Pocket Queries

[Econocrat]

I read Markwell's page of what pocketqueries are.

 

Is there a less convoluted process to getting PQs? I am not getting the email with my PQs. But in the PQ page, I see "Active PQ" as being the set I generated. But from the PQ page I am not allowed to download the query. I am also not allowed to put my "active" PQ in the queue.

 

thank you

 

(Also, am I allowed to have 2 PQs at the same time? I want to be able to view sets of caches in two geographic zones (different cities)).

 

tks

[+StarBrand]

I think you best re-read Markwell's tutorial.

 

If your PQ has less than 500 - it will arrive as an attachment in your email.

 

Between 500 and 1000 - you have to download from the PQ page on the download tab.

 

You can run up to 5 PQs a day.

 

Did you select a day (today if you want them now) for the PQ to run??

 

The "add to queue" button is for the special "my finds" query ONLY.

[+dfx]

I think it's time for definition of some basic terms.

 

A Pocket Query is a stored set of search terms. Everything you select on the PQ page, such as ratings, origin, radius, name, attributes, country/state, etc etc, all that makes up a PQ. You can have an (almost) unlimited number of those stored at the same time.

 

You can run up to 5 PQs per day. Running a PQ is what actually executes the search, generates the GPX file and sends you the email. You run a PQ by checking the checkbox for the day of the week that you want to run it on. If you want to run it today (meaning ASAP) and today is Thursday, you check the box for Thursday. That will run/execute the PQ, you'll get the email and you'll be able to download the results in form of GPX files.

 

The "preview" options you see are different from actually running the PQ. The preview options just allow you to execute the search on the webpage and let you view the results on the webpage. It will not generate any emails or files to download for you, because it will not actually run the PQ.

Edited April 22, 2011 by dfx

[+CacheFreakTim]

If you are creating a PQ and it is not making it your inbox it is most likely being blocked. Check your Junk or bulk email folder. If that doesn't work try another email address.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Make sure you don't select conflicting options.

eg. 'Caches I Have Found' and 'Caches I have Not Found' -They cancel each other out and you don't get any results!

[+Monster666]

Today I tried to generate my first Pocket Queries (500 caches limit)

but neither email was sent nor can I download it from geocaching.com.

Spam and virus filter are switched off at both of the email accounts

I tried. Now I am realy confused how to get the queries :-?

 

Can someone help?

Edited April 23, 2011 by Monster666

[+Bear and Ragged]

Today I tried to generate my first Pocket Queries (500 caches limit)

but neither email was sent nor can I download it from geocaching.com.

Spam and virus filter are switched off at both of the email accounts

I tried. Now I am realy confused how to get the queries :-?

 

Can someone help?

 

Don't check any boxes to start with.

Decide where you want to search from. ie 'My Home Coordinates'

Select 500 caches

Select how many miles from selected coordinates -try 20 miles (If you don't the system can get blocked with too many caches and stop!)

DON'T select Day To Run, and run PQ -Submit Information.

 

You will get a page which shows the caches found in that PQ

If you like what you see, click 'Edit' and then select Day To Run.

The PQ should now be sent.

 

You either get a download on the email, or you can get it from the second tab 'Pocket Qureies Ready For Download' on the PQ page

 

You will get a page which shows the caches found in that PQ

IF it's blank, you've set something wrong! Go and look, and try to work out what's wrong!

 

*Running it without selecting a day allows the information to be processed, without generating the PQ and counting against your 5 a day limit. So if it's a dud PQ, you don't lose it.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Bear and Ragged

[+CacheFreakTim]

Today I tried to generate my first Pocket Queries (500 caches limit)

but neither email was sent nor can I download it from geocaching.com.

Spam and virus filter are switched off at both of the email accounts

I tried. Now I am realy confused how to get the queries :-?

 

Can someone help?

 

When you create one on the PQ page it will tell you the date/time it was created. Does it at least get that far?

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Today I tried to generate my first Pocket Queries (500 caches limit)

but neither email was sent nor can I download it from geocaching.com.

Spam and virus filter are switched off at both of the email accounts

I tried. Now I am realy confused how to get the queries :-?

 

Can someone help?

System is pretty clogged, right now -- that may well be your problem.

Until the new fix (if there truly is one in the works), attempting to run a PQ on the weekend is a poor choice at best.

