BrickLink Discussion Forum

60592c01 (Inv) Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat Front with Trans-Clear Glass (60592 / 60601)
Parts: Window

60592c02 (Inv) Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat Front with Trans-Light Blue Glass (60592 / 60601)
Parts: Window

60592c03 (Inv) Window 1 x 2 x 2 Flat Front with Trans-Brown Glass (60592 / 60601)
Parts: Window

Author:

brox999

Posted:

Nov 13, 2018 21:18

Subject:

60592c01 - whos idea was this?

Viewed:

228 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Going back to discussion on alternate parts and the stupid decision to remove
the 3930c01 hing brick assembly from catalog we have above part, the glass fits
four seperate window frames so does that mean each one of those will have multiple
variants for glass colour.

Needs some consistency, the hinge brick parts are available seperately but are
usually in sets in the same colour, hence the assembly as a standard catalog
item. Glass on window frame is not required and will generate lots of unneeded
extra parts for catalog

Author:

WhiteVanMan

Posted:

Nov 13, 2018 16:29

Subject:

Re: Question about the Malevolence

Viewed:

45 times

Topic:

In Catalog, tiggrlee writes:

OK … I forgot … is there a BL number to the Malevolence custom model? This model
is an alternative build using parts from sets 7748, 7749, 8016, 8017, 8019, 8036,
8037, 8038 and 8039. I had it built for years … but now broken down. If there
is a BL number … I can double check the inventory. Thanks … LEE

Like you said in your post, it's a CUSTOM model.

BrickLink doesn't recognise custom SW Models, so there will be no set number.

Sorry....

Paul

Author:

tiggrlee

Posted:

Nov 13, 2018 15:55

Subject:

Question about the Malevolence

Viewed:

140 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Nov 13, 2018 05:03

Subject:

Re: Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

30 times

Topic:

Jere below is a copy and paste of my ideas from another related post.
I also had done a request years ago regarding Biba Fett’s legs but they were
not accepted.
I still believe a catalog cannot be complete if such important parts are not
seen as useable and saleable.

Copy from me from another recent post.
I believe I read in this large forumpost and another one that decorated legs
and hips will not be in the catalog.

I think this is a shame and a shortcoming in the catalog.

A lot of us buy second hand minifigures etc.
All parts can be broken, scratched, have hairline cracks and legs are quite often
nibbled on and have bitemarks.

I think it would be silly to buy the whole assembly while for a fraction of the
price you might want to buy a left or right leg or a hip.

Not only would it be cheaper but this is also a chance to NOT throw away parts
that cannot be sold in a standard way, a way that a buyer can find.
If they are for sale a seller must use unfindable methods and they will probably
remain it store for decades.
A wast of time, effort, money and plastic.

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

I have this set of hips from Patrick, without the legs:

970c90pb02 Hips and Light Nougat Legs with Purple Flowers on Lime Shorts Pattern (SpongeBob SquarePants Patrick)
Parts: Minifigure, Legs, Decorated

But it shows no inventory for that assembly to split up the legs from the hips.

As far as I can see in the catalog, only solid color hips and legs are sold separately.
Am I missing something? Can the decorated hips and legs be sold separately?

Thanks,

Lisa

Author:

tonnic

Posted:

Nov 13, 2018 04:57

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

30 times

Topic:

I believe I read in this large forumpost and another one that decorated legs
and hips will not be in the catalog.

I think this is a shame and a shortcoming in the catalog.

A lot of us buy second hand minifigures etc.
All parts can be broken, scratched, have hairline cracks and legs are quite often
nibbled on and have bitemarks.

I think it would be silly to buy the whole assembly while for a fraction of the
price you might want to buy a left or right leg or a hip.

Not only would it be cheaper but this is also a chance to NOT throw away parts
that cannot be sold in a standard way, a way that a buyer can find.
If they are for sale a seller must use unfindable methods and they will probably
remain it store for decades.
A wast of time, effort, money and plastic.

