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Topic: Workflow Questions (Read 1361 times) previous topic - next topic

Workflow Questions

So hey, new to this app, but not new to Geocaching. I tried this out and really liked a lot of the features, especially the drive. I like that I can select a cache and it gives me driving directions to get close.

However, after that point, I have a little trouble. Apparently there's a radius that auto-switches from driving directions to you're here. Then a pop up shows up and I have to select to navigate to the cache. I also have to select that if I am close, select the cache, and navigate, then I have to select navigate a second time on the pop up. But the bigger issue is when I do that, then my screen gets filled with a giant grey compass. There's something behind it, but I don't know what. I can even zoom in and out, but I can't see anything but a giant compass. At the very top of the screen there is a distance. So, the only thing I can figure out to do is walk in some direction and see if the number gets larger or smaller. That's it. Is there a way to make the compass useful? Or even better, make the compass go away so I can see the cache, path to the cache, and distance? Or is that the only way to use this?

Second is workflow process. So, I get to the giant compass. But now I can't do anything. If I want to do anything else: read the description, view the size, read logs, read the hint, or even just log it -- I have to press back 2 or 3 times, find the cache again, click on it, and then I get the menu where I can do something. Is that how this is supposed to work? If I'm navigating to the cache with my giant compass, there's no way from that screen to read any info or even log the cache? Or am I just missing something? If there's a better way to navigate with options, I'm open to it, I just couldn't find anything but giant compass screen.

Thanks!

Re: Workflow Questions

Reply #1 –
Thanks for trying the app!

I'm not fully following the steps you are taking or the screens you are seeing. Screenshots or video would be great and very helpful to me.

If you are seeing the compass overlay, you've turned that on via the compass button. It fades in and out based on whether the phone orientation is horizontal (compass visible) or vertical (compass invisible). Just use Android back (button or swipe) to exit the compass mode. The compass, as it should, always stays centered on your location.

The term "navigation" means different things to different people and/or apps. In Geooh, navigation is turn-by-turn driving instructions, not compass orientation.

Re: Workflow Questions

Reply #2 –
Attached is the screen I'm looking at. Am I supposed to be able to use this compass? I can't see underneath it, so I can't see where the cache is when I look at this screen. All I can tell is the distance at the top. Is there a way to use this compass that I'm not doing, or can I turn it off?

The other issue is from this screen, too. I use this screen when I'm close and looking for it. If I can't find it, sometimes I want to read the description or see the hint again. Or, when I find it and I'm on this screen, I want to log it. But I can't see how to do that on this screen. The only thing I can do is press back 2-3 times, find the cache again, then click on it, and select the choice from the menu. Is there an easier way, or is that how to log from this screen?

Thanks!

Re: Workflow Questions

Reply #3 –
Yes, as I mentioned in my earlier post, you tapped the compass button to go into compass mode. Just like all the other geocaching apps the compass points to the geocache. Use Android back to exit compass mode. Then you can tap the info bubble above the cache to pop up a task list of actions you can perform on the cache. One of them is to log the geocache. Or select Show More to open a screen with more information about the cache. And you can tap the menu button there to also pop up the task list.

I also previously mentioned that while in compass mode the compass will fade in/out depending on whether you are holding the phone horizontal or vertically. Try it... it's a feature unique to Geooh.

Re: Workflow Questions

Reply #4 –
I see. Thanks for getting back to me. I was in compass mode because as far as I can tell, there's no other way to use the app, is there?

Picture 1 here is what I see when I get close. The only option that lets me see the distance is to click the compass. Is there a different way to navigate that I'm not seeing? But when I click the compass, I see image 2: the massive black compass that hides anything else, so I can't figure out what to do. When I hit back, I see the image in #3: just the location, but no navigation. Maybe I'm just missing something.

I am starting to get the compass with the movement of the phone. I know the compass on the phone is never great, but what I am supposed to be seeing? If you look at image 4 here, with Seed Cache, I can see the dot with me. But the red line points left, the compass arrow points ahead, and the blue triangle on the compass is to the right. Is the red compass or the blue triangle supposed to  point to the location?

I did play around with the proximity sound, and that was really neat!

Re: Workflow Questions

Reply #5 –
I am very confused. What I see is you used Geooh turn-by-turn navigation to drive to a location. That's good as no other geocaching app has built-in navigation like that. Now that you have arrived, what are you wanting to do? In other apps using an external navigation app you just exit the navigation app and return back to a geocaching app most likely their map view. From there you probably use their compass to hunt for the cache. Find it then log it.

You do the same in Geooh. Once you arrive you can ignore the pop-up by dismissing it with Android back. Then use Android back again to exit the built-in navigation. Just like other apps. Once out of turn-by-turn navigation you can use the compass to also hunt for the cache. After finding it, display a task list and then log the find... just like the other apps.

Geooh just provides the compass and log geocache window as a quick path while still using the navigator. Just don't use it if confusing. There are so many features in the app that to a new user it can be daunting. Just pick features you like and ignore the rest until you feel comfortable using them. Review settings to see all what is possible.

Geooh's compass is also like others. The red arrow points to the cache. The blue arrow is North. Notice it is between NE and NW. That is just helping you see the direction of the cache and which way is North if you need it. At the top of the screen is a distance counter to the cache so you know how close you are to it. Holding the phone vertical let's you see the map if you want. There is a setting to turn that off... if you want. The app is very configurable.

Just curious... are you new to geocaching? Have you used a different app? If new, I'd suggest using the official app from Groundspeak and their website first to get familiar with geocaching as it was designed for that.

Re: Workflow Questions

Reply #6 –
No worries, thanks for sticking with me! I probably should have just played with the app a lot more before asking questions. I'm figuring it out more each time.

I have used the geocaching app before, but I really downloaded this one after a long day of trying to navigate driving from one cache to the next. I LOVE the driving feature in this one and the proximity alert is absolutely great: I usually go in a group and people get mad when I have the phone and they can't see the distance. With the proximity, everyone can hear when we're getting closer!

Thank you for making this game even more fun for us!