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I read with interest the annoucement over in .lego about www.pabtrak.com
and, having visited the home page and read what the site aims to achieve, I
thought I'd let you all know about what we in the Brickish Association have
been using to track P-a-B selections in the UK for the last two years or so.
We have our own 'bulk tracker' which until now has been available only to
members, and which is updated by members as and when they visit the various
outlets.
In the interests of generating interest in the subject and maybe influencing
Richard's development, I have produced a version which is available on the
public side of our website at http://www.brickish.org/bulktracker/.
This public version lacks the ability to update the inventory, which still
needs to be done by BA members, but otherwise it's feature complete. As you
will see it is only really useful for UK shops, because although we have
some other outlets listed they are not updated very often, due, of course,
to the majority of our members being UK based.
To take it to the stage where non-members can update it requires a bit of
work that I haven't found time to do, and to be honest the addition of new
parts into the system would need improving prior to any wider launch. But,
it has served us well and is appreciated by our members.
I look forward to seeing Richard's system, and welcome your comments about
mine.
Huw
Webmaster and vice-chairman, The Brickish Association, www.brickish.org
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"Huw Millington" <hmillington@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:HxLzBH.1A8s@lugnet.com...
> I read with interest the annoucement over in .lego about www.pabtrak.com
> and, having visited the home page and read what the site aims to achieve, • I
> thought I'd let you all know about what we in the Brickish Association • have
> been using to track P-a-B selections in the UK for the last two years or • so.
>
> We have our own 'bulk tracker' which until now has been available only to
> members, and which is updated by members as and when they visit the • various
> outlets.
>
> In the interests of generating interest in the subject and maybe • influencing
> Richard's development, I have produced a version which is available on the
> public side of our website at http://www.brickish.org/bulktracker/.
>
> This public version lacks the ability to update the inventory, which still
> needs to be done by BA members, but otherwise it's feature complete. As • you
> will see it is only really useful for UK shops, because although we have
> some other outlets listed they are not updated very often, due, of course,
> to the majority of our members being UK based.
>
> To take it to the stage where non-members can update it requires a bit of
> work that I haven't found time to do, and to be honest the addition of new
> parts into the system would need improving prior to any wider launch. But,
> it has served us well and is appreciated by our members.
>
> I look forward to seeing Richard's system, and welcome your comments about
> mine.
>
> Huw
> Webmaster and vice-chairman, The Brickish Association, www.brickish.org
>
>
>
Hi Huw,
My apologies - I hadn't realised that there was already an online tracker
out there.
I certainly hadn't intended stepping on anyone else's toes with PaBTrak - I
saw that people were recording inventories in many different areas and
wanted to develop an easily updatable, community driven centralised site.
It looks like it may be in our interests to help each other out - either
with the sharing of data of perhaps more...
I'll contact you by email to outline my plan for PaBTrak, and see if there's
anything we can do together.
Once again - sorry if I stepped on the The Brickish Association's toes
there.
Richard.
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"Briktrak.com" <rjmorton@AT4imprintNOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:HxM87v.s3H@lugnet.com...
> My apologies - I hadn't realised that there was already an online tracker
> out there.
> I certainly hadn't intended stepping on anyone else's toes with PaBTrak - • I
> saw that people were recording inventories in many different areas and
> wanted to develop an easily updatable, community driven centralised site.
>
> It looks like it may be in our interests to help each other out - either
> with the sharing of data of perhaps more...
> I'll contact you by email to outline my plan for PaBTrak, and see if • there's
> anything we can do together.
> Once again - sorry if I stepped on the The Brickish Association's toes
> there.
No need to apologise, sorry if my message suggested that you needed to.
My effort has until now been a 'club benefit' for BA members. I had intended
to develop it further but never got round to it. And now, like you, I too
am involved with another community project, so I won't have time to do
anything soon anyway.
