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Dale:
That sounds like a good idea. Where would this database be stored? How would the individuals enter their data. How would the data be presented?
I'm just full of questions!

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Good questions!

Answered in order:

1) I run my own server (ie, I own the hardware... it's mine... not a shared web host or anything like that) that's housed in a data center outside of Washington DC. I host my own and a few friends' websites on it and what not and have off-site backups to another server of mine on the west coast. The database would live on that and be presented as web page in a user-friendly way. My server lives at http://elemental.org/

2) Entering data - It would be done through a form, of course... and have fields patterned after your own SN/status/comments style of entries - which seems to work out well.

Giving the ability to update an existing entry (ie, after a repair is made or condition of a PST worsens) is the tricky part, because you really only want the person who originally made the entry to be able to change it (so no one who is being an a-s-s or has ulterior motives could vandalize an entry.) For that, a simple, unobtrusive password would can be chosen at the time of first entry (based on the PST's serial number.) The person will just have to enter that password whenever they wish to update the status of their PST. In the case that a PST changes ownership and the new owner wants to update that PST's entry (if it already exists in the database) they could email me with some convincing evidence and they can be granted access.

3) Presentation - It can be basic and clean - when one goes to the page it'll just spit out all existing entries with pagination (say, 10 or 15 entries per page). One could also search for a specific PST serial number, or on the comments or whatever fields. Of course, links can be provided back to this forum for discussion on the topic.

I'm on call this weekend and am therefore tethered to the computer (no stargazing for me) ... so I can whip up something to build on.

/dale

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Orion XT10i + Telerad
WO Megrez 90 APO
Astro-Physics Mach1GTO
WO EZTouch mount (AYO version)
TeleVue Nagler 3.5T6, 7T6, 22T4
Coronado PST (Hα)
Canon Digital Rebel XTi

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