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Post by The Hegemon on Dec 9, 2018 20:24:17 GMT
One of the goals of the inventory project has always been to create a searchable database with which users can see which sets include a certain part. At present, when someone posts a question along these lines, I can search my own database and come up with an answer, though it's limited to sets that I've inventoried so far.
Do any of my fellow blok zealots know of a good online host where I can maintain a database allowing such access? Ideally, it might even allow me to create on-demand inventory lists, rather than posting them permanently here.
No timeframe on this project. Heck, the inventory project itself has been going on for almost 6 years!
Any recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!
-The Hegemon
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Post by h1h0silver on Dec 10, 2018 23:38:01 GMT
I recommend Google Sheets, basically Excel (though not as nice). It's free and shareable/lockable. I use it for Halo MCC game achievements and for my alliance/group information in Marvel STRIKE Force (mobile game)
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Post by The Hegemon on Dec 11, 2018 4:01:41 GMT
Thanks for the tip!
Do you know if I'd be able to create a search page here on the forum that links to/interfaces with Google Sheets? That would be the ideal format, but because I'm a beggar, I can't really be too choosy!
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Post by h1h0silver on Dec 12, 2018 13:34:24 GMT
I am not exactly sure what you are asking. Example: Member searches here, results yield information from Google Sheet, then click link to sheet?
If that, then I don't know. You may be able to embed the sheet here, again not sure. I only have experience using it directly on Google via PC or Android App.
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Post by The Hegemon on Dec 15, 2018 5:50:26 GMT
You've summed up my wish list pretty nicely, in fact.
At present, of course, I post raw inventory lists that offer clickable links to certain parts. If I render a part that appeared in previous inventories, I have to go back and edit all of those posts to include a link to the new part.
What I'd like, ideally, is for the user here to be able to search for the inventory for, say, the old ProBuilder 9760. This would generate a spreadsheet, or even a basic webpage or post, that would load its links from an underlying database (or equivalent), so that if I add a part later, then it would appear automatically on subsequent searches.
Additionally, I'd love for someone to be able to click on part AM09033 and get a dump of all sets that include the 2 x 4 brick and in what colors.
I know that this is kind of a tall order to ask of an off-the-shelf database host, and I know that the best answer is probably for me to learn SQL.
Ultimately I'd like to offer something similar to Peeron, to maximize users' ability to call up info on demand, rather than paging through dozens and dozens of posts hoping to find what they're seeking.
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Post by h1h0silver on Dec 15, 2018 21:13:36 GMT
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Post by h1h0silver on Feb 9, 2019 0:36:45 GMT
Any progress on this?
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Post by The Hegemon on Feb 10, 2019 18:03:46 GMT
Well, sort of, a little.
I've been fiddling around with Google Sheets a bit, and it's useful but I haven't yet figured out exactly how to make it do what I want it to do. It also may require users to log into their Google account in order to use it, which isn't ideal for my purposes.
Still, it's a helpful starting point, and the project continues.
Meanwhile, I've reloaded a bunch of inventories that I saved from the previous forum, so at least they'll be available in static format here.
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Post by h1h0silver on Feb 13, 2019 18:31:08 GMT
I have come across a few people on Facebook that want to build a database like you have here. I tried to explain to them, that it is already done. Not completely up to date, but if more came here and provided the information of more recent sets then this would be the Go-To place. Kids are lazy these days. FB is just too convenient, I suppose. FB supposedly has a document/sheet system too. I have no knowledge of its use though.
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Post by The Hegemon on Feb 14, 2019 0:44:13 GMT
Perhaps my proudest ever blok-related moment came a few years ago when I called the (then) Mega Bloks customer service line to ask about an official list of colors.
The woman on the phone answered that there's no company-maintained list, but there's a website that they use for that information.
"Really?" I asked, thrilled. "What is it?"
"It's bloks.hyperboards.com," she offered helpfully.
I told her that I was the admin of that site, and she said that they use it all the time.
Don't know if that's still true (or even how true it was at the time), but it was quite a nice compliment IMO!
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Post by The Hegemon on Feb 14, 2019 0:46:34 GMT
I have come across a few people on Facebook that want to build a database like you have here. I tried to explain to them, that it is already done. Not completely up to date, but if more came here and provided the information of more recent sets then this would be the Go-To place. Kids are lazy these days. FB is just too convenient, I suppose. FB supposedly has a document/sheet system too. I have no knowledge of its use though. Also, forum member TKF maintains the Bricker informational website, which offers a lot of info that I don't track here, like original MSRP and images for (nearly) every set. Definitely worth a mention on FB if the opportunity arises. |
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