Vin Database

[chris_skeeles@yahoo.com]

With all this talk about VIN -vs- YEAR I would like to expand on an
idea that Marc Schlemmer started on his website at
http://www.amphicar.net/amphi/vin.html by recording all of our VIN
numbers and other details in a online database.

Not sure if you have noticed, but groups.yahoo.com allows us group
members to build and share a database amoungst ourselves.

(NOTE: For those using escribe.com you will need to move to yahoo by
going here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amphicar-lovers/ its the
same messages but alot more)

Click on the Database link on the left-hand nav bar and you will see
the VIN database.

If all of us owners would just take a second to PLEASE input your
data into this form, it will make it alot easier on Marc and more
useful to us!

I started this database off with my car, who is next?

 

[Cap''n John]

> Click on the Database link on the left-hand nav bar and you will
see the VIN database.
>
> If all of us owners would just take a second to PLEASE input your
> data into this form, it will make it alot easier on Marc and more
> useful to us!
>
> I started this database off with my car, who is next?

Chris,

Good find there Chris!!

I hope you don't take any offense (as none is intended), but I took
the liberty of importing Marc's old database into a new one. I tried
to use yours, but it was formatted a little differently so it was
easier to create a new one. So we only need to change or add new
ones. It should make it quicker. Everybody will need to add thier
locations as it wasn't in Marc's.

As long as I have been on this list, I must admit I didn't notice the
database link over there <---- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amphicar-
lovers/database

John

 

[chris_skeeles@yahoo.com]

Certainly no offense. However I would like to see a COLOR and
LOCATION field, that is how I "improved" on the database a bit.

What can we do to add those to the existing records. ( I would
but obviously do not the the locals or colors of all those cars)



> Chris,
>
> Good find there Chris!!
>
> I hope you don't take any offense (as none is intended), but I took
> the liberty of importing Marc's old database into a new one. I
tried
> to use yours, but it was formatted a little differently so it was
> easier to create a new one. So we only need to change or add new
> ones. It should make it quicker. Everybody will need to add thier
> locations as it wasn't in Marc's.
>

 

[chris_skeeles@yahoo.com]

I got to thinking that a different approach may be in order here.

The year/vin cross reference is nice for sure, but I think what we
need here is a simple yet informative owners list.

I was about to create yet another database, but then I thought that
we should spend a few messages here talking with each other about
what everyone would like to see in this database.

(for those who have yet to look, you can find the amphicar-lovers
database on the left navbar at yahoo groups)

Here is the only limitation that will effect us:

- We are only able to have up to 10 fields.

So what we need to do is determine what 10 (if even that many) items
we would like to record about each owner. There are 5 for sure that I
would like to include, and that is:

VIN, COLOR, LOCATION, OWNER, CONTACT (EMAIL)

This database I feel would be most valuable to the group.

Not to de-value the previous collection by Marc, but when limited to
only 10 fields, we have to keep it simple.







--- In amphicar-lovers@y..., chris_skeeles@y... wrote:
>
>
> Certainly no offense. However I would like to see a COLOR and
> LOCATION field, that is how I "improved" on the database a bit.
>
> What can we do to add those to the existing records. ( I would
> but obviously do not the the locals or colors of all those cars)
>
>
>

 

[Cap''n John]

In the "Car color & Dash finish (Specify Color)" field, I allowed for
the color of the car and the dash color for those with black dashes.
The "location" info is in the field for the owners name. I think I
have all those covered. I am open to any suggestions though.

John

 

[Cap''n John]

> VIN, COLOR, LOCATION, OWNER, CONTACT (EMAIL)

OOPS! I forgot to add that contact info is already available in
the "Members" link below the "Database" link to the Left.

Eric,

You have dual bilge plugs? Just curious as to why. Was it that way
when you got the car or did you add the extra one?

