Cache attributes

A geocache may have attached a number of attributes, giving more information about the cache, the hiding, the recommendations, requirements, permissions, hazards, other helpful information related with the search.

This document describes the existing cache attributes across Opencaching sites.

IMPORTANT!!! Delpoyed on OKAPI and all opencaching-pl based sites as of 2019-12-18.

Attribute numbering rules

• all OC that have equivalent meaning to a GC attribute to use the same numeric ID; (while the meaning is equivalent, the exact wording of it's name need not be the same. examples are "bring your children / suitable for children / kids friendly / etc");
• all OC that have equivalent meaning to a negated GC attribute to use the same numeric ID added to 9000. (for example: "available 24/7" is ID 13. "NOT available 24/7" to be ID 9013.);
  • DE branch negated attributes use a separate flag and retain the ID without adding 9000.
• OC attirbutes that have equivalent meaning on both PL and DE branches and existing DE branch only attributes to retain their IDs in the range 100 - 199;
• all OC future and existing attributes that are PL branch specific to have numeric IDs in the range 200 - 299;
• all OC future attributes that are DE branch specific to have numeric IDs in the range 300 - 399;
• all OC special purpose attributes to have numeric IDs in the range 900 - 999;
• all OC that have the meaning of a negated OC attribute to use the same numeric ID on the least significant 2 digits, the third digit be the branch designator (according to applicability) and the fourth (most significant digit) be 9; (hypothetical generic example: "available during high tide" ID 241 - PL branch (UK), "NOT available during high tide" ID 9241 - PL branch)
• all attributes have assigned a unique ACODE (according to OKAPI).
• all "OC only" attributes have assigned a unique OCGS number according to the OCGS numbering rules. (for GPX export purposes by OKAPI and OCDE).

Attributes matrix

OC attributes mapping

Every OC installation has its own set of internal attributes.

Some attributes are common between OC sites; some attributes are common with GC; some attributes are OC only; some attributes are specific to only some OC sites but not all.

OKAPI provides a unified interface for information exchange with third party apps (eg. c:geo) using GC compatibility and OC extensions (GPX export function).

