Word DOCs in Puzzle Caches

[+Don_J]

I wondering if someone can help me this.

We have a local that pretty much stopped caching some years ago, however, he has continued to maintain his Puzzle and Multi caches that he placed in the early part of 2002. He wrote me about a problem that he is having and I decided to ask the public about possible, proper, solutions.

 

The problem is that the caches rely on opening a Word DOC file. When the caches were created, it was possible to upload the DOC as we now do with images. The DOC files are listed in the cache description, just as an "additional image" is. Because of the site upgrades over the years, when someone clicks the link to open the DOC, the Java image pop-up thingy opens instead. It then it sits there and does nothing, (presumably because it has no idea what to do with a DOC file).

 

I know that there has been a lot of discussion over what is "code", what is "executable", and what is not, and I really don't wish for this topic to be a basis to go over it, all over again. What I'm looking for is the bottom line.

 

1. Is there a simply solution to our friends problem?

2. Is it acceptable to create a puzzle cache where the solver has to open a Word DOC?

3. If not, were older caches grandfathered in?

4. If #2 or #3 are yes, can the Word DOC be hosted off-site with a link added to the cache description?

5. Can he simply change the html in the cache description to link to the Word DOC that is already stored on the GC servers?

 

This is one of the caches that we are talking about, Classified Opperation...Access Denied

 

Thnaks for any help that can be offered.

[+Jeepster++]

In Internet Explorer you can right click on the link and select "Save target as" to save the doc to your hard drive. Other browsers have similar options.

[+Kit Fox]

I wondering if someone can help me this.

We have a local that pretty much stopped caching some years ago, however, he has continued to maintain his Puzzle and Multi caches that he placed in the early part of 2002. He wrote me about a problem that he is having and I decided to ask the public about possible, proper, solutions.

 

The problem is that the caches rely on opening a Word DOC file. When the caches were created, it was possible to upload the DOC as we now do with images. The DOC files are listed in the cache description, just as an "additional image" is. Because of the site upgrades over the years, when someone clicks the link to open the DOC, the Java image pop-up thingy opens instead. It then it sits there and does nothing, (presumably because it has no idea what to do with a DOC file).

 

I know that there has been a lot of discussion over what is "code", what is "executable", and what is not, and I really don't wish for this topic to be a basis to go over it, all over again. What I'm looking for is the bottom line.

 

1. Is there a simply solution to our friends problem?

2. Is it acceptable to create a puzzle cache where the solver has to open a Word DOC?

3. If not, were older caches grandfathered in?

4. If #2 or #3 are yes, can the Word DOC be hosted off-site with a link added to the cache description?

5. Can he simply change the html in the cache description to link to the Word DOC that is already stored on the GC servers?

 

This is one of the caches that we are talking about, Classified Opperation...Access Denied

 

Thnaks for any help that can be offered.

 

Previous threads pertaining to this issue.

 

I started this thread. Puzzle Creativity, in light of the new rules

 

Puzzle Caches with file download needed., Is this acceptable, would YOU do it?

 

Caches involving data and executables

 

There are better options to use other than doc files. I learned about password protected webpages, and utilized them for my geocache Destruction Canyon a Geo-Canyoneering Adventure!

 

http://www.antelopevalleygeocachers.com/pa...tioncanyon.html

[+Too Tall John]

Right clicking on the link in question tries to open the file as a pic, same as described in the OP.

 

Hovering over the link, however, shows the following address:

 

http://img.geocaching.com/cache/15421_500.doc

 

You could add a link to the cache page to this address, it should work. Try:

 

<a href="http://img.geocaching.com/cache/15421_500.doc">Classified Document</a>

 

Since the file is, in fact, hosted on GC.com, it might avoid some of the issues in the guidelines.

Edited April 2, 2009 by Too Tall John