Tom Gorman Posted August 7, 2014 Group: Supporter Followers: 0 Topic Count: 51 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 636 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 836 Achievement Points: 714 Days Won: 0 Joined: 28/04/14 Status: Offline Last Seen: 12 hours ago Posted August 7, 2014 Could we have a mini-chat feature? Like a chat room thing? I have seen it go very well on other forums and its a good feature. Also, like someone mentioned a while back, I would like to see a rides list sorted by showman not ride type, it is much easier to reference this way. One more idea would be better graphics, no offence but the current logo is outdated and should be updated.
Bill Edwards Posted August 8, 2014 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 8, 2014 Just to confirm what Adam has already put so well:-The forum has a chat room, but it is turned off. We found that people who want to chat generally have access to Facebook or some other chat facility, so ours wasn't very necessary. We also found that there were petty squabbles which the Moderators were expected to referee. We find the forum enough to Moderate without having to "police" the chat room as well!The Rides List cannot be sorted by Showmen - that is a restriction of the forum software. However, as Adam says, the rides list is searchable so you should be able to achieve something similar.The logo is old, but it is our "trademark" and I am reluctant to change it. However, if someone wants to design one for us, we'll give it consideration
Bill Edwards Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 24, 2015 IF I could publish a list of rides sorted by Showmen's name, would it be useful? I'm currently working on something that's a lot of work, but worthwhile if it's of use to members.
Wayne Entwistle Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 323 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 491 Achievement Points: 414 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/02/12 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 9, 2018 Birthday: 11/01/1974 Posted August 24, 2015 Im happy as it is Bill.Regards Wayne.
Bill Edwards Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 24, 2015 Im happy as it is Bill.Regards Wayne.It isn't an "or" - The current rides list would remain as it is. I may be able to publish a list by Showmen as well.
Wayne Entwistle Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 323 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 491 Achievement Points: 414 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/02/12 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 9, 2018 Birthday: 11/01/1974 Posted August 24, 2015 Which ever way you tackle it is down to yourself,I dont see any harm looking things up the old fashioned way as when your looking you always find something else you didnt imagine stumbing across.Regards Wayne.
Tom Gorman Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 0 Topic Count: 51 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 636 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 836 Achievement Points: 714 Days Won: 0 Joined: 28/04/14 Status: Offline Last Seen: 12 hours ago Author Posted August 24, 2015 A list by showman would be really good, but if it too much work then please don't, but I would like it
Simon Deery Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 2 Topic Count: 133 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 608 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 2,930 Achievement Points: 742 Days Won: 10 Joined: 04/08/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: 7 hours ago Birthday: 03/01/1985 Posted August 24, 2015 Personally speaking when I take photos of rides and I am unsure of the owner it isn't much trouble for me to look through the rides list and do my own research. Likewise if I think to myself " does showman X own a Paratrooper?" A quick glance through the Paratroopers confirms it in seconds. Having another list of rides by showmen sounds like a lot of work and speaking from my own experience of how I use the current list it would be of little use.As I say though there are others who may well find it of major use so this is not to discredit that. 1
Gary Witcomb Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 0 Topic Count: 757 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 5,682 Content Per Day: 0.91 Reputation: 21,277 Achievement Points: 5,276 Days Won: 131 Joined: 06/08/08 Status: Online Last Seen: 2 minutes ago Birthday: 17/03/1964 Posted August 24, 2015 Personally speaking when I take photos of rides and I am unsure of the owner it isn't much trouble for me to look through the rides list and do my own research. Likewise if I think to myself " does showman X own a Paratrooper?" A quick glance through the Paratroopers confirms it in seconds. Having another list of rides by showmen sounds like a lot of work and speaking from my own experience of how I use the current list it would be of little use.As I say though there are others who may well find it of major use so this is not to discredit that.Simon is right with a little research you can find out most things from the listed we haveI think the current listing are just fine, having other lists would be far to much work for little return, far to many members don't use the lists we do have, so I don't see the need for more lists, as per the norm people want things from the forum but don't offer any help to do it and the guys who maintain the forum do enough as it is 2
Ian Parker Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 38 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 145 Achievement Points: 55 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/06/15 Status: Online Last Seen: 12 minutes ago Birthday: 21/12/1966 Posted August 24, 2015 I'm a newbie to the site, wish I'd joined years ago.I quite often look at the reports section to get a gist of whether an upcoming fair may be worth paying a visit to. Done a few this season for the 1st time.it's.been a great help for planning days out. Thanks to all. 1
Bill Edwards Posted August 24, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 24, 2015 A little background.........When I first started the site, it wasn't "forum based", but was coded by myself in HTML. The pages were static. I kept a Lotus Approach Database of all UK Travelling Rides and copied each ride into HTML and published lists of all the rides. As the list was in a database, it was a simple matter to sort the list by Showmen's name and copy it into HTML and visitors to the site could see a list of Showmen with the rides that they owned.As the site evolved we became more forum based. This had the advantage that "Moderators" and "Volunteers" could do some of the work, whereas the original HTML coding was all done by me. However, good as the forum software is, it isn't as versatile as a database and some time ago I started work developing a Microsoft Access 2013 database. It's been a long slog getting the 2800 odd rides from the Rides List into the Database (and that's without the rides on the NFA lists that I've still to add). The data is in, but needs a lot of tidying (although the database is almost usable). I've done this for my own reference and haven't done the work "for the forum".I'm still learning to use the software, but, as I said, the versatility is the big draw. I should be able to do complex searches and sorts, for example a list of all Ark's made in 1946 by Lakin that were exported during their life - perhaps not a great example, but hopefully you get the idea It should therefore be a simple matter to publish the list by Showmen as we had on the original, non-forum based site.I also understand that the database could be published on the Internet, but I don't know how. This would enable members to do the complex searches & sorts I've mentioned above for themselves.None of this will replace the forum, but could supplement it.
