New version of Coin Inventory ready for download

dingodog

We've updated several features and functions in COIN INVENTORY. If you are running it, please log into the program and update. If you are not running it but might like to, you can download it free at http://download.coinweb.org/ If your web connection is too slow to gupl 80+mb in one swift chunk, send your mailing address to me at janrschwenk@attbi.com and I will send you the cd-rom at no charge. The software will sell at $79.95 after Jan 2003 but if you send in your comments, suggestions, dingbats, you may use it free (with upgrades) for as long as the sky is blue and the grass is green and the waters flow.

NBSQLGeek

DOWNLOAD LINK

mdwoods

I update my Software, now if I only would take the time to use it. Next week, I promise. mdwoods

NBSQLGeek

Drool database.........

<evil grin>Stress test.

NBSQLGeek

Not to shabby. Still twinking with the user interface. You guys write this is in VB or some form of C?

ClarkOfKent

NBSQLGeek,

Other than the program that shells to Access (Runshell2.exe), I'd say the whole thing was written in VBA in Access.

NBSQLGeek

the database that this is sitting on has a table for current market values?

Sorry for the questions, very curious.

ClarkOfKent

The first thing I did was check out the db. Alas, the bulk of it is in a secured db (Coin_Inventory_FE.mde).

nwcs

He's doing a re-write in .NET later. From what I gather it will probably be in VB.NET and C#.NET. The DB would be best moved to SQL Server desktop edition, but the internet version of this would probably be on a clustered sql server installation. As for the values, most of them are stored locally.

dingodog

Brad,

Thanks for posting the link!

Rgds
Jan

dingodog

You might want to check out the Rarities Auction - there is, I believe a 1953-S PCGS 67 FBL. That might fit nicely into your collection. Then you could spend some time working with the software and telling us how to improve it.
Rgds
Jan

dingodog

Brad,
Yes, we do RAD in Access but it is a fully normalized db and set to move to SQL in Dot.Net. Since it will be in Dot.Net (UDDL, SOAP, ETC) various parts of it will be written in everything and anything. Heck, I might even throw a little COBOL in!
Rgds
Jan

NBSQLGeek

Ah yes SQL server. Web edition would be excellent. My thoughts are is since at my office I would use this and then at home also work on it aswell. So needing to transfer the current Db to the home/work is a manditory thing for me.

Web version I can see with no problem. Written in asp.net would be the logical way with the sql server backend. Your choice of C# or VB. I was actually planning to create a personal web app with SQL Server to handle my coin inventory. Thank god I dont have to do it now since someone else will be working on this.

dingodog

Clark,
Do you guys want to chat with the group of programmers doing the writing? We've got some pretty sharp guys (and gals!). They even putz with Java.

Rgds
Jan

NBSQLGeek

Ah yes Microsoft has now taken everything and made it .net. still get a thrill I can do Visual J# .

dingodog

Brad,
Yes, we update it every two weeks. Actually, we are updating sections every %$#@*&amp;^## day! Currently address over 75,000 unique coins and expect that number to go to over 250,000 as we complete entry of errors and varieties. We are working with some of the leading authors in the field and you will be able to get their expert opinions on such matters, including prices, on a subscription basis. When you enter coins into the system, the "Coin detail" will alert you to the possibility of varieties or errors on that specific coin. Right now you have to be able to identify it yourself, but soon you will be able to download copius detail including very large high resolution photos (at a nominal cost) to give you the knowledge and information to do your own attribution, if you'd like to do so.
Rgds
Jan

nwcs

Ahh, just convert to C#. It's better over here...

ClarkOfKent

I'm in .NET infancy right now. Sooooo much to learn. Looks like I'll be making my living with vb6 for some time yet.

NBSQLGeek

Be back later, have a DB team meeting now.

Will continue this later.

dingodog

Clark,
We might be willing to show you the structure, normalization, etc but we would require--at the very least--a non-disclosure and possibly some other documents. You can imagine that we are not making very much money on this project by giving it away free. What you have seen so far is about 10-15% of the work we've put into it so far. If we were delivering this software to one of our normal customers the current billing would be well over $250,000. I hope you don't hold it against us for protecting the core of the program.
Rgds
Jan

ClarkOfKent

<< <i>I hope you don't hold it against us for protecting the core of the program. >>


I would do the exact same thing.

