[Board] Re: Pre-reg stuff
john guest
phecda at gmail.com
Fri Feb 2 07:51:54 CST 2007
Hi Tammy,
I would certainly like us to be using a more accessible system. The
system that Ron and Kimba created, while done on opensource software,
fails availability because it still resides on Ron's system.
So, we need a more flexible environment. Unfortunately, this was
probably something we needed to address 9 months ago. Access has
it's limitations, but we're not that big, so we can fit into it.
However, the opensource advocates will cry foul.
I think in the short term, any solution is good as long as it works,
and going to a web based data entry system is probably the way to go.
Then it doesn't matter what we have on the back end, we can stay with
mySQL, nor does it matter what the person doing reg has, either as
long as they have a browser.
So, I'm not expecting any miracles at this point, but yes, we need to
revamp the whole system. This is something that needs to be taken up
with our board, as this impacts the whole convention infrastructure.
Hope that helps (a little).
--John
On 2/1/07, Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com> wrote:
> I assume there is some larger database of potential attendees, not just
> the people who have actually attended Penguicon. That's what we need,
> although of course the attendees file would need to be reconciled with that.
>
> At the beginning of taking over registration I asked about entering
> things directly into the database and was told I should set up a
> separate system instead. I agree that this is totally inefficient. I
> would have been happy to enter the paper registrations online, but I was
> told there was no way for me to access the system.
>
> The system I use for ConFusion is a fully relational Access database
> that contains the complete mailing list and tracks attendance of
> indviduals over the years. I suggest Penguicon develop something
> similar, and yes - a web-based interface would be ideal.
>
> It essentially contains two tables - one with the static information
> about a person (Address), such as name, address, phone, etc, and one
> with all of the attendance data (Attendance). Each person has only one
> entry in the Address table, but can have multiple entries in the
> Attendance table. This means that when address changes happen, they
> only need to happen in one place.
>
> I'm not sure how well this will work with the existing pre-registration
> system. There would have to be some way for people to access their
> information in the Address table, because otherwise they'd be creating
> an entirely unique entry for each attendance - which would lead to
> things like multiple addresses for the same person and a lot of manual
> labor to maintain.
>
> Anyway, those are my thoughts on database design for tracking convention
> attendance.
>
> I have a spreadsheet with address information for everyone who has
> registered for Penguicon this year, and can put that into the mix for
> the mailing list that is being assembled. If there isn't some
> comprehensive mailing list being maintained (which it doesn't seem like
> there is) there is going to be a LOT of manual manipulation required to
> sort out duplicates and get a coherent list. Particularly if you
> succeed in getting some database swaps from other conventions, John.
> Have you given any thought to who will do this manipulation? I would
> offer to do it, or to help with it, but I cannot meet a February 14
> mailing deadline.
>
> Tammy
>
> Ron Blanchett wrote:
> > If you(John) are speaking about a dump of the reg DB from years past.
> > I can do a dump of the online reg systems DB, it is just stored in a MySQL DB.
> > I can dump it to either a text file (and possibly a CSV file).
> >
> > Keep in mind THIS DUMP would only include the reg info that is collected via the online reg form.
> >
> > Another reason the Form I created for the special Penguicon Room Party rate should have been used at room parties
> > and not paper forms, so we can have all of this data in one place. Maybe when I have time I will create some sort
> > of web interface to the DB so we can see the reg's in that DB that way we don't have to require the person in charge
> > of registration to maintain there own system. This would of course be something that would get implemented for next year.
> >
> > -Ron
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com>
> > To: john guest <phecda at gmail.com>
> > Cc: Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:57:28 AM
> > Subject: Re: Pre-reg stuff
> >
> > John - I don't think we ever dealt with this, and I assume there is a
> > mailing coming up sometime soon. At the one concom meeting I attended,
> > Aaron Thul said something about having access to the list, but I didn't
> > think it was from Ron and Kimba. In any case, I would prefer for you to
> > track down who we get that from.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Tammy
> > (cleaning out my inbox)
> >
> > john guest wrote:
> >> Tammy -- do you want to request a dump of the mailing list from them,
> >> or would you prefer that I do so? It is Penguicon property...
> >>
> >> --John
> >>
> >> On 10/8/06, Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>> oh, you mean the list of mailing addresses.
> >>> I think that was also the Wilson's, I could be wrong.
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message ----
> >>> From: Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com>
> >>> To: Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com>
> >>> Cc: john guest <phecda at gmail.com>
> >>> Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2006 9:05:41 PM
> >>> Subject: Re: Pre-reg stuff
> >>>
> >>> Ron Blanchett wrote:
> >>>> You wouldn't need to double enter the reg's if you enter them into the
> >>>> online system.
> >>>> you would just need to make sure that your system has the correct reg
> >>>> price for any of those reg's
> >>> "Online system" + "my system" = double entry. I need other information,
> >>> like addresses, etc, so people can confirm or change that information at
> >>> reg time.
> >>>
> >>>> what about the mailing list???
> >>> Where is it? Who has it? How is it connected to the reg system in
> >>> terms of verifying address changes, etc?
