Site Updates

[druellan]

[R-Tape]

I will fix it in the next ZXDB update. Thanks for reporting it!

For info (to avoid duplication from you or Dario) I've just sent you the SCREEN$ with the correct, plump, pink, pippo.

[Einar Saukas]

I will fix it in the next ZXDB update. Thanks for reporting it!

For info (to avoid duplication from you or Dario) I've just sent you the SCREEN$ with the correct, plump, pink, pippo.

Don't we already have the correct screen?

I understand we just need to remove the blue Pippo and keep the magenta Pippo here:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=3733

Correct?

[R-Tape]

I'm an idiot.

(Correct)

[PeterJ]

ZXDB Update 03/05/2018

New entries: ROVR, OPZ, Thoroughly Modern Willy, Gem Slider, Fro, Ninjakul in the AUIC Temple, Capital Cities Tester.
New groups: Spectrum computing minigame competition, speccy.pl party 2018.1
SCREEN$ and files: Komplex City, some CSS CGC 2010 games

Apologies: [mention]Ralf[/mention] (your Russian uMIA will be next time), [mention]Alessandro[/mention] (the missed Apulija 13 v2.01 update, will also be next time)

Remember a full history of updates is available here.

I'm so hoping a digital version of Ninjakul in the AUIC Temple is made available to purchase soon.

https://youtu.be/i66W3GBBYn4

[PeterJ]

We have been lucky enough to have a developer working on allowing more advanced search options within the main site. The first site improvement from this is an A-Z games listing which is available from the home page.



The placement of the A-Z will probably change, but I wanted to give you the oportunity to play with it. More options will be coming soon.

Hopefully this will be useful for [mention]PeteProdge[/mention]

[PeterJ]

We have added magazine posters to the additional downloads section. A good example is the Sinclair User poster for Target Renegade.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=4087

[Ralf]

Great!

Would you consider doing a search results view which would show just titles with screenshots, with 3, 4 or 5 titles or screenshots in a row?

Something like this, just with working screenshots

http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek ... loadpics=0

It was very useful for me when it worked properly, I could quickly browse hundreds of titles and spot some interesting ones

[MatGubbins]

Looks great, don't forget the titles with numbers

[PeterJ]

Thanks [mention]MatGubbins[/mention] . Yes, we are looking to include those soon.

[PeterJ]

Great!

Would you consider doing a search results view which would show just titles with screenshots, with 3, 4 or 5 titles or screenshots in a row?

Hi [mention]Ralf[/mention]. I agree it was a great feature on WoS. It's certainly something I would like to see, and is on the list. Can't give a timescale but it will happen at some point.

[djnzx48]

That looks great! Will it be possible to have the search parameters be encoded in the query string of the URL? Currently it doesn't seem like you can save the result of a search for e.g. posting on the forums. Also, I can't find an easy way to get to the magazines section without first having to find an entry with a magazine reference.

[Einar Saukas]

Will it be possible to have the search parameters be encoded in the query string of the URL? Currently it doesn't seem like you can save the result of a search for e.g. posting on the forums.

I would like it too!

Also, I can't find an easy way to get to the magazines section without first having to find an entry with a magazine reference.

If you search for "crash" for instance, at the bottom of results page you will have a section called "MAGAZINES MATCHING CRASH".

[djnzx48]

Ah, I see now. I didn't realise that the 'ZXDB Powered Software Search' and the 'Advanced Search' would bring up different results. Thanks for the tip!

[PeterJ]

Hello [mention]djnzx48[/mention]

There is now a way of adding parameters to a search string to get a list of titles. I will post about it this evening.

Peter

[PeterJ]

[mention]djnzx48[/mention] [mention]Einar Saukas[/mention]

This is basis of the new advanced search. You will be able to bookmark these searches for future use.

Here are a few examples. Please ask if you have any questions. Note because the forum software shows an abbreviated version of the URL, it is best to click on the link then examine the formation of the URL.

We are most grateful for the development work which went into this. It opens up all sorts of possibilities, and it was this that allowed the new A-Z listing on the home page.

Enjoy!