You don't need someone taking all of your hard work, sticking a new user interface on it, and selling it!

dingodog

NWCS,
Right on! You've got it all. The only thing is that my personal programming skills go back to mid-stone age and my programmers politely tell me to not touch their stuff! They're a bunch of young, smart guys (and gals) and they eat this stuff up. I can't even keep up with the vocabulary--that is, if you can call an unintereupted stream of letters vocabulary. Part of this thing will run on your cell phone. (In my day, Det. Dick Tracy was limited to two way radio - he didn't even have to putz with "bluetooth" (or is it green tooth?)
Rgds
Jan

nwcs

Ahh, yes, bluetooth. Probably too soon for early adopters even. but I think you could make a killing by making the program wap (ugh, I felt a tremor in the force for mentioning evil WAP) compliant or just web clip accessible on mobile palm pilots. The ability to lookup and research that way is an incredible value add proposition.

NBSQLGeek

J2ME DROOL.

I understand totally keeping the database backend locked up. I have databases for Siemens , Verizon and USPS orders and inventory. I keep my databases under lock.

Bluetooth, so ready for the availability to hit my area so My Ipaq can actually be worthwhile for me.

dingodog

Brad,
Actually we're putting an automatically generated want-list (calculated from your collection) along with pricing on the IPAQ so you (and I) can take the thing to shows. In tests it has helped us beat dealer's prices down at the table - hey! you can't argue with a computer, can you?
Rgds
Jan

NBSQLGeek

Nah its you cant argue with verifiable data. Computers read the data.

You wouldnt think I was a Database geek would ya?

dingodog

Brad,

No. I never would have guessed! I though all those letters after your name were decorations. Looks like you're certified for just about everything! Congrats! I know it is a lot of work.

What do you think of MySQL by the way?

Rgds
Jan

NBSQLGeek

Crap , junk, doesnt conform to PL/SQL or T-SQL anywhere near ANSI 92 standards.

But hey its free.

MySQL is very fast and lightweight, but if its gonna be succesful and be accpted by others. Its has to follow ANSI or be owned by Microsoft.

Got all my certs this past spring at age 23, lot of intense work for a graduation present got myself a BMW z3.

NBSQLGeek

Yes a wantlist for my Ipaq will be very nice. I am always out in the world and can never remember hmmm I need that or yes that will fill a spot in my album.

dingodog

Brad,

Yeah, we're resisting using it but a customer is pushing us. It is a Middle Eastern charity that is collecting money to send home. They want us to write a credit card management system for them in it so they can run it on the free software server. Except for the fact that a good friend of ours is involved in this "plot" my first inclination is to run, and I don't mean about the MySQL. They are probably legit but I'm paranoid (people really ARE following me!)

You've earned the BMW! (I had one of the first 3800's to come out - got it on a diplomatic passport back when I was working for this outfit at Foggy Bottom). You must live in California?

You're a "young'un" so you may not know much history of the micro revolution. Way back at the dawn of the age (late '70's) I was involved with TEI (which later became Maxicom). Our operating system would have interested you. It was a deterministic polling node & cluster network with a very efficient b-tree isam-similar structure database. It ran on the Z-80B at a blazing 6mHz with 64K ram per processor in this network environment. A dumbed-down version of the net went on to help father Orange-talk (or was it Pear-talk - anyhow it was run by two nice young men in a garage) and a neutered, de-plumed, naked version of the opsys without the db features went on to become the lynchpin of the micro revolution. This, unfortunately, just proves how dumb we were. In 64K we were able to retreive a 128 byte sector from 256 terabytes of data using only 4 levels of the b-tree. We were blowing IBM 9031's flat away. History, however, is written by the survivors and we made too many mistakes to be allowed to survive as a computer manufacture. One of many was telling IBM to go weewee up a rope when they came to us to build their first micro. We were unhappy with them as they had sic'ed some nosy guys with camera on our machine at the Atlanta Comdex while some guy, Jimmy Carter, I think was his name, was distracting us introducing us to the Japanese 5th Generation team. What ever happened to them, I wonder? But I digress - sorry.

