Mac/Windows Software

Basecamp Windows Changing Properties of Multiple Geocaches

Changing Properties of Multiple Geocaches

Former Member over 13 years ago

I'm using Basecamp 3.3.1 and would like somebody to help with the following.

I have about 5000 geocaches loaded into Basecamp which are indicated as just symbols down to a Zoom Level of 10km. When I change to a Zoom
Level of 7km, the geocaches change from displaying just symbols, to symbols and names. With this, the names of the geocaches effectively block
out the entire background map which is irritating. I would like the geocaches to remain as only symbols at all zoom levels, but it seems that you can only do this for one geocache at a time using the Properties function. This is impractical for 5000 geocaches.

Does anybody know how one can change the display properties from "Symbols and Names" to "Names" only, for multiple geocaches.

BTW I transfer the geocache data from GSAK to Basecamp using the "Export to gpx" (ver. 1.1) function.

0 SUSSAMB over 13 years ago

Don't think you can. You can though select multiple geocaches and change the symbols to 'Found' so I wouldn't have though it would be too difficult to allow a multiple change of properties, not just for geocaches but for any selection. Maybe one for the developers to consider?

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

There is no way to do this directly in BaseCamp. We might add bulk editing of GeoCaches at a later time.

As a work-around, export all you geocaches as gpx. Make a copy of the gpx for backup purposes. Delete all the Geocaches in BaseCamp. Then use a text editor (like Notepad) to replace all occurrences of "SymbolAndName" with "SymbolOnly" and re-import the gpx file.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

There is no way to do this directly in BaseCamp. We might add bulk editing of GeoCaches at a later time.

As a work-around, export all you geocaches as gpx. Make a copy of the gpx for backup purposes. Delete all the Geocaches in BaseCamp. Then use a text editor (like Notepad) to replace all occurrences of "SymbolAndName" with "SymbolOnly" and re-import the gpx file.

Never used geocaches - but if they can be stored as gpx files how do they differ from waypoints?

I have a List Folder with ~13,000 waypoints in 4 lists. I have just used the following to change from symbol and name to symbol only ...

1. highlight the list folder - all of the waypoints appear in the lower box
2. highlight one of the waypoints in the lower box
3. use <crtl>+<a> to select all the waypoints
4. right click on one of the waypoints & select properties
5. property box shows all of the waypoints are selected
6. any changes made are applied to all of the waypoints

Is it not possible to apply the same approach to geocaches?

jem

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

No, Geocaches are special waypoints (with some extras added in) for which bulk editing is not available. You would lose that "extra" if you were to somehow(BaseCamp doesn't provide a way) convert them to plain waypoints and use the bulk editing capabilities for waypoints.

So my approach that I outlined a few posts above is probably still the fastest way (using find/replace all, not manually changing them, of course).

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Don't think you can.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Thanks for the responses guys.

Falagar: I've been trying to use your work-around, but have had no success. I've exported the geocaches from Basecamp, then run a search and replace, and then re-imported the gpx file as you suggested, but still the geocaches are shown as "SymbolAndName" in Basecamp (even though I can confirm the gpx file showed "SymbolOnly"). Not sure what I'm doing wrong, so will probably leave Basecamp for loading tracks/routes to the GPS rather than use it for geocaching. Oziexplorer does a good job there anyway.

It would be good if this change could however be considered in a future version of BC.

Thanks again.

Did you delete the geocaches in BaseCamp first before re-importing them?

I tested this and it should definitely work.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

No, Geocaches are special waypoints (with some extras added in) for which bulk editing is not available. You would lose that "extra" if you were to somehow(BaseCamp doesn't provide a way) convert them to plain waypoints and use the bulk editing capabilities for waypoints.

So my approach that I outlined a few posts above is probably still the fastest way (using find/replace all, not manually changing them, of course).

Thanks for this - it caused me to learn more regarding the differences and structure of gpx files.

I tested the suggested method on a file containing ~50 geocaches. A number of editors I tried were quite slow even with just 50, eventually I used XML Copy Editor. The Find and Replace was virtually instant on a relatively slow machine. I saved a copy of the file and imported it into BC - worked without a problem and all of the 'extras' were retained.

jem

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

After you have deleted the geocaches, try re-booting the machine before re-importing, that should work. It sounds as if BC is not clearing memory when you perform the delete. I have noticed that similar action appear to only complete when BC is closed down,

jem

0 SUSSAMB over 13 years ago

That's the way it should work ... it'll only act as a delete button if you've selected 'My collection@.

Sensible really, many of us have various lists with the same item in ... you might want to delete it from one list but not remove it completely ;)