Syntax
of the Groundspeak .loc-file
as can be
downloaded from the geocaching.com cache pages
Be aware:
this is NOT the same format as the loc-file that can be exported from EasyGPS!
EasyGPS can read the format described here.
Format:
ASCII
CRLF and
TAB are allowed but not nescesarry.
Reserved characters: [, ], <, </, />, >
Below
you’ll find an example of a file with two waypoints. In this example, the lines
are represented beneath each other for readability. In the real file everything
is in one string!
The file
has a header: <?xml...><loc...>,
detail
sections per waypoint: <waypoint> to </waypoint>
and a
footer: </loc>.
The header and footer have a fixed content.
The
waypoint section can occur multiple times.
The
<type> is default set to geocache but can be replaced. This type
will show up in EasyGPS in the Type column.
The
<type> section is optional. This tag is for example not used when
creating a file using GPSBabel.
Also the ID
and the name of the cache are informational. These can be changed or replaced
when you write your own loc-file. As an example of this: I scan these texts for
reserved characters and replace them to avoid errors when importing the file in
EasyGPS.
To create a
loc-file, you must create a header, one or more detail sections and a footer in
the described syntax. Save it as ASCII file.
---------
EXAMPLE
---------
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<loc version="1.0" src="Groundspeak">
<waypoint>
<name id="GCCA92"><![CDATA[Knight's move by pyne]]></name>
<coord lat="52.0922" lon="4.33078333333333"/>
<type>Geocache</type>
<link text="Cache Details">http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCCA92</link>
</waypoint><waypoint>
<name id="GCGMV3"><![CDATA[Getting The Chemistry Right by Team KIS98]]></name>
<coord lat="52.1029" lon="4.3039"/>
<type>Geocache</type>
<link text="Cache Details">http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GCGMV3</link>
</waypoint></loc>