Opencaching-PL			Opencaching-DE					OKAPI
ID	text_short	text_long	id	gc_id	icon	name	gc_inc	ACODE	OCGS
Common attributes between OC and GC
9001	No dogs	Dogs not allowed						A85
2	Fee	Access or parking fee	36	2	fee	Access or parking fee	1	A26
3	Rappeling	Climbing gear requried	49	3	rappeling	Climbing gear	1	A53
4	Boat	Boat required	52	4	boat	Watercraft	1	A57
5	Scuba	Diving equipment required	51	5	scuba	Diving equipment	1	A55
6	Children	Suitable for children						A70
			59	6	kids	Suited for children	1	A71
9	Long hike	Long walk or hike	25	9	hiking	Long walk	1	A21
10	Climbing	Some climbing (no gear needed)	28	10	climbing	Some climbing (no gear needed)	1	A24
11	Wading	Swamp or marsh. May require wading	26	11	wading	Swamp, marsh or wading	1	A22
12	Swimming	Swimming required	29	12	swimming	Swimming required	1	A25
13	Available 24/7	Available 24/7	38	13	Available	Available 24 hours	1	A39
9013	NOT available 24/7	Available only during open hours	39	13	time	Only available at specified times	0	A40
								A73
14	Night	Recommended at night						A42
9014	Day	NOT recommended at night	40	14	day	By day only	0	A41
15	Winter	Available during winter	44	15	snow	Snow-proof hiding place	1	A47
9015	NOT in winter	NOT available during winter						A84
17	Poison plants	Poisonous plants	16	17	plants	Poisonous plants	1	A66
18	Dangerous animals	Dangerous animals	17	18	Animals	Dangerous animals	1	A67
19	Ticks	Ticks	14	19	ticks	Ticks	1	A64
20	Abandoned mine	Abandoned mine(s)	15	20	mine	Abandoned mines	1	A65
21	Cliff	Cliffs / falling rocks hazard	11	21	cliff	Cliff / Rocks	1	A61
22	Hunting	Hunting grounds	12	22	hunting	Hunting	1	A62
23	Danger	Dangerous area	9	23	danger	Dangerous area	1	A59
24	Wheelchair accessible	Wheelchair accessible	63	??	wheelchair	Handicap: Wheelchair	1	A18
25	Parking	Parking area nearby	18	25	parking	Parking area nearby	1	A33
26	Public transportation	Public transportation	19	26	public	Public transportation	1	A34
27	Drinking water	Drinking water nearby	20	27	water	Drinking water nearby	1	A35
28	Restrooms	Public restrooms nearby	21	28	restrooms	Public restrooms nearby	1	A36
29	Public phone	Public phone nearby	22	29	phone	Public phone nearby	1	A37
32	Bycicles	Bycicles allowed						A27
39	Thorns	Thorns	13	39	thorn	Thorns	1	A63
40	Stealth	Stealth required						A74
44	Flashlight	Flashlight required	48	44	flashlight	Flashlight	1	A52
46	Truck / RV	Truck / RV allowed						A86
47	Field puzzle	Puzzle can only be solved on-site	55	47	riddle	Puzzle / Mystery	1	A15
48	UV light	UV light required						A83
51	Special tool	Special tool / equipment required	46	51	tools	Special equipment	1	A56
52	Night cache	Night cache - can only be found at night	1	52	night	Only at night	1	A43
53	Car	Park and grab	24	53	car	Near the parking area	1	A19
54	Ruin	Abandoned structure / ruin						A82
60	Wireless beacon	Wireless beacon / Garmin Chirp™						A9
			60	62	calendar	Only available during specified seasons	1	A45
9062	All seasons	Available all seasons	42	62	date	All seasons	0	A44
64	Treeclimbing	Tree climbing required						A88
OC only attributes
Common attributes between OCPL and OCDE projects
106	OC ONLY	OPENCACHING only cache	6	106	oconly	Only loggable at Opencaching	1	A1	106
			7	107	wwwlink	Hyperlink to another caching portal only	1	?	?
108	Letterbox	Letterbox	8	108	letter	Letterbox (needs stamp)	1	A4	108
110	Train	Active railway nearby	10	110	train	Active railway nearby	1	A60	110
123	Firstaid	First aid available	23	123	firstaid	First aid available	1	A38	123
127	Steep	Hilly area	27	127	steep	Hilly area	1	A23	127
130	Interestsign	Point of interest	30	130	interestsign	Point of interest	1	A30	130
131	Moving	Moving target	31	131	moving	Moving target	1	A11	131
132	Webcam	Webcam	32	132	webcam	Webcam	1	A12	132
133	Indoor	Indoors, withing enclosed space (building, cave, etc)	33	133	indoor	Wihin enclosed rooms (caves, buildings etc.)	1	A31	133
134	Under water	Under water	34	134	submerged	In the water	1	A32	134
135	No GPS	No GPS required	35	135	nogps	Without GPS (letterboxes, cistes, compass juggling ...)	1	A58	135
137	Overnight	Overnight stay necessary	37	137	overnight	Overnight stay necessary	1	A69	137
142	Tide	Not available during high tide	41	142	tide	Not at high water level	1	A48	142
143	Nature	Nature preserve / Breeding season	43	143	naturschutz	Breeding season / protected nature	1	A46	143
147	Compass	Compass required	47	147	compass	Compass	1	A49	147
150	Cave	Cave equipment required	50	150	cave	Cave equipment	1	A54	150
153	Aircraft	Aircraft required	53	153	Aircraft	Aircraft	1	A75	153
154	Wiki	Internet research required	54	154	wiki	Investigation	1	A14	154
156	Math problem	Mathematical or logical problem	56	156	Arith_prob	Arithmetical problem	1	A16	156
157	Othercache	Other cache type	57	157	othercache	Other cache type	1	A13	157
158	Ask	Ask owner for start conditions	58	158	Ask	Ask owner for start conditions	1	A17	158
			61	161	safari	Safari Cache	1	A72	161
			62	162	blind-people	Handicap: Blind	1	?	?
OCPL only attributes
201	Quick and easy	Quick and easy cache						A68	201
202	GeoHotel	GeoHotel for trackables						A5	202
203	BYOP	Bring your own pen						A50	203
204	Magnetic	Attached using magnet(s)						A6	204
205	MP3	Information in MP3 file						A7	205
206	Offset cache	Container placed at an offset from given coordinates						A8	206
207	USB	Dead Drop USB container						A10	207
208	Benchmark	Benchmark - geodetic point						A2	208
209	Wherigo	Wherigo cartridge to play						A3	209
210	Nature	Hidden in natural surroundings						A28	210
211	Monument	Monument or historic site						A29	211
212	Shovel	Shovel required						A51	212
213	Walk	Access only by walk						A20	213
214	Handicaching	Rated on Handicaching.com						A76	214
215	Munzee	Contains a Munzee						A77	215
216	Ads	Contains advertising						A78	216
217	Military training area	Military training area, some access restrictions - check before visit						A79	217
218	Video surveillance	Caution, area under video surveillance						A80	218
219	Trackables	Suitable to hold trackables						A81	219
220	Historic	Officially designated historical monument						A87	220
Special purpose attributes
999	Password	Log password			Password	Log Password

