone else could easily PQ all the caches, and put a different spin on the website, they could effectively 'steal' the business. Again, this was back around '04, maybe it was true then, don't know, but it sounds plausible. The 500 limit would only dole out a very small percentage at one time, reducing the risk of a stolen database.

No I do not, what is the link?

You can find it here. http://gsak.net/board/index.php?showtopic=5120&st=0&#entry29245

One explanation I heard years ago was that Groundspeak was concerned about competition. This is a huge database that (in theory) is a moneymaking enterprise. If someone else could easily PQ all the caches, and put a different spin on the website, they could effectively 'steal' the business. Again, this was back around '04, maybe it was true then, don't know, but it sounds plausible. The 500 limit would only dole out a very small percentage at one time, reducing the risk of a stolen database.
We give them our data, pay them and they are not willing to give us OUR data back in reasonable manner? Because it would ruin their business? They are NOBODY without us. What's the point having 20 PQ of 500 instead of 10 PQ of 1000? I guess it's just matter of time when somebody will come up with open geocaching site, free for all, without any stupid limitations. If I find such a web site I will immediately archive all my caches, cancel my account and move them there.

Anyway I wanted to say, I can make you a program where you will upload your finds PQ and it will return you date ranges for PQ to cover unfound caches in Maine specifically designed for you. But you have to be nice to me, since I don't need that, because my PQ to pull whole Maine are not based on date intervals. I have a better way of doing that, maybe I will tell you how I do it :p

Anyway I wanted to say, I can make you a program where you will upload your finds PQ and it will return you date ranges for PQ to cover unfound caches in Maine specifically designed for you. But you have to be nice to me, since I don't need that, because my PQ to pull whole Maine are not based on date intervals. I have a better way of doing that, maybe I will tell you how I do it :p

:) Cano is that what you do late at night in your car, in your tent, where ever you go and you have time to yourself? ;)
Work on geocaching programs and ways to do it better. You are very smart!

I know you can do things like paddle a kayak, too. We hope you have fun with us! Hum, do you need more FTF caches? :D

We like you Cano - keep contributing to the community! :)

We give them our data, pay them and they are not willing to give us OUR data back in reasonable manner? Because it would ruin their business? They are NOBODY without us. What's the point having 20 PQ of 500 instead of 10 PQ of 1000? I guess it's just matter of time when somebody will come up with open geocaching site, free for all, without any stupid limitations. If I find such a web site I will immediately archive all my caches, cancel my account and move them there.

There are free, or at least more free, sites out there. But these sites do not have the benefits available at gc.com, so I would not rush to archive and move caches over there. Plus, I have not found your caches yet! Some of the web sites are listed on http://www.cacheopedia.com/wiki/Geocaching_Websites.

I will agree with you on the PQ issue, however, 2500 caches a day is essentially the same if it's in one PQ or 5 PQs of 500.

There are free, or at least more free, sites out there. But these sites do not have the benefits available at gc.com, so I would not rush to archive and move caches over there. Plus, I have not found your caches yet! Some of the web sites are listed on http://www.cacheopedia.com/wiki/Geocaching_Websites.

I will agree with you on the PQ issue, however, 2500 caches a day is essentially the same if it's in one PQ or 5 PQs of 500.

Every user could get a PQ credit for a week let say you get 17500PQ credits and it's up to you how you use it. You can make one big PQ per week resulting 17500 caches or you can have 175 PQ resulting 100 caches each. PQ credit may be scalable based on server performance and may change over time or even during the week (you will get less PQC on Friday than on Tuesday, because most people runs their PQ on Friday). Non members may get some small PQ credit too. I don't know about you, but I can't work with GC on Sundays, it's so slow it's pretty useless. I guess everybody is writing their logs or running PQs or what.

GC is slow on weekends, but I don't use the site, I just use my PQs, which I do get 5 of on Sunday with no problem. I rarely visit the web page for a cache directly.

There are other geocaching sites out there which are free. I have used them, even posted caches to them - nothing which compares to GC.com JMHO. I am not ready to leave yet. In fact, I know there are others on this site who also have caches on some of the other geocaching sites as well.

Now that I think of it I think I have deleted or archived all mine on the other sites. A personal choice I guess.

I didn't know there were other sites.