AllenLacy.com's GPX EMail Remailer

Introduction

To understand what the GPX EMail Processor can do for you. You need information about paperless Geocaching. Instead of repeating the information I suggest you read the GGA information on Paperless Geocaching. So now you know that if you are a geocaching.com charter member you can get information into PDA. But all methods require you to get the GPX file and do something with it, you can have a website like GPX Spinner process it, or you can use fizzymagic's gpx2html program followed by plucker. The GPX EMail Processor simplifies that process.

The Idea behind the Processor

EMail systems have some advanced features if you know how to use them and if your EMail provider gives access to them. One of feature is that instead of just putting the EMail messages in a mailbox is that a program can process the mail and do all kinds of things to it. AllenLacy.com has been using this feature to reduce SPAM.

What has this to do with GPX files?

I have set up some special email addresses at AllenLacy.com. When EMail arrives with a zipped GPX file the program will convert it to another format such as a Plucker file. Then instead keeping it, the program sends out a new email with the new file as an attachement.  So the file arrives ready to use. So the required processing is done before you get it. I am basically lazy and don't see why I should do the same things over and over to get the information in the form that is useful to me.

How to get access to the Processor

Who can use the Processor?

Currently plans are to allow any active GGA member to use it. Where active GGA member is defined as someone who has attended one meeting in the last six months. Note this is my definition, because GGA doesn't define what an active member is. Therefore I may change it as I want.

How to ask for access.

Since the program is new I will be limiting the number of people given access to about two a week. You can email your request.

Requirements

You need a Palm, sorry Pocket PC owners, but Plucker only works on a Palm

You will need to have the plucker viewer installed. It is found on the plucker download page.  You have two choices:

1. If you only want to look at prebuilt plucker files like the Email Processor produces then download the "Plucker 1.2 Viewer Package" and install both prc files in your palm.
2. If you want to also be able to set plucker to grab web pages as well as looking at prebuilt files, then you need to download "Plucker Desktop for Windows"

What to do at Geocaching.com

1. Start at the Pocket Query Generator page.
2. Set up the query to find the caches you are interested.
3. At the "Output to:" click the "alternate email:" and enter the email address I gave you when I told you that you had access.
4. Make sure you ask for "EasyGPS GPX Format"
5. Click the "Generate Zip Files"
6. Make all other settings to suit your needs.

Current features.

1. It can customize the Waypoint names and description like GPX Spinner
2. It produces a plucker file ready to load into Palm.
3. It produce a "wpt" file which can be loaded into Garmin's Mapsource.

Future features.

1. To create a web form which will allow users to customize their setting. For example they would an easy way to control how the Waypoint names are formed and any other settings. Currently I have to make the changes myself.
2. To just spin the information in the GPX and produce a new GPX.

As for new features. I mainly wrote the processor to help me. If you make a request, I will do it: if it will be useful to me, or it is easy to do, or while not useful to me it is interesting puzzle to me.

Misc

Geocache Rating Form.

How I prepare cache containers

Georgia's Named Summits

My Home Page

Surname Springboard (Genealogy Information)