Opencaching-PL implementation specific

All attributes are implemented as either ON or OFF; Inverse meaning is handled by a different attribute.

At this time attributes are defined in database (table cache_attrib). Each site has it's own attribute set, hence it's own contents for this table.

Each site must ensure the contents of this table follows the above numbering scheme.

Opencaching-DE implementation specific

Attributes are implemented with a unique internal ID, a separate public ID (same as GC ID where applicable; same as OCGS where applicable) and uses a flag to indicate normal (inc=1) / inverse (inc=0) meaning.

OKAPI implementation specific

OKAPI uses an internal mapping file attribute-definitions.xml.

OKAPI defines an internal ACODE to individually map attributes from each site and also to handle OC to GC equivalence.

OKAPI defines an additional pseudo-Groundspeak ID ("OCGS" IDs) for Opencaching attributes which have no Groundspeak equivalent, used to store such attributes in GPX <groundspeak:attribute> elements. "OCGS" IDs are unique and do not overlap with Groundspeak attribute IDs.

GC reference

Reference documented for establishing equivalences necessary for compatibility with third party apps using GPX file.

• Attribute has only YES = attribute that can be set or unset;
• Attribute has both YES and NO = attribute that can be set normally, set as it's inverse meaning or unset;

ID	YES	NO	IMAGE	NAME
1	YES	NO	dogs	Dogs
2	YES		fee	Access or parking fee
3	YES		rappelling	Climbing gear
4	YES		boat	Boat
5	YES		scuba	Scuba gear
6	YES	NO	kids	Recommended for kids
7	YES	NO	onehour	Takes less than an hour
8	YES	NO	scenic	Scenic view
9	YES	NO	hiking	Significant hike
10	YES	NO	climbing	Difficult climbing
11	YES		wading	May require wading
12	YES		swimming	May require swimming
13	YES	NO	available	Available at all times
14	YES	NO	night	Recommended at night
15	YES	NO	winter	Available during winter
17	YES	NO	poisonoak	Poison plants
18	YES		dangerousanimals	Dangerous Animals
19	YES		ticks	Ticks
20	YES		mine	Abandoned mines
21	YES		cliff	Cliff / falling rocks
22	YES		hunting	Hunting
23	YES		danger	Dangerous area
24	YES	NO	wheelchair	Wheelchair accessible
25	YES	NO	parking	Parking available
26	YES		public	Public transportation
27	YES	NO	water	Drinking water nearby
28	YES	NO	restrooms	Public restrooms nearby
29	YES	NO	phone	Telephone nearby
30	YES	NO	picnic	Picnic tables nearby
31	YES	NO	camping	Camping available
32	YES	NO	bicycles	Bicycles
33	YES	NO	motorcycles	Motorcycles
34	YES	NO	quads	Quads
35	YES	NO	jeeps	Off-road vehicles
36	YES	NO	snowmobiles	Snowmobiles
37	YES	NO	horses	Horses
38	YES	NO	campfires	Campfires
39	YES		thorn	Thorns
40	YES	NO	stealth	Stealth required
41	YES	NO	stroller	Stroller accessible
42	YES	**	firstaid	Needs maintenance
43	YES		cow	Watch for livestock
44	YES		flashlight	Flashlight required
45	YES	***	landf	Lost And Found Tour
46	YES	NO	rv	Truck Driver/RV
47	YES	NO	field_puzzle	Field Puzzle
48	YES		UV	UV Light Required
49	YES		snowshoes	Snowshoes
50	YES		skiis	Cross Country Skis
51	YES		s-tool	Special Tool Required
52	YES	NO	nightcache	Night Cache
53	YES	NO	parkngrab	Park and Grab
54	YES	NO	abandonedbuilding	Abandoned structure
55	YES	NO	hike_short	Short hike (less than 1km)
56	YES	NO	hike_med	Medium hike (1km-10km)
57	YES	NO	hike_long	Long hike (+10km)
58	YES	NO	fuel	Fuel Nearby
59	YES	NO	food	Food Nearby
60	YES		wirelessbeacon	Wireless Beacon
61	YES	***	partnership	Partnership cache
62	YES	NO	seasonal	Seasonal Access
63	YES	NO	touristOK	Tourist Friendly
64	YES	NO	treeclimbing	Tree Climbing
65	YES	NO	frontyard	Front Yard (Private Residence)
66	YES	NO	teamwork	Teamwork Required
67	YES	***	geotour	GeoTour

