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It seems almost too good to be true, but by signing up for
freenetnames.co.uk internet access you do indeed get a .co.uk or org.uk
domain name for free! There are a few conditions (log on every 90 days, no
porn on your site, that sort of thing) but nothing too controversial.
The actual ISP service seems OK, EXCEPT that as soon as you attempt to
connect to a NNTP (like lugnet) or POP server other than its own, it
disconnects you!
Still, you are not obliged to use it, except for reading mail to your
freenetnames.co.uk address (1) and uploading to the web server.
So, I have registered http://www.brickset.co.uk and put a single frames page
on their server which calls up pages from my LEGO database hosted by
Pinnacle on their NT server
I have also totally redesigned the site, hopefully for the better, so all
readers of loc.uk are welcome to come and give it a test drive before I
announce it live and remove the old front end.
The new pages use cascading style sheets which, I have just found out to my
annoyance, Netscape does not support properly. When using this browser, it
is not obvious what is a link and what is not, because it has recognised the
CSS command not to underline them, but has not coloured them blue! (if
anyone had any experience in these matters, please get in touch!). I think
the 'quick search' box is too small on Netscape, too.
If you notice any other anomalies with other platforms, please let me know.
I'll try and address them before going live.
So without further ado, surf over to www.brickset.co.uk and let me know what
you think!
Note to US readers: I registered the domain at 22:00 GMT yesterday. They
claim it may take 24 hours to filter round the 'net, so if the above link is
broken, but you are itching to see my new efforts, go to
http://nt1.pncl.co.uk/huw/new
Huw
(1) which for me now will be ...@brickset.co.uk
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> So, I have registered http://www.brickset.co.uk and put a single frames page
> on their server which calls up pages from my LEGO database hosted by
> Pinnacle on their NT server
Is the random set really random?
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Scott-A <s.arthur@hw.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:384652DD.C44488AF@hw.ac.uk...
> > So, I have registered http://www.brickset.co.uk and put a single frames • page
> > on their server which calls up pages from my LEGO database hosted by
> > Pinnacle on their NT server
>
> Is the random set really random?
Seeded on the server system clock at the time the page loads. Sets with no
image are excluded.
Huw
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Huw Millington wrote:
r
>
> I have also totally redesigned the site, hopefully for the better, so all
> readers of loc.uk are welcome to come and give it a test drive before I
> announce it live and remove the old front end.
>
> The new pages use cascading style sheets which, I have just found out to my
> annoyance, Netscape does not support properly. When using this browser, it
> is not obvious what is a link and what is not, because it has recognised the
> CSS command not to underline them, but has not coloured them blue!
I confirm lack of underline, and worse, I don't see the blue either. But
the pointer DOES change to a finger.
I am using Netscape Communicator 4.04 (insert obligatory Tom Stangl rant
that I should upgrade). I am not using document specific fonts or
colors.
> Note to US readers: I registered the domain at 22:00 GMT yesterday. They
> claim it may take 24 hours to filter round the 'net, so if the above link is
> broken, but you are itching to see my new efforts, go to
> http://nt1.pncl.co.uk/huw/new
Obviously, the link worked for me at this time (about 10:00 AM eastern
or 5? behind GMT)
Looks brill. Very sharp layout overall...
I see you're using Hitbox. I like those guys. One of their techies, who
I had occasion to correspond with, is a lurker at least on RTL if not
here.
Your "how you can help" page should have some sort of a link back to
"How to mail us" or some such, maybe even a form to fill out??
--
Larry Pieniazek larryp@novera.com http://my.voyager.net/lar
- - - Web Application Integration! http://www.novera.com
fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to lugnet.
NOTE: Soon to be lpieniazek@tsisoft.com :-)
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Thanks for your excellent feedback...
Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net> wrote in message
news:384687CB.7AD5E2E4@voyager.net...
> Huw Millington wrote:
> I confirm lack of underline, and worse, I don't see the blue either. But
> the pointer DOES change to a finger.
That's how I see it too. I'll probably put some code in to detect Netscape
browsers and use a different style sheet to solve this. Was the 'Quick
Search' entry box at the top of the window? It didn't appear when I just
looked from NS4.6. Again a CSS problem...
>
> Looks brill. Very sharp layout overall...
Thanks.
>
> I see you're using Hitbox. I like those guys. One of their techies, who
> I had occasion to correspond with, is a lurker at least on RTL if not
> here.
Yes, the stats you can get with their HitBox client application are amazing!
