glorkar wrote:I really should try GSAK out one of these days. Never really saw the need before. Figured it wouldn't be used to it's full potential without being able to run PQs on the other site.
Actually, if you cache any decent amount, it makes a great offline database for your cache history. It has a couple of User fields that you can copy and paste your online log into, or any other notes/comments/info which you wish to just keep private.
IIRC, you can attach/store pics to your GSAK database for each cache. Again, it saves them offline, locally.
You can sort your database, and make all kinds of custom lists, to help keep track of your numbers and caching history.
Another great benefit whether you go paperless or not, is that you can print a group of cache pages together, all on one page (or more, if you are printing that many caches). Its more compact than using the print view link on the GC cache page.
For one road trip, I printed 29 cache pages on only 7 pages of paper.
Also, if you set up the database for multiple users, you can can lists of caches that seperates out caches NOT found by how ever many users... Much easier than doing a PQ compare.
GSAK is so detailed and has so many functions, once you get used to it, you can do a TON of stuff to make caching much easier and quicker.
PQ's help alot, but its REALLY handy even for non-Prem members of GC, as long as you keep up on adding the caches you do, and you can still load .LOC files for caches you havent done yet.
One thing you might be able to do without a full Prem membership, is to buy just the 3 mos $10 membership, build some PQs, and load them in GSAK, to build a database.
Then once the membership runs out, you still have all those caches in your database. You might be able to update or check any cache you are thinking of finding, by just downloading the .LOC, and manually copying/pasting any other info not included in the .loc file. Most relevant info should still be there from when you loaded the cache from the PQ though.
As much functionality that was built into GSAK, there is a ton of user submitted scripts you can download and use the from the GSAK forums. It makes it even more functional and customizable for your use. I think its great that the developer allows and even promotes this.
GSAK is an awesome piece of software.