Geocaching in Locus Map
About
Locus Map handles geocaches as a category of
points - each has its name, coordinates, description plus further specific parameters like cache code, difficulty, terrain, size etc.
Geocaches can use all the features related to points - you can
manage them (store them in folders, sort them, filter, copy…), you can
share them, you can
navigate to them,
guide to them on the map or by the compass, or include them in your
planned routes
Then there is a wide range of
tools and functions for geocachers and makes hunting for geocaches easier and more fun.
Import
Before you can display the geocaches on the map you have to
import them to the app. The import is processed by the app, by
Locus add-ons or cooperating applications. See more details in
Import of Geocaches >>.
Geocache detail panel
The imported geocaches are stored in a selected folder of the point manager or displayed on the map. After tapping a geocache in both a panel with its detailed info slides up.
The panel is similar to that of a common point but there is quite a lot of additional information and tool buttons:
Difficulty- 5-star scale of difficulty to find the geocache
Terrain - 5-star scale of terrain difficulty
Quality/GCVote - user rating of the geocache
Logs - icons of the last five geocache logs - the category can be maximized to a detached box with details
Favorites - number of users who marked the geocache as their favorite
Size - a 5-grade scale of the geocache box size
Trackables - number of trackables dropped here (displayed only to Premium members, others see TR 0) - the category can be maximized to a detached box with details
Waypoints - number of waypoints connected to the geocache - the category can be maximized to a detached box with details
When you scroll the panel up, more information appears:
Attributes - various preferences of the geocache according to
Geocaching.com.
Listing - an excerpt of the geocache listing that can be displayed as a whole. Listing is visible only to Geocaching Premium members
Code - a unique GC code of the geocache. Tapping it displays a couple possible actions:
Type - type according to GC categories - traditional, multi, mystery…
Another scroll up…
Hidden - the date when the cache was installed
Updated - the date of the last cache web update
Owner - the name of the cache owner - by tapping it you can display the profile or send a message:
Country - the state or local region of origin
Folder - selected folder of the point manager with the cache. Tapping opens the folder detail.
Downloaded - date of the cache download to Locus
Las updated - date of the last info update within the app
Coordinates - geocache lat/lon coords. Long-press copies them into clipboard.
Hint - decrypted hint with tools:
You can encrypt/decrypt the hint, copy it to clipboard or let it translate by any installed translating app/service
Log visit - opens the logging menu (details below)
Log trackable - opens tracking code insert dialog
Notes - opens the notes dialog - to add notes, load them from the web, etc.
GC Offlinizer - downloads the geocache's associated images, spoilers etc. for later offline use.
Available only with Premium
More info >>
Load all waypoints - appears only when the cache contains waypoints - it displays them all on the map
Computed - marks a mystery or multi-cache as computed
The bottom bar of the geocache detail panel contains tools common for all other points - navigation, sharing, info editing and management tools. But also geocache-specific add-on menu:
Three buttons on the toolbar are configurable as Quick buttons. You can place Hint, Log your visit, Notes and Context menu buttons there. See geocaching settings >>
Logging
Geocaches can be logged in online or offline. You can trigger both from the geocache context menu:
Online
There are two possibilities:
Offline
Log screen
All the options above use a unified logging screen:
Here you define the type of the log:
Then you can add a comment, define the log time and date (it is pre-filled by the actual date), add images and log trackables (only when logging online)
If you tap SAVE on the “Log online” or “Upload draft”, the log is stored offline on the device for later use. All offline logs are listed in the Logs manager accessible from the app main menu > All features > Geocaching tools.
Managing geocaches
Geocaches are managed the same way as other user points with a few specifics.
Folders
A folder with geocaches looks and offers the same controls as an ordinary point folder except a few more options:
Sorting
Contains a wide choice of geocache parameters to sort by:
Filtering
Besides common functions like Copy/Move/Export/Delete or Update elevation the menu contains several GC-specific features: