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Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:49 am

Hi.

I've been searching around try to find a database of Hot VW's, VW Trends and Volkswagen Classic magazines but have yet to find anything. I thought for sure that someone would have taken on the challenge. From my research, apparently not. Not publicly available anyways.

I see these magazines as a terrific resource, but if you can't find the information quickly, it's of little use having it in the shelf before you...

So, given that I haven't been able to find a good (or any for that matter) database of these magazines, I've decided to take on the challenge myself. I've in the past week closed the deal on hundreds of Hot VW's and VW Trend magazines. Sadly my collection from the past had not survived, and I'm looking to build it up again.

Anyways, I've started building the database using a Book Database software package that I've found suits this project nicely.

If I'm off based in creating something that already exists, please let me know, as I don't wish to duplicate effort if such a database of articles already exists.

What this database will/does contain, is a copy of the cover, and index page, as well as a searchable index of the articles in each issue. This database is searchable on any key word, and brings up a list of issues where matching words are found. I thought that having a picture of the magazine cover will help in locating the issue in your collection that you want to reference. The index page will give a bit more detail on the article.

Anyways, that's my thought. I've started inputing the magazines that I have, and will continue to do so as I get more delivered by mail.

Comments and feedback are appreciated.

Thomas

Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:56 am

I have an Excel Tech article database (non-racing stuff) for Hot VWs going back to 1973. It's alphabetical and searchable, it lists which issues deal with what (for example: adding disc brakes). I made it years ago when I was positive (but wrong) that there had to be an article about replacing window rubber on a Convertible, and I keep it updated. My E-mail is cussboy -at - cox.net

Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:41 pm

I brought up this same thought a few years ago, but then life intervened.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143422

Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:54 pm

So, set up your own site. Index by topics with a search function for various key words. Get some advertizers for the heading, and ask Everett if you can link. You might have to ask the magazines if they will mind. For the time it will take you, I would think they will never have the time and might even use it to find past content themselves. Don't forget about VW Greats and the current issues from around the globe. Or just burn a CD and sell it. Then offer an update every year. i would love to know where things are in my pile of magazines.

Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:19 pm

Hey Mark, it might be a little hard to get permission from VW Trends now... I think the comics are what killed 'em......

j/k 8)

Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:38 pm

Thanks for your comments and thoughts.

My two options are PC based (which I'd probably use the collectorz.com Book Collector) or a custom web based database accessible by anyone through the internet. I'm thinking the later, but not discounting anything at this point.

Each magazine entry would have the front cover and index page scanned and linked to the text references for that magazine.

I've already done some indexing through the book collector, and that works great.

There is even a spot where you can customize the database yourself, by entering notes on that specific issue. Once entered, those comments become searchable as well. Great package.

I was also thinking of setting up a site for the project either way. I do want to make it available. Would seem like an awful waste of effort if I did all this just for myself. First I will see what Hot VW's has to say. Don't know what to say about the defunct mags, but I'll see what I can figure out.

The indexing that I've done so far, I must say, looks pretty slick. I realize the effort involved, but think it'd be a worth while project. It would make a VW magazine collection truely a reference library if you could find what you needed with the click of your mouse.

Thomas

Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:00 pm

Dave wrote: Hey Mark, it might be a little hard to get permission from VW Trends now... I think the comics are what killed 'em......

j/k 8)

Nah! It was the staff jump'in ship that did them in! :wink:

Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:31 am

CWAVE wrote: Thanks for your comments and thoughts.

My two options are PC based (which I'd probably use the collectorz.com Book Collector) or a custom web based database accessible by anyone through the internet. I'm thinking the later, but not discounting anything at this point.

Each magazine entry would have the front cover and index page scanned and linked to the text references for that magazine.

I've already done some indexing through the book collector, and that works great.

There is even a spot where you can customize the database yourself, by entering notes on that specific issue. Once entered, those comments become searchable as well. Great package.

I was also thinking of setting up a site for the project either way. I do want to make it available. Would seem like an awful waste of effort if I did all this just for myself. First I will see what Hot VW's has to say. Don't know what to say about the defunct mags, but I'll see what I can figure out.