John

 

[Marc Schlemmer]

John and Chris,
Actually, I think the database that you guys put together is great....but I
see some problems with it. Besides the fact that you essentially copied my
web page into your database without my permission, the result is far less
useful and user friendly than it was before.
For instance...the new database lacks the detailed description of each field
in the database. One could be confused by the title "Prop shields" and not
really know what that means or what a prop shield is. Remember, there are
in fact Amphicar owners who have never seen a car other than their own. The
"Definition" section on the original list clearly defines each field.
General browsing is another problem. The new list only displays 10 or so
items at a time. It is interesting to scan the entire list at once and
really see how the items change. Likewise, the fact that each person is to
type their own information in will most certainly result in inconsistencies
between entries, causing browsing to be difficult. In fact, everyone on the
list can edit any entry! If you take a look, according to VIN 101027, John
Bevins and his purple car now live in Berthoud, Michigan. It was a very
easy edit.
Sure, on the surface it seems like a good idea for people to enter their own
information into the database, but there are many people who aren't very
comfortable with the computer and Internet. A simple email to add their VIN
to the list is alot more likely to happen then a non-computer user figuring
out how to add a record to the database. Most of us who are active on the
Digest would of course have no problem....but others would.

Certainly this is just my opinion....and obviously anything on the Internet
is fair game to copy, so you're welcome to the list that I've put together
(since you already have it)....but I would never have taken someone's web
page and entered it into a database on another page.

Marc Schlemmer.

 

[Mike Echemann]

<table bgColor="#ffffff">
<font face="Arial" size="2">It is very important to keep a digest/list/vin info etc. on known Amphicars. These lists are usually (Always) kept by an organization (The Club), usually with one individual overseeing the information. Case in point is the back and forth emails being sent regarding this issue now.This should be done by the club to be relied upon and a central individual is the only way to go to eliminate confusion. He can be consistant, ask questions regarding information submitted etc. Anyone wishing to keep thier own information is free to do so but the official record of cars should and needs to be established by the Amphicar club and maintained there into the future. The more the list grows the more information the statistics can provide.</font>

<font face="Arial" size="2">Marc:</font>
<font face="Arial" size="2">Please keep the list going. It covers the information members want. It can always be moved, changed, rearranged etc. but please keep it in with the club on an ongoing basis. Individuals should not be adding their own information on any officially maintained list.</font>

<font face="Arial" size="2">Mike</font>

 

[Cap''n John]

Certainly this is just my opinion....and obviously anything on the
Internet
is fair game to copy, so you're welcome to the list that I've put
together
(since you already have it)....but I would never have taken someone's
web
page and entered it into a database on another page.

Marc,

I thought Chris had a great idea for those on this list to be able to
have the info right here in addition to your already good table.
Before I copied your info, I looked to see if there was any
indication on your site that you did not want it copied. There was
none.

I do not think that anything on the web is fair game to be copied. It
is only fair game if it is not stated otherwise as you will see on my
site (www.amphicar.net/minnow). I apologize profusely for offending
you, and I will delete it (purple car and all) by 4:00PM (MDT) unless
I hear otherwise from you.

If they are adept enough to get on this list (not many seem to be
adept enough to get off it though) and have a computer, I gave them
the benefit of the doubt that they could handle it. You can set the
edit permissions easily to avoid purple cars on Pluto. I set them
openly for ease of use.

John

 

[chris_skeeles@yahoo.com]

Marc,

I did not copy your web page, I created my own database using yahoo
and entered only my car. Capt-John did however import the data you
display on your website into another database. Personally, I see no
problem with it as it is my understanding that WE (fellow amphi-nuts)
share this data with each other without permissions etc.. (notice
there is a big dif between importing data, and straight up copying a
page and taking credit).

However I agree with your insight on how you see problems with the
database as it is laid out. That is why I suggested several messages
ago that we create our own database here on yahoo with an easier
layout.

Quite honestly it is neat to see who as 1/4 inch lips on the back of
their car, but not practical in this limited environment. The data I
am after is more basic.. Owner, VIN (or chassis), color, location
and contact. No one should have a problem answering these basic
questions.

As far as editing your list by simple email, I feel ours will be much
easier, more accurate and faster.

Example: I sent you an email last week about my cars spec to be added
to your list. You had yet to include it as of yesterday. (trust me
this is not a complaint). Its a good thing you did not update your
page because I have since learned that I do in fact have the 1/4 lip
when I told you I did not. Using this new database system, not only
can I update my own record by fixing my lip error, but it would be
done instantly.


So again, is anyone interested in starting a simple owners list here
at yahoo using basic fields like color, vin/chassis, location, owner
and contact?






