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History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 11:04 am
by caughtatwork
A request was made recently to consider a History Cache type at Geocaching Australia.
Some of the discussion is here:
http://forum.geocaching.com.au/viewtopi ... =1#p214800

The History Cache is almost ready for launch and the details of what it is, why it exists and how it will work is explained here.
http://wiki.geocaching.com.au/wiki/History_cache

Please have a look at the wiki entry and provide your feedback here. The developer will consider your input in the context of the code required to accompany the request and when we're done, we will launch the new History Cache type.

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 12:50 pm
by Team Ladava
Love your work Guys

In the Wiki the following is a very valid point -
Hints, Tips and Tricks
History caches are not "set and forget". Information at locations can change or be removed or updated. As with any other geocache the cache owner should check the information in the questions and answers on a regular basis to ensure that the questions can still be answered.

However, a CO may leave the game or other life factors get in the way

I assume if it seems to a finding team the answers may have changed as the code word is not forthcoming a 'Owner Maintenance' log would alert the Administrators to take action after an appropriate period of time

Again, great work c@w

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 2:21 pm
by fluffyfish
Like a quiz munzee :)

Looks good and practical to implement.

Would be good to test it out on some phone browsers to see if you can answer it directly in the field re screen layout, etc

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 5:10 pm
by WazzaAndWenches
Congratulations and thank you to C@W for the development work. =D>
Thanks also to Mrs The Morris for suggesting it in the first place. =D>

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 5:27 pm
by Now_To_Morrow
Looks good. I can't wait! I especially like the option of a "response section... that will be displayed to the geocacher when they have answered all of the questions correctly. e.g. If you would like to provide a partial co-ordinate to a different mystery cache or some other note to the geocacher".

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 8:10 pm
by spatialriq
Any idea if it will be added into the GA Cacher app (for android) so that answers can be submitted or will it be just the website?

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 9:19 pm
by Now_To_Morrow
spatialriq wrote:Any idea if it will be added into the GA Cacher app (for android) so that answers can be submitted or will it be just the website?
You'll have to hit the wiki link to get that answer. ;)

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 10:33 pm
by petan
Looks good. Thank you for this =D>

Have started planning my first History Cache series.

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 10:53 pm
by Sol de Lune
As it is like a virtual....I'm guessing it will not be included in dragonZone???

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 11:28 pm
by ziggiau
Sol de Lune wrote:As it is like a virtual....I'm guessing it will not be included in dragonZone???
I had the same question cross my mind this evening....

Re: History Cache

Posted: 19 January 16 11:37 pm
by ziggiau
So with a virtual the questions are given to you in the description so you can collect that information on site but you only send off answers when you have connectivity. If I understand this right, the history cache will work in the same way (description outlines the questions) but rather than needing to get the CO to OK the answers the multiple choice options will let the website do the checking. It's a bit like a Wherigo I did the other day (visit location, answer a question about where you're standing from a multiple choice selection, if correct you get info on how to move on to the next location), the only difference is with the history cache you don't have to complete the answers in the field.

Re: History Cache

Posted: 20 January 16 8:25 am
by caughtatwork
spatialriq wrote:Any idea if it will be added into the GA Cacher app (for android) so that answers can be submitted or will it be just the website?
The Q&A section will be ready for the GA Cacher app. The details will be posted in the secret app dev forum.
There will be an indicator to GA Cacher that a codeword is required for this find log.
Whether or not mtrax is able to include the new information is out of our control.

Re: History Cache

Posted: 20 January 16 8:27 am
by caughtatwork
ziggiau wrote:
Sol de Lune wrote:As it is like a virtual....I'm guessing it will not be included in dragonZone???
I had the same question cross my mind this evening....
At this point, correct. When I first started dZ I envisaged a bunch of people creating useless virtuals and locationless caches, etc, just to get the points. That may still happen so I've decided to keep other than physical containers out of the game. The decision to include them is so easy it's not funny. One enum from false to true and they can be included, so the capability is there to include them in the future.

Re: History Cache

Posted: 20 January 16 8:29 am
by caughtatwork
ziggiau wrote:So with a virtual the questions are given to you in the description so you can collect that information on site but you only send off answers when you have connectivity. If I understand this right, the history cache will work in the same way (description outlines the questions) but rather than needing to get the CO to OK the answers the multiple choice options will let the website do the checking. It's a bit like a Wherigo I did the other day (visit location, answer a question about where you're standing from a multiple choice selection, if correct you get info on how to move on to the next location), the only difference is with the history cache you don't have to complete the answers in the field.
The Q&A will be available on a separate page to answer. They won't be automatically included in the cache description. They will be incorporated by the cache owner as they write their description. There's no reason you can't print the Q&A before you go, but they won't be automatically available as part of the cache description in Q&A form per se, it's the owners decision as to how to incorporate them so you can see the questions in the field.

Re: History Cache

Posted: 20 January 16 11:09 pm
by ziggiau
This getting ready for history caches has taken me down a rabbit hole. My LGA has a fabulous wiki of local historical information but when I couldn't find something I was after, the Community History Librarian says "come edit the wiki with us". Yes, geocaching really does take you to some unusual places.