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Maybe I should not have done this.

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Excellent idea, anyone know how to do this?
 
The real question is: Does anyone know how to do it, and have the time to do it, and the desire to do it?
 
I've got the technical know-how (I'm a webmaster and database guy during the day) and maybe the time, if there was interest enough. Just need to have a few communications to figure out what data we wanted to capture, then I could whip together a small web app to capture the info. It would at least get us started. Be nice to be able to cross-reference with parts diagrams online as well, or Moss #s or something.

If we can generate enough interest, I'd be willing to provide the coding.
 
I was thinking that it would work best using an objects-based approach. Then the basic attributes would be relative to the fastener (nut/bolt/washer/screw). Then you could search by attribute or location. The catalog numbers could be an attribute as well as the application. So what say you Drew? Can you do a webobject type database? I'll contribute, and if you implement a workflow with event triggers then it would be easy to manage submissions/edits.
 
Think Moss # and factory # would be in order.
 
I'd think it would be a simple single table, with the info at the fastener level as you suggested, including all the ways you'd want to search--location, type, and so forth. Then you'd have a page for entering new items, one for editing, and one for searching/listing.

I work primarily with PHP and either MySQL or MS SQL Server. If we were to put this together in PHP/MySQL, I would be able to host it on my site as I've got plenty of capacity there. I've also got at slew of classes already written in PHP for db access and the like. But I'm open to whatever works.
 
Item
Screw Foot to Scuttle, Moss 323-125, AH Part RM20520, 4 each, Size.......?,

This is the screw that holds the windshield post on.

The problem of course is comming up with the actual size, heck I have the items as we all do. Head diam, thread size, length. Washers and nuts easy at that point.
 
But each fastener type washer/bolt/nut/pin/clamp has different types of dimensions. If you make a text field for these dimensions, then it becomes harder to list (for example) all 5/16 bolts less than 1.5 inches.
Maybe I'm making it overly complicated.

But I guess you could make a hardware type field and then link to a separate table of dimensions (one table for each type of hardware) with a unique identifier.

I just think/work better on the objects principle.
 
I agree, dimensions fields should not be text. But can have a text description field and even a notes.

Part numbers should also be numeric fields so they can be searched or sorted.
 
I tend to think from data table out, just the way I work I guess. If there are different types of specs for different types of items, you can either do separate dimension tables, or do one big table with enough fields to handle all the possibilities. I've gone both ways, and there are pros/cons with each. I've written an inventory system for the school district here, and it now uses one big table. Technical details, really.

First thing is to look at the sample data, and figure out how many types we're looking at, and how many fields are relevant. Might not be that complicated once we look at it. What are the types of items we'd be cataloging, and what are the relevant dimensions? Most fields (name, moss #, etc) are common to all, but what are the others?

bolt -- size, length, pitch, type? (Whitworth, BSF, etc)
washer -- diameter, size
pin -- size

We may find more commonality here than we think. I'm sure this could be expanded easily to encompass other cars as well, could be handy. Also, do we know if this already exists somewhere we can get to? Always hate to duplicate effort where possible.

This could be a fun little project.
 
Well, that's the problem, no one will admit to haveing the information.

Need a noun, bolt, screw, washer, split washer, starr washer, hardness, length, diam, thread, and not only Moss# but AH #, and location in vehicle.

Also need type head, flat, half round, etc. plateing, cad, chrome, SS and maybe a field for notes?
 
Those all sound good. I'll start to put together a type list later tonight, and post what I come up with for a starting point.
 
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