Bill Edwards Posted August 28, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 28, 2015 I have now published the second draft of the Showmen's List on the internet at http://www.funfairphotos.co.uk/rides/showmen.html(NB This is UK, Travelling Rides ONLY) I stress that this ISN'T the finished article - I've still got a load of links to add (it's slow, tedious work), but I will get there.There MAY be mistakes - particularly with spelling, layout etc. If you spot anything, please let me know.As I tidy the database and get more information in, there is the possibility of adding other lists if you feel they would be useful. (Park?)
Graham Vaughan Posted August 28, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 0 Topic Count: 251 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 693 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 5,074 Achievement Points: 1,040 Days Won: 25 Joined: 24/01/09 Status: Online Last Seen: 4 minutes ago Birthday: 03/08/1951 Posted August 28, 2015 Who could ask for anything more than this. A brilliant achievement Bill. Many thanks for your time and effort. Come on lads, Bill is continually giving us more and more, it's time more of us supported him financially.P.S. The first showman in 'G' needs some attention. 4
Mike Willis Posted August 28, 2015 Group: General Moderator Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1,286 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 6,484 Content Per Day: 0.32 Reputation: 23,899 Achievement Points: 11,407 Days Won: 182 Joined: 13/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 28 minutes ago Birthday: 16/03/1951 Posted August 28, 2015 P.S. The first showman in 'G' needs some attention.That's how he's known - Benny G 1
GeorginaBailliesNumber1Fan Posted August 29, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 45 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 252 Content Per Day: 0.05 Reputation: 291 Achievement Points: 341 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: May 23 Posted August 29, 2015 Well done Mr Edwards you are so dedicated to this site and I applaud you for that.
Graham Vaughan Posted August 29, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 0 Topic Count: 251 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 693 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 5,074 Achievement Points: 1,040 Days Won: 25 Joined: 24/01/09 Status: Online Last Seen: 4 minutes ago Birthday: 03/08/1951 Posted August 29, 2015 That's how he's known - Benny G Thanks Mike , I didn't know that.
John Carter Posted August 30, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 64 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 517 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 1,917 Achievement Points: 508 Days Won: 6 Joined: 16/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2 Posted August 30, 2015 I've worked with Access databases at various times (I'm still not very good at it ) and it's obvious to me that this database represents a serious amount of work. You deserve a medal, Bill. 2
Darran Furlong Posted August 30, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 24 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 26 Achievement Points: 24 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/03/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: January 24 Posted August 30, 2015 I currently run a IRC Chat server for a couple of companys from home and could always start up a ATFOTF room with a password that we all would know but anyone who isn't on the forum wouldn't. its fairly easy for me to do and id be happy to do it. if enough people are interested in the idea ill give it a go. couldn't really ask for more from the forum, great site....
GeorginaBailliesNumber1Fan Posted August 30, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 45 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 252 Content Per Day: 0.05 Reputation: 291 Achievement Points: 341 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: May 23 Posted August 30, 2015 I am all for a chat room.We could all learn from previous mistakes.It is the only thing that's missing now from this site.I would volunteer some of my time to help out if you need it.Maybe a team of mods for the chat room so that Admin and mods don't have too much of a work load.However Admin and current mods would have the final say on anything.
