General FAQ > Windows Mobile FAQ > Windows Smartphone FAQ > CacheMate

- How do I convert a Palm OS CacheMate database to Windows Mobile?
- How do I get data from GPX/LOC files into Cachemate?
- Is there any way to have multiple center points?
- I can't load a LOC file saved with EasyGPS. What's wrong?
- When I import a LOC/GPX file, the description and hints aren't there. What happened?
- Does CacheMate support aGPS on (insert phone here)?

How do I convert a Palm OS CacheMate database to Windows Mobile? (back to top)

You don't, at least not directly. The only way to transfer most (not all) of the Palm OS database content is to use CM2GPX on the corresponding PDB file, and importing the resulting GPX file into the Windows Mobile version.

How do I get data from GPX/LOC files into Cachemate? (back to top)

- Copy file(s) into the phone's My Documents folder (anywhere in there)
- Start CacheMate
- From the list view's menu, select Actions > Import.
- Set options as desired and select Start

After completing those steps you will see where you can select what file to import and go from there. If you want to import more than one file at a time, zip them up before copying them to the phone, and select the ZIP file when prompted.

Is there any way to have multiple center points? (back to top)

This is just one use for being able to create records without importing anything. Create a record for each center point you want, enter the coordinates in the the record, and later on you can set it as the center point from the list view. Creating a dedicated category for these is probably the best way to keep them all in one place.

I can't load a LOC file saved with EasyGPS. What's wrong? (back to top)

This is due to a confusion of the LOC file format between Geocaching.com and TopoGrafix (maker of EasyGPS). The former is an XML format, while the latter is a binary format.

CacheMate, as well as EasyGPS, can load the Geocaching.com LOC XML format. The only LOC files that EasyGPS saves, though, are the binary format. EasyGPS data can be imported into CacheMate, though, by saving it as a GPX file, and importing that file.

When I import a LOC/GPX file, the description and hints aren't there. What happened? (back to top)

LOC files from Geocaching.com don't include cache-specific information such as terrain/difficulty ratings, descriptions and hints. All that they contain are the cache name, owner, waypoint name, and coordinates. GPX files that are obtained from Geocaching.com, though, have all of this information, and are also supported for import. However, they are not freely available. You will need to get a paid membership at that site, and create a pocket query to generate those files.

In some cases, an imported GPX file may not have this information either. Generally, it's due to taking a Geocaching.com-generated file, then editing and saving it in a third-party program that ends up wiping out the geocaching-specific information. EasyGPS is a typical culprit of this, but there are other programs that may do it as well. For best results, use the original GPX file, unless you're using a program that you're sure does not have this effect on the file.

Does CacheMate support aGPS on (insert phone here)? (back to top)

No, for the simple reason that Windows Mobile phone manufacturers have yet to make access to that hardware available to third party developers, or at least those that don't have special agreements with them.