Their ad. is a small price to pay for such useful information.
>
> Your "how you can help" page should have some sort of a link back to
> "How to mail us" or some such, maybe even a form to fill out??
Good idea. There are mail links around, but you won't necessarily have
noticed them due to the aforementioned problem :-)
>
> --
> Larry Pieniazek larryp@novera.com http://my.voyager.net/lar
> - - - Web Application Integration! http://www.novera.com
> fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to lugnet.
>
> NOTE: Soon to be lpieniazek@tsisoft.com :-)
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I believe I have sorted all the Netscape anomalies, except for one - URLS
can't contain spaces, which I'll fix tomorrow.
Please LMK if it looks OK for you now.
Thanks
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Huw Millington writes:
> I believe I have sorted all the Netscape anomalies, except for one - URLS
> can't contain spaces, which I'll fix tomorrow.
>
> Please LMK if it looks OK for you now.
It looks really spiffy! I *really* like the random set idea! The hitbox add is
submerged at the bottom of my window though (Netscape 4.6), ie - the bottom is
going off the bottom of the screen.
I'm curious though why it duplicates a lot of the pause database - is there a
reason or is it for the fun of it? (A valid reason as any!)
Or is it to show the alternate design interface, which works really well btw!
Oh, the new city highway set (6600) number conflicts with an earlier town set -
I was wondering why you had instructions for it already!
Richard
PS. Are you going to include set 666 - "Burp Adventure"? :)
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Richard Franks wrote:
> I'm curious though why it duplicates a lot of the pause database - is there a
> reason or is it for the fun of it? (A valid reason as any!)
> Or is it to show the alternate design interface, which works really well btw!
Yes, I was wondering that myself... when I looked at it earlier today,
all it showed was the picture. The other stuff Lugnet shows is important
as well. (especially MSRP!!! <GD&R>)
--
Larry Pieniazek larryp@novera.com http://my.voyager.net/lar
- - - Web Application Integration! http://www.novera.com
fund Lugnet(tm): http://www.ebates.com/ ref: lar, 1/2 $$ to lugnet.
NOTE: Soon to be lpieniazek@tsisoft.com :-)
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Huw Millington wrote in message ...
> It seems almost too good to be true, but by signing up for
> freenetnames.co.uk internet access you do indeed get a .co.uk or org.uk
> domain name for free! There are a few conditions (log on every 90 days, no
> porn on your site, that sort of thing) but nothing too controversial.
>
> The actual ISP service seems OK, EXCEPT that as soon as you attempt to
> connect to a NNTP (like lugnet) or POP server other than its own, it
> disconnects you!
I find the ISP side of things excellent - www.valleytoy.co.uk is mine...
However, I've noticed something - if you want one of their banners on your
page the link is targetted to "_fnn" (or somesuch) which suggests to me that
they may, at some point, start putting a Xoom-style frame across the tops of
pages. Even so, with a bit of a criminal mastermind (or just knowing what to
do with frames and where your real pages are stored) this presents no
serious problems.
Steve
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net> writes:
> Richard Franks wrote:
> > I'm curious though why it duplicates a lot of the pause database - is
> > there a reason or is it for the fun of it? (A valid reason as any!)
> > Or is it to show the alternate design interface, which works really
> > well btw!
>
> Yes, I was wondering that myself...
Huw and Grahame are both very welcome to become admins of the Lugnet/Pause
sets database if they think they'd enjoy that. Four people currently have
admin priv's to the DB (me, Suzanne, Joshua Delahunty, and Selçuk Göre) but
we can always use more qualified help.
> when I looked at it earlier today,
> all it showed was the picture. The other stuff Lugnet shows is important
> as well. (especially MSRP!!! <GD&R>)
It's certainly OK with me if Huw wants to grab the MSRP data out of the set
listings <http://www.lugnet.com/pause/lists.html>.
--Todd
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> I confirm lack of underline, and worse, I don't see the blue either. But
> the pointer DOES change to a finger.
hmm.. i'm running netscape 4.61 and i see all links underlined, in blue...
J
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Richard Franks <spontificus@__nospam__yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:FM4xFv.LAw@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.loc.uk, Huw Millington writes:
> > I believe I have sorted all the Netscape anomalies, except for one - URLS
> > can't contain spaces, which I'll fix tomorrow.
> >
> > Please LMK if it looks OK for you now.
>
> It looks really spiffy! I *really* like the random set idea! The hitbox • add is
> submerged at the bottom of my window though (Netscape 4.6), ie - the • bottom is
> going off the bottom of the screen.