• Attributes according to Geocaching.com: https://www.geocaching.com/about/icons.aspx
• gcTour GreaseMonkey script: https://gist.github.com/DieBatzen/5814dc7368c1034470c8/
• also based on: https://forums.geocaching.com/GC/index.php?/topic/282652-groundspeak-gpx/&tab=comments#comment-4855718

Developers and site operators

All changes to attributes must follow the rules stated on this page.

Any attribute change must be implemented with the following considerations in mind:

• documentation here;
• implementation in the respective Opencaching branch(es), including GPX export module;
• implementation in OKAPI;
• notifying third party app developers of the change.

Creating a new attribute

1. Creating a new attribute must start with submitting an issue on the development page of the respective Opencaching branch(es), as a request for a new attribute.
2. All new attributes must follow the Attribute numbering rules above.
3. All new attributes must be properly documented here before implementation. That means inclusion in the Attributes matrix as well as their own descriptive page that will include a deplopyment date.
4. Developers will then implement the new attribute according to the Opencaching branch(es) involved and OKAPI attribute-definitions.xml.
5. Third party app developers to be informed of the change.

Adding an existing attribute

A certain Opencaching site may not have an existing attribute from the Attributes matrix.

1. Document the addition on the attribute's page.
2. Update OKAPI attribute-definitions.xml.
3. Deploy the attribute on the site in question according to the procedures for the Opencaching branch software used.
4. Third party app developers to be informed of the change.

Changing an attribute

Changing an existing attribute's ID must be well justified and follow a procedure similar to that of first removing an attribute then adding a new one.

Changing an existing attribute's meaning or purpose is not permitted.

The only change allowed is updating the attribute's descriptive text (including translations) to better convey it's meaning/purpose for reasons such as bad translation or poor word choice.

Removing an attribute

An attribute may be removed (from use), but not completely deleted, as it will be retained for backwards compatibility.
Exception: when changing the attribute ID according to the above procedure.

A removed attribute will be documented as strike-through text in the Attributes matrix and it's own page.

An attribute may be removed from one site, all sites of a branch or all branches.

1. Document the removal of the attribute in the Attributes matrix and attribute page including planned removal date.
2. Update OKAPI attribute-definitions.xml. by removing the relevant site(s). Note: OKAPI forbids the deletion of ACODES even if not mapped to any site, for backwards compatibility reasons.
3. Remove the attribute usage from the site(s) database according to the procedures for the Opencaching branch software used.
4. Create an issue on the development page of the respective Opencaching branch(es) to remove the attribute if applicable.
5. Developers will then implement the change.