NEW PRESERVATION TOOLS

[pavero]

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/zxdb/add/index.php

There are nine forms for all contributors:

1) Add a new (MIA) title/entry (SW, HW, book)
2) Add new files for existing ZXDB title/entry
3) Add original publishers/authors for existing ZXDB title/entry
4) Add a new re-releaser for existing ZXDB title/entry
5) Small changes for existing ZXDB title/entry
6) Small changes for uploaded files
7) Small changes for existing publisher/author - NEW
8) Small changes for releases
9) Small changes for magazine references

If you add a new (MIA) title/entry, generate and publish SQL code (in two steps), then you can upload all files for this entry and you haven't to wait for a new ZXDB/SC official update anymore.

All your files uploaded via these tools will by available at SC site immediately after proccessing (if the entry and publisher already existed in ZXDB)!

Some Tips:
1) Try to always define the Original publisher (if you know it) for every new (MIA) title/entry.
2) Try to always define the Release year (if you know it) for every new (MIA) title/entry.
3) Availability will be always Available (not MIA), if you have TAP/TZX/etc. files for upload.


These online forms should by always use, if you want to add some missing informations, new files or change something what is incorrect and there is no any doubt about it. The main purpose is clear - to reduce number of posts in 'Little bugs in the database' and 'Cover Artists' threads, where is very time-consuming to process those changes manually. But if you use these forms, all changes can be processed fully automatically.

[PeterJ]

Thank you [mention]pavero[/mention],

I have uploaded the files for Bruce Lee. The forms are excellent!

[pavero]

The form for adding new (MIA) titles was updated. For every title you can define:
2x original publisher
5x author
3x relation
3x group
3x note

[4thRock]

Tried this for some ATM loading / game screens but the form prevents me from uploading .PNGs
We need PNG in some cases

Other than that, it looks great

[pavero]

Tried this for some ATM loading / game screens but the form prevents me from uploading .PNGs
We need PNG in some cases

Good point! PNG support added.

[Andre Leao]

Just uploaded "Alemao" as a test. Can you check if everything is fine, so I can keep uploading files?

[pavero]

Just uploaded "Alemao" as a test. Can you check if everything is fine, so I can keep uploading files?

Many thanks. It's fine.

Only next time you can define Original Publisher for a new entry too.

And Availability wil be always Available, not MIA, if you upload TAP/TZX file.

[Andre Leao]

Just uploaded "Alemao" as a test. Can you check if everything is fine, so I can keep uploading files?

Many thanks. It's fine.

Only next time you can define Original Publisher for a new entry too.

And Availability wil be always Available, not MIA, if you upload TAP/TZX file.

Right, thanks

I forgot it was first LOG's entry. I have more than 30 from this publisher to upload

[Andre Leao]

Just a small fix: the name is "Alemão", didnt know I could add "~" or "´". It is quite common in our language.

[pavero]

I forgot it was first LOG's entry. I have more than 30 from this publisher to upload

Actually you should select LOG publisher for every entry from those 30. Only checkbox "a new publisher" will stay unchecked, because LOG publisher already exists in ZXDB. But there is still necessary to define a connection between entry and publisher.

[Andre Leao]

Thanks, I will proceed step by step, so I will not replicate my mistakes for every entry...

Starting with LOG (includes loads of ZX81 tapes), then Astor Software (more than 50 entries), and then Timex (more than 100 MIA's, including TS 1000)...

[4thRock]

Tried this for some ATM loading / game screens but the form prevents me from uploading .PNGs
We need PNG in some cases

Good point! PNG support added.

Still get an "unsupported extension" error message when I try to upload .PNGs.
And the "select machine type" is missing the "ATM". I recommend using the same dropdown options as the main search form.


Added a new game, and saw SQL being generated (green background). What must I do next?
My new entry doesn't show up on "History of published entries"

[PaulJ]

Quick question.
What if the item is not game related?
For example I want to upload the Transform 1984 catalogue and other non-game documentation, or documentation that covers the company in general rather than one specific title.

I also have all the material (manuals, TZX and photographs) for the Heart Rate Monitor. Do these need to go separately or in one zip.

Cheers

[pavero]

Quick question.
What if the item is not game related?
For example I want to upload the Transform 1984 catalogue and other non-game documentation, or documentation that covers the company in general rather than one specific title.

Via that form you can add a new entry for SW, HW and books only. If you have some materials that covers the company/publisher, you can publish them here on the forum (in Preservation section).

I also have all the material (manuals, TZX and photographs) for the Heart Rate Monitor. Do these need to go separately or in one zip.

Every file has a specific filetype, so you must upload them separately. There are two exceptions - for scanned instructions/manuals (X pages in JPGs) and for source codes.

[pavero]

Still get an "unsupported extension" error message when I try to upload .PNGs.
And the "select machine type" is missing the "ATM". I recommend using the same dropdown options as the main search form.

Oops, I will look at it.

Added a new game, and saw SQL being generated (green background). What must I do next?
My new entry doesn't show up on "History of published entries"

There are two steps / two buttons - "Generate" and "Publish".

[4thRock]

Thanks Pavero!

[pavero]

Still get an "unsupported extension" error message when I try to upload .PNGs.
And the "select machine type" is missing the "ATM". I recommend using the same dropdown options as the main search form.

Please try it again.

[pavero]

Just uploaded "Alemao" as a test. Can you check if everything is fine, so I can keep uploading files?

And here is the result of your first attempt.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=36607

[Andre Leao]

Just uploaded "Alemao" as a test. Can you check if everything is fine, so I can keep uploading files?

And here is the result of your first attempt.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=36607

Hum... Log is a Portuguese publisher. Any chance of fixing it?

And there is no .tzx included. Do I have to submit again?

[Andre Leao]

Also Log is linked to Mastetronic?

[4thRock]

Still get an "unsupported extension" error message when I try to upload .PNGs.
And the "select machine type" is missing the "ATM". I recommend using the same dropdown options as the main search form.

Please try it again.

Working great now! Having fun uploading screens and adding some new entries

[pavero]

And here is the result of your first attempt.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=36607

Hum... Log is a Portuguese publisher. Any chance of fixing it?

But you selected this company for your uploaded files?
LOG [ID: 8260]
Does it mean, there is another LOG company, which doesn't exists in ZXDB yet? If so, please define this new company as 'LOG [2]' when you will add the third entry.

BTW, if you define a new publisher/company, there is necessary to wait for the next official ZXDB/SC update.

And there is no .tzx included. Do I have to submit again?

No, files haven't been processed yet, how you can see here:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/zxdb/ad ... istory.php

[Andre Leao]

Thanks, just created Log (2) as a publisher.

[pavero]

Thanks, just created Log (2) as a publisher.

Excellent!

Now you should add 'LOG [2]' as publisher for every other title from this company. Only the checkbox will stay unchecked.

For your start you chose the most complicated combination - entry doesn't exists, publisher doesn't exists + we have another publisher with the same name in ZXDB already.

[kolbeck]

Will the information uploaded using this be sourced back into ZXDB releases?

/Thomas