OziGeocacheUK

What is it?

OziGeocacheUK integrates information from GeocacheUK.com and Geocaching.com into OziExplorer. OziExplorer is a GPS mapping application and GeocacheUK is a database of geocaches in the UK. When OziGeocacheUK is running and enabled it intercepts mouse clicks on the map loaded into OziExplorer and fetches all wayponts withing a specified radius of the clicked position. The searching is done with the database held on GeocacheUK.com.

The retrieved geocaches are displayed in OziExplorer as normal OziExplorer waypoints, so they can be saved to disk or uploaded to your GPS as usual. Clicking on a geocache waypoint in OziExplorer will open up the relevant page from Geocaching.com in your web browser.

Here's a screenshot of OziGeocacheUK in action:

What are the prerequisites?

• You need to have OziExplorer installed
• You need to have Java 1.6 installed
• You need too have registered on GeocacheUK.com
• That's it.

How do I install it?

A note about Java Webstart and digital signatures
All Java Webstart applications that require to access to the disk and other applications on your machine must be signed with a digital signature - in this case to run OziExplorer and save a preferences file. Any applications which use "native" (i.e. non-Java) code also need to be signed - in this case OziGeocacheUK communicates with OziExplorer by using the OziAPI DLL. Obtaining a certificate for signing applications generally costs money, and as I'm a cheapskate I've used a self-signed certificate. This means that you get all a scary warning about invalid signatures when you first install. You should accept the certificate - after all, how many unsigned applications have you already blissfully installed from the web? ;-)

To install

• Click on this link. You should see Java Webstart open and start downloading the application. If it doesn't it is most likely that Java isn't properly installed on your machine, or you need to set your proxy configuration in the Java control panel.
  
  
• When the application has been downloaded you will see a dialog box saying "The application's digital signature is Invalid. Do you want to run the application?" Check the "Always trust content from this publisher" box and click on "Run" - if you don't click the checkbox you will be asked the same question each time you launch OziGeocacheUK.
  
  
• You will be asked if you would like to create a desktop shortcut for OziGeocacheUK. If you change your mind later you can add/delete the icon from the Java Webstart Control Panel (Start->Run, type "javaws").
  
  
• OziGeocacheUK should start. Go to File->Configuration and fill in the appropriate tabs, the important ones are the GeocacheUK tab, where you should enter your GeocacheUK account details and the OziExplorer tab, where you should enter the path to the OziExplorer executable.
  
  
• Make sure OziExplorer is running, click on Activate in OziGeocacheUK and OziGeocacheUK will then log in to GeocacheUK and start processing OziExplorer map clicks. To temporarily disable OziGeocacheUK, click on the Activate button again.

Notes

• If you are concerned about the security of your GeocacheUK account, don't select the "Save username/password" option in the configuration dialog - OziGeocacheUK saves the username and password in a text file under your user directory.
  
  
• If you want to find the OziExplorer icon number for your geocache waypoints the easiest way is to look in a saved OziExplorer waypoint file.

FAQ

I already have an application that uses the OziExplorer DLL. Will OziGeocacheUK overwrite it?

No, it's entirely self-contained.

Do I need to fiddle with my PATH or otherwise dork with Windows?

No.

My ISP makes me use a web proxy. Will OziGeocacheUK still work?

Yes. Go to File->Settings, click the Networking tab and enter the details of your proxy, or set the proxy settings in the Java Control Panel.

How do I update it when a new version comes out?

OziGeocacheUK uses Webstart for deployment, so every time you start the application it checks if you are online, and if so it then checks to see if a newer version of the application is available and installs it if necessary.

How do I uninstall it?

Run the Java Webstart Control Panel (Start->Run, type "javaws"), select "OziGeocacheUK" and then click on "Remove Selected Application".

Cool, does it work outside of the UK as well?

No, the data source used (GeocacheUK.com) only has data for UK geocaches.

How is this amazing feat of software engineering performed?

OziGeocacheUK uses the standard OziAPI DLL to access OziExplorer. That is wrapped with JNI (Java Native Interface) code and a Java library that allows you to access OziExplorer from Java. The GUI is a seperate component. All the code was developed in Netbeans.

I've got an idea for something similar. Any chance I could get a copy of the code?

Sure. The source of both the OziAPI library and the OziGeocacheUK application are available from the OziAPI SourceForge project page. The documentation for both the OziAPI library and the OziGeocacheUK application are also available.