I'll be happy to share ideas, experiences, code etc. with you. With your
BrikTrak technology behind it yours will be more powerful than anything I
could produce anyway.
Huw
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Huw Millington wrote:
> I look forward to seeing Richard's system, and welcome your comments about
> mine.
Dear Huw,
I used your PaBTracker before, and I am very happy about the existence
of such a great service.
As I didn't know whom to contact with enhancement ideas, I'll take this
opportunity to put in my ¤0,02:
Add a header for each shop that lists the kind of sale the shop offers
(i.e. volume-based (cups) and/or by weight) and prices.
Addresses, contact information and maybe a map or at least usable
directions how to find the shop would be fine, too.
I can offer this kind of information for the shop in Cologne, and can
ask friends of mine about Oberhausen and Günzburg, and translate and
prepare this info for you.
Yours, Christian
PS: Any chance to meet Brickish.org members in LL Windsor on 1st or 2nd
June?
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Christian Treczoks wrote:
> Add a header for each shop that lists the kind of sale the shop offers
> (i.e. volume-based (cups) and/or by weight) and prices.
> Addresses, contact information and maybe a map or at least usable
> directions how to find the shop would be fine, too.
> I can offer this kind of information for the shop in Cologne, and can
> ask friends of mine about Oberhausen and Günzburg, and translate and
> prepare this info for you.
I'd be happy to add the info for the Oberhausen shop.
--
Jan-Albert van Ree | http://www.vanree.net/brickpiles/
Brick Piles | Santa Fe B-unit
GnuPG key | http://www.vanree.net/~javanree/publickey.asc
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In lugnet.general, Christian Treczoks wrote:
| |
Huw Millington wrote:
| |
I look forward to seeing Richard’s system, and welcome your comments about
mine.
|
Dear Huw,
I used your PaBTracker before, and I am very happy about the existence
of such a great service.
As I didn’t know whom to contact with enhancement ideas, I’ll take this
opportunity to put in my ¤0,02:
Add a header for each shop that lists the kind of sale the shop offers
(i.e. volume-based (cups) and/or by weight) and prices.
Addresses, contact information and maybe a map or at least usable
directions how to find the shop would be fine, too.
|
That would be great!
I was looking at the brickish website http://www.brickish.org/bulktracker/
and I found a store called “Entertainer Camberley” that is not listed at the
LEGO website http://www.lego.com/legostores/default.asp?x=x.
Is this a LEGO store or it is a “The Enternainer” store shown on this page
http://www.thetoyshop.com/shops9.asp?
I would be glad of any info because I’m planning my UK LEGO hunting for this
weekend and this seems to be a nice place to visit.
Best Regards,
Ildefonso.
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"Ildefonso Zanette" <izanette@bol.com.br> wrote in message
news:HyAo6G.1AME@lugnet.com...
> I was looking at the brickish website • <http://www.brickish.org/bulktracker/>
> and I found a store called "Entertainer Camberley" that is not listed at • the
> LEGO website <http://www.lego.com/legostores/default.asp?x=x>.
>
> Is this a LEGO store or it is a "The Enternainer" store shown on this • page
> <http://www.thetoyshop.com/shops9.asp>?
Yes, that's the one. Hamleys in Regent St., London also have a similar
selection, apparently.
Huw
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Huw Millington wrote:
> Yes, that's the one. Hamleys in Regent St., London also have a similar
> selection, apparently.
Hi, Huw,
Could you please give me the address of this "Hamleys"? I'm in London
next week, and if Regent street is not too far off the places we want to
see (Near Regents Park maybe?), then I could drop in for a visit.
Yours, Christian
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In lugnet.general, Christian Treczoks wrote:
> Huw Millington wrote:
> > Yes, that's the one. Hamleys in Regent St., London also have a similar
> > selection, apparently.
> Hi, Huw,
>
> Could you please give me the address of this "Hamleys"? I'm in London
> next week, and if Regent street is not too far off the places we want to
> see (Near Regents Park maybe?), then I could drop in for a visit.