You can use "advanced search" for any arbitrary string in title, publisher or author:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... text=snake

Or you can search for entry titles containing this string specifically in title only:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... itle=snake

Or specifically in publisher name only:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... pubr=snake

Or specifically in author name only:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... thor=snake

By default, results also include crap titles (usually from CSSCGC). If you only want non-crap titles:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... ake&crap=0

Or if you only want to see crap titles:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... ake&crap=1

By default, results are displayed with screenshots. If you want a more compact list of results:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... p=0&list=1

By default, results include both mod and non-mod titles. If you only want mods:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... tack&mod=1

And if you only want full titles (not mods):

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... tack&mod=0

You can also restrict searches to specific genres. For instance, only games:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... genre=Game

This last query will return both individual games (identified as "Game: ...") and game compilations (identified as "Compilation: Games"). If you only want individual games, the trick is searching for genre "Game:" like this:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... genre=Game:

Instead of searching for an arbitrary string anywhere in game title, you can search for titles beginning with a certain prefix:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... efix=adven

Obviously all these options can be combined freely. For instance, if you want a compact list of all non-crap individual games beginning with letter J:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... :&prefix=j

[Einar Saukas]

You can use "advanced search" for any arbitrary string in title, publisher or author:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... text=snake

Or you can search for entry titles containing this string specifically in title only:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... itle=snake

Or specifically in publisher name only:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... pubr=snake

Or specifically in author name only:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... thor=snake

OK, these options are already available in your "Advanced Search" form at SC homepage.

By default, results also include crap titles (usually from CSSCGC). If you only want non-crap titles:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... ake&crap=0

Or if you only want to see crap titles:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... ake&crap=1

By default, results are displayed with screenshots. If you want a more compact list of results:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... p=0&list=1

By default, results include both mod and non-mod titles. If you only want mods:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... tack&mod=1

And if you only want full titles (not mods):

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... tack&mod=0

These options definitely need to be added to your "Advanced Search" form!

You can also restrict searches to specific genres. For instance, only games:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... genre=Game

This last query will return both individual games (identified as "Game: ...") and game compilations (identified as "Compilation: Games"). If you only want individual games, the trick is searching for genre "Game:" like this:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... genre=Game:

Perhaps currently available choices for genre could be expanded to accomodate the most interesting special cases too?

Instead of searching for an arbitrary string anywhere in game title, you can search for titles beginning with a certain prefix:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... efix=adven

Obviously all these options can be combined freely. For instance, if you want a compact list of all non-crap individual games beginning with letter J:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... :&prefix=j

Searching for prefix is a little too specific for "Advanced Search" form, I think. The currently available links for each letter at SC homepage is probably enough.

[Kweepa]

Or if you only want to see crap titles:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... ake&crap=1

Yes! <3

[Einar Saukas]

In a nutshell, I suggest adding these options to the "Advanced Search" form:

CRAP OPTION:
* all titles
* crap only
* non-crap only (default)

MOD OPTION:
* all titles (default)
* mod only
* non-mod only

RESULTS LAYOUT:
* full (default)
* compact
* load screens
* run screens

The last 2 layouts were suggested by Ralf, that still need to be implemented AFAIK.

[PeterJ]

All good ideas [mention]Einar Saukas[/mention] . I will see if the developer of the advanced search can add these to their long list.

[Rorthron]

It would be nice if the search function could recognise wildcard symbols like ?*^$.

[PeterJ]

Hi [mention]Rorthron[/mention], it may not be exactly what you want but if you type part of a title, author, or publisher into the main quick search box it will find all the titles with that phrase. For example Izzy finds Dizzy.

[Einar Saukas]

It would be nice if the search function could recognise wildcard symbols like ?*^$.

Did you ever try searching for "b*kool"?

[Rorthron]

Did you ever try searching for "b*kool"?

I tried all the others, but not *, as it wasn't relevant to my searches. I incorrectly assumed it was missing like the others. It would be nice if the search function could recognise wildcard symbols like ?^$.

[Rorthron]

Hi @Rorthron, it may not be exactly what you want but if you type part of a title, author, or publisher into the main quick search box it will find all the titles with that phrase. For example Izzy finds Dizzy.

Thanks for trying to help, but I was trying to put together a crossword, so it was important able to search for specific character combinations.