[JamieD]

I was wondering how you all keep track of your collections. I've downloaded a PDF list of smurfs, but I'd rather have something I can check off (like a spreadsheet) and link to my collectibles site so my "want list" vs. the "got list" are dynamically updated all at once.

I think I'll probably play with creating a spreadsheet in Google Docs or something similar that I can link to/make public...but I figured before I went to the work, I'd check and see if anyone has a spreadsheet that just lists the model numbers, names, and maybe variations. No sense in reinventing the wheel completely if it's not necessary, right?

My mom really wants to be able to access my got/want lists, so she can get gifts. And I want to be able to access it when I'm shopping too. Hence the need for an online, dynamic solution...

[Lia]

I`m sure some members here have good spreadsheets Jamie
I believe,André just designed one

Lia

[Smurfysmurf]

I am not sure if there is an interactive one as you describe available, although I remember SimonX talking about one at one point.

I use my website and am now trying to keep it updated so that I can use it as my personal guide for when I am buying smurfs, whether it be at home or outside the home. I can pull the website up on any computer, phone and Ipad. For me it's working quite well...but of course is a lot of work

Andre has some downloadable spreadsheets on his website and even has them sorted by Schleich numbers, Bully numbers as well as W. Berrie numbers.

Here is a link

http://www.thecursedcountry.com/list.html

[JamieD]

Thanks Ladies - and thanks for the link Maureen. I'm putting my web site together as well (The "S" Collections link in my sig), but I'd like to use the checklist on the site as well for quick/easy reference.

I'll see what I can do with those spreadsheets on Andre's site, and incorporate them into a google sheet. I'll let you know what I come up with...

[André]

Hi Jamie,

if you can use the spreadsheets that would be nice.

The reason I put them on the page is basicly just because sometimes it can be very good to see which numbers W Berrie used, which smurfs they sold and in what order. Same with Bully. These numbers explain alot why the Schleicharticlenumbers looks like they do. That is why I put all there so collectors can check and compare. Also if beginners wants to print them out and just mark the smurfs the get. It would not be possible to add all variations in such a list and at the same time making it easy to print out, since many times we have more than 10 variations of each smurf. So the variations is easier to show separate, also because many times a picture is needed to be able to see if you have it or not!!??

For me I think the excelsheet works perfect. Since I can have that and update it from both my phone and computer. A larger solution is of course like Maureen, Christy, Gerda etc having a website showing all smurfs they have and then it is easy to see what they misses for other potential "gift-buyers" or friends. But It is harder to keep a website updated compared to a excelsheet, unless off course you just add a list to your website and add new smurfs to that list. But with pictures, markinginformation etc a website takes a lot more time to keep updated.

At least that is my experiance??

[JamieD]

Thanks Andre! If I use a Google docs spreadsheet, I can set it up to display on my web site, and whenever I update the file, it will automatically update the web site. I can even code links to my photos that way. Hard to explain, but I'll post a link when I have it done so you can see what I'm talking about. I have no need or want to print it out...I do nearly everything digitally, so I'd prefer to have it stay "in the cloud" anyway.

But I'm a web developer for my day job, so building/maintaining web sites is what I do.

Thanks again!

[André]

That sounds great Jamie!!

And with your knowledge proably an easy task.



I don't have that knowledge and basicly use dreamweaver as a worddocument, and learn through the process.

It is awesome with all new possibilities coming all the time. For example I like icloud, since when I take a photo it automaticly is streamed to all other units and also possible to see immediatly at home on my HD- tv.

The possibilities are probably endless, depending on what you want to do if you have the knowledge.

[Tintin]

Hi

I still haven't found the perfect file for me.
Like Andre writes, sometimes a picture says more then a thousend words.
And there are so many different variations...............
I made an excel file that i work with, but that's still far from perfect.
Don't have a website but i use those files when i go to a fair.

Tintin

[JamieD]

Technology rocks, doesn't it?

Okay...so here's what I did:

I created a spreadsheet in Open Office (excel format) with two tabs, one for my collection, and one for all the stuff I don't have yet ("Want list").

Then I opened my Google account, went to documents, and then spreadsheets. I imported the spreadsheet into Google docs, and created the links to each of the smurfs I have pictured on the blog.

Then I went to "File--> Publish to Web", and this is what the spreadsheet looks like: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... WYzeXBjYnc

Then I grabbed the handy "embed" code (just like a video from YouTube), and created a new post on my blog with that code. And voila! My page looks like this: http://thescollections.jamiedebree.com/ ... lists.aspx

Now every time I update the spreadsheet in Google docs, my blog page is automatically updated with the changes (the update is every 5 minutes).

If anyone wants a copy of the spreadsheet to play with, let me know. I'll post a download copy on the blog this weekend too.

[Tintin]

Hi

I am afraid this is a bit to hard to follow for me.

And also in describing my smurfs is getting harder.
Sometimes i wrote apple green, grass green, bright green.........
but on a fair holding a smurf ..............it's hard then to remember what i called apple green etc etc .........

Tintin

[André]

Hi Jamie,

That is really good.

And as said before the possibilities are endless when having the right tools and the knowledge. And also depending on how you want to use your website.

This could be very good for most collectors. Aspecially a wanted list is good if others are buying smurfs for you, because it is very hard to go through every variations-page to see which smurfs you don´t have.

When coming to smaller variations, like size on CE-markings, where markings are placed on a smurf, size of handles on sticks, handles etc. a picture is almost always needed to understand the differences. So all different websites collectors here have, are very good showing most variations.

I think it is so good that everybody have so different websites and shows them in different ways.

The thing I try to do with my website is share all information about the PVC smurfs. So it is actually not about my collection, rather like trying to write a book about the history about the Schleich and Bully PVC-smurfs. A lot of information about the smurfs will be gone when people living during the 60s and 70s don´t remember it anymore or don´t live anymore. So I think it is a good thing to write as much down as possible and also share it with you.

AND one thing is for sure. It would not be possible without all the awesome websites everybody here have. I check many of them several times every day for my research.

[Smurfysmurf]

wow, I like this...As you know I am no website expert, but this may be doable even for me.

I was thinking of updating my want list as I update my website (showing what I have) and will definitely play with this.

Thank you !!!!!

[Smurfysmurf]

P.S. I hope you don't mind, Jamie, I have posted a link to our Facebook page as well as we have members on there that aren't members on the forum or who prefer Facebook over the forum now.

[JamieD]

Yikes, Tintin! I can imagine that would be difficult, remembering how you categorized stuff. You need a system, eh?

Andre, your web site (and your posts here) are *amazing*! I've been learning a lot just reading through as I have time...you really know your stuff! Just starting out, it's a bit overwhelming for me, but I know exactly who to find when I need to know about the background of Smurfs!

If you have questions, Maureen, feel free to ask! And thanks for posting the link on FB too.

Now I need to trim down my want list to a "really want" list, and send that off to Jim...