>
> Yours, Christian
Hi Christian,
This "Hamleys" is the biggest toy store in the world. It is a huge building
with all different kinds of toys. It definitively worths a visit.
the address is:
188-196 Regent Street
It's near the Oxford Circus Tube Station
have fun!
Ildefonso.
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"Ildefonso Zanette" <izanette@bol.com.br> wrote in message
news:HyBs7n.xvJ@lugnet.com...
> This "Hamleys" is the biggest toy store in the world. It is a huge • building
> with all different kinds of toys. It definitively worths a visit.
It is worth a visit, but only to look. The prices are 20-50% more than in
other toy shops.
Drop me an e-mail, Christian, and I'll tell you where it's worth going.
Huw
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Huw Millington wrote:
>
> "Ildefonso Zanette" <izanette@bol.com.br> wrote in message
> news:HyAo6G.1AME@lugnet.com...
>
> > I was looking at the brickish website • <http://www.brickish.org/bulktracker/>
> > and I found a store called "Entertainer Camberley" that is not listed at • the
> > LEGO website <http://www.lego.com/legostores/default.asp?x=x>.
> >
> > Is this a LEGO store or it is a "The Enternainer" store shown on this • page
> > <http://www.thetoyshop.com/shops9.asp>?
>
> Yes, that's the one. Hamleys in Regent St., London also have a similar
> selection, apparently.
I'm not a big fan of the Hamleys pick a brick, the selection is
poor compaired to the Lego Store in Kingston upon Thames.
Also I feel a bit stupid after getting hit by their nasty prices.
I misunderstood the sign that said.
Any 1 for 4.99
Any 2 for 6.99
Being on a bargain hunt I filled up 2 bags.
Price paid 11.98
Their are 2 sizes of bags, both very similar in size, one
with a little number 1 on and one with a little number 2.
Watch those wallets in Hamleys :(
Peter
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Peter Howkins wrote:
>
>
> I'm not a big fan of the Hamleys pick a brick, the selection is
> poor compaired to the Lego Store in Kingston upon Thames.
>
> Also I feel a bit stupid after getting hit by their nasty prices.
> I misunderstood the sign that said.
> Any 1 for 4.99
> Any 2 for 6.99
> Being on a bargain hunt I filled up 2 bags.
> Price paid 11.98
> Their are 2 sizes of bags, both very similar in size, one
> with a little number 1 on and one with a little number 2.
>
> Watch those wallets in Hamleys :(
>
> Peter
Given this, it may be prudent to have a "Value for money" rating on the various
stores in the tracker. Ie - a rating from 0-10. Clicking on the store could give
finer grained details of the rates.
I must admit- having been caught out by price differences in Hamleys myself
before - it is only worth going to to view and not buy. I have only bought in
there last minute (I used to work around the corner).
This said- if you are ever in London - it is worth going around Hamleys simply
because it is one of the largest toy-stores I know. For those who have never
seen it - imagine a department store entirely filled with different sections of
toys. Last time I visited, around half a floor was given to Lego.
Danny
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In lugnet.general, Huw Millington wrote:
| |
I read with interest the annoucement over in .lego about
http://www.pabtrak.com and, having visited the home page and read what the
site aims to achieve, I thought I’d let you all know about what we in the
Brickish Association have been using to track P-a-B selections in the UK for
the last two years or so.
We have our own ‘bulk tracker’ which until now has been available only to
members, and which is updated by members as and when they visit the various
outlets.
In the interests of generating interest in the subject and maybe influencing
Richard’s development, I have produced a version which is available on the
public side of our website at http://www.brickish.org/bulktracker/.
This public version lacks the ability to update the inventory, which still
needs to be done by BA members, but otherwise it’s feature complete. As you
will see it is only really useful for UK shops, because although we have
some other outlets listed they are not updated very often, due, of course,
to the majority of our members being UK based.