Author:

yorbrick

Posted:

Nov 13, 2018 04:36

Subject:

Re: Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

30 times

Topic:

In Catalog, axaday writes:

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

In Catalog, yorbrick writes:

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

I have this set of hips from Patrick, without the legs:

970c90pb02 Hips and Light Nougat Legs with Purple Flowers on Lime Shorts Pattern (SpongeBob SquarePants Patrick)
Parts: Minifigure, Legs, Decorated

No.

Drats! So I guess I would have to list these hips (and any other decorated legs
or hips I find) as a custom item?

Lisa

You could list it as the complete assembly, mark it used, and say in the comments
that the legs are missing.

The problem with that is messing up the price guide. Like listing a torso assembly
and head as a minifigure, saying it is missing the legs, helmet and cape.

Author:

mhortar

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 18:20

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

46 times

Topic:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

I understand completely all the things you say. The one thing the vol admins
can control is the description. And that is why, in absence of the ability to
change anything else, comprehensive, consistent, and thorough labeling conventions
applied uniformly across the catalog will improve the search results.

The downside of that are these descriptions that run on for two hundred words,
can be redundant and otherwise clumsy and/or inelegant.

If nobody wants to be bothered implementing some of my suggestions, I’m fine
with it.

If you want to label the backhead printed items as such, even if there is no
benefit to that, I’m fine with it.

Some suggestions that have been presented, all with honorable intentions, can’t
be implemented. I get that.

So where does any of this discussion get us? Kind of seems like, ultimately,
things are just getting rearranged for the sake of rearranging them. It seems
like all that’s getting done is constantly patching holes in the tires where
it would make more sense to remove the damned nails from the driveway.

This is, at least in part, one great exercise in futility, is it not?

As I come to this conclusion, I wonder why I have bothered. I guess I thought
my experience might be helpful. But maybe it just doesn't matter.

I kind of feel the same way you do. To me, the most important part of BrickLink
is the catalog. It's not the part that directly makes money though, so I
can see why it's less important to the powers that be. Doesn't make it
any more disheartening to hear though.

Josh

Author:

mfav

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 18:04

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

37 times

Topic:

Author:

randyf

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 16:07

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

Whatever decision you make regarding this issue, please document the naming convention
so when folks come along to add new heads there is a clear procedure and language
to follow.

It is not my decision to make. I am not a Catalog Admin. All I can do is offer
additional guidance to those that are. The current method has worked pretty well
so far, since the Catalog Admins make sure the naming conventions are followed
on new parts added to the catalog even if the users themselves do not know anything
about it. I don't have any reason to believe that that would change going
forward. As it is, the entire catalog is pretty amazing considering that it was
only looked after by two people for the last 9 years or so. I for one appreciate
all they have done over the years and respect them immensely for that.

Cheers,
Randy

Author:

randyf

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 15:56

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

42 times

Topic:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

...and because I can't leave well enough alone...

You get different search results if you type in the top-of-the-page search box
versus if you use the search page and use a just the popups or a combination
of things there...or elsewhere...

using the search box with tile 1x6 -sticker
yields different results than using the popup category tile and stick 1x6 -sticker
in the keyword box.

All the search boxes look the same, but they don't operate the same. The
search box at the top of the page gives different results compared to the search
box on the catalog search page.

All my ranting is about wanting a uniform set of results regardless of which
search mechanism is used. I know I haven't stated that as such, but that
is what I'd expect from a search mechanism. Trying to remember which box
works which way where is painful.

All of your concerns are valid, but this whole thread is about things that the
Catalog Admins can accomplish on their own to solve some issues that do not require
programming or needing to access the back end. As volunteer admins, all they
can do is ask for some things to get changed, but they have no control over what
will be taken seriously and what won't.

Since I have become an Inventory Admin, I have been personally informed from
higher up that most of our concerns here are currently not in line with the concerns
of site management. Those who own the site have a different focus and a different
path. Their focus is on additions to BrickLink that hopefully add growth to the
marketplace. They are not concerned much, if at all, with fixing what is broken
or inconsistent on the current incarnation of BrickLink, since it pretty much
does what it needs to do. Occasionally, when people make enough fuss about something
(like I did about getting the wanted list fixed to allow myself and others to
correctly set things to average prices), they get it fixed...eventually. But
this is very rare these days.

