timd Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I'm slightly confused by the complication of a database - I can't really see the point. Essentially the data would need to be typed in once. I can't really see people needing to sort it. Click on the map for people local to you (or at least in that county) and if there isn't anyone, go back to the map and go out a little - or look at the full list. I certainly don't want complication and public access to generate security issues. The info is in a table already - but seems to work. The problem with adding and extra column is purely space - I either need to shrink the font a little, or widen the page - and that's the snag - just a time issue as the page count is fairly high. I'm generally of the opinion that if you've got data, a database is the way to store it. The content is pretty much perfect for a database, one table for product descriptions, one table for people, one for the the products people have. For the chart, have a look here. Google charts API is a fantastic tool for generating graphs and maps, but can also do QR and a few other useful things. In this case, I'd probably say that a database isn't really needed, but having one can do wonders for future expansion and adding new features, especially filters and sorts. Not trying to say that what you've done is wrong, just not the way I'd do it ;) Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnhuson Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 just a reminder to those with wings to hire out:make sure the wings you send out have a cd, or flash drive with the drivers on. getting to a job with no wifi and no disk to install the drivers would be a right pain in the backside.Whilst this is a good idea it's worth noting that the drivers for the wings are contained within the install of Magic Q PC, so if you have it installed you have the drivers. There's a folder called MagicQ Wing Drivers in the installation directory of Magic Q. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 I'm generally of the opinion that if you've got data, a database is the way to store it. The content is pretty much perfect for a database, one table for product descriptions, one table for people, one for the the products people have. For the chart, have a look here. Google charts API is a fantastic tool for generating graphs and maps, but can also do QR and a few other useful things. In this case, I'd probably say that a database isn't really needed, but having one can do wonders for future expansion and adding new features, especially filters and sorts. Not trying to say that what you've done is wrong, just not the way I'd do it ;) TimThat's fine Tim, I've had some interesting chats with Tom about Google Fusion, but I'm just not database savvy enough to manage it - I looked at all the code on the Google link and it may as well be in Swahili! I appreciate the benefits of a database, but managing it is something I'd have to learn, and I don't have the time (or desire really) to have to learn how to do it! Once it's stabilised, I can cope with the odd new member or change of equipment or other items quite simply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBogg Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Hi Paul, Im happy to add our Magic Q items to the list in the northwest. We have an MQ100 Pro and a Maxiwing system with built in PC unit. I think we would need to look at the wing systems as with a PC in our case (perhaps this could be another item on the list) as its cased together and I personally would not want to split this for one hire. ChrisdBS Solutions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 I think that's fine - if people enquire, you just explain it's an integrated solution. I'll sort it. EDIT - done, and the integral package sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peza2010 Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 just a reminder to those with wings to hire out:make sure the wings you send out have a cd, or flash drive with the drivers on. getting to a job with no wifi and no disk to install the drivers would be a right pain in the backside.Whilst this is a good idea it's worth noting that the drivers for the wings are contained within the install of Magic Q PC, so if you have it installed you have the drivers. There's a folder called MagicQ Wing Drivers in the installation directory of Magic Q. I had an issue with an older version of the software with the pc wing where the driver was somehow incorrect, and the wing dropped a few of it's functions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 We've had 851 page views since we started, and now the traffic via Google is now picking up - 3 days ago there were no Google referrals - so looks like people can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Another County added. Current map is:http://www.magicq-hire.com/wpimages/wp3b9a216c_05.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 My presence on the list seems to have occasioned a red splodge over the whole of north and mid Wales and Cheshire - so you might as well 'colour in' the Wirral and Merseyside too, as they're closer to me, and easier to get to, than most of the bits of Wales that I've turned red! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 I'll split the Wales bit in two - and go upwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phloot Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Just emailed you - count me in, and thanks for organising it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Another notch on the map. If anyone has any suggestions for insurance companies, I'd like to hear - only a few even bother to reply, and those that do just say no. Has anyone got an insurance company who really do cover hire electronics? Can't even get daft quotes - none, whatsoever so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I would imagine you have tried the usual suspects Paul? Torribles, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Two insurance companies pointed me to Torribles, but they couldn't help - which I must say I thought was odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 I've discovered why insurance is tricky to get. We don't need insurance all year - as in a proper policy, so looking for cover for a few hires a year is what we're after. However - the insurance companies view this as something called "selection against the insurer" - as in you want it covered at the point it's most at risk - rather than in store, or being used by yourself. Therefore they treat this as they won't be able to collect enough premiums to offset potential claims. They also view 'pay-as-you-go' schemes where cover only exists for short periods as open to fraud - which for the premiums collected is very expensive to prove or disprove - so not worth doing. This does explain why such a simple request got such negative results. So hire to those who can be trusted, seems to be the rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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