{Classic Rendezvous} Re: [CR] WAS: Change in hosting CR list NOW: archives database

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:46:50 -0800 (PST)
Subject: {Classic Rendezvous} Re: [CR] WAS: Change in hosting CR list NOW: archives database
From: "Carlos Ovalle" <ovalle@charter.net>
To: Classic Rendezvous lightweight vintage bicycles <classic-rendezvous-lightweight-vintage-bicycles@googlegroups.com>
Mailing-list: list classic-rendezvous-lightweight-vintage-bicycles@googlegroups.com; contact classic-rendezvous-lightweight-vintage-bicycles+owners@googlegroups.com


Robert Shackelford wrote:

"Bottom line is, I think what has been placed in the archives up until the cutoff should be put in print form. It is essentially a book begging for hard print. Even the Library of Congress might want a copy."

Hilary Stone responded:

"It would very difficult to find anything if it was in pamphlet form - it would be much better as PDF document as it would then be easily searcheable..."

I am more or less in agreement with both Robert and Hilary. As the archives stand, assuming they continue to be hosted in the old digs indefinitely, one has to read through a lot of interesting but sometimes irrelevant and I might add copious information until the target is reached. My suggestion, brought up to Dale privately, is to take all the archives and compile them into a browser-friendly database a la VeloBase. To that effect I downloaded a group of messages, converted all to text, and started to develop a database based on FileMaker Pro software. It's an onerous task at every step of the way, but well worth it in my humble opinion.

Based on my simple test I've come to the conclusion, as if it hadn't been obvious, that this undertaking is far too much for one person. One way to tackle this Magnum Opus is to divide it into small bite- size chunks that each one of us could manage, therefore making this truly a joint effort.

Another way, perhaps in addition to volunteer work from each of us, is to throw money at the beast. Here is where we'd all have to pony up for a web-based database writer to do assemble the massive amounts of date provided by us. We could not simply dump the data into someone's lap unless we find a database writer that is also relatively knowledgeable about our hobby.

Disclaimer: I have assembled large databases in the past but that is not my expertise.

I will continue to do some research into this but all opinions are welcome.

Carlos Ovalle Long Beach, California, USA http://www.ovallearchitects.com

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