CC Data Sheet

[Hooks]

Has anyone developed a computer based Carbine Data sheet? I have seen some on the news letter’s that appear they were filled out with a computer. Since almost everything is done on a computer today, I am sure it could be developed without too much trouble. Most of us older folks don’t possess the skills to do it; however, we have children and grandchildren that could probably whip one out quickly. I was thinking Microsoft Access or something like that, whoa I don’t have Access. Also, wouldn’t it be cost effective for the Carbine Club to send the newsletters electronically? JMTCW
BB

Information

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[lbelflowers]

I hope they never go electronic. The problem is the information is copyrighted,although it seems to leak out occassionally. People seem to think that they are entitled to the information without contributing information or paying for a membership. People thrash certain well known people in the Carbine arena about writing books but, if they were carbine club members,they would see many of the works of these people.

[Hooks]

Good point, thanks

[Aint Life Garand]

http://www.carbineclub.com/DataSheet_7_01_08.pdf

[Hooks]

What I was hoping to find was a computer based program where someone has designed a data sheet that could be completed with a computer. I know this could be done with Microsoft Access or A-Cad, however I would assume one would have to have the programs installed or be able to use some type of conversion that could be usable to us all.

[lbelflowers]

Once it goes electronic and gets on the web,troubles will abound. The first thing that comes to mind is all the humpers will start having information and start scamming the masses even more. That is why the Carbine Club data is copyrighted.We see it all the time with stock cartouches and the folks out on the west coast.I think that is why the Carbine Club hasn`t gone electronic. The more you take away from hands on things,the more you tend to forget. Everyone talks about the history but, you see more people wanting to give history away.

[BrianQ]

The problem with an electronic type datasheet is capturing all the marking variations in their correct form. How do you decide what font to use? If you use a font that has serifs the markings that don't have serifs will be entered incorrectly and vice versa. What about markings that have a combination of letters with and without serifs? How about markings that are vertical or upside down? What about markings that are not letters or numbers? Things like bells, squares, crescents, company symbols, etc. All these would be lost or need to be programmed into a menu for selection . IIRC there are about nine variations to Inland trigger markings. Now imagine how many variations there are for each of the parts of a carbine spread over eleven manufacturers. All those little variations are valuable info to a researcher and tell a lot about the manufacturing history of carbines. Having a generic easy to fill out computer based form that looses all those variations isn't a very good trade off.

It would be nice to have a fill in type data sheet that has the ability to capture the markings exactly as they appear but that is a very tall order.

Some of the recent COM data sheets were completed on a computer. I did them and do each one individually using a few different pieces of software. It is much easier and faster to do them by hand but the computer makes it more legible when running multiple copies.

[Hooks]

Brian, I understand the logic and difficulty it would be to build a program/spread sheet to cover all variables. It certainly could be done by someone proficient in computer programs and carbine knowledge, however probably not worth the effort. As far as security concerns lbelflowers has I don’t see the issue being any different than we have today. An electronically completed data sheet could be sent to the CC by means other than over the web. Yes I know there will always be a potential goof ball that could send it out to the world, no different than scanning a completed document today and e-mailing to where ever. If someone wants to violate the trust of others there is always a way. The only reason I even brought this up was I noticed the one attached to the last CC Newsletter #356 was clearly completed with some type machine other than pin or pencil.

[phil441]

I just always figured that the CC would prefer a rather shaky try by an old-timer than a clean version by a computer nerd.
Those markings needed by publishers and researchers such as BQ could always be cleaned up to suit their needs.