Redisplay Messages: Compact | Brief | All | Full Show Messages: All | Without Replies| Author: | mjah5  | | Posted: | Jun 20, 2020 16:32 | | Subject: | Re: Terminology - DB to organize my 100,000+ pcs | | Viewed: | 39 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, Soviet writes:
| | Interesting, I would love to see a photo of your "SIP wall". Maybe you should
look into buying boxes and instructions to fully complete the sets?
To answer your question, Category Element Part seems correct, but I think
that Part is already a Piece, by your nomenclature. I guess the proper BrickLink
way would be Category Item (for a certain item) and then maybe Piece for an
Item in specific color. Maybe you should also introduce "Mold" into the database,
because--as you probably know--some of the old items used to look quite
different.
But my most important point is: if you're adding all your pieces to a database,
why not add them to BrickLink inventory? Even better, you can try Rebrickable,
which will give you a lot of interesting options when looking into completing
sets.
|
Soviet, thank-you for the information and assistance. I will be sending you
a personal message with a picture of my SIPs and my many containers of unassigned
pieces.
The issue of mould differences and older pieces general is a concern. I try
to keep my SIPs period correct. I have separate containers for older pieces
where the PIP marks are on the side rather than in the middle of one of the studs
as is the case I do use BL to manage my SIPS. Currently I have 358 Wanted Lists,
one per SIP. I had considered using BL's Inventory feature to manage my
unassigned pieces, however, that is only available to Sellers members, not to
Buyers. Therefore, I'm using this project as a learning opportunity to develop
a DB with a web interface. Programming is my other passion.
Regards, Mark
|
 |
| Author: | SylvainLS | | Posted: | Jun 20, 2020 15:06 | | Subject: | Re: Terminology - DB to organize my 100,000+ pcs | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, mjah5 writes:
| | Hi all.
BACKGROUND: Let my start by saying that unlike my grandchildren, Marcus and
Soren, I am not a "Master Builder". I am a "Master Collector." My brick hobby
is to purchase long forgotten brick collections from parents of teen + former
brick fan that have been collecting dust in the basement or attic for years.
Once in my possession, I discard the fake pieces, wash the real ones then sort
them out looking for the special pieces that will tell me which sets the original
owner possessed.Then I try to re-assemble those sets.
PROBLEM: Currently, I have about 330 sets that I have identified as previously
owned. Those are my SIPs, "sets-in-progress." Each SIP has a container where
I store the parts that I've located. Together those 330 SIPs consist of
approximately 56,000 pieces. Of those, I have located about 23,000 pieces and
I am still looking for the other 23,000 pieces. I would guess my personal brick
collection consists of 100,000+ pieces that are not currently assigned to a SIP.
They are sorted and stored in other many other containers. When I need to locate
a piece for a SIP I look in about 5 "likely" containers then give up. Do I not
have the piece or is just in one of the many many "unlikely" containers?
SOLUTION: I'm building a MySQL Database to keep track of my collection.
Using BL's category system, there exist many bricks, slopes, arches etc.,
based more or less on shape. Within the sub-category bricks there are 1x1,
2x2, 2x4 etc., more or less based on size.
QUESTIONS: Q1;What are these sub-categories called? I would call them an ELEMENT.
is that correct? is there a better name for the sub-categories? Further, the
sub-categories such as 1x1 bricks of course come in many colours. Q2: What are
these sub-sub-categories called, or what are these ELEMENTs with a particular
colour called? I would call them a PART. Correct? Any other better name?
Q3; Lastly, if I hold in my hand, one blue 1x1 brick, what should that be called?
I would suggest that is a PIECE. Correct? Any better answer?
CATEGORY :: ELEMENT :: PART :: PIECE ??
|
First, that you have trouble finding names for your entities is a big clue they
are the wrong entities.
Vocabulary-wise, “element,” ”part” and “piece” are mostly the same thing.
LEGO uses “design” for the mould (and decor  ) and “element” for design + colour.
LEGO’s “DesignID” is the number most often used by BL, LDraw and others as a
“part ID” or “name” (the text explaining the part is then a “description”).
And LEGO’s “ElementID,” the 6-digit number that appears in their instructions,
is what BL calls a PCC / Part-Colour-Code.
So, you found out that BL’s categories are “more or less based on shape.” That
means they aren’t.
Then you thought about colours. “Everybody knows” you don’t sort LEGO by colour
 
Then you found that many pieces share the same shape and are distinguished by
their size. Not all are.