I think it only appears if you run at 1024x768 currently. It sounds like you
are running 800x600.
>
> I'm curious though why it duplicates a lot of the pause database - is • there a
> reason or is it for the fun of it? (A valid reason as any!)
> Or is it to show the alternate design interface, which works really well
btw!
'Because I can' :-) Just for the hell of it, really. While I respect Pause
as an information source, I don't find the interface to my liking. A lot of
people say they like the thubnailed list presentation, which Pause does not
offer. Also another design goal was to have high quality scans of
instruction covers for all the images - some of the Pause ones are from
catalogues, which I don't like. About 95% of non-promotional sets have been
scanned by myself or Grahame from paper copies we own, or taken fron
Brickshelf.
>
> Oh, the new city highway set (6600) number conflicts with an earlier town • set -
> I was wondering why you had instructions for it already!
Oops. I'll corect that.
Huw
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Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net> wrote in message
news:38472E8F.406917B4@voyager.net...
> Richard Franks wrote:
>
> > I'm curious though why it duplicates a lot of the pause database - is • there a
> > reason or is it for the fun of it? (A valid reason as any!)
> > Or is it to show the alternate design interface, which works really well • btw!
>
> Yes, I was wondering that myself... when I looked at it earlier today,
> all it showed was the picture. The other stuff Lugnet shows is important
> as well. (especially MSRP!!! <GD&R>)
The information should be considered a second opinion, rather than a
duplication of Pause. Most of the data has been compiled by Grahame Reid
over many years from many sources, of which I'm sure Pause is one.
Huw
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> Huw and Grahame are both very welcome to become admins of the Lugnet/Pause
> sets database if they think they'd enjoy that. Four people currently have
> admin priv's to the DB (me, Suzanne, Joshua Delahunty, and Selçuk Göre) • but
> we can always use more qualified help.
Thanks for the offer. I'll let Grahame take you up on that if he wants to -
he's the brains behind the data - I concentrate on the interface and techie
bits :-)
> It's certainly OK with me if Huw wants to grab the MSRP data out of the • set
> listings <http://www.lugnet.com/pause/lists.html>.
Thanks, I will almost certainly do that.
Huw
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Steve Anderson <shed-at-iname-dot-com@com> wrote in message
news:FM60H4.Jnv@lugnet.com...
> I find the ISP side of things excellent - www.valleytoy.co.uk is mine...
>
> However, I've noticed something - if you want one of their banners on your
> page the link is targetted to "_fnn" (or somesuch) which suggests to me • that
> they may, at some point, start putting a Xoom-style frame across the tops • of
> pages. Even so, with a bit of a criminal mastermind (or just knowing what • to
> do with frames and where your real pages are stored) this presents no
> serious problems.
I feared that may happen. Time will tell I suppose...
Huw
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In lugnet.loc.uk, "Huw Millington" <hmillington@cix.co.uk> writes:
> Richard Franks <spontificus@__nospam__yahoo.com> wrote in message...
> > I'm curious though why it duplicates a lot of the pause database - is
> > there a reason or is it for the fun of it? (A valid reason as any!)
> > Or is it to show the alternate design interface, which works really well
> > btw!
>
> 'Because I can' :-) Just for the hell of it, really. While I respect Pause
> as an information source, I don't find the interface to my liking.
Me neither -- it's just a placeholder...but it's getting kind of stale, as
you point out. :-)
> A lot of people say they like the thubnailed list presentation, which Pause
> does not offer.
Wow, I didn't know that thumbnails were such a desired feature! When
someone goes through all the trouble of implementing something like that in
another form, it's a pretty strong sign that it's a desired feature. :-)
Kudos to Huw for doing the right thing (giving people features they want),
and my apologies to everyone for not having enabled thumbnail displays in
the Pause DB earlier...here it is with thumbnails, but it's still with the
same old boxy format -- nowhere near as pretty as Huw's new display:
http://www.lugnet.com/pause/search/?theme=TECHNIC
http://www.lugnet.com/pause/search/?theme=Fabuland
> Also another design goal was to have high quality scans of
> instruction covers for all the images - some of the Pause ones are from
> catalogues, which I don't like.
I never liked that much either, but I thought what Lou did was still
incredibly amazing! Blows me away even today, when I think about it:
I'd always been hoping someday to scan all the sets in high-res and high-
quality in the Fibblesnork LEGO Guide format, and Lou just went ahead and
scanned catalogs -- which are infinitely better than nothing at all.
