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 Replies: 19 / Views: 4,969 |
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Valued Member
Canada
124 Posts |
So, over my past few posts I've hinted at the coin program I've been writing for myself based on my experiences with existing programs so far. I couldn't find a program that I liked, that did exactly what I wanted so I've started to write my own. Here's a screen shot of the program so far.  - The data is stored in a MySQL database, running on a dedicated server - Pictures are stored in the databse and not on the local hard drive so there's no links to get broken if the pictures move - Stores unlimited pictures per coin (I like lots of pictures) to show sides, error / varieties, etc. - Database stores coin values and history of coin values on a per-coin basis so 20 years from now I can see how the values change when I write that part. Things to add: - custom fields for short details such as designers, coin materials, weight, size, etc. - a web interface so my family and friends know what to get me for Christmas, Birthday, etc. - export code to export the data to excel, lotus, open office, etc. - PDA application to view the database through either WiFi or WAP to access for when I'm on the road... - reporting features for generating lists, coin values with history, etc. (only collecting data right now in the db - have no way to show it) This is all from my current collecting experiences which isn't a very long length of time. Do I have everything covered or is there something else that should be added for tracking a coin database? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1418 Posts |
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Valued Member
Australia
465 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
532 Posts |
Almost looks like a love child of Goldmine and Access.
I like it.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
650 Posts |
Your ambitious for sure, I use LIberty and I find some of the tools very good. I like the summarry for any given type or era and the coins needed to complete helpful.
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Valued Member
 Canada
124 Posts |
I wanted to keep the excel spreadsheet feel with filters by using the grid view and filters on the left. Adding embeded images, unlimited notes and other history tracking details just made it that much better.
Thanks! :)
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Valued Member
United States
146 Posts |
What I think would be cool is if you could link it somehow to current values so you could have a total value of the collection. Not that value is the most important thing but I think it would be nice to be able to track how much it goes up over time. Also a graph showing the increase or decrease over time. I am not a computer guru so don't have the foggiest on how it would be accomplished.
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Forum Dad
 United States
24153 Posts |
Quote:
Pictures are stored in the databse and not on the local hard drive so there's no links to get broken if the pictures move DB will get big very quickly, and performance will suffer. There's a reason most setups only store the location of the image and not the image. |
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Valued Member
Canada
124 Posts |
I considered the performance issue when I was planning it out. Currently the database sits on a linux box dedicated for this one database. The linux box has no other DBs on it and only runs mysql and apache (for the web interface).
It's currently got just over 400 coins, up to 4 pictures per coin and there's no performance change since I added the first coin. I've been keeping an eye on the server and it's doesn't show any signs of struggling so I think I'll be good in that area. :)
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Valued Member
Canada
124 Posts |
Quote:
What I think would be cool is if you could link it somehow to current values so you could have a total value of the collection. Not that value is the most important thing but I think it would be nice to be able to track how much it goes up over time. Also a graph showing the increase or decrease over time. I am not a computer guru so don't have the foggiest on how it would be accomplished. I'm already tracking the history of the coins individually and as a collection. Every time I make a change to a coin in the inventory the current coin value is saved. Every time the program exits it adds up the value of all coins (purchase price, high and low values). Eventually I'll write a second application that will be the "reporting" program to graph out the values and such. I could easily add a field to show the current values but I've already compiled "read only" versions of the program for family members and I don't want to make it too easy for them to see value information. :) |
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
Hey tiker, what's the application written in? I'm a programmer by trade and have considered doing the same thing. A suggestion, like bobby mentioned, the DB has potential to get big and cause performance problems. Since you already have a dedicated box for this application, why not just store the photos on there in a known file structure?
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Valued Member
Canada
124 Posts |
I originally started writing it in VB4 (don't laugh) but then upgraded to VB6 for better binary streaming through the ODBC driver. I do think that some time (way off in the future when I have more time to spare) I'll write a new application in C++ or Delphi.
The reason I didn't use the file system is I'd need to setup a second connection to the server (through samba or whatever) to access the files or I'd need to write a server side application to fetch the files and stream the image data back to the client. I run the application from various places, at home, from the office, from my home in the US which is just over 600 miles away from the db server, etc. Opening Samba ports on my firewall to the outside world isn't the safest thing to do so I'm not going that route and I needed to get something working sooner than later because the program I was using was corrupting it's database.
At this point I've got over 750 coins moved over (not all have images) and there's still no issues with performance. The database queries run as fast as they did when I put the first coin in. If at some point in the future I do see a performance problem with the DB then I'll write something to export the image data to files on the file system.
Edited by tiker
12/08/2009 3:36 pm
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
Very cool. If you're going to rewrite at some point, I'd go C# instead of C++ basically the same syntax, but you get features that you'd enjoy. IF you can do it in C# you might be able to use silverlight and run it as a website from your server box. Then you can do all kind of fun things :)
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Valued Member
Canada
124 Posts |
I'll look into C# and silverlight then. Thanks. :)
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Tiker:
Are you planning on selling your coin collecting database? I really like what you have. I'm just beginning to collect coins and your database seems to fit my needs.
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Valued Member
Canada
124 Posts |
I had thought about making a version that uses a .mdb database file to release but I have decided not to.
Reason being is anything that's released typically requires a certain amount of time invested to maintain, update, fix problems, add new features, etc. I honestly do not have the time to invest into those types of things if I did release or sell it. It would just end up like other applications out there and I don't want to add to that "take your money and run" market.
I may release the code and say you're on your own with it but I'd have to clean it up first.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 4,969 |
Posted 11/11/2009 11:36 pm