So, what are you trying to do with this? Are you are trying to categorize your
parts to fit them in containers?
Then what you found out is that parts have attributes: general shape, size, colour,
and you “more or less” ordered them: shape first, then colour, then size.
Okay, that’s some sort of sieve system to define containers.
But why do you need to put that in you DB?
You have a list of parts of one side, your inventory, and lists of parts on the
other side, the wanted parts for the sets.
How will the database be used? You need to know first if the exact part (ID
+ colour) is in your inventory and, second, where it’s stored if it is.
Where do this categorization of yours is used in the DB?
Nowhere that I see.
Or do you want to have an algorithm that takes a BL part (ID + description +
colour) and turns out a container number?
But does it have to be in the DB? Not that I see.
So I don’t see a need to complicate your DB. You just need to have four main
tables: parts (BL id + description), colours, inventories (list of parts in a
given colour and in a given quantity), and containers (association between a
location and parts).
Besides, you’ll quickly find all “shapes” don’t divise regularly (or at all)
into “colours” or “sizes” (most of the heads are yellow; slopes first divise
by angle, not size; Technic connectors don’t come in many colours nor sizes; etc.).
Especially if you use BL categories as “shapes.”
On this note, here’s a rough categorization that some sellers (who sort many
parts) use as a first sieve:
Bricks & Arches
Brick Modified & Round
Plate
Plate Modified & Round
Slope
Technic
Tile & Panel
Minifig
Other
They are about the same size in a “standard” collection. This might help you
devise your containers’ organization.
|
|
| Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Jun 20, 2020 14:26 | | Subject: | Re: Terminology - DB to organize my 100,000+ pcs | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| | | QUESTIONS: Q1;What are these sub-categories called? I would call them an ELEMENT.
is that correct? is there a better name for the sub-categories? Further, the
sub-categories such as 1x1 bricks of course come in many colours. Q2: What are
these sub-sub-categories called, or what are these ELEMENTs with a particular
colour called? I would call them a PART. Correct? Any other better name?
Q3; Lastly, if I hold in my hand, one blue 1x1 brick, what should that be called?
I would suggest that is a PIECE. Correct? Any better answer?
CATEGORY :: ELEMENT :: PART :: PIECE ??
|
It is the other way around. A 1x1 brick is a part. A 1x1 brick in blue is an
element. A single piece in your hand can be called piece or part or element,
whatever you want really.
|
|
| Author: | Soviet | | Posted: | Jun 20, 2020 14:09 | | Subject: | Re: Terminology - DB to organize my 100,000+ pcs | | Viewed: | 49 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| Interesting, I would love to see a photo of your "SIP wall". Maybe you should
look into buying boxes and instructions to fully complete the sets?
To answer your question, Category Element Part seems correct, but I think
that Part is already a Piece, by your nomenclature. I guess the proper BrickLink
way would be Category Item (for a certain item) and then maybe Piece for an
Item in specific color. Maybe you should also introduce "Mold" into the database,
because--as you probably know--some of the old items used to look quite
different.
But my most important point is: if you're adding all your pieces to a database,
why not add them to BrickLink inventory? Even better, you can try Rebrickable,
which will give you a lot of interesting options when looking into completing
sets.
In Catalog, mjah5 writes:
| | Hi all.
BACKGROUND: Let my start by saying that unlike my grandchildren, Marcus and
Soren, I am not a "Master Builder". I am a "Master Collector." My brick hobby
is to purchase long forgotten brick collections from parents of teen + former
brick fan that have been collecting dust in the basement or attic for years.
Once in my possession, I discard the fake pieces, wash the real ones then sort
them out looking for the special pieces that will tell me which sets the original
owner possessed.Then I try to re-assemble those sets.
PROBLEM: Currently, I have about 330 sets that I have identified as previously
owned. Those are my SIPs, "sets-in-progress." Each SIP has a container where
I store the parts that I've located. Together those 330 SIPs consist of
approximately 56,000 pieces. Of those, I have located about 23,000 pieces and
I am still looking for the other 23,000 pieces. I would guess my personal brick
collection consists of 100,000+ pieces that are not currently assigned to a SIP.
They are sorted and stored in other many other containers. When I need to locate
a piece for a SIP I look in about 5 "likely" containers then give up. Do I not
have the piece or is just in one of the many many "unlikely" containers?