Bill Edwards Posted August 30, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 30, 2015 I am all for a chat room.We could all learn from previous mistakes.It is the only thing that's missing now from this site.I would volunteer some of my time to help out if you need it.Maybe a team of mods for the chat room so that Admin and mods don't have too much of a work load.However Admin and current mods would have the final say on anything.After the aggro of last time, we won't be re-activating the chat room. It simply isn't worth it
Bill Edwards Posted August 31, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 31, 2015 I've just finished adding all the links to the Travelling Rides List sorted by Showmen's Surname's at http://www.funfairphotos.co.uk/rides/showmen.htmlIt is more or less finished (barring any mistakes - if you find any, please let me know!!)I'm working on putting the entire Rides List, sorted by Ride in one list, but have some tidying to do yet.As (almost) all the data is in the database, it is relatively simple to publish lists filtered or sorted by any criteria you want to see. For instance, would a list sorted by Ride Theme Name be useful??Example:-Extreme - Afterburner - A.S. Crow & SonsFreestyle - Afterburner - Albert CasselyOblivion - Afterburner - John BuggWipe Put - Afterburner - Philip BoothAny other suggestions??
Bill Edwards Posted August 31, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted August 31, 2015 The entire rides list, sorted by Ride is at http://www.funfairphotos.co.uk/rides/rideslist.htmlSome of the links are missing and some of the fields haven't been tidied yet, but most of the information is basically there.
GeorginaBailliesNumber1Fan Posted August 31, 2015 Group: Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 45 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 252 Content Per Day: 0.05 Reputation: 291 Achievement Points: 341 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/11/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: May 23 Posted August 31, 2015 Ok Bill
Ken Armstrong Posted September 1, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 28 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 159 Achievement Points: 35 Days Won: 0 Joined: 30/11/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: 7 hours ago Posted September 1, 2015 Hi Bill, I think your Rides List is great - it contains such a huge amount of valuable information that is not available anywhere else, and it make it so much easier to find things. I am all in favour of databases as it is easy to filter/search and sort. A couple of years ago, I started creating a personal database of Scottish rides. At the time, I looked at Microsoft Access but didn't pursue it as it didn't seem straightforward to publish/view it on the internet. In the end, I settled on using Google Sheets, which is similar to Microsoft Excel, but easy to create/edit and publish on the Internet. It's not a proper database of course, but it's great for simple lists of data, and offers good control over who can view, comment or even edit the data online. If your Rides List was published using Google Sheets, people would be able to easily sort or filter on any field, such as Ride, Ride Name, or Surname (Owner). Just a few minor comments/suggestions on the existing Rides List: 1) I would find it useful to filter/sort by Owner (Surname). 2) I notice “Jnr” is sometimes appended to the First Name, and sometimes appended to the Surname. E.g.“Frankie Jnr, Lee” and “George, Irvin Jnr”. For consistency, my suggestion would be to append “Jnr” to the First Name. 3) Personally, I would find it useful to show where the owner is based, e.g. add a new column for “Base” or “Country” (=England/Scotland/Wales/N. Ireland etc.), but this is just a nice to have for myself. Ken
Bill Edwards Posted September 1, 2015 Group: Supporter Followers: 7 Topic Count: 2,443 Topics Per Day: 0.30 Content Count: 5,906 Content Per Day: 0.72 Reputation: 2,995 Achievement Points: 7,704 Days Won: 11 Joined: 12/09/02 Status: Offline Last Seen: 15 hours ago Birthday: 08/02/1963 Posted September 1, 2015 Hi Bill,I think your Rides List is great - it contains such a huge amount of valuable information that is not available anywhere else, and it make it so much easier to find things. I am all in favour of databases as it is easy to filter/search and sort.A couple of years ago, I started creating a personal database of Scottish rides. At the time, I looked at Microsoft Access but didn't pursue it as it didn't seem straightforward to publish/view it on the internet. In the end, I settled on using Google Sheets, which is similar to Microsoft Excel, but easy to create/edit and publish on the Internet. It's not a proper database of course, but it's great for simple lists of data, and offers good control over who can view, comment or even edit the data online. If your Rides List was published using Google Sheets, people would be able to easily sort or filter on any field, such as Ride, Ride Name, or Surname (Owner).Just a few minor comments/suggestions on the existing Rides List:1) I would find it useful to filter/sort by Owner (Surname).2) I notice “Jnr” is sometimes appended to the First Name, and sometimes appended to the Surname. E.g.“Frankie Jnr, Lee” and “George, Irvin Jnr”. For consistency, my suggestion would be to append “Jnr” to the First Name.3) Personally, I would find it useful to show where the owner is based, e.g. add a new column for “Base” or “Country” (=England/Scotland/Wales/N. Ireland etc.), but this is just a nice to have for myself.KenHi KenMany thanks for your feedback!!I will have a look at Google Sheets - Access can output to Excel, so it should be relatively simple to do.1) The list of Travelling Showmen has been published sorted by owner - please see http://www.funfairphotos.co.uk/rides/showmen.html2) I'm in the process of tidying & sorting out standards - it's been a long haul 3) This was discussed a while ago and deemed unsuitable for publicationThanks again & all the bestBill
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