Unfortunately, this is the environment we live and work in. Big changes are almost
certainly not going to happen, especially from the database end. The best thing
to do right now is move one and leave this stuff on the Catalog Roadmap as a
topic for later discussion.

Cheers,
Randy

Author:

mfav

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 13:16

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

35 times

Topic:

Author:

axaday

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 12:11

Subject:

Re: Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

48 times

Topic:

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

In Catalog, yorbrick writes:

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

I have this set of hips from Patrick, without the legs:

970c90pb02 Hips and Light Nougat Legs with Purple Flowers on Lime Shorts Pattern (SpongeBob SquarePants Patrick)
Parts: Minifigure, Legs, Decorated

No.

Drats! So I guess I would have to list these hips (and any other decorated legs
or hips I find) as a custom item?

Lisa

You could list it as the complete assembly, mark it used, and say in the comments
that the legs are missing.

Author:

mfav

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 11:59

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

In Catalog, jennnifer writes:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

I admit that I do not really understand where you are coming from with these
last few posts discussing my little afterthought suggestion.

Search
slope, decorated -pattern

Search slope -sticker

I don't in any way mean to belittle you or your desire for additional functionality.
But I can't see how those searches accomplish anything. That's all.

Author:

Mistress_Lisa

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 11:57

Subject:

Re: Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

43 times

Topic:

In Catalog, yorbrick writes:

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

I have this set of hips from Patrick, without the legs:

970c90pb02 Hips and Light Nougat Legs with Purple Flowers on Lime Shorts Pattern (SpongeBob SquarePants Patrick)
Parts: Minifigure, Legs, Decorated

No.

Drats! So I guess I would have to list these hips (and any other decorated legs
or hips I find) as a custom item?

Lisa

Author:

yorbrick

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 11:57

Subject:

Re: Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

36 times

Topic:

See also one of the proposals here (now decided against):

https://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=1114495

Author:

yorbrick

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 11:55

Subject:

Re: Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

40 times

Topic:

In Catalog, Mistress_Lisa writes:

I have this set of hips from Patrick, without the legs:

970c90pb02 Hips and Light Nougat Legs with Purple Flowers on Lime Shorts Pattern (SpongeBob SquarePants Patrick)
Parts: Minifigure, Legs, Decorated

No.

Author:

Mistress_Lisa

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 11:35

Subject:

Can decorated hips be sold separately?

Viewed:

85 times

Topic:

Status:

Open

I have this set of hips from Patrick, without the legs:

970c90pb02 Hips and Light Nougat Legs with Purple Flowers on Lime Shorts Pattern (SpongeBob SquarePants Patrick)
Parts: Minifigure, Legs, Decorated

Author:

mfav

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 10:21

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

34 times

Topic:

In Catalog, randyf writes:

One person's "spinning wheels" is another's "thinking things through
thoroughly". (Love that alliteration there.)

We as volunteer admins do not have direct access to the database, and I for one
am glad that we don't. None of us have the required skills to ensure that
we wouldn't drastically screw something up.

That suggests that something isn't already drastically screwed up?

From my perspective, not having that access just makes the labor more laborious.
Permissions can be set on these databases such that users have access restricted
to certain fields. That would make your administrator lives a touch better.

It is entirely possible and likely I've missed a few.

You have. I know at least one or two off the top of my head that are not in that
list. For example:

3626cpb1067 Minifigure, Head Black Eyebrows, Eye Patch, and Goatee, Dark Brown Cheek Lines, Stern Pattern (Nick Fury) - Hollow Stud
Parts: Minifigure, Head

I was just going by pictures. Any picture of a two-sided head showing only one
side would be missed. As it was it took four hours. It would have been much longer
had I read every description. But the exercise helped codify the situation.

I am still against changing them all. We only need to change the new group that
is being discussed (two-sided heads that don't have two faces) or change
nothing. After all, there have not been a lot of people clamoring for this over
the years. In fact, Andy might have been the only one. In the end, there are
much more pressing catalog issues than this that need to be taken care of.

In the spirit of "thinking things through thoroughly" I believe at minimum you
want to label the reversible heads as such.

