Richard Ragon Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 I recently did some upgrades to my website, and I want to share some 'behind the scene' feature that normally, no one would ever know about. When I first created my site, I had a equipment list for producers on my website, and a equipment list for print (pdf), and yet another for insurance. As my equipment has changed over the years, it became just really tedious to make small changes to all these list, and subsequently, just really put me off for making the list accurate sometimes, because I would have to make a changes to all the list. So, I came up with a solution to this. Basically, I create a single XML data file that puts all gear into categories, and list the details like type, serials, quality, etc. This base XML list can be seen right here. http://good4sound.co...ipment_list.xml This list is pretty easy to edit, and it's human readable. Now, here is the twist.. Each time you go to my website and load the equipment page, the website reads my XML, and dynamically creates it for display on my website in HTML format. Here is the dynamic page. http://good4sound.co...ipment_list.php Now.. also, lets say someone wants to print up this, there's a link at the bottom of the list, that also dynamically creates a PDF file, with the same data from the XML file. Here's the dynamic PDF link. http://good4sound.co...df.php?type=pdf And.. one more.. Lets say I want to create a PDF with serial numbers.. Here's the dynamic link for the PDF with the serial numbers. http://good4sound.co...type=pdf_serial Anyway.. Thought you guys might be interested on something like this for your websites. If anyone wants this system for their website, I don't have a problem giving you all my source PHP files (free), but I don't want to work on your website, so you'll have to do your own php programing or hire someone to do that. Your welcome to my files, if you want to see how I did it.. just pm or email me. -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Vesterskov Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 Cool solution - but as i dont change out my gear too often, its too much of a hassle to set up a system for managing it. I have an excel spreadsheet with all the same info as yours typed in. That does the trick for me. I programmed a rental management system not too long ago for a client, using barcodes to register all the gear, and keep track of what was in stock, when rented things had to be returned, and who handled the gear going in and out. Pretty neat solution, and very easy to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olle Sjostrom Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 Looking good Richard! Neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 Oh, that's hot. Yeah. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Ragon Posted September 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 Cool solution - but as i dont change out my gear too often, its too much of a hassle to set up a system for managing it. I have an excel spreadsheet with all the same info as yours typed in. That does the trick for me. I thought this same way.. I even made 1000 business cards with my equipment list on the back.. well it didn't take very long before I realized that was a mistake. We live in a ever changing, accelerated technology field. One small change, starts a landslide.. you will see.. -Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Andrews Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 Very neat idea. Now if I can just get the equipment list updated across several websites at the same time... ~Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Anderson Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 Very neat idea. Now if I can just get the equipment list updated across several websites at the same time... ~Mark. that would be easy — if you provided the sites with the same reference link they would all show the same information (the next time they were loaded by someone). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Faison Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 Thanks for the insight, Richard. Do you know how "search engine friendly" this setup is, as opposed to a standard HTML page? I really don't like my page, but it does so well in the googles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bash Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Useful if anyone wants to know what is available for stealing methinks? Have you thought about that Richard? Kindest, sb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Orusa Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Very neat idea. Now if I can just get the equipment list updated across several websites at the same time... ~Mark. If you store the equipment information in a database, you can access it on multiple websites easily. Mark O. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurence Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 If you look at the underlying source code of the page, you'll see that it just produces standard HTML. Google's fine with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 I've thought about this Bash, and early on published a .pdf sans address and using my Google Voice telephone number; easier to block unwanted #'s and harder to trace to name/address with GV is my thinking. I could be ignorantly naive in this. For sure don't want to web-publish for easy access a list that contains serial #'s. Guess one could password protect such a thing... Useful if anyone wants to know what is available for stealing methinks? Have you thought about that Richard? Kindest, sb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 If you really believe that clients care about what your equipment list includes... oh, yeah, those CL/Mandy folks will want to be certain you have all the wireless mic's they need you to include... (my equipment list includes everything possible... I rent what I do not own) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Useful if anyone wants to know what is available for stealing methinks? Have you thought about that Richard? Kindest, sb Thievery is less of a pass-time here as it is in the UK. And I say that with great love of country. On that subject, do you secure your gear in a van in a garage in the UK? I understand transport is often the responsibility of the mixer, even on longer jobs. I am a little concerned with security of my gear. Currently I have an individually alarmed storage unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Davies Amps CAS Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Thievery is less of a pass-time here as it is in the UK. And I say that with great love of country. On that subject, do you secure your gear in a van in a garage in the UK? I understand transport is often the responsibility of the mixer, even on longer jobs. I am a little concerned with security of my gear. Currently I have an individually alarmed storage unit. I only know a couple of mixers here in the UK who don't provide a sound vehicle as its generally recognised that it's your responsibility My van security cost me just over $3000.00 and this included Alarm, Imobiliser, 5 lever Deadlocks on every door, and a Traking device. Consequently my equipment insurance policy allows me to keep any equipment in the van without having to garage it. You get what you pay for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Spaeth Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 If you really believe that clients care about what your equipment list includes... oh, yeah, those CL/Mandy folks will want to be certain you have all the wireless mic's they need you to include... (my equipment list includes everything possible... I rent what I do not own) +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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