Have it set to run Tue, Wed, Thur, but not on or around the weekend.

 

I have avoided running a PQ on weekends for a long time. Weekday PQ usually comes through in minutes.

[+ngrrfan]

Pocket Queries are turned off on the weekends. By Monday afternoon they'll be back in service (until the next weekend).

[+CacheFreakTim]

I just ran a PQ and received it within two minutes. Seems the issue is sporadic.

[+Markwell]

Pocket Queries are turned off on the weekends. By Monday afternoon they'll be back in service (until the next weekend).

Where did you hear that?

[+Monster666]

Pocket Queries are turned off on the weekends. By Monday afternoon they'll be back in service (until the next weekend).

Where did you hear that?

 

Thanks for the information. I will wait until Monday (which is a public holiday in Switzerland).

Then I will report. Thanks for the other comments which I will try if Monday will fail :-))

[+CacheFreakTim]

I ran a few more, and asked a friend who also ran some right in the middle of the day today (Saturday.) All went though very quick considering this is usually the busiest day of the week. I wonder what is causing it? I don't know how GS servers work, but I wonder if the issue is geographic?

[+ngrrfan]

Pocket Queries are turned off on the weekends. By Monday afternoon they'll be back in service (until the next weekend).

Where did you hear that?

That's what I was told last weekend. Maybe they've not been disabled this weekend but last weekend when I and others were were unable to run queries.

[+Markwell]

I think last week was a problem week.

 

Can you show me a post where it says they were "turned off"?

[+dfx]

That's what I was told last weekend. Maybe they've not been disabled this weekend but last weekend when I and others were were unable to run queries.

 

They're not turned off, they're just slow at times. Smilies on the old maps were turned off.

[+Monster666]

Sorry to come back to the topic: At the folder of my queries it is mentioned "Last Generated PST" = Never. Is this the problem that I do not get them sent by email? How can I generate them immediately?

[+Dr.MD]

You need to select a day for the query to run. The server runs on Seattle time, which is shown on the main PQ page.

[+CacheFreakTim]

Sorry to come back to the topic: At the folder of my queries it is mentioned "Last Generated PST" = Never. Is this the problem that I do not get them sent by email? How can I generate them immediately?

 

You have to select the day to run them even if it's not in the future. For example today you want to choose Sunday and the should show up shortly.

[+Monster666]

Ok. My first query is present :-)) Thanks for your help.

Now I can load more than 200 caches on my Oregon 400t

and found 13 by today :-)))

 

The three different choices are a bit confusing but with

your hints I managed to create the wanted query.

Thanks again

[+LizzyHoops]

I ran a few more, and asked a friend who also ran some right in the middle of the day today (Saturday.) All went though very quick considering this is usually the busiest day of the week. I wonder what is causing it? I don't know how GS servers work, but I wonder if the issue is geographic?

 

I've never had a PQ take more than a few minutes, not that I run that many, but when I do even on the weekends...It never takes long, usually almost instantly.

[+Bear and Ragged]

I've never had a PQ take more than a few minutes, not that I run that many, but when I do even on the weekends...It never takes long, usually almost instantly.

Same here, however this weekend seems to be the exception!

I've just received a couple of PQ's 2 hours after sending them...

[+CacheFreakTim]

I ran a few more, and asked a friend who also ran some right in the middle of the day today (Saturday.) All went though very quick considering this is usually the busiest day of the week. I wonder what is causing it? I don't know how GS servers work, but I wonder if the issue is geographic?

 

I've never had a PQ take more than a few minutes, not that I run that many, but when I do even on the weekends...It never takes long, usually almost instantly.

 

It also depends on how often you set them to run. As I understand it if you only run it once a week your PQ is put to the front of the line. If you have the same PQ run every day it goes to the back of the line. Unless you have a need I would recommend only running them when you need them. You will most likely get them quicker.

[+dfx]

Unless you have a need I would recommend only running them when you need them. You will most likely get them quicker.

 

Or you create a copy of the PQ that you need right now, which will count as a new, never run PQ and so will get priority. But even then it can take quite a while to run them. Sometimes I create several copies of the same PQ and enable all of them, hoping that at least one of them will run.