Both the single-face and the back-printed heads are not reversible. For those
items, if you search for and find the face, it's a done deal. Not specially
labeling the reversible heads makes one have to search through all the heads,
so there's no benefit (being a reduction in the found set) gained unless
this group gets distinguished somehow. If the reversible heads are labeled "dual-sided"
and the not-reversible heads are not labeled "dual-sided" that's an effective
tactic, but a misnomer.

Having gone through all the heads yesterday, I'm not sure there's any
benefit to culling out the backhead printed set. The only instance I can think
of is if there exists two heads with identical faces, one backheaded and one
not, and you want to distinguish those. Maybe you can think of some other reason.
In any event, I would like to understand your thinking on how labeling the backheaded
ones as such while not labeling the reversible heads (if that's what you're
proposing) improves the ability to find a particular head.

And I'd argue for labeling each head with one of the five categories if you
have to examine every record anyway. It won't hurt. And anything that allows
me to reduce the found count from 2600 down to one is a plus in my book. But
that's me with lots of years of dealing with databases.

Whatever decision you make regarding this issue, please document the naming convention
so when folks come along to add new heads there is a clear procedure and language
to follow.

So, yes. Thinking things through thoroughly. Probably not there yet, but closer.

Author:

jennnifer

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 10:11

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

54 times

Topic:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

I'm not suggesting this is currently a problem, but it does pose issues when
one comes to implementing features such as Jen suggests.

You keep coming back to and picking apart this idea? Please consider:

1) This idea has been asked for from the original BrickLink session in Seattle
more years ago then I would like to count up.

2) It would be a convenience to many users (and especially newbies) to be able
to further constrain their search results. "I am tying to find something, but
there are too many stickered parts in the way" has been stated numerous times
in the Forum over the years.

3) I do not believe that it would be complicated, difficult to implement, or
require touching the database. Each checkbox would simply add the necessary text
string '-pattern' '-sticker' to the search parameters. I have
spoken to people more knowledgeable than me who have assured me this is a real
thing.

4) It could appear within the search bar at the top of any catalog search results
page. One checkbox to Hide Decorated parts. One checkbox to Hide Stickers. The
new page designs are already likely wide enough to accommodate this. Try it searching
for 'tile 1x6' and then 'tile 1x6 -sticker' to get a feel for
how it might function when someone is looking for a part. Then, try 'legs
hips' and 'legs hips -pattern'

5) There would be less pressure on the admins to split some categories if these
options were easily available to everyone. Splits are still needed and necessary,
but I will restate that this would simply alleviate some of the pressure to do
so.

I admit that I do not really understand where you are coming from with these
last few posts discussing my little afterthought suggestion. It is not feeling
like a discussion much from my end so I am going to say thanks now for adding
your comments and that this is the last I have to say on the matter. I look forward
to this discussion heading back toward catalog issues and not coding for the
site which BL is not currently considering.

Take care!
Jen

Author:

mfav

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 09:35

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

46 times

Topic:

In Catalog, StormChaser writes:

Splitting decorated/non-decorated minifigure legs.

So all that really remains to be done from the original group is the dual-molded
arms.

You may want to add or create a new item, and that is separating all the items
that contain both decorated and undecorated parts in a single category into two
categories. Or, conversely, merge all decorated and undecorated items into one.

If you want to back up the thread to Jen's decorated checkbox issue, this
is one reason that implementation won't work under the current scheme.

Some categories are already split: bricks / bricks, decorated. Some categories
are not split: minifig torsos, legs, baseplates, there may be others.

It wouldn't make sense to checkbox "hide all decorated parts" on bricks,
decorated category because you'd find none. Similarly it wouldn't
make sense to checkbox "hide all decorated parts" on bricks category because
it won't find any.

The basic organization of the upper categories is inconsistent in its consideration
of location of decorated/undecorated items.

I'm not suggesting this is currently a problem, but it does pose issues when
one comes to implementing features such as Jen suggests.

Author:

WoutR

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 04:55

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

48 times

Topic:

In Catalog, StormChaser writes:

The next catalog project

I apologize that this group of projects has not gone so well.

I think it did go well enough. There was a list of ideas, there was discussion,
and now there is a plan on how to move forward.

