Editing Geocaching (section)

===Converting and filtering data===
A variety of geocaching applications are available for geocache data management, file-type translation, and personalization. Geocaching [[software]] can assign special icons or search (filter) for caches based on certain criteria (e.g. distance from an assigned point, difficulty, date last found).

[[File:GeoCache and GPSr.jpg|thumb|Coordinates for a geocache can be downloaded onto a GPS receiver and found, without the need for a printout.]]

'''Paperless geocaching''' means hunting a geocache without a physical printout of the cache description. Traditionally, this means that the seeker has an electronic means of viewing the cache information in the field, such as pre-downloading the information to a [[personal digital assistant|PDA]] or other electronic device. Various applications can directly upload and read [[GPS eXchange Format|GPX]] files without further conversion. Newer GPS devices released by [[Garmin]], [[DeLorme]], and [[Magellan Navigation|Magellan]] have the ability to read GPX files directly, thus eliminating the need for a [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.connect.de/themen_spezial/Outdoor-Navigation-mit-dem-Garmin-Colorado-300_1596951.html |title=Outdoor-Navigation mit dem Garmin Colorado 300 |date=April 1, 2008 |publisher=connect.de |page=1 |language=de |access-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220202659/http://www.connect.de/themen_spezial/Outdoor-Navigation-mit-dem-Garmin-Colorado-300_1596951.html |archive-date=December 20, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Other methods include viewing real-time information on a portable computer with internet access or with an Internet-enabled smart phone. The latest advancement of this practice involves installing dedicated applications on a smart phone with a built-in GPS receiver. Seekers can search for and download caches in their immediate vicinity directly to the application and use the on-board GPS receiver to find the cache.

A more controversial version of paperless Caching involves mass-downloading only the coordinates and cache names (or waypoint IDs) for hundreds of caches into older receivers. This is a common practice of some cachers and has been used successfully for years. In many cases, however, the cache description and hint are never read by the seeker before hunting the cache. This means they are unaware of potential restrictions such as limited hunt times, park open/close times, off-limit areas, and suggested parking locations.