NZFF

I've started work on the mammoth task of databasing all aircraft for FS9 and FSX that have NZ repaints. This will include civil and military aircraft.

The database will be searchable, with options to restrict listings by aircraft type - eg. Civil/military, FS9/FSX, Jet/Prop etc.

Please add comments, feature requests etc. here - thank you!

Good on ya Adamski! It's like an extra chrissy present in the sack!

The working title of this project is "NZ-Air" (total lack of imagination!). Suggestions welcome! If the idea takes off (so to speak) I'll register a domain ... so suggestions for that also - otherwise, I'll just add the section to my own site (which is where the beta will live for the moment).

The idea is to compile a one-stop, comprehensive, searchable listing of all NZ aircraft repaints. Only aircraft - ie. not scenery, panels, sound etc.

Here's a sample of the output - with three test items:


This is a "full" style listing. I may do a reduced version - with just aircraft name, repaint name, type, model producer etc. Each entry has around 16 fields for the various bits of information - many of these will be searchable, so users can restrict their searches. There are links to the file, the model manufacturer's site and repaint author's site.

Once I've written all the scripts, I can add admin logons to help spread the load of data entry and updating.

Additional features (ideas please!):
1) User login. This would allow registered users to receive email updates on any new repaints added (according to their profile - eg. FS9/military).
2) Latest additions/updates log page.

Now ... I have some queries:

1) Copyright: Quite often, these files will be on Avsim or Flightsim. Thumbnails and descriptions can be copied from those sites - but is it likely that the sites concerned will allow this? To write new descriptions for each file (and maybe create thumbnails) could take *ages*.

2) Linking: Same as above. Would these sites allow direct linking, I wonder?

I suppose I just need to *ask* (!!) ... does anyone have any contacts. I'd like to do a bit more work on it before we do ask, so they'll be able to see a more accurate representation of what we're trying to do.

It's early stages, so everything's up for grabs, features-wise. Comments/suggestions please!

Good Plan ... Have a chat with Naki , I did not even get out the door for FXS listings , maybe you could jump in and take that over , if your short on finding anything - i ll see that can add to .. this will help with the were to gos

[color=#8b0000]ANZSIM


Very[/color] nice! email Chase at AVSIM, they will probably let you link direct into their library.
Chase Kreznor, Rick Case, Paul Crowley, Jerel Hayes, Hendrik Herryjanto, Gary Buska, Tom Knudsen Momtchil Dobrev and David Marshall
If you have any questions, please email them to library@avsim.com.

ANZSIM ... Yep! I like it - thanks, Charl! Are all those names contacts at Avsim?

Here's a screen showing the search/filter options:

That's so cool....well done.

Will be a great service when up to date. Although you'll always be updating it!

If we link it off NZFF, could get attract some new members

How about supporting a simple non-threaded comments feature for each repaint or model.

Or also/at least some voting/reccomendation system, thumbs up/down sorta thing.

Would also be great to have an RSS feed of recent additions, that way people can track whats been added over time without you having to send them an email or them having to log in.

EDIT: you could also include an offsite link to Wikipedia or some such thing for more info on each model of aircraft, and maybe a user or admin contributed field for info about who else operates the aircraft in NZ and what its history of use has been. Basically a big blob of text?
ps - I still reckon it wouldnt hurt to have an area for reccomended sound packs for each engine type

Fantastic idea and i'm glad to see somebody with the skill, time and effort to put this together. Given the great following FS has in NZ, a common database would make it so much easier for new users to old to find what they are after. Big thumbs up Adamski

Well done. A great resource!!

NZ255 wrote:

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Dec 10 2008, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will be a great service when up to date. Although you'll always be updating it!

Nah ... not me, if I can help it

I think loading up the initial data will be a bit of a mission (particularly if we add exra links etc.) ... but hopefullay after that, it'll be just as anad when people find NZ related repaints.

NZ255 wrote:

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Dec 10 2008, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If we link it off NZFF, could get attract some new members

Absolutely ... yes. NZFF is brilliant for the whole community thing. I'm even a bit wary of allowing comments on the database - as discussion is what *this* forum does so well. That said, a simple "reviews" function whouldn't be too bad.

deeknow wrote:

QUOTE (deeknow @ Dec 10 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How about supporting a simple non-threaded comments feature for each repaint or model. Or also/at least some voting/reccomendation system, thumbs up/down sorta thing.

I'm in two minds about this. No problem with a voting/rating system ... though it's hard to implement unless you force people to register/log on (so you can trap multiple votes). I think maybe additional info (or corrections) could get submitted to the admin - and then included in the description (if approved) <???>. The lion's share of traffic will always be NZFF - and I think that's where any discussion ought to happen.

deeknow wrote:

QUOTE (deeknow @ Dec 10 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would also be great to have an RSS feed of recent additions, that way people can track whats been added over time without you having to send them an email or them having to log in.