I will not bundle so many projects together in the future.

Good improvement. That will make the discussion better.

Author:

StormChaser

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 04:51

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

55 times

Topic:

In Catalog, StormChaser writes:

Splitting decorated/non-decorated minifigure legs.

My take: This one was not on the list for the original project, but I'm adding
it.

Grrr. Someone could have mentioned that this was already a different project
(currently number 10 on the roadmap). I just now noticed. Ah, well. We got
some good discussion in on it and now I know people definitely want it.

So all that really remains to be done from the original group is the dual-molded
arms.

Author:

randyf

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 04:25

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

44 times

Topic:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

In Catalog, StormChaser writes:

In Catalog, mfav writes:

This sub thread is kind of getting out of control.

I don't know about all that, but it certainly doesn't seem like we're
making much progress on this project.

I didn't phrase it well. That's kind of what I meant. Not to dampen any
enthusiasm, but seemed to be spinning wheels.

One person's "spinning wheels" is another's "thinking things through
thoroughly". (Love that alliteration there.)

There is no way to do a global find-and-replace because these parts aren't
currently identified other than by picture.

...that's part of the issue, but not necessarily something that can't
be overcome if you have direct access to the database...

We as volunteer admins do not have direct access to the database, and I for one
am glad that we don't. None of us have the required skills to ensure that
we wouldn't drastically screw something up.

And I can't perform those kinds
of actions anyway.

This is what I'm wanting to find out. I guess you're restricted to performing
the updates via an html form instead of going in via Navicat or something
like that.

Yes, we are limited to forms.

The person who originally asked for this never gave me an
idea of how many heads it would affect, so I guess someone still needs to go
through the heads section and get an idea (or a list together) of how many heads
have non-face dual-sided printing.

I have that here:
http://www.v4ei.com/mini-fig-ure-outer/renameheads.html
It is entirely possible and likely I've missed a few.

You have. I know at least one or two off the top of my head that are not in that
list. For example:

3626cpb1067 Minifigure, Head Black Eyebrows, Eye Patch, and Goatee, Dark Brown Cheek Lines, Stern Pattern (Nick Fury) - Hollow Stud
Parts: Minifigure, Head

I think these are the various types:

- single-side printed faces
- dual-side printed (reversible) faces
- dual-side printed face/back of head

- single-side printed NOT faces (non-head heads)
- dual-side printed NOT faces (non-head heads)

- then there's an Ultron head that doesn't have a face as far as I can
tell, and maybe a couple robot heads that are heads but are decorated with something
obtuse like a lightning bolt or zigzag or circuitry pattern. These half-dozen
or so provide a challenge to categorize or label such that they might be found
as a group. Non-standard facial attribute heads.

These are questions:

1. Do the non-head heads get moved out of the heads section? They are piece 3626*,
but they technically are NOT minifig heads.

No. This is unnecessary.

2. Do the non-head heads get left in the heads section and get a special label
to make them discoverable as a group?

No. This is unnecessary.

3. Both types of the dual-side printed heads are dual-side printed, so I see
no benefit to changing that language. The differentiator as I see it is the nature
of the head, and that is that some have reversible faces and the others do not.
While it will be far more labor to label the several hundred reversible-face
items than to label the hundred-plus not-reversible heads, to my mind labeling
the reversible-face items as "reversible face" or similar makes the necessary
and cognitively relevant distinction to isolate those as a group. So do the non-reversible heads need a different label to distinguish them as a group?

Yes, this is the simplest solution, and the one most likely to get implemented.

Currently most of the reversible-face heads are labeled as "dual sided" and mostly
the dual-sided non-reversible face heads are not. And some reversible-face heads
are also not labeled as dual-sided. Given that, I can't fathom a way that
this project gets done without individually inspecting all 2600-plus records.

Unfortunately, that will probably have to be done to make sure that every one
is correct. I see no other way around it if people want 100% accuracy on this.

If all records must be inspected individually, then do all get edited such that
each carries one of the five type labels as suggested above?

Author:

StormChaser

Posted:

Nov 12, 2018 03:22

Subject:

Re: Fourth Catalog Project Underway

Viewed:

36 times

Topic: