Recently, Groundspeak decided to rehash the cache submission pages on their site. Prior to this past week, I had only submitted a few event pages this year and had not had the chance to try out the new submission pages just yet. Previously, you could choose to submit caches using the simple, old form that had you inputting all the cache information on one page, or you could use the new cache submission form that guided you through the process in depth. I always preferred the "single page" submission form since that's how I've always done it. Now, you have no choice. You MUST navigate through several pages of "hand-holding" in order to process the same information.
The graphics are very nice, and I have no doubt someone spent a lot of time making them and programming all of this. However, I've been caching for nine years now. I've submitted over 200 caches the old way. To suddenly have to jump through about 6 pages of hoops per cache just to get to the page editor I prefer is annoying. I don't need someone to hold my hand and give me visual representations of the types of information I should be providing in each field.
Not that I hate everything in the new submission process. I don't want anyone to think I totally hate them. I think the pages are great, especially the map preview that will automatically reject a location that is unavailable. (At least in regards to traditional caches) And I do like that the graphics actually show newer cachers what cache sizes are generally supposed to be. (I've been seeing way too many keyholders and pill bottles listed as "smalls" lately.) Indeed, this submission page should probably be required for someone that is hiding their first cache. At least once anyway. My real annoyance is the fact that this is now the ONLY way to submit caches.
At an event I was at yesterday, someone we were actually discussing this subject. Some others mentioned they do like the new pages because of the fancy HTML editor you get when you first submit a page. I can understand that. Not everyone wants to learn or use HTML. Or, as pairomedicchick put it: "HTML and I do not get along." These same people expressed some frustrations that you only get this editor when first submitting a page. It is a bit puzzling you can't use these tools later on.
Another frustration for me is the forcing of the posting of a reviewer note. I normally do not need to post one. For a cache I hid the other day that didn't require one, I simply put "Please hold" in the note because I wasn't ready to submit the page yet. (I didn't have coordinates, I was making up a placeholder page) When I did get the coordinates, and got the cache submitted, I totally forgot about that note. As a result, the reviewer reviewed it and then placed it on hold waiting for my OK. I had to post another reviewer note to let him know that everything was good to go and I had simply forgotten to delete the note! Annoying.
But really, my biggest frustration with these new pages is simply because they completely took away the option of doing it the old way. With just a single form. I guess I just don't understand the logic in completely removing the ability to submit caches the old way and not giving us the option of which method of submission we prefer. I hid six caches today, and it took me easily twice as long to submit as it usually would.
The new cache submission process is great for new cachers, but annoying for those of us who liked the old way. I highly doubt Groundspeak will read this, but if someone does, one of your long-time customers politely requests the return of the ability to use the old "one page" cache submission form. Please and thank you!
Travis
aka: "Tsmola"
Caching since 2005
At an event I was at yesterday, someone we were actually discussing this subject. Some others mentioned they do like the new pages because of the fancy HTML editor you get when you first submit a page. I can understand that. Not everyone wants to learn or use HTML. Or, as pairomedicchick put it: "HTML and I do not get along." These same people expressed some frustrations that you only get this editor when first submitting a page. It is a bit puzzling you can't use these tools later on.
Another frustration for me is the forcing of the posting of a reviewer note. I normally do not need to post one. For a cache I hid the other day that didn't require one, I simply put "Please hold" in the note because I wasn't ready to submit the page yet. (I didn't have coordinates, I was making up a placeholder page) When I did get the coordinates, and got the cache submitted, I totally forgot about that note. As a result, the reviewer reviewed it and then placed it on hold waiting for my OK. I had to post another reviewer note to let him know that everything was good to go and I had simply forgotten to delete the note! Annoying.
But really, my biggest frustration with these new pages is simply because they completely took away the option of doing it the old way. With just a single form. I guess I just don't understand the logic in completely removing the ability to submit caches the old way and not giving us the option of which method of submission we prefer. I hid six caches today, and it took me easily twice as long to submit as it usually would.
The new cache submission process is great for new cachers, but annoying for those of us who liked the old way. I highly doubt Groundspeak will read this, but if someone does, one of your long-time customers politely requests the return of the ability to use the old "one page" cache submission form. Please and thank you!
Travis
aka: "Tsmola"
Caching since 2005
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