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Garmin not so long ago added ability to view geocache images directly on the GPS unit (more details). The functionality is not limited to caches from opencaching.com and can be used by anyone.

Since currently the most popular way of downloading photos from geocaching.com is using SpoilerSync, I created a small application that converts the output from SpoilerSync into structure that is supported by Garmin devices.

Download the application (5Kb). You will need .NET Framework 4.0 to run it.

To run it, open a console window and run SpoilerSync2Garmin.exe “C:\Where\SpoilerSync\Saved\The\Images” “G:\”

The first parameter is the folder where SpoilerSync saved all the pictures (it will have a lot of images, the file names starting with GC12345 style codes).

The second parameter is the drive letter where the Garmin GPS (must be the internal storage; for now the SD card does not work for photos) is located.

The application can also resize the images but that most probably will not be used since you can specify the size in SpoilerSync. If you need the resize, add resize 240x400 before the folder parameters. First value is width in pixels, the second – height in pixels (240x400 is the screen size for Oregon 450).

Note that GeoTransformer will soon support this out of the box.

Download GeoTransformer.zip (810Kb)

GeoTransformer is a small application that is a-must-have for everyone who does not use something more heavy-weight like GASK (and GeoTransformer is free of charge without any nag-screens).

GeoTransformer functions:

• Decodes HTML entities in the cache description and logs. This function is required as Garmin devices cannot correctly display these entities but it can display the characters if decoded. This will allow you to see all non-latin characters correctly.
• Saves the coordinates of solved mysteries and automatically inputs them in the .gpx file, changing the cache icon at the same time. After this simple manipulation it gets pretty hard to drive by a solved mistery and not notice.
• Automatically uncompress .gpx files from a .zip archive.
• Publishes the converted .gpx files either to a fixed folder or directly on Garmin device (the device must show in My Computer with a name that starts with “Garmin”).
• Publishes the converted .gpx files also to Magellan device (the device must show in My Computer with a name that starts with “Magellan”).
• Merges many .gpx files together so that it is not required to manage .gpx files that were previously published on the GPS unit.

Usage instructions:

• Download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile.
• Decompress all files from the downloaded archive in a separate directory (can be a removable USB flash drive).
• Save the .gpx and .zip files in the same directory.
• In order to enter the solved coordinates, enter the geocache code (GCxxxx) and the correct coordinates (they can be entered in different formats – DMS, DM, Dec – they will be automatically converted to N XX XX.XXX format).
• All data is stored in GeoTransformer.data file – this is the one you have to watch in order not to lose the entered data.
• The cache title will be populated with data from the .gpx files during publish.
• Click publish. If a recognized GPS device is connected it will show up in the list, otherwise you can publish to a folder.

Upgrade:

• Just copy the new files overwriting anything you had previously, preserve the MovedCaches.txt – the new version will automatically import anything from the previous version.

Future plans:

• Collect logs from previous pocket queries to increase the number of logs sent to GPS device (a standalone .gpx download includes 20 logs which is much better that the 5 included in pocket queries).
• Detect duplicate cache entries and use newest (would be useful if pocket queries overlap or if individual files are often downloaded).
• Adding additional hint to the .gpx file.
• And more…

 Download GeoTransformer.zip (289Kb)

English description is available below.

Izveidoju nelielu programmiņu, ko varētu nosaukt par absolūti nepieciešamu rīku tiem slēpņotājiem, kas neizmanto, piemēram, GSAK.

GeoTransformer funkcijas:

• Atkodē HTML entities slēpņu aprakstos un logos. Šī funkcija ir nepieciešama, jo Garmin ierīces HTML entities nespēj attēlot, taču pēc šīs apstrādes visi latviešu, krievu utt. burti normāli attēlosies.
• Saglabā atrisināto mistēriju koordinātas un automātiski tās ievada .gpx failā, pie reizes nomainot slēpņa ikonu. Pēc šīs vienkāršās manipulācijas nejauši pabraukt garām atrisinātai mistērijai kļūst krietni grūtāk.
• Automātiski atarhivē .zip arhīvā esošos .gpx failus.
• Publicē pārveidotos .gpx failus vai nu uz konkrētu direktoriju vai arī pa tiešo uz Garmin ierīci (nepieciešams, lai ierīces nosaukums iekš My Computer sāktos ar “Garmin”).
• Publicē pārveidotos .gpx failus arī uz Magellan ierīci (nepieciešams, lai ierīces nosaukums iekš My Computer sāktos ar “Magellan”).

Lietošanas instrukcija:

• Nepieciešams Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile.
• Jāatarhivē abi faili no lejupielādētā arhīva atsevišķā direktorijā.
• .gpx un .zip faili jāsaglabā šajā pašā direktorijā.
• Lai ievadītu atrisinātās koordinātas, nepieciešams norādīt slēpņa kodu un labotās koordinātas (tās var norādīt dažādos formātos – DMS, DM, Dec – programma automātiski tās konvertēs uz N XX XX.XXX form��tu).
• Saglabātie dati tiek saglabāti failā “MovedCaches.txt”.
• Slēpņa nosaukumu var ievadīt, taču tas tiks pārrakstīts ar datiem no .gpx faila pie publikācijas.
• Spiežot “Publish”, visi atrastie .gpx faili tiks apstrādāti un nokopēti vai nu uz Garmin vai Magellan ierīci vai apakšdirektorijā “Published”.

GeoTransformer is a small application that is a-must-have for everyone who does not use something more heavy-weight like GASK.

GeoTransformer functions:

• Decodes HTML entities in the cache description and logs. This function is required as Garmin devices cannot correctly display these entities but it can display the characters if decoded. This will allow you to see all non-latin characters correctly.
• Saves the coordinates of solved mysteries and automatically inputs them in the .gpx file, changing the cache icon at the same time. After this simple manipulation it gets pretty hard to drive by a solved mistery and not notice.
• Automatically uncompress .gpx files from a .zip archive.
• Publishes the converted .gpx files either to a fixed folder or directly on Garmin device (the device must show in My Computer with a name that starts with “Garmin”).
• Publishes the converted .gpx files also to Magellan device (the device must show in My Computer with a name that starts with “Magellan”).

Usage instructions:

• Download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile.
• Decompress both files from the downloaded archive in a separate directory.
• Save the .gpx and .zip files in the same directory.
• In order to enter the solved coordinates, enter the geocache code (GCxxxx) and the correct coordinates (they can be entered in different formats – DMS, DM, Dec – they will be automatically converted to N XX XX.XXX format).
• The data is saved in the file “MovedCaches.txt”.
• The cache title can be entered but will be overwritten with data from the .gpx files during publish.
• After pressing “Publish” all .gpx files will be converted and copied either to Garmin or Magellan device or a subfolder “Published”.