Searching web site for caches by GA code

[Fuddley]

Should entering the GA code into the search box on the GCA home page take you to the cache page? it works if I enter the cache name, but not the number.

[caughtatwork]

It shouldn't take you to the cache page, but it should take you to a list of matching search criteria which should include the waypoint.

http://geocaching.com.au/search/?q=ga1808
http://geocaching.com.au/search/?q=gc1cqb1

You should be able to do the same thing by entering the GA code in the box and hitting enter.

[Fuddley]

Thanks C@W seems to be working ok now, don't know why it would not work for me earlier this afternoon

[caughtatwork]

When stuff like that happens I blame abnormal sunspot activity. I first started using that excuse in 1987 when I was a trainee programmer and it has served me well for the last 23 years.

[blossom*]

Actually I sometimes have a similar search problem. Not often, but sometimes. I put in a GA code last night and nothing came up. It was a locationless cache I was looking for so I just used the menu item to get all of them and found the one I wanted. But now and again my search doesn't work for no apparent reason.

I suspect there are a lot of as-yet-undiscovered suns near my place that are very spotty at times

[Richary]

If I know the GA code I just start typing the following in the address bar of Firefox.

cache/ga

That brings down a list of addresses I have recently visited like

http://geocaching.com.au/cache/ga1688

I then just backspace, edit the number then hit enter.

[caughtatwork]

Nerdy technical explanation.

The same search box is used for GC/GA code, postcodes, co-ords, names, locations, etc, etc.

In the background we try to parse each piece of information based on what it looks like to try and return the most valid set of caches.

A postcode is 4 digits so if we see that we assume first off it's a postcode.
A set of co-ords could be S37 45.000 E144 45.000 or S37.750 E144.750 of -37.750 144.750 so we use a regex to see if it fits a pattern and is a valid set of co-ords.
A cache name might be 1925, which looks like a postcode or a GC / GCA code.
A cache called be called "Melbourne Surprise" so are you looking for caches near Melbourne or a cache called Melbourne or cache that "sounds like" Melbourne (eg. Melborne) (yes, we do sounds like matching).
We also match cacher names and forum names.

There are loads of options all squeezed into one search for ease of use and sometimes they don't work exactly as expected. We could separate out each one, but that's ugly. We like to try and keep the user interface simple where we can.

I think it's pretty accurate, but if you spot something that doesn't work after a few goes, let us know and we'll try and nut it out.

[TeamGeoPlesk]

I'm happy with the occasional bug for such a great search feature... much superior to 'the other' website and their bulky search.