--- In amphicar-lovers@y..., "Marc Schlemmer" <mschlem@a...> wrote:
> John and Chris,
> Actually, I think the database that you guys put together is
great....but I
> see some problems with it. Besides the fact that you essentially
copied my
> web page into your database without my permission, the result is
far less
> useful and user friendly than it was before.
> For instance...the new database lacks the detailed description of
each field
> in the database. One could be confused by the title "Prop shields"
and not
> really know what that means or what a prop shield is. Remember,
there are
> in fact Amphicar owners who have never seen a car other than their
own. The
> "Definition" section on the original list clearly defines each
field.
> General browsing is another problem. The new list only displays 10
or so
> items at a time. It is interesting to scan the entire list at once
and
> really see how the items change. Likewise, the fact that each
person is to
> type their own information in will most certainly result in
inconsistencies
> between entries, causing browsing to be difficult. In fact,
everyone on the
> list can edit any entry! If you take a look, according to VIN
101027, John
> Bevins and his purple car now live in Berthoud, Michigan. It was a
very
> easy edit.
> Sure, on the surface it seems like a good idea for people to enter
their own
> information into the database, but there are many people who aren't
very
> comfortable with the computer and Internet. A simple email to add
their VIN
> to the list is alot more likely to happen then a non-computer user
figuring
> out how to add a record to the database. Most of us who are active
on the
> Digest would of course have no problem....but others would.
>
> Certainly this is just my opinion....and obviously anything on the
Internet
> is fair game to copy, so you're welcome to the list that I've put
together
> (since you already have it)....but I would never have taken
someone's web
> page and entered it into a database on another page.
>
> Marc Schlemmer.

 

[Marc Schlemmer]

--- In amphicar-lovers@y..., chris_skeeles@y... wrote:

>
> Example: I sent you an email last week about my cars spec to be
added
> to your list. You had yet to include it as of yesterday. (trust me
> this is not a complaint). Its a good thing you did not update your
> page because I have since learned that I do in fact have the 1/4
lip
> when I told you I did not.


Actually, your info was added directly after receiving your first
email. You may have needed to hit the "refresh" button on your
browser to notice the update. If your info hadn't been added to the
list prior to yesterday, there would have been nothing for me to
correct! When I received your email yesterday notifying me there was
an error in the information you provided, I simply modified the entry
that was already there.

 

[Eric Mattlin]

Hugh tells me that the early cars had two bilge plugs. One in the
traditional spot the other directly under the oil pan. Dave left it
out one day or I wouldn't know it existed. I never get under there.
We though it might have be retrofitted by a previous owner until High
confirmed they existed from the factory.

--- In amphicar-lovers@y..., "Cap'n John" <minnow@a...> wrote:
> > VIN, COLOR, LOCATION, OWNER, CONTACT (EMAIL)
>
> OOPS! I forgot to add that contact info is already available in
> the "Members" link below the "Database" link to the Left.
>
> Eric,
>
> You have dual bilge plugs? Just curious as to why. Was it that way
> when you got the car or did you add the extra one?
>
> John

 

[Eric Mattlin]

I'd vote for keeping the database on Yahoo. Although anyone can edit
the data in theory it is difficult to believe that anyone would other
than to prove a point (like Marc) or as some kind of joke.

I may be alone on this but if I can enter my own data into a database
I'll do it. I'll also correct it as it occurs I've been in error.
On the other hand, if I need to send edits via email, It isn't worth
my time. Although I (and obviously others) have been aware of Marcs
data set I've never sent my info in as it was a hassle. Likewise I
like the idea of this kind of data being housed in a public forum
rather than on someone's personal webpage. If not Yahoo then
Amphicar.com.

> Marc,
>
> I did not copy your web page, I created my own database using yahoo
> and entered only my car. Capt-John did however import the data you
> display on your website into another database. Personally, I see no
> problem with it as it is my understanding that WE (fellow amphi-
nuts)

>
> Example: I sent you an email last week about my cars spec to be
added
> to your list. You had yet to include it as of yesterday. (trust me
> this is not a complaint). Its a good thing you did not update your
> page because I have since learned that I do in fact have the 1/4
lip
> when I told you I did not. Using this new database system, not
only
> can I update my own record by fixing my lip error, but it would be
> done instantly.
>
>
> So again, is anyone interested in starting a simple owners list
here
> at yahoo using basic fields like color, vin/chassis, location,
owner
> and contact?