To take it to the stage where non-members can update it requires a bit of
work that I haven’t found time to do, and to be honest the addition of new
parts into the system would need improving prior to any wider launch. But,
it has served us well and is appreciated by our members.
I look forward to seeing Richard’s system, and welcome your comments about
mine.
Huw
Webmaster and vice-chairman, The Brickish Association, www.brickish.org
|
Later this season I’m going to LegoLand Billund. I intend to buy lots of
elements to finish a large mosaic. But how do I know if the elements I want/need
will be available over there?? (I believe I’m not the only one with this
question)
The BulkTracker for LegoLand Billund hasn’t been updated recently.
Since I’ll be staying in Billund one week, I might find some time to do
something about this.
I haven’t the faintest idea of how others make
inventories at the Lego stores, but I came up with the idea of making a standard
datasheet.
You can find my datasheet at
http://users.skynet.be/maarten.steurbaut/BulkTracker.doc.
It is only a table
in a Word-document (I don’t have a legal or illegal copy of Excel). The elements
currently in my list are the ones I found in the BulkTracker and also the ones
that are clearly visible in the pictures Huw Millington made in the Pick-a-Brick
at Billund (http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=79018). New parts
can easily be added at the end, you can sort by partnumber or description.
I
first intended to insert a picture of every element in my datasheet, but by
doing this, I discovered that the list would become way too long. (item
descriptions are often difficult to distinguish similar elements from each
other, especially if your native language isn’t English ;-) )
If everybody who
makes inventories at the Lego outlets uses the same kind of document/datasheet
(it doesn’t have to be mine, I’m only starting a discussion), I think it could
simplify things a lot for everybody: the one making the inventorie at the shop
just has to check off the items he sees, the one making the update to the
database also has a good overview, and those who need elements will know where
to go.
Did I forget any major colours in my list?
Should I add more items?
Is this a good idea or is there already some kind of standard datasheet?
Let me know !
Maarten
(Unfortunately we still don’t know what PaBTrak will offer us)
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On Fri, Jul 23, 2004 at 11:23:06AM +0000, Maarten Steurbaut wrote:
> I haven't the faintest idea of how others make
> inventories at the Lego stores, but I came up with the idea of making a standard
> datasheet.¬¬ You can find my datasheet at
> <http://users.skynet.be/maarten.steurbaut/BulkTracker.doc>.¬¬ It is only a table
> in a Word-document (I don't have a legal or illegal copy of Excel).
>
> (Unfortunately we still don't know what PaBTrak will offer us)
I like your document. That would have made it easy to grab an initial
inventory of a store. Once the initial inventory has been done, I
take a sheet showing the last know location of all parts to easily
verify if the contents of any bin has changed.
While waiting for PaBTrak to give us some tools, I wrote a 130 line Perl
script to convert a csv spreadsheet into 3 useful HTML pages. When I get
another couple hours to work on it, I will make the pages dynamic and
add a few more features.
The Solomon Pond store current inventory (as of today) is now here:
http://www.elecbrick.com/lego/pabwall/pablist_part.html
For verifying and updating the inventories, I like the wall format.
Take this printout to the store and you can easily spot any changes.
http://www.elecbrick.com/lego/pabwall/pabwall.html
My raw data format is like this:
A1,Lime,3001,Brick 2 x 4
B1,Orange,3003,Brick 2 x 2
C1,Black,3710,Plate 1 x 4
D1,Red,3044,Slope Brick 45 2 x 1 Double
E1,Green,3021,Plate 2 x 3
F1,Yellow,3001,Brick 2 x 4
G1,Green,3004,Brick 1 x 2
...
The columns are wall location (in spreadsheet notation,) color in Peeron
format and ldraw part number. The part name is useful for people but is
ignored by the script.
