Basic GeoCaching Tool Wiki
Welcome to BGCT !
This page contains information about how to use the tool / prerequisites / ideas and further development strategies
Screenshots Release notes
Intention
The tool is based on the idea to plan a geocaching tour with one single tool - from gathering the needed information from internet, to uploading tracking information to GPS device.
Of course there are great tools out there that can accomplish that tasks, but I wanted to see for example cache locations directly on a map >without< restrictions of geocaching.com (as not premium user) !
Therefor the main added value of the tool os from my point of view the direct build-inOSM map. OSM and not other non-open provider for a free tool to be flexible and vendor independent...
Prerequisites
personal
At the moment fetching information from internet is only supported for geocaching.com. Therefor a valid account is mandatory! You also have too agree to their terms and conditions of their disclaimer. please contact their page directly.
technical
- Java Runtime Environment 1.6.x
- Internet access ( to obtain cachinformation adn recent maps)
- a GPS device to transfer information to ( Garmin /Oregon or similar)
- a GPS device connected to your laptop ( intern / bluetooth / serial /...)
- ... or NMEA source connected via LAN ( YES - I tell you later how to use this feature ;-) )
optional but recommended: For preloading of Map Tiles : MOBAC
Installation
- Download the latest installation version from http://kenai.com/projects/bgct/downloads
- start the installer from a command shell window ( cmd.exe for windows, some console like bash fro linux)
- change to your download location
- type java -jar bgct-x.yy-install.jar and press enter (replace x.yy by your version just downloaded
- follow the installer instructions (straightforward)
- at the moment there is no windows start-menu integration !
- move to the installation directory $installation directory ( like \program files\basic geocaching tool\ ) and optionally create a desktop and/or start-menu entry manually - icon & png symbols are provided for your convenience
- finally start the application : windows : bgct.cmd or linux: 'bgct.sh
Using the source and building your own:
description will follow...
Let's start using the tool
The concept of this tool is to collect and maintain cache information grouped by 'collections' that are identified by name & center coordinates. So the primary usecase is to get the coordinates of your planned destination ( or current location through GPS) and use them as reference point. Cache information can be searched from this location and a given distance. To be able to retrieve cache information from internet user name & password from your valid geochaing.com account have to be provided.
Therefor please start by providing your credentials using the 'global options' dialog, before using other features of the tool.
From the 2nd start of the tool onward the start screen should make it convenient to get the feature you prefer.
What's a Collection
As mentioned earlier a collection is a set of caches within a given range from a specific center-point. This center-point is taken as reference (distance is calculated using this information)
how to create a collection
Either select "create new collection" directly from start dialog or choose "new collection" from the menu. Alternatively you can scroll through an active map right-click on a position of your choice and use this information as collection center point.
nb: exporting / saving / etc. is always done on the complete set of information ie: the active collection
Exporting Cache information to GPS device
At the moment it is only implemented for Garmin (Oregon) but if you know the location and file name your CacheCollection.gpx has to have for your device to use it correctly, you can specify it manually.
-->Merging information with already existing on the device is not working at the moment, so please backup the original file !