> >>>
> >>> Tammy
> >>>
> >>>> -Ron
> >>>>
> >>>> ----- Original Message ----
> >>>> From: Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com>
> >>>> To: Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com>
> >>>> Cc: john guest <phecda at gmail.com>
> >>>> Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2006 8:36:31 PM
> >>>> Subject: Re: Pre-reg stuff
> >>>>
> >>>> Okay - well, if that's the case, then I don't want to enter all the
> >>> regs
> >>>> into the online system, because then I'd have to also double enter them
> >>>> on my own system. It sounds like things are in the works towards a
> >>>> system for the future that will centralize things, so let's hold out
> >>>> until then.
> >>>>
> >>>> Who knows about the mailing list?
> >>>>
> >>>> Tammy
> >>>>
> >>>> Ron Blanchett wrote:
> >>>> >
> >>>> > The Wilson's kept there own DB for doing badges.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > The online reg system is only modifiable by me as the dates and
> >>> amounts
> >>>> > are part of the code.
> >>>> > The DB that all of the online reg's go into does not have a front
> >>> end
> >>>> > for viewing the reg's.
> >>>> > The emails go out so you can use whatever system you want for
> >>> keeping
> >>>> > track and doing badges.
> >>>> > Don't shoot me I inherited all of the bad stuff that is the
> >>> penguicon
> >>>> > online presence.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Don't worry things are in the works to improve a lot of the bad and
> >>>> > hopefully make it better.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > -Ron
> >>>> >
> >>>> > ----- Original Message ----
> >>>> > From: Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com>
> >>>> > To: john guest <phecda at gmail.com>; Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com>
> >>>> > Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2006 8:15:52 PM
> >>>> > Subject: Re: Pre-reg stuff
> >>>> >
> >>>> > I'll look. Actually - I just looked back at the email Kimba sent me
> >>>> > about the box, and it looks like the pre-regs are there - she
> >>> must not
> >>>> > have entered them into a dbase yet.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > To enter regs into the online system, would I just use the form
> >>> on the
> >>>> > webpage? I need to have the ability to modify the paid amount,
> >>> since
> >>>> > I'll be entering old registrations. What's the output of the system
> >>>> > look like, and how easy is it to get? I'll need to get the
> >>> output to
> >>>> > print badges and reg files.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Also, where's the mailing list kept? The dbase I use for Fusion
> >>> doubles
> >>>> > as the mailing list and the reg dbase. That way we can track
> >>> people's
> >>>> > attendance from year to year, and not address changes received on
> >>>> > registrations, without having to do any double entry. If the
> >>> Penguicon
> >>>> > system doesn't support something like this, we should consider
> >>>> > developing something that will.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Please advise.
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Tammy
> >>>> >
> >>>> > Tammy
> >>>> >
> >>>> > john guest wrote:
> >>>> > > Tammy -- I gave you a box of reg stuff at the last concom
> >>> meeting.
> >>>> > > Any chance that has it?
> >>>> > >
> >>>> > > Thanks!
> >>>> > >
> >>>> > > --John
> >>>> > >
> >>>> > > On 10/8/06, Ron Blanchett <rrcb21 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> The reg DB that is kept online with our webhost does not contain
> >>> any
> >>>> > >> of the
> >>>> > >> prereg's that where taken at the end of 4.0.
> >>>> > >> All of that info is more than likely still in the hands of the
> >>>> > >> Wilson's, if
> >>>> > >> no-one got it from them yet.
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> On a side note, all of the paper reg's should be input into the
> >>>> online
> >>>> > >> reg
> >>>> > >> system so things like this do not happen again in the furture!
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> -Ron
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> ----- Original Message ----
> >>>> > >> From: john guest <phecda at gmail.com>
> >>>> > >> To: Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com>; Ron Blanchett
> >>> <rrcb21 at yahoo.com>
> >>>> > >> Sent: Sunday, October 8, 2006 6:52:03 PM
> >>>> > >> Subject: Re: Pre-reg stuff
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> Ron -- can you help out Tammy with this?
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> Thanks!
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> --John
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >> On 10/8/06, Tammy Coxen <tammylc at pobox.com> wrote:
> >>>> > >> > To the best of my knowledge, no one has actually sent me the
> >>> entire
> >>>> > >> > reg-dbase. Is it online, and I just need to look for a
> >>> password
> >>> or
> >>>> > >> > something?
> >>>> > >> >
> >>>> > >> > Tammy
> >>>> > >> >
> >>>> > >> > john guest wrote:
> >>>> > >> > > Tammy -- can you look at the current pre-reg database and
> >>> see
> >>> if
> >>>> > >> Linda
> >>>> > >> > > and Dean Martelle pre-reg'd at Penguicon 4.0?
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> > > Also, we got a number of pre-reg's at Clave -- around
> >>>> 20. I'll put
> >>>> > >> > > together a document with the info and e-mail it to you. You
> >>>> should
> >>>> > >> > > also get and keep all the paper documents.
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> > > Thanks!
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> > > --John
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> > >
> >>>> > >> >
> >>>> > >> > --
> >>>> > >> > Check out my blog:
> >>>> > >> > tammystastings.blogspot.com
> >>>> > >> >
> >>>> > >> >
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >>
> >>>> > >
> >>>> > >
> >>>> > >
> >>>> > >
> >>>> >
> >>>> > --
> >>>> > Check out my blog:
> >>>> > tammystastings.blogspot.com
> >>>> >
> >>>> >
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Check out my blog:
> >>>> tammystastings.blogspot.com
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> --
> >>> Check out my blog:
> >>> tammystastings.blogspot.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
> --
> Check out my blog:
> tammystastings.blogspot.com
>
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