[+packercachers]

I don't understand how to get the pocket quary onto my Garmin. I have dragged it into the Garmin, but none of the sites display. Are PQs just for finding the caches, and then you have to upload each one individually? We are travelling from WI to SD this summer and I wanted to upload caches along the way.

 

Last summer my husband went fishing in ID and I uploaded caches for him there, and he could not find a one on the Garmin. Obviously I am doing something wrong.

[+Bear and Ragged]

I don't understand how to get the pocket quary onto my Garmin. I have dragged it into the Garmin, but none of the sites display. Are PQs just for finding the caches, and then you have to upload each one individually? We are travelling from WI to SD this summer and I wanted to upload caches along the way.

 

Last summer my husband went fishing in ID and I uploaded caches for him there, and he could not find a one on the Garmin. Obviously I am doing something wrong.

Which model Garmin?

[+GB's]

I'm having the same issue as the original poster. I setup the queries and they run and show up on the list of completed queries but I have yet to receive an email.

I have even added a second email account that has absolutely no filtering and nothing showed up. I tried running a PQ that said it found 1000 caches but no email and 2 days later there is nothing listed on the download tab.

 

I can preview the queries, copy them, map them but I can't get a file to load to my Garmin. Pretty frustrating!

 

I have requested only one time PQ's, is that a problem?

 

Gary

[+Grandma Maggie]

One of the questions in "Release Notes" made me think of this. Maybe this idea is already available and I havn't discovered it yet. When I want to build a PQ for a new location I do one of two things. 1. Go elsewhere for the zip code, write it down and use it to build the PQ. 2. Navigate to the location on the GC map, write down the cache code for one cache in the area and use it to build the PQ. Am I missing an easier way to designate the epicenter of my PQ?

 

WHAT IF there was a "Build PQ From Here" button on each cache description page? Wouldn't that be slick?

[+kunarion]

When I want to build a PQ for a new location I do one of two things. 1. Go elsewhere for the zip code, write it down and use it to build the PQ. 2. Navigate to the location on the GC map, write down the cache code for one cache in the area and use it to build the PQ. Am I missing an easier way to designate the epicenter of my PQ?

 

WHAT IF there was a "Build PQ From Here" button on each cache description page? Wouldn't that be slick?

On the bottom map on a cache page, if you click the link "View Larger Map", there's an option in the map's menu "Save as Pocket Query" with the cache centered and a radius defined by the map zoom level. It's similar to your idea, but a little fancier. Adjust the PQ settings as desired and run it.

 

FWIW, I usually just use your method of typing a GC Code.

Edited August 31, 2014 by kunarion

[+Grandma Maggie]

Thanks Kunarion. I see the "View Larger Map" option but I do not see how to view the "Map Menu." I mostly browse using an ancient tablet. Could the options be different? I have yet to investigate your suggestion on the PC. No big deal. Our established method works well.

[+Bear and Ragged]

Thanks Kunarion. I see the "View Larger Map" option but I do not see how to view the "Map Menu." I mostly browse using an ancient tablet. Could the options be different? I have yet to investigate your suggestion on the PC. No big deal. Our established method works well.

 

Try:

Look on the left of the map frame.

Is there a grey bar, with a small triangle in the middle? Click on it. It should pop-out.

 

(It may show "Toggle side panel" when you hover your curser over it)

Edited September 1, 2014 by Bear and Ragged

[+Chief301]

One of the questions in "Release Notes" made me think of this. Maybe this idea is already available and I havn't discovered it yet. When I want to build a PQ for a new location I do one of two things. 1. Go elsewhere for the zip code, write it down and use it to build the PQ. 2. Navigate to the location on the GC map, write down the cache code for one cache in the area and use it to build the PQ. Am I missing an easier way to designate the epicenter of my PQ?

 

WHAT IF there was a "Build PQ From Here" button on each cache description page? Wouldn't that be slick?

 

You don't have to center your PQ on a particular cache or zip code....this involves a bit of guesswork. Just view the Geocaching map, scroll around to the area you're interested in, and sort of capture the whole area you want and frame it within the map. Then on the tool bar on the left hand side, select "Save As PQ". That's how I always do it, I find it much easier to visualize the area I need than to build it based on a cache code or a zip code or address.

[+Grandma Maggie]

Thanks all.I finally had a chance to try the PQ by navigating from a single GC page and it worked just fine.