Philatelic Wikis, Databases, Spreadsheets

This continues from a previous thread:

http://goscf.com/t/8172#70118

Londonbus1, that Wiki is interesting, and seems a good start. I will test it out with my 1979 Tuvalu definitives, a complicated set, over the next few days. I wonder if an Excel sheet can be generated from the data? As Rod said, once a category or group of stamps or topic is found, exporting to Excel or Word is ideal to print and transmit.

Here again is the Stamps of the World Wiki link:

http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...of_the_World

I did an entry under Tuvalu on the Stamps of the World Wiki, and it seems the default layout needs some tweaking.

When you go to the "Countries" category, the number of entries is always listed as zero, even though entries have been made:

http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...ry:Countries

Click on Tuvalu, and the one entry I made shows up. I don't think there should be a sub category "T" under Tuvalu, as all entries will start with T. Perhaps it should be by year?

Look under Great Britain (which should be United Kingdom??) and the 5 entries are subs. I am not sure if that is the best way to do it? Channel Islands should be under their own letter, Alderney under "A", etc. like Transkei under "T".

Just some thoughts...

I'm pretty certain that the number in brackets alongside each page on the Countries category page is the number of sub-categories, and not the number of pages within that category.

GS

I will ask Andrew to join up here and then he can join in the discussion. I am sure he will agree ,especially if others are interested in adding to the site.
He will always be acceptable to changes or requests for changes, he was ofetn asking me [and probably others too] for opinions during the set up and early stages.
I am quite excited about adding to it and seeing it grow. I just hope I will find enough time to do so...but it looks good.

BeeSee...I will let him know your thoughts and queries. But I hope he will come and read them for himself.

Londonbus1

Hi London and thank you for the invite to join :) Thanks to BeeSee I have got to read up and learn a lot about Tuvalu over the last day. I started the site as an online reference which will allow collaboration from all collectors of any field. Feel free to post any questions regarding it and its functions.

StampStudy, I like the idea for tabs on the definitives - I will start added stuff tonight - looks very interesting.

Is there a good website you know of for Wiki learning? I know there are many out there.

Glad the Bus got you aboard!

There are a few sites around that offer help - the most complete is the mediawiki website at

http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Contents

I agree about having excel spreadsheets to be able to download and take with you -- Theres nothing stopping someone uploading an excel file to the main category page of a country. The only issue I would see is using SG/Scott or any other catalogue numbers. Maybe start a new numbering system :0 I have been tinkering with a numbering system but it would need to be well thought out.

Thanks for the image uploads on the Tuvalu defins - I will see if I can steal/borrow/nick some more info from your site today - The fish definitive page would be a great example to show people how the site could look with complete listings.

StampStudy

The Tuvalu pages are coming on niceley, another user has contributed to Jersey and uploaded the basic information for over 50 sets!

Stampstudy,

just featured your site on my blog (amongst other free catalogues/resources to collectors) - http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/...catalogs.php

Hope it will bring in some knowledgeable folks who have time/resources to donate.

Thanks for the link scb, the site is in its infancy and I will take all comments on board - If you have any further suggestions drop us a line.

StampStudy

Just a quick update to the wiki -

- Base information for Guernsey and Jersey have been added (Base information = Set Information without images or formats).

- The Tuvalu section is coming on with a wonderful page on the 1979 Fish Definitives - Thanks to BeeSee for the info.

Not sure if anyone is following this but another update :

- Base information for Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Alderney is complete
http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...ory:Guernsey
http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...egory:Jersey
http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...:Isle_of_Man
http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...ory:Alderney

- A start has been made on Ireland - http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...gory:Ireland

Countries represented on the wiki so far - http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...ry:Countries

Thematics represented on the wiki so far - http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...ry:Thematics

We have decided to add base information for as much as possible to get it started - a simple task. If anyone would like to help with the base information from their collecting interests get in contact, I can provide clear simple instructions.

StampStudy

Nice work StampStudy.

For those who have not looked, here is a page showing how much information you can show:

http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...6_Separation

Lovely page BeeSee !
Drew, what is included in 'base' information ??

What we have been doing so far for base information :

Date of Issue :
Watermark :
Perforation :
Design :
Printing :
Printer :

[[Category:Country Name]]

Any information that can be added easily and quickly. Some of the sets like Ireland we have just added Date of issue, Perforations, and Designed by, We have added a few for Israel as well.
http://www.stampsoftheworld.co.uk/i...egory:Israel

I think date of issue would be a minimum to add - the rest can be expanded as needs be.

BeeSee if you are still following this thread - I deleted the two categories you created for the Victoria stamp and posted the correct page in the correct category. Thanks for the upload.

I have been adding cape of good hope pages and others.

Drew