There are a couple of semi-independent actions that need to occur:

1.  We need to develop a new & improved schema/data model about what information we want on each entry.  (Here's where those of you with MLS degrees can help! :-)

2.  We need to develop the infrastructure to store the data.

3.  We need the web application to query the data.

4.  We need the web application to add/update the data.

5.  We need a set of policies & procedures governing updates in particular.

6.  We need to extract the data from the existing database, and bulk load it into the infrastructure.  

Steps 2, 3 & 4 require specific programming/development experience.  A couple of us have started to kick this around.  I very much want to do this as a full Open Source project, so it'll be easy to move, maintain, etc.  Step 5 depends on who will own the application and make it visible to the public.  If this is NMRA.org, that's OK.  I'd like to see an Open Source/Wikipedia style approach for updates, probably with people who must sign up to become updaters first.  Step 6 is dependent on getting the application/data from Kalmbach, and if the original developer's around to provide a definition of the data format, that makes it -a lot easier-.  But frankly, we can do steps 1..5 without getting anything from Kalmbach, it's just a lot more work to recreate the indexes.  But if we expand the data content over what the original index has, we still have at least part of that problem.  

dave (emery@grebyn.com)

There is no need to reinvent the wheel for this project, there are open source databases out there that can cover all the needs for this project.

To this end I could have something up and running within about a week. I worked with the template of one such application to produce this as a possible example of the new index. This is just one of any number of templates that could be used in this system to display different data, here I have used the latest issue of MRR as an example. (This would be one of the detail pages displayed after a search or just browsing the index)

Cheers

Wayne

I've been skimming through many of the discussions about this topic and want to put my name in as a potential volunteer for data entry, content administration, or whatever.  I've been an admin on Wikipedia for several years now (where I edit as Slambo), and I am an officer in the NMRA's Midwest Region (former Director at Large, now the Region Model Contest Chairman).

I'm back home from Milwaukee now and watching this topic closely.

Once I get a chance to catch my breath, we should do a special online conference with those who would like to work on this effort and get organized.

One way or another, we will get an index back online! Still waiting on the final word from Kalmbach, but even if they don't release the old index, we still can get something put in place with enough help.

So Kalmbach has NOT released the Index to the NMRA?   I heard through some Yahoo Discussion Groups that Kalmbach has indeed "sold" the rights to the NMRA.  Is this report inaccurate???? Thanks for all of your efforts Joe.  

Whether this project means "restoring" the existing Index, or creating a new one, I'm sure you will need volunteers to update the index (IIRC, the last magazine year was 2006), and I wouldn't be surprised if we would want to add to the data that is already in the index to make it easier to use.  So my other question is, would this "conference" be another discussion forum, or will it be a "live" online discussion, and if so, will there be a need for a special program to participate in the discussion.

Thanks again Joe, you have been a great leader on this and many other projects! I just hope you still have time to work on the Siskiyou Line! ;->

Ken L.

No, the report was premature. Kalmbach has NOT yet released the index assets to the NMRA. They're warming up to the idea, but the final decision has not yet been made.

So hang in there. Regardless of what they decide, the index will come back. If we have to rebuild it from scratch, we will do so.

I would think that Kalmbach is wise enough to realize what this could do for their reputation if they would release the assets to the NMRA. This could be a real win-win for them.

Wayne,

would you care to give more info on the software you used to create your sample? How would search be handled in that product?

Curious!

Regards

Martin

No, the report was premature. Kalmbach has NOT yet released the index assets to the NMRA. They're warming up to the idea, but the final decision has not yet been made.

So hang in there. Regardless of what they decide, the index will come back. If we have to rebuild it from scratch, we will do so.

I would think that Kalmbach is wise enough to realize what this could do for their reputation if they would release the assets to the NMRA. This could be a real win-win for them.

Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

I'm very happy to hear that Kalmbach is at least receptive to discussing giving the assets to the NMRA or some other committed group!  Thanks Joe, for you efforts there.

I tend to think that Kalmbach could use this as an opportunity to turn what quickly became a PR nightmare into a PR dream!

Just tell me what I can do to help.

Irv

Every Monday night in these parts is "Train Night". I mentioned to the guys about the index being taken from us and that there were efforts here to revive it. One question that was asked was if the rights are given to the NMRA will you have to be an NMRA member or will this be completely open to the public? Does anyone know?

Allan

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