What were we talking about? Coins? Oh yes, I like coins, especially Dahlonega's. Whoops, databases. Twentythree is a wonderful age! Savor it! But never forget, vote Republican!

Rgds
j

NBSQLGeek

Well we just totally blew over so many heads right now.

Im actually in North Carolina.

I agree with republican.

NBSQLGeek

Im looking in the GUI and looking for a place where I can search for the market price without having to be in the ADD NEW COIN INVENTORY.

Is this possible?

dingodog

Brad,

We are adding a lot of features - many of them will relate to price. Right now you have to be in either add coin or viewing a coin. Thee is a little icon in the lower left hand corner that looks like a bar graph with the title "Market Price". The prices shown will be for the specific coin you have selected. We are adding a feature where you will be able to query by coin, price or grade. It isn't too convient to do in the Access front end but it will be a pop-up in the asp version. We will probably have more than once choice, eg. specific coins, coins with rising prices, best advance in price, worst fall in price, price ranges (for a range of coins, say gold commems, or eagles, etc). This wont be too long in coming.

Oh, yeah, and by the way, once the asp is out of test mode, you will be able to see what prices a whole bunch of coins are being offered for, by your your requirements.

Thanks for the suggestion - we need more!

Rgds
Jan

KlectorKid

Dingo have u thought of posting things other than your program? Why not stay a while and join the forum to contribute and to learn?

NBSQLGeek

Bah no time to learn let him work. Make me mah Mobile wantlist!

cosmicdebris

I've been playing with your program for awhile now and have a few questions. Mainly what about other Country's coins? I collect Britannias, Australians Lunar Coins, and others in addition to US coins. I would love to be able to add them in but can't. If you are not going to add World coins how about if we could add our own coins that are not already in the database?

dingodog

Kelctor Kid,

Fair enough! I will try to participate more in the forum. I did a fair amount after I first joined a bit ago but have spent the last two weeks visiting my wife at the hospital (liver surgery - happily she is doing much better but still has the radiation stuff to go through).

I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything and even though I haven't posted many messages lately, I have been lurking when I get the chance. Thanks for the invite!


By the way, I collect Dahlonega's, with my pride being a 1861-D $1.00 PCGS AU55. I am, desparetly, looking for a 1960 Roosevelt PCGS MS67 or higher as the last coin in a registry set. Anyone have one? One last thought - if I appear a little "green" it is because I've been eating my own cooking.

Rgds
Jan

dingodog

Bill,

Good point - thanks.

My own collection includes some very beautiful coins (I'm impressed with your graphics!), one of which is a 1987 UK five pound proof with Queen Elizabeth, and St. George and the dragon by the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci. This is coin 02286 in the series. It appeals to me for two reasons, first it is beautiful, and second, I used to own a fine jewelry shop under the name of Benovenito Chalenni (I learned gold smithing in China) where we produced and sold fine works of art sculpted in gold.

The way the software is organized, we can support several different "domains" via the database backend. As soon as we complete adding U.S. coins, varieties and errors (we have approximately 220,000 coins to go), we will start addressing other countries and series. We have been looking for help in this undertaking but the work is immense. Once those additional databases are completed, you will be able to have all collections available through one system.

Rgds
Jan

Bulldog

OK, So I aint a Geek, well I am a Geek, but not a computer Jargon Geek.

So here is the question, Will it run on Microsoft ME?, Has anyone DLed it yet and if so what are your thoughts? Is Norton going to Kill the DL?

Damn I am stupid, but you guys and gals make me smarter all the time.

BD

Bulldog

One Dog to another Dawg. All the best to the Mrs. and My prayers are out for her and your family. Life can be so danged tuff at times. Just another of GODS little tests for us, here on earth.

All the best Dingo!