SOLUTION: I'm building a MySQL Database to keep track of my collection.
Using BL's category system, there exist many bricks, slopes, arches etc.,
based more or less on shape. Within the sub-category bricks there are 1x1,
2x2, 2x4 etc., more or less based on size.
QUESTIONS: Q1;What are these sub-categories called? I would call them an ELEMENT.
is that correct? is there a better name for the sub-categories? Further, the
sub-categories such as 1x1 bricks of course come in many colours. Q2: What are
these sub-sub-categories called, or what are these ELEMENTs with a particular
colour called? I would call them a PART. Correct? Any other better name?
Q3; Lastly, if I hold in my hand, one blue 1x1 brick, what should that be called?
I would suggest that is a PIECE. Correct? Any better answer?
CATEGORY :: ELEMENT :: PART :: PIECE ??
|
|
|
| Author: | mjah5 | | Posted: | Jun 20, 2020 13:26 | | Subject: | Terminology - DB to organize my 100,000+ pcs | | Viewed: | 175 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Hi all.
BACKGROUND: Let my start by saying that unlike my grandchildren, Marcus and
Soren, I am not a "Master Builder". I am a "Master Collector." My brick hobby
is to purchase long forgotten brick collections from parents of teen + former
brick fan that have been collecting dust in the basement or attic for years.
Once in my possession, I discard the fake pieces, wash the real ones then sort
them out looking for the special pieces that will tell me which sets the original
owner possessed.Then I try to re-assemble those sets.
PROBLEM: Currently, I have about 330 sets that I have identified as previously
owned. Those are my SIPs, "sets-in-progress." Each SIP has a container where
I store the parts that I've located. Together those 330 SIPs consist of
approximately 56,000 pieces. Of those, I have located about 23,000 pieces and
I am still looking for the other 23,000 pieces. I would guess my personal brick
collection consists of 100,000+ pieces that are not currently assigned to a SIP.
They are sorted and stored in other many other containers. When I need to locate
a piece for a SIP I look in about 5 "likely" containers then give up. Do I not
have the piece or is just in one of the many many "unlikely" containers?
SOLUTION: I'm building a MySQL Database to keep track of my collection.
Using BL's category system, there exist many bricks, slopes, arches etc.,
based more or less on shape. Within the sub-category bricks there are 1x1,
2x2, 2x4 etc., more or less based on size.
QUESTIONS: Q1;What are these sub-categories called? I would call them an ELEMENT.
is that correct? is there a better name for the sub-categories? Further, the
sub-categories such as 1x1 bricks of course come in many colours. Q2: What are
these sub-sub-categories called, or what are these ELEMENTs with a particular
colour called? I would call them a PART. Correct? Any other better name?
Q3; Lastly, if I hold in my hand, one blue 1x1 brick, what should that be called?
I would suggest that is a PIECE. Correct? Any better answer?
CATEGORY :: ELEMENT :: PART :: PIECE ??
|
|
| Author: | primadeluxe | | Posted: | Jun 19, 2020 14:26 | | Subject: | Re: part 2494pb08 variants | | Viewed: | 26 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| Nice catch! Ask for a note and submit your image to show the differences.
In Catalog, crepundi writes:
| | I noticed there are two versions of the 1 x 4 x 5 glass with 9 stripes,
one has more wider and the other one more narrow stripes.
Looking at the sticker sheets of the two sets this part comes from I believe
the narrow one is from set 6386 and the wider from set 6540
Maybe there should be a remark about this.
Besides: how can I show a sticker sheet in a message?
Gisela
|
|
|
| Author: | SylvainLS | | Posted: | Jun 19, 2020 14:18 | | Subject: | Re: part 2494pb08 variants | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, crepundi writes:
| | I noticed there are two versions of the 1 x 4 x 5 glass with 9 stripes,
one has more wider and the other one more narrow stripes.
Looking at the sticker sheets of the two sets this part comes from I believe
the narrow one is from set 6386 and the wider from set 6540
Maybe there should be a remark about this.
Besides: how can I show a sticker sheet in a message?
|
Stickers are parts.
|
|
| Author: | crepundi | | Posted: | Jun 19, 2020 14:06 | | Subject: | part 2494pb08 variants | | Viewed: | 67 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| I noticed there are two versions of the 1 x 4 x 5 glass with 9 stripes,
one has more wider and the other one more narrow stripes.