EDIT: you could also include an offsite link to Wikipedia or some such thing for more info on each model of aircraft, and maybe a user or admin contributed field for info about who else operates the aircraft in NZ and what its history of use has been. Basically a big blob of text?
ps - I still reckon it wouldnt hurt to have an area for reccomended sound packs for each engine type

The RSS idea is brilliant, thanks. That way, people can receive updates without all the bother of logins, passwords etc. RSS feeds are dodgy to hand code, though (translation: a LOT of work!). They're usually part & parcel of Forums software (or CMS's like Joomla/Drupal). But I'd like to be able to do it.

No harm in adding links to extra resources - but the problem is that they change too, so they'd be another level of maintenance (nothing worse than an outdated/half working file!). I daren't even think of how the system is going to get updated. If it gets humongously popular, then Repaint authors themselves might get in touch (it may be in their interest) ... otherwise I can see it becoming a full time job!!!

The big blob of text could work (we could just link to it) ... but it's the same old problem, I think - keeping it all up-to-date.

All of this stuff can be added at any time. Once you have the basic database (and search/listing mechanisms) we can just hang more features onto it. I don't want to oevrload it too much though - creating [say] 500 entries (checking all the links etc.) could take anything up to 15mins each ... that's already 125 hours solid - ie. Over three "working weeks"! [gasp!]

Yeah...KISS.
Bells and whistles can come over time if demanded.
Getting the database skeleton up and running would qualify for a Medal.

deaneb wrote:

QUOTE (deaneb @ Dec 10 2008, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fantastic idea and i'm glad to see somebody with the skill, time and effort to put this together. Given the great following FS has in NZ, a common database would make it so much easier for new users to old to find what they are after. Big thumbs up Adamski

Thanks for the encouragement, Deane. I wonder which will be the greater resource hog ... creating new models/repaints ... or this blessed database I suspect people like [Top]Rob will beat us both - hands down - in that department!

I must admit the idea was driven by my frustration of not being able to find FSX repaints for "our" fleet. So many are FS9 ports and just don't *quite* work. Anyway - I don't even know which aircraft operate in NZ, so it's hard for me to set something up that's vaguely "authentic".

There's so much variety (both in aircraft types and stunning scenery) that I've no real desire to "fly" beyond our shores in FS. I'm not NZ born - but I'm as proud of this country as any Kiwi.

WOW! - that looks superb Adamski - heaps better than my small list (even that took a while to put together) - if you want a hand let me know but my spare time at the mo is disappearing quickly down the toilet.

Naki wrote:

QUOTE (Naki @ Dec 10 2008, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

WOW! - that looks superb Adamski - heaps better than my small list (even that took a while to put together) - if you want a hand let me know but my spare time at the mo is disappearing quickly down the toilet.

You're going to regret that offer

Seriously, though ... I think if I can get the basics up and running ... all the admins can keep adding to it as and when they have the odd moment. The real value of any "directory" site is when it's known to be near 100% complete (and therefore the *only* place you need to look) - but in reality - even if there were only 50 aircraft up there, it'd be better than nothing!

I've got a bit of a slog to do the next bit - HTML forms (for data entry & editing) are a complete PITA. Long-winded and everything has to be just right or the database pukes. To cheer myself up, I may just register a domain and put up what I'm working on - then at least we can all play with it. I really do value other people's insights, as I can often get a bit "too close to it all" and miss the blindingly obvious. My most famous gaffe was the printing of 20,000 booklets with the title "Poetry Competitition". The extra "tit" didn't impress the (rather large busted) organiser. Maybe I had trouble concentrating

UPDATE: I've sent a request to Avsim, asking them for their co-operation (see the points mentioned earlier). I'll be asking this of all the major sources of files/information. I really don't think this project would be feasible without their approval ... so watch this space!

Heres a site full of ANZ repaints/aircraft: (login first [flightsim.com])

http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?8pYL1024=...new_zealand.htm

CDTDAN wrote:

QUOTE (CDTDAN @ Dec 10 2008, 11:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heres a site full of ANZ repaints/aircraft: (login first [flightsim.com])
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?8pYL1024=...new_zealand.htm

Thanks for that one - it goes from today right back to FS5 !!! Flightsim.Com are next on my list to contact.

Good idea. Will be very helpful for newbies to our hobby.

Here's a tentative Home Page - with a dummy "www.nzfsim.org" domain. Login panel for the admins:


Most of the layout now in place:


... and here's what the "mini" listing (click on an aircaft name to get the full version):


This is about as far as I'm prepared to go till I hear back from the file libraries. Sorry about the big screendumps (off my local PC) ... but it's the only way - as I haven't installed this remotely anywhere.