The indexing that I've done so far, I must say, looks pretty slick. I realize the effort involved, but think it'd be a worth while project. It would make a VW magazine collection truely a reference library if you could find what you needed with the click of your mouse.

Thomas Searchable on the web would be the best way. I'll help you out. I've got complete sets of most of the magazines out there.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:37 am

Hi again,

My wife has been doing some searching on what kind of software could be well suited for this project, and I think we've come up with what we need.

First I'll say that we've decided that the only way this will be successful is if this is a collaborative effort. So, this is going to be an open project. Zero cost to anyone. But I will hope that others will help in building the database. I'll of course do my share in entering magazines, but would hope that others would help out as well.

I've seen how well TheSamba works in this VW community, and feel that this knowledge base could work well with the same kind of participation.

We've decided on a wiki style of deployment for this project, that seems well suited to this application.

Anyways, my wife (my web guru) is busy today setting up the online application, subdomain and DNS. Once I get my head around this software and get it set up and configured, we'll get going on this.

Thomas

Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:40 am

Thanks! I think I'll be taking you up on this offer! We're going with a wiki style of site, where we'll be able to get lots of people entering some magazines. This way, if a lot of people can get involved and enter some magazine indexes for what they have, then this could be built much faster than by just one person in his spare time.

I'll keep this thread updated with my progress on the creation of the site.

Thomas

notchback wrote: Searchable on the web would be the best way. I'll help you out. I've got complete sets of most of the magazines out there.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:10 am

Notchback has a Wall of Shelves full of VW Magazines! 8)

Sun Sep 28, 2008 1:54 pm

Mike Fisher wrote: Notchback has a Wall of Shelves full of VW Magazines! 8)
Hot VWs 1967-2006
VW Trends 1976-2005
Volkswagen Greats 1970-1978
VW & Porsche 1979-1991
VW Action 1984-1985
Volkswagen Classics 1983-1984
VW Custom and Classic 1997-1999
VW Power 1998-2002
Complete VW Book #1-#4
Foreign Car Guide 1956-1972
and several other special issues published throughout the years.

Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:12 pm

Ok.. here's my status update...

I have the site installed and am working on the configuration.

Could someone provide me with the front cover scan (in color and at a high enough res that I can read text on the index page... 150dpi would probably be plenty), and index page scan of the January through September issues of 2008 Hot VW's?

The images could be e-mailed to me at evh@tremormuv.com

Thanks...

Once I get the site properly configured, I'll post the site address. Keep in mind that it's a work in progress and it won't look all that flashy off the bat.

Thomas

Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:19 am

notchback wrote: Mike Fisher wrote: Notchback has a Wall of Shelves full of VW Magazines! 8)
Hot VWs 1967-2006
VW Trends 1976-2005
Volkswagen Greats 1970-1978
VW & Porsche 1979-1991
VW Action 1984-1985
Volkswagen Classics 1983-1984
VW Custom and Classic 1997-1999
VW Power 1998-2002
Complete VW Book #1-#4
Foreign Car Guide 1956-1972
and several other special issues published throughout the years.

Looks like you have a problem on row 2 shelf # 1. I made my bookshelfes with 1" material.

Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:33 am

Terry Cloyd wrote: notchback wrote: Mike Fisher wrote: Notchback has a Wall of Shelves full of VW Magazines! 8)
Hot VWs 1967-2006
VW Trends 1976-2005
Volkswagen Greats 1970-1978
VW & Porsche 1979-1991
VW Action 1984-1985
Volkswagen Classics 1983-1984
VW Custom and Classic 1997-1999
VW Power 1998-2002
Complete VW Book #1-#4
Foreign Car Guide 1956-1972
and several other special issues published throughout the years.

Looks like you have a problem on row 2 shelf # 1. I made my bookshelfes with 1" material. Yeah. :lol: :lol: My other shelves are all nice heavy duty ones, but these fit the spot and I haven't got around to building good ones for this yet. Besides, they were free.

Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:00 am

Don't forget the various VW magazines which have been published or are currently published, in Australia, Great Britain, France, The Netherlands, Japan and elsewhere!

Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:46 am

Thanks for the suggestion, but quite honestly, I'm not seeing a whole lot of volunteering to help on my end... actually nobody.

I had posted a tester request for some scans of the 2008 issues and got no response. Given that I'm buying many of the issues to put into this index, the hope was this would become a community project for the benefit of all. Realisticly, I can't hope to get every issue myself, that's where help from others comes in. It doesn't appear as though there is actually any interest other than seeing and using the final product.

Oh well. If I don't see any participation forthcoming (no big if nobody can be bothered), that's fine... It just won't go anywhere then. I'll just build the index with the 6-700 issues I'll end up with for myself.

I originally wanted to do this for myself as I saw these magazines as a terrific resource that needed to be indexed to be useful. No participation hasn't changed my view on this... Without help, the scope of the project will simply change to a non-sharing one, or potentially a you want it, you pay for it approach. Works for me too. The community approach that helps everyone is of course the preferred solution in my eyes.

I'm more than happy to do the bulk of the work myself, but some help would be nice if I'm to continue to spearhead this work.

Thomas

NASkeet wrote: Don't forget the various VW magazines which have been published or are currently published, in Australia, Great Britain, France, The Netherlands, Japan and elsewhere!

Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:54 am

CWAVE wrote: Thanks for the suggestion, but quite honestly, I'm not seeing a whole lot of volunteering to help on my end... actually nobody.

I had posted a tester request for some scans of the 2008 issues and got no response. Given that I'm buying many of the issues to put into this index, the hope was this would become a community project for the benefit of all. Realisticly, I can't hope to get every issue myself, that's where help from others comes in. It doesn't appear as though there is actually any interest other than seeing and using the final product.

Oh well. If I don't see any participation forthcoming (no big if nobody can be bothered), that's fine... It just won't go anywhere then. I'll just build the index with the 6-700 issues I'll end up with for myself.

I originally wanted to do this for myself as I saw these magazines as a terrific resource that needed to be indexed to be useful. No participation hasn't changed my view on this... Without help, the scope of the project will simply change to a non-sharing one, or potentially a you want it, you pay for it approach. Works for me too. The community approach that helps everyone is of course the preferred solution in my eyes.

I'm more than happy to do the bulk of the work myself, but some help would be nice if I'm to continue to spearhead this work.

Thomas

NASkeet wrote: Don't forget the various VW magazines which have been published or are currently published, in Australia, Great Britain, France, The Netherlands, Japan and elsewhere! I have volunteered to help you, by my collection ended when my subscription ran out in 2006. To me, the current HVWs is not worth the subscription price. I have all the older ones.

Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:09 am

Cool... Thanks notchback.

The issues that I've purchased so far (haven't received many yet, but it's still early), range from the 80's to the late 90's.

If you had the time and could scan or take a photo (lined up nice and square in the frame with a bright light source from the side / no flash) of the front cover and index page of the 2000 through 2006 issues you have, that would be terrific! I'll do all the typing from the index page images. If you feel like typing in the index information and e-mailing that to me as well, that would be really helpful. If not, the scans will do.

This database as it's turning out will be two fold. I'm initially entering them in the book collector software from Collectorz.com, and am then going to paste them into the wiki I've set up.

I still have a little bit of work to do on the wiki, so don't want to post the address yet, as I don't believe it's set up quite right yet for public access.

Anyways, your offer to help is greatly appreciated, and these scans would be great!

Thanks,
Thomas

notchback wrote: I have volunteered to help you, by my collection ended when my subscription ran out in 2006. To me, the current HVWs is not worth the subscription price. I have all the older ones.

Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:34 pm

Ok, please keep in mind that this is a work in progress...

http://wiki.tremormuv.com

I've got Jan-May 1988 in there so far, and the Oct 2008 issue.

That's it so far... I'll keep adding to it, and will do something with the main page soon.

Once you've registered your user account, you'll see a search bar at the top right corner of the page. You can do your site search on key words there. Try something see how it works... There aren't many issues in there yet, but I just today received over 100 VW Trends issues. They'll be going up there as soon as I key them in. Images will accompany the issues on the site as well in time.

Shot all of my VW Trends tonight...

Thanks,
Thomas