BrickLink Discussion Forum

In Catalog, mfav writes:

Well, it could be done with only one field: plain, printed, stickered, moulded…
(I.e. allowing “plain” (nil/null/none/empty…) as a type of decoration.)

Maybe. Depends on the results you want to get. It might work in a flat sense
if you limit a part to having only one of those attributes. As an ENUM field,
it would not allow for a printed + stickered + molded part. As a SET field it
would allow for a plain, printed, stickered, molded part (which wouldn't
make sense).

It's a big complicated proposition which would require a big complicated
solution to be highly effective.

I prefer one nullable field to twin-fields (boolean field + non-nullable field)
but I’m no DB expert, so efficiency rules (speed-wise and size-wise, but also
readability, extensibility, “error-prone-ness”…) that apply to programs may not
apply to DBs.
Anyway that’s an argument which is only valid if you really insist on doing everything
(or a maximum) on the DB side, and it’s feeble because there’s always something
to be done outside the DB, like verifying what comes in and out of the DB, like
checking for non-sensical values, which should be done even if the DB already
does it.

Well, all that is moot: we’re not in a position to do anything or to propose
anything

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 10, 2018 14:23

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

36 times

Topic:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

[…]

It would be wonderful if there could be two check boxes for Decorated and Sticker.

Now, from a database perspective, this is where it starts to get complicated.
You need to first distinguish between Decorated and Not Decorated. That would
be one field. Then distinguish the type of decoration: sticker, printed, molded...that
would be a second field.

Well, it could be done with only one field: plain, printed, stickered, moulded…
(I.e. allowing “plain” (nil/null/none/empty…) as a type of decoration.)

However, that actually would require data and some real coding.

Yes. That's why I say a new database is needed. The current structure is
pretty long in the tooth.

At the moment problems that would be more elegantly solved by revising the database
are being kludged by attempting to incorporate all the various descriptive attributes
into the item Description/Name. While that may be successful to a degree, it
limits or eliminates the possibilities of providing checkboxes and whatnot to
refine a search.

Like alternate numbers which, unless it has changed or I misremember, are poorly
handled with a string field (thus limiting their number and complicating searches).

Anyway, all that could have been rendered painless if not at the design stage,
at least in a redesign, by abstracting and factoring the database access.

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 10, 2018 12:48

Subject:

Re: Baseplates not (easy) to find

Viewed:

45 times

Topic:

In Catalog, building4ever writes:

The Years Released data for parts and sets only refers to the year they were
FIRST released, not all the years they were produced and available in stores.

The old Death Star 10188 only has 2008 as its Year, even though it was produced
for many years after that.

Is that what you are asking?

Jen

Thank you, but I still find it confusing. Because the base plate 48x48 gray is
indicated as "Years Released: 1980 - 2016".

I would interpret this as a "final" production year (which is wrong), Similar
for 3811 (at least saying 1978-2018).

A precision: As Jennifer said, the years for the sets are the years the sets
were first released. But the years for the parts are the oldest and newest years
of the sets they appear in, they are automatically calculated.

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 8, 2018 15:29

Subject:

Re: Catalog: Strongly disagree 3830c0 deletion

Viewed:

57 times

Topic:

In Selling, StormChaser writes:

[…]
Until I get around to addressing this issue, part assemblies are kind of up
in the air.

This one seems more 6 ft under than up in the air.

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 8, 2018 14:52

Subject:

Re: Q about (Other) Minifigures Have Moved!

Viewed:

27 times

Topic:

In Catalog, randyf writes:

[…]
Turns out that I can see those X's and faded-yellow backgrounds because of
my Administrative privileges now. I really think those additions should be added
for everyone. I will see if I can bump this suggestion up the chain.

Perks of the position

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 8, 2018 11:46

Subject:

Re: Try that again

Viewed:

31 times

Topic:

In Catalog, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:

In Catalog, calsbricks writes:

29112pb01 Plant Venus Flytrap Half with Marbled Red Spikes Pattern
Parts: Plant

- Not swure thie is correct in the catalogue. In all 3 sets that
it comes in there is an

x71 Rubber Belt Small (Round Cross Section) - Approx. 2 x 2
Parts: Rubber Band & Belt

white rubber band which holds the two halves
together. The instructions show the rubber band being used in each case. Should
there be an inventory for the part?

As currently set up in the catalogue 29112pb01 is for 1 piece i.e. half of the
assembly

Maybe add a simple line in the picture to show it’s both sides of the same part
and not two parts.

and the band is just another separate part. For an assembly the inventory
would need to be 2 x 29112pb01 plus one band but typically assemblies like this
are not catalogued.

It would need a pin too

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 5, 2018 09:16

Subject:

Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 6445-1

Viewed:

18 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests

In Inventories Requests, Hygrotus writes:

[…]
oops, this shows how careful you must be, almost missed it

How there is in
sealed bag part with sticker applied?

Bags were reseald evidently.

Soon, there’ll be deepfakes videos of LEGO sealed sets opening

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 5, 2018 09:03

Subject:

Re: Inventory Change Request for Set 21309-1

Viewed:

16 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests

In Inventories Requests, Hygrotus writes:

In Inventories Requests, SylvainLS writes:

* Add 8 Part 44302a Dark Bluish Gray Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers on End with Bottom Groove (match ID 1)
* Change 8 Part Dark Bluish Gray 44302 Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers on End (undetermined type) {Regular to Alternate} {match ID 0 to 1}

In this situation when only undetermine was in inventory and no related alternate
we can get rid off this undetermine

You checked variant from sealed set content.
In this situation we simply change undetermine to confirmed variant.

The “no related alternate” part of the rule was a bit fuzzy in my mind (half-remembering
the 4599 Tap situation)

Everything will be approved and I will correct it manualy.

Thanks.

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 5, 2018 08:00

Subject:

Inventory Change Request for Set 21309-1

Viewed:

22 times

Topic:

Inventories Requests (Entry)

Status:

Open

Please make changes to the following inventory:

21309-1 (Inv) NASA Apollo Saturn V
1969 Parts, 2017
Sets: LEGO Ideas (CUUSOO): Space Exploration

* Add 8 Part 44302a Dark Bluish Gray Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers on End with Bottom Groove (match ID 1)
* Change {1 to 2} Part Light Bluish Gray 24246 Tile, Modified 1 x 1 Half Circle Extended (Stadium) with Groove (Extra)
* Change {2 to 4} Part Pearl Gold 85861 Plate, Round 1 x 1 with Open Stud (Extra)
* Change 8 Part Dark Bluish Gray 44302 Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 2 Fingers on End (undetermined type) {Regular to Alternate} {match ID 0 to 1}

Comments from Submitter:
Sealed set.

85861 appears in 4 bags, 24246 appears in 2 bags, each bag had one extra for them.

Author:

SylvainLS

Posted:

Nov 4, 2018 12:45

Subject:

Re: Inventories pending approval

Viewed:

17 times

Topic:

Inventories