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In lugnet.general, Doug Eaton wrote:
This “wall format” is very beautiful but can only be used for one single store.
We would need a different document for every shop (they could all be derived
from one database of course). I also wonder if they would keep the elements
always in the same location. And how can they add a new element? (or maybe you
don’t want them to add elements...)
I was in Billund last year, and I’ve seen
Huw’s pictures from this year: a huge difference !! The shop in Billund is
(correct me if I’m wrong) the biggest with the widest range of elements.
On the
other hand you are absolutely right that my document “makes it easy to grab an
initial inventory of a store”, but not for updating the inventory.
Anyway, if
nothing shows up for updating the Billund inventory before mid-August, I’ll take
my document with me. Hopefully the people from the Brickish Association can use
it to update their “BulkTracker”.
Maarten
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In lugnet.general, Maarten Steurbaut wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Doug Eaton wrote:
This “wall format” is very beautiful but can only be used for one single
store. We would need a different document for every shop (they could all be
derived from one database of course). I also wonder if they would keep the
elements always in the same location. And how can they add a new element? (or
maybe you don’t want them to add elements...)
I was in Billund last year,
and I’ve seen Huw’s pictures from this year: a huge difference !! The shop in
Billund is (correct me if I’m wrong) the biggest with the widest range of
elements.
On the other hand you are absolutely right that my document “makes
it easy to grab an initial inventory of a store”, but not for updating the
inventory.
Anyway, if nothing shows up for updating the Billund inventory
before mid-August, I’ll take my document with me. Hopefully the people from
the Brickish Association can use it to update their “BulkTracker”.
Maarten
|
I know at LLCA the location of the parts DOES change - mostly when new items are
added, but it does change.
Mark P
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On Sat, Jul 24, 2004 at 05:52:01PM +0000, Mark P wrote:
> In lugnet.general, Maarten Steurbaut wrote:
> > In lugnet.general, Doug Eaton wrote:
> > >
> > > The Solomon Pond store current inventory (as of today) is now here:
> > >
> > > <http://www.elecbrick.com/lego/pabwall/pablist_part.html>
> > >
> > > For verifying and updating the inventories, I like the wall format.
> > > Take this printout to the store and you can easily spot any changes.
> > >
> > > <http://www.elecbrick.com/lego/pabwall/pabwall.html>
> > >
> > > The columns are wall location (in spreadsheet notation,) color in Peeron
> > > format and ldraw part number. The part name is useful for people but is
> > > ignored by the script.
> >
> > This "wall format" is very beautiful but can only be used for one single
> > store. We would need a different document for every shop (they could all be
> > derived from one database of course). I also wonder if they would keep the
> > elements always in the same location. And how can they add a new element? (or
> > maybe you don't want them to add elements...)¬ I was in Billund last year,
> > and I've seen Huw's pictures from this year: a huge difference !! The shop in
> > Billund is (correct me if I'm wrong) the biggest with the widest range of
> > elements.¬ On the other hand you are absolutely right that my document "makes
> > it easy to grab an initial inventory of a store", but not for updating the
> > inventory.¬ Anyway, if nothing shows up for updating the Billund inventory
> > before mid-August, I'll take my document with me. Hopefully the people from
> > the Brickish Association can use it to update their "BulkTracker".
> >
> > Maarten
>
>
> I know at LLCA the location of the parts DOES change - mostly when new items
> are added, but it does change.
>
> Mark P
The Brand Retail stores in the North East have had VERY little turnover
in the last 6 months. Usually, the only time something new is placed on
the wall is when one part runs out. This does not occur very frequently.
None of the employees like the task of emptying the large fixed bins so
it rarely happens.
I'm glad whenever someone finds my tools useful. The whole purpose of
using a spreadsheet, database or text file as input to a web page
creator is to allow multiple stores to be kept track of simultaneously.
If anyone wants web pages similar to the above, send me a PAB inventory
and I will generate them for you.
Doug
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