Looking at the sticker sheets of the two sets this part comes from I believe
the narrow one is from set 6386 and the wider from set 6540
Maybe there should be a remark about this.
Besides: how can I show a sticker sheet in a message?
Gisela
|
|
|
| Author: | lego.12vtrains | | Posted: | Jun 19, 2020 06:51 | | Subject: | Re: Train wheels | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| | Thanks for reporting this and for the hint. |
| Author: | StormChaser | | Posted: | Jun 19, 2020 00:48 | | Subject: | Re: Train wheels | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, lego.12vtrains writes:
| | Hi StormChaser,
from your words I suspect these guidelines will become more and more restrictive, and this fact scares me enough
|
The actual catalog guidelines page will be opened for public comment and subsequent
modification before being implemented. So watch for that and take the opportunity
to provide feedback on anything you find objectionable or frightening.
|
|
| Author: | lego.12vtrains | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 16:27 | | Subject: | Re: Train wheels | | Viewed: | 54 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| Hi StormChaser,
thanks for taking part in the discussion and for explaining us the reasons of
this rejection, I perfectly understand that first of all you Admins want to get
your guidelines figured out before taking some decisions, but from your words
I suspect these guidelines will become more and more restrictive, and this fact
scares me enough: how could more restrictive guidelines help the catalogue to
become more precise and accurate?
|
|
| Author: | primadeluxe | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 16:00 | | Subject: | Re: Mold markings Duplo bed #4895 versus #76338 | | Viewed: | 25 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| It is a nice catch! You should ask for a note at catalog requests and submit
a image with the difference. Cheers!
In Catalog, bricksahead writes:
| | Part #76338 is considered an alternate item id for part #4895. I noticed that
Duplo bed, part #4895 has a mold marking in the center of the bed while Duplo
bed, part #76338 has a mold marking inside a bottom tube.
Is this something that should be added to the catalog?
I checked 17 beds, part #76388, and they all have mold markings inside a bottom
tube, and 7 beds, part #4895 that all have mold marking on top of the bed (in
the center).
|
|
|
| Author: | bricksahead | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 15:12 | | Subject: | Mold markings Duplo bed #4895 versus #76338 | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Part #76338 is considered an alternate item id for part #4895. I noticed that
Duplo bed, part #4895 has a mold marking in the center of the bed while Duplo
bed, part #76338 has a mold marking inside a bottom tube.
Is this something that should be added to the catalog?
I checked 17 beds, part #76388, and they all have mold markings inside a bottom
tube, and 7 beds, part #4895 that all have mold marking on top of the bed (in
the center).
|
|
| Author: | legohed | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 14:22 | | Subject: | Re: Retirement Date List | | Viewed: | 37 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, yorbrick writes:
| | In Catalog, legohed writes:
| | Hi all,
New member here...
I'm interested to know if there is a list anywhere of the sets with their
retirement date.
I see the 'year released' on all the item pages, but nothing on retirement.
If anyone can help I'd be most grateful
Thanks!
|
Do you mean already retired sets? If so, look on brickset, they have data the
sets were available direct from LEGO so about as close to a retirement date as
you can get.
For future retirements, there are only guesses.
|
Thank you!
|
|
| Author: | yorbrick | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 12:28 | | Subject: | Re: Retirement Date List | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, legohed writes:
| | Hi all,
New member here...
I'm interested to know if there is a list anywhere of the sets with their
retirement date.
I see the 'year released' on all the item pages, but nothing on retirement.
If anyone can help I'd be most grateful
Thanks!
|
Do you mean already retired sets? If so, look on brickset, they have data the
sets were available direct from LEGO so about as close to a retirement date as
you can get.
For future retirements, there are only guesses.
|
|
| Author: | legohed | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 12:24 | | Subject: | Retirement Date List | | Viewed: | 106 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Hi all,
New member here...
I'm interested to know if there is a list anywhere of the sets with their
retirement date.
I see the 'year released' on all the item pages, but nothing on retirement.
If anyone can help I'd be most grateful
Thanks!
|
|
| Author: | normann1974 | | Posted: | Jun 18, 2020 06:30 | | Subject: | Re: Hinge brick assemblies with 2x2 top? | | Viewed: | 65 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| | | As far as I know they are not assemblies because they came separate in the sets.
I have separated hundreds/thousands without causing any damage.
|
I believe that assemblies are not only made for pre-assembled parts in sets.
Example:
* | | 2878c02 (Inv) Train Wheel RC, Holder with 2 Black Train Wheel RC Train and Chrome Silver Train Wheel RC Train, Metal Axle (2878 / 57878 / x1687)
Parts: Wheel |
This part is even easier to disassemble than the hinges, and have no risk of
inducing stress marks.
/Jan
|
|
| Author: | Stellar | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 18:07 | | Subject: | Re: Pickable Models and In-Store Builds | | Viewed: | 35 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | Behold what we approved today
|
Sorry, looks like we had a bit of a technological hiccup with these changes.
We're sorting it out. 
|
ohhh hope to see them again soon
|
| Author: | StormChaser | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 16:01 | | Subject: | Re: Pickable Models and In-Store Builds | | Viewed: | 58 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | Behold what we approved today
|
Sorry, looks like we had a bit of a technological hiccup with these changes.
We're sorting it out.
|
|
| Author: | edk | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 15:53 | | Subject: | Re: Hinge brick assemblies with 2x2 top? | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, normann1974 writes:
| | Hello
I was about to sell a lot of assemblies of and and found out
that no such assemblies exist in the catalog like they do for the 3939c* assemblies
with tops. So if I want to sell them on BL, I have to disassemble them
and I have found that to be very difficult. In many cases, it leaves stressmarks
on the small hooks on the bases, and then I need to discard them.
So, is there any project planned to make assemblies for these? They come in two
flavors depending on whether the top turns upwards or downwards, so the amount
of parts needed would approx. be doubled compared to the 3937c* assemblies. But
IMHO, it would really help sellers.
/Jan
|
As far as I know they are not assemblies because they came separate in the sets.
I have separated hundreds/thousands without causing any damage.
|
|
| Author: | normann1974 | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 15:44 | | Subject: | Hinge brick assemblies with 2x2 top? | | Viewed: | 95 times | | Topic: | Catalog | | Status: | Open | |
|
| Hello
I was about to sell a lot of assemblies of and and found out
that no such assemblies exist in the catalog like they do for the 3939c* assemblies
with tops. So if I want to sell them on BL, I have to disassemble them
and I have found that to be very difficult. In many cases, it leaves stressmarks
on the small hooks on the bases, and then I need to discard them.
So, is there any project planned to make assemblies for these? They come in two
flavors depending on whether the top turns upwards or downwards, so the amount
of parts needed would approx. be doubled compared to the 3937c* assemblies. But
IMHO, it would really help sellers.
/Jan
|
|
| Author: | Rick_S. | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 13:43 | | Subject: | Re: Pickable Models and In-Store Builds | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | In Catalog, bje writes:
| | Can I resubmit my pickable models from 2012 or are you just going to change
the instruction entries to sets?
|
It doesn't appear to cause any problems to change instructions to
sets, so for existing instructions this is probably what will occur - except
possibly in cases where there are large numbers of items for sale.
Here's one changed:
|
I tried listing those instructions when I listed the sticker sheet for the set
and it got denied, guess rules changed?
|
|
| Author: | Proprietor | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 13:15 | | Subject: | Re: Pickable Models and In-Store Builds | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| Add this one please!
[g=3850011]
A lot of the listings are already for the set and not the instructions.
In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
Thanks!
| | | | Can I resubmit my pickable models from 2012 or are you just going to change
the instruction entries to sets?
|
It doesn't appear to cause any problems to change instructions to
sets, so for existing instructions this is probably what will occur - except
possibly in cases where there are large numbers of items for sale.
Here's one changed:
|
|
|
| Author: | StormChaser | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 13:10 | | Subject: | Re: Pickable Models and In-Store Builds | | Viewed: | 44 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| In Catalog, bje writes:
| | Can I resubmit my pickable models from 2012 or are you just going to change
the instruction entries to sets?
|
It doesn't appear to cause any problems to change instructions to
sets, so for existing instructions this is probably what will occur - except
possibly in cases where there are large numbers of items for sale.
Here's one changed:
|
|
| Author: | starbeanie | | Posted: | Jun 17, 2020 13:09 | | Subject: | Re: Pickable Models and In-Store Builds | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Catalog | |
|
| I just submitted the set image for it.
In Catalog, bje writes:
| | In Catalog, StormChaser writes:
| | Looks like things are changing around here. Behold what we approved today:
|
Whoot! Can I resubmit my pickable models from 2012 or are you just going to change
the instruction entries to sets?
|
|
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