Question

How about a way to manually add  lab caches,   

You can download gpx files from the lab cache page,  if there was a import,  and then have it bring them up to mark it found and on what date.  it would bring the stats here in line with whats on the site

Answer 1

PGC are currently working with Groundspeak over the API used to import finds. Earlier they said they were in discussions with Groundspeak about importing Lab Caches. Hopefully these two things are coming together and we'll see PGC with Lab Caches soon.

Then we have to talk to Kyle Mills about getting them and Giga events added to BadgeGen...

Comments

We have slowly been implementing more and more of our new backend code. Most of it is in place now. We were supposed to start on Lab caches today, but didn't get there. Maybe tomorrow...

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Really, having a badge for Lab caches is basically the same as having two badges for Mega-Events.

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Except that:
- You may attend a Mega event without finding a lab cache
- Lab caches aren't unique for Mega events. They can also be encountered at Giga events and Groundspeak Block Party. The last one is now grandfathered.

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On the other hand, there are no badges for Gigas and Block Parties. They are counted as Megas.

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That is demonstrably not the case.

https://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=fc493bac-ebc5-4a09-a567-da5b80e17001

http://project-gc.com/ProfileStats/Funky_Boris

My finds listed on my profile on on geocaching.com
Mega-Event Cache     6
Geocaching Block Party     1
Giga-Event Cache     1

For that, I am granted an emerald batch on project-gc. The alt text for the badge is "The Mega Social Cacher
Awarded for attending 7 or more Mega Event caches
Funky_Boris has 7 and needs 1 more to go up a level"

I happen to remember that GIga was counted, but the Block Party was not. I am not arguing that Block Party should count towards this badge, but merely that the statement that they are both counted towards this badge is false at present.

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OK, apparently I'm wrong about the Block Party (I haven't been to any of those).

As for new badges, one for gigas might be reasonable in a few years. Adding one for Block Parties would be stupid, especially now that they are dead.

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@pinkunicorn:
I agree entirely with those sentiments :)

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I think I would argue to count Block Party as a Mega, if I were arguing. Perhaps in my spare time? ;)

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And now... Monty Python references. Classic :D

Whether or not to count Block Party as Mega should IMO be up to Kyle, the author of BadgeGen. If the decision is taken here, there could be a difference in how project-gc awards badges compared with f.ex. the BadgeGen macro for GSAK.

And now...
The Larch. The. Larch.
And now...

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A very quick check tells me that not both gigas and block parties are counted in GSAK BadgeGen, but I don't know which one is. To be exact, the macro counts cache types 'Z' and 'J', but I don't see a reference as to which it what.

(Also, Groundspeak's L&F celebration event one-off could also be relevant here, whatever type that appears as.)

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A giga event is technically qualifies as a mega event, as at least 500 attended. I suspect the rules for a Block Party did not state "minimum of 500 people attend" so there may have been block parties that did not have enough attendees such that we cannot state that ALL block parties can count as mega event.