Bulldog

dingodog

Bulldog,

Thanks for the kind thoughts, and your questions.

First, I didn't want to "out-geek" you, I geek to eat. I think of myself first a husband and father, and also as a Veteran, Vietnam, of course coin collector. Does the bull-dog relate to, perhaps, Semper Fi? I was USAF and then later a junior spy, wounded, Bronze with a "V", Silver Star and Purple Heart. Got fired by President Ford because "Gentlemen don't read other gentlemen's mail", but my fight is with the enemies of the U.S. and though I was six months shy of a retirement, I don't hold it against President Ford. I do believe his helmet was too tight, though.

Were you a Marine? My daddy scrambled through the sand and mud with old Chesty Puller - know him?

Yes the software will run under Windows ME. You will also need the Access 2002 XP runtime (from the same site). If your link is slow (80+ mb) pm me your mailing address and I will mail you (and everyone that wants one) a cd rom at no charge. If you have any problems getting the software to run, we will help you through it via the web.

Thanks for having served, without you and your buddies we sure as Hell wouldn't be worrying about coins or computers.

Rgds
Jan

Bulldog

Jan,

I sent you a PM, All the best and thanks for the Geek Chatter.

Bulldog

mbbiker

before continuing please make sure to close all microsoft Access applications?? what does this mean? I have everything closed on my computer and i still get this message every time i try to update my program!?!?!?

LucyBop

whad a bunch of geeks!

fantasiize

Wholy masking tape and pocket protector Batman ...

fantasiize

BTW, don't forget the old saying ... if it works its production, if it blows its a test ...

dingodog

MBBiker,

The update program is called from within the Coin Inventory program, so the Coin Inventory program was open when the update program is started, however, it needs to erase and re-write parts of the calling program, and if it did that while the program was open, it could leave large chunks of code on your machine which would be difficult to erase. You need to leave the updating program open, so the easiest way to close Access is to click on the "X" in the upper right hand corner of the Coin Inventory program. You will note that the update program is still open, although it may only be visible in your menu bar at the bottom of your screen. Click on the update icon or on the update button if the screen is open and the update should take place. It takes a few minutes to complete. After a few seconds a progress bar will appear, and will complete, then it will complete a second time and you will receive a message that the update is finished and the update windows will close.

Don't feel bad, this seemingly unnecessarily complicated process is annoying even to the guys that wrote it but it is because we are transitioning the code a mega-generation ahead. As this metamorphisis is completed in several stages, the new program will be much more functional and I am confident you will be pleased with the results.

If you still have problems with the update, please let me know and we will help you get through this.

Rgds
Jan

dingodog

LucyBop!
Is that at '54 Chevy? And the round thing on top of the dash - a tach?
Cool! It looks like the one I drove to high school (1954). Mine had rolled and pleated white leather(ette) seats.
Ahhh! memories!

dingodog

Fantasiize!

For one who loves Ike Dollars, I have a question:

I have a MS64 1971-D Ike with two clips. The larger, approx 12% is at 2:30 and a much smaller occurs at 12:00. Looking edge-on there is a slightly peaked seam running roughly through the center of the shear, looking much like a piece of metal looks after it has been cut with a tinsnip although the radius of the clip is uniform and of the correct diameter. The smaller clip does not extend through the raised edge of the coin. My question for you, are these clips genuine or did someone add them to an otherwise good coin to create a "mint error"?

Rgds
Jan

fantasiize

Jan,

My initial thought would be the latter, though a picture would always help.

Generally, error doctors can work on coins that appear as to not have been worked on.

Chris

kranky

<< <i>I have a MS64 1971-D Ike with two clips. The larger, approx 12% is at 2:30 and a much smaller occurs at 12:00. Looking edge-on there is a slightly peaked seam running roughly through the center of the shear, looking much like a piece of metal looks after it has been cut with a tinsnip although the radius of the clip is uniform and of the correct diameter. The smaller clip does not extend through the raised edge of the coin. My question for you, are these clips genuine or did someone add them to an otherwise good coin to create a "mint error"? >>



See if this page helps with your clipped Ike.