> About 95% of non-promotional sets have been
> scanned by myself or Grahame from paper copies we own, or taken fron
> Brickshelf.
Whew! -- That's awesome! I remember what it's like to scan a lot of sets
and how crazy and time consuming it can get. :-) One day back in 1996,
I scanned 200 Space and......man.......it must've taken me 20 hours straight
one weekend with a 12-pack of Coke and no sleep. Then, the next day, I went
back for more punishment and scanned the Aquazone sets (but there weren't
many at the time). MargoK and PaulV also scanned a zillion Castle sets too
for the FLG... Ahh, memories. :-)
--Todd
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Todd Lehman writes:
> Kudos to Huw for doing the right thing (giving people features they want),
> and my apologies to everyone for not having enabled thumbnail displays in
> the Pause DB earlier...here it is with thumbnails, but it's still with the
> same old boxy format -- nowhere near as pretty as Huw's new display:
Are you going to update the Pause Database in the near future - I know it's
time consuming - especially the service packs in the 5xxx range, they have
entires but the uploaded pictures of them which I know have been submitted
haven't made their way to the web yet. It would be really useful to have those
entered as they appear no-one else on the Internet.
Thanks.
Carbon 60
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Simon Denscombe writes:
> Are you going to update the Pause Database in the near future -
On the average, it's actually updated several times per day, statistically...
but it depends on which area...
> I know it's
> time consuming - especially the service packs in the 5xxx range, they have
> entires but the uploaded pictures of them which I know have been submitted
> haven't made their way to the web yet. It would be really useful to have
> those entered as they appear no-one else on the Internet.
Did you send pictures for that? They might be sitting in my inbox -- I'm
backlogged. Or they might be in one of the incoming ftp folders.
One of the reasons I haven't been stuffing every image in right away (some,
but not all) is because it's a better use of time to get the memberships
thing tied in with the DB first, because then people can submit changes and
new images in a much more convenient format for both the sender and the
receiver...
(Would you like to add any images directly into the DB yourself? :-)
--Todd
[followups to lugnet.admin.database]
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> http://www.lugnet.com/pause/search/?theme=Fabuland
That's better. It makes it slower to load, but worthwhile, I think.
> Whew! -- That's awesome! I remember what it's like to scan a lot of sets
> and how crazy and time consuming it can get. :-) One day back in 1996,
> I scanned 200 Space and......man.......it must've taken me 20 hours • straight
> one weekend with a 12-pack of Coke and no sleep.
I did trains, Technic, AZ and Space, but not all in one hit. Grahame did
pirates, castle and town. The only large gap in our jount collection (albeit
1000's of miles apart!) is in early Town sets.
Huw
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"Huw and Grahame's LEGO set database" has now officially become BrickSet.
This is an alternative to Pause and should be considered as a second-opinion
rather than a duplication of information due to the fact the database has
been independently compiled by Grahame Reid.
The UI has been considerably enhanced and can now be found at its new
easy-to-remember URL www.brickset.co.uk
The database contains some 1500 sets, most with high-quality scans of
instruction covers or box fronts, and covers all commonly-collected themes
as well as being the premier guide to promotional sets. In time, its scope
will increase to become as comprehensive as Pause.
The interface is likely to be tweaked over the next few weeks, as I get
feedback from users of different browsers and platforms. It uses
technologies new to me (for example CSS) and while I have tested it on IE5
and NN 4.6, I welcome feedback from users of other systems.
Huw
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In lugnet.loc.uk, Huw Millington writes:
> "Huw and Grahame's LEGO set database" has now officially become BrickSet.
> This is an alternative to Pause and should be considered as a second-opinion
> rather than a duplication of information due to the fact the database has
> been independently compiled by Grahame Reid.
>
> The UI has been considerably enhanced and can now be found at its new
> easy-to-remember URL www.brickset.co.uk
>
> The database contains some 1500 sets, most with high-quality scans of
> instruction covers or box fronts, and covers all commonly-collected themes
> as well as being the premier guide to promotional sets. In time, its scope
> will increase to become as comprehensive as Pause.
>
> The interface is likely to be tweaked over the next few weeks, as I get
> feedback from users of different browsers and platforms. It uses
> technologies new to me (for example CSS) and while I have tested it on IE5
> and NN 4.6, I welcome feedback from users of other systems.
>
> Huw
Random set feature!!!What fun!
Thanks,
Julie
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