Author Topic: Suggestion for an instrument data base (Read 131 times)

thebass · « **on:** June 04, 2003, 12:46:46 PM »

To Mica / admin,

it seems to me that at least 20-25% of the threads are instrument history requests. Wouldn't it make sense to generate an instrument data base which can be searched by typing in the serial# ? To protect privacy data it might just give the instrument data without the owners information. For further protection it may be limited to board members use.

Just a suggestion to save you some work, Mica.

And ... I would love to see a photo for each instrument file, and I guess I am not the only one ;-)

mica · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2003, 01:32:16 PM »

Well that would be really great, except the data is not in electronic format, it's actually in real-live file folders in actual metal filing cablinets.

We do have plans to put this information in a database, but that project keeps suffering from feature creep, we want the database to do everything, so I suspect it won't be anytime soon that you'll have a searchable index. The project is not so simple because of all the differing ways we construct and all the features available. But believe me, I think about the database project everyday, and it won't save me any work until it's done.

I now take pictures of just about everything we make, so they will be ready for the database.

Of course all owner informaion is completely private. The only thing we reveal about the history of ownership is the state/country the instrument lived in throughout its life.

I'm glad to get your suggestion as it will encourage me to complete the big project. Thanks!

thebass · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2003, 03:54:03 PM »

... and last but not least, if this database will have a user input mask I guess any Alembic club member is more than willing to help with pictures and datas from his/her Alembic treasures, won't we ?

Manfred · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2003, 05:06:15 PM »

Great Idea.
If you use drop down menus for model name, woods and everything, limited text length and these sort of things, like standard forms and limited picture size all records will look the same. That's pretty important to avoid the usual mess.
We are working on something like that at www.vocalisten.nl which is a site for singers adds, teachers etc. Sorry it's only in dutch at this moment. Try clicking on Index Vocalisten and than zangdocenten. Type in a zipcode in postcode (use 2321) and all teachers in that area will be listed. You can add everything you like, well in the near future that is. You can do the same with Alembic basses.

Manfred