SOT: Programmers and Database Builders, Last bump.... Bummer Options

[McMark]

I'd like to transcribe the PET file into a usable database. I've tried a few times to undertake this project myself, but it's daunting. So I realized that we could set up a site where our members could add a little bit of the data at a time. With everyone's help, it'll be done in no time. Having this data available will enable future developments, such as adding real pictures of the parts, better how-to threads, linking to part numbers in posts, etc. Andy and I have both planned on setting this up, but neither of us has actually found the time to get started. Since this doesn't really need to be tied into the 914World forum in any way, we don't need to build it on the forum servers. We can set this up independently and then import the completed database file when we're done...

Anyone interested in helping with this project? Here's a bit of overview on what I had planned:

***Split the PET file into JPG/GIF files***
I planned on splitting the file up into usable image files, which could also be stored in the database (it's own table?). The tricky part, is that besides splitting the PDF by page numbers, we also have to split SOME of the pages in half.

***Phase 1 Data Entry***
This one is more simple, just build a page that will display one of the PET images (not the exploded diagrams, just the parts list) and display a HTML form that matches the formatting, so a user could log in, and transcribe line by line as much of the image as they felt like. The form should save the data automatically (AJAX) so the user doesn't have to complete a page, or remember to click save, etc. This means that when a user 'starts work' they could be presented with a partially complete image to add data to. In that case, it would also be useful to add a checkbox at the end of each line used to indicate that the previous work has been double-checked and is correct. Once all of the data is entered, new requests for 'work' would be presented with completed images for double-checking. Once a line has been triple-checked, it could be locked as accurate. Eventually we would have all the data transferred and triple checked.

***Phase 2 Real World Descriptions***
Since a lot of the listing in the PET are translated from German incorrectly, it would be worthwhile to go through all the listings again to translate them. This would be a slightly different process from above. We would display an exploded diagram and the details for that image from the database, not from the PET images. The only form field would be an [i]additional[i] field for a new description. I think it would be useful to maintain and original listing of the description from the PET, as well as our own description. It would also be useful to collect multiple descriptions, which may not be shown publicly, but would be useful for searching for parts. For something like the 'Taco plate', it's listed in the PET as 'cover for oil sump' but everyone knows it as a taco plate. But it could also be called an oil temp sender plate. All of these descriptions would be useful for searching.

***Phase 3 Further Expansion***
This phase is probably where the project would end and the data integrated into the forum software, and future development handled by Andy or myself. But in order to describe the full process, I've included it here. This phase would be where members could add pictures of the parts (alone or on the car), as well as things like original finishes (paint, plating, etc), manufacture materials, possible replacements (using 911 Sport Mounts instead of Transmission Mounts).

[Mike Bellis]

I'm unlocking it and running text recognition as we speak...

I mean, no that's not what I'm doing... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

My dumputer is running sloooww right now...