Finds Program

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if there is an interest in a extensive finds based program? I have looked at i-detect but the difference would be my program would be free... I am definitely going to write the program for my own use anyways. But, if I can put in a few things that other people might like to see it probably is not going to mean a whole lot more in time or coding. The program will be database driven. For those of you familiar with SQL ... you will be able to use SQL to make your query or use my built in SQL querys which can make it pretty customizable to find your results. More on SQL is at http://www.sql.org/ for those of you unfamiliar with what I am talking about. My broad question is, is there anything you would like to see in the program? A list of some of the fields in the database would be....
Site
Date
Links to documents pertaining to the coin and/or site
Detector
Coil
Detector Settings
Depth
GPS info
Images
Comments
Coins (clad at this point I am only look at including denomination and quantity... not year)
Face value
Market value
Soil conditions
I have written alot of programs over the years for various purposes and have sold programs to just about every bigger country in the world. Bulletin Board Systems, Online Servers, Email Server additions, and automation programs are some of the area I have written programs for. The last program I wrote is to control Meade LX200 telescopes. That program has an extensive database written into my program for easier reference and control of the telescope. If you have any suggestions public or private comments are welcome. This is a hobby project and as time allows I will write it.
-Bill

 

[Anonymous]

I've just been compiling a rough draft of fields I will be working with in the program. I am not planning on making any fields required so it's as flexible as it can be. I am posting this so everyone who is interested in the program can look it over and tell me if I am missing anything. I like to be organized right from the beginning in regards to fields and naming conventions, etc. Speak now or forever hold your peace... Will the low tide & high tide help you beach hunters? I haven't done too much beach hunting but do know some people hunt with the tides, etc. Let me know! The FindType fields will be user defined into how the user wants to (not me) catagorize their finds (See previous message about this). HH!
-Bill
Finds Details
FindDate
FindMonth
FindYear
FindMintMark
SiteName
FindTypeMain (FindType will be used to define the catagories
FindTypeSub1 such as US Coin, Relic, etc.)
FindTypeSub2
FindTypeSub3
FindTime
FindQuantity
FindCondition
FaceValue
CollectionValue
Depth
SoilConditions
Temperature
Wind (Beach Hunters)
LowTideTime (Beach Hunters)
HighTideTime (Beach Hunters)
HuntTimeHours
HuntTimeMinutes
WhoHuntedWithMe
GPSCoordinates
MetalDetectorMakeUsed
MetalDetectorModelUsed
MetalDetectorCoilUsed
DSDiscPattern
DSSensitivity
DSIronMask
DSTargetNumber
DSGroundBalanceNumber
DSComments
FindsComments1
FindsComments2
FindsImageFront
FindsImageBack
UserDefined1 (can be used for grid coordinates)
UserDefined2 (can be used for grid coordinates)
Site Information
SiteName
SiteDescription
SiteType
SiteOwner
SiteCity
SiteState
SiteGPSCoordinates
SiteKeywords
SiteMainImage
Site Additional Images
SiteMainImage
SiteImage2 - 16 (16 Images total)
Site Additional Documents
SiteAddDoc1 - 8 (8 Documents Total)

 

[Anonymous]

Been spec'in out the same thing myself. Spreadsheet ain't enough. My focus is mainly historical reference.
My first thought - It's got to be simple to make entries.
I can't remember everything you posted, but here's some comments:
Allow me to set defaults for data entry, to avoid repitition.
I want reference keys, so I can reference sub-databases instead of repeated key entry of the same info (i.e., Site DB, Detector DB).
Suggest ability to specify country option in site (i.e., England, Mexico, Canada, USA, Germany, etc.).
"Value" fields are moment in time - I would drop them.
Need area for comments in Site entries, and comments in find entries.
How did you envision identifying the different types of coins?
What about categories of non-coin finds?
Mike

 

[Anonymous]

Mike,
Elaborate on what you mean by 'reference keys' and sub-databases. With SQL you will be able to pick and display the database with alot of flexiblility. But, I plan to pre-define alot of the more common SQL statements for the database.
Coins & Other Finds will be catagorized by you the user of the program. I am going to allow the user to define how they want to catagorize everything.
Example
Coins->US Coins (older)->Silver->Barber Dime
or
Relic->Civil War->Buttons->North Carolina
or any way that you want to catagorize everything.
-Bill

 

[Anonymous]

I just use Excel and have entered data going back to when I started in 1975. I track:
Year
Month
Day
Site Type
Location
State
Day total (FORMULA)
Coin Types (37 columns for now)
10K RING
14K RING
18K RING
22K RING
STR RING
JUNK RING
TRD TOKEN
DOG TAG
WATCH FOB
FOREIGN SILVER
FOREIGN NON SILVER
CLAD $ (FORMULA)
COMMENTS - USUALLY PUT DATES OF GOOD COINS HERE
I also have columns for but never fill them out (should do this by the way)
# Hours
# Miles
Then I summarize with formulas each year:
by coin type
silver only by type by year
silver only by type by month current year and % of total coins
Other formulas:
Current Year Silver Coin Pace
Current Year Silver Coin Record Countdown
Current Year Indian Cent Record Pace
Current Year Barber Dime Record Pace
Current Year Seated Dime Record Pace
2002 - Indian Cent To Barber Dime Ratio
2003 - Indian Cent To Barber Dime Ratio
2004 - Indian Cent To Barber Dime Ratio
2005 - Indian Cent To Barber Dime Ratio
2002 - Indian Cent To Seated Dime Ratio
2003 - Indian Cent To Seated Dime Ratio
2004 - Indian Cent To Seated Dime Ratio
2005 - Indian Cent To Seated Dime Ratio
2002 - Silver Coins Per Hunt
2003 - Silver Coins Per Hunt
2004 - Silver Coins Per Hunt
2005 - Silver Coins Per Hunt
2002 - Indian Head Pennies Per Hunt
2003 - Indian Head Pennies Per Hunt
2004 - Indian Head Pennies Per Hunt
2005 - Indian Head Pennies Per Hunt
2002 - Seated Coin Count
2003 - Seated Coin Count
2004 - Seated Coin Count
2005 - Seated Coin Count
This is enough information for me. Basically all I have to do is enter the coins and better dates when I get home from hunting in the next row. Everything calculates automatically. Once a month I change formulas on the silver coin monthly count section and one a yard I lock the totals and add rows for the next year. It's winter time then and I need something to do anyway <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting your methods... <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=""> Any ideas I see help me.
-Bill

 

[Anonymous]

You are welcome! It would be good to start collecting information for private property such as location (GPS), land owner name, address and phone number etc. That will be useful information for the next generation of treasure hunters!