Destinations

[Madge59230]

Do excavation flight require stars/buildings needed added as well?

He’s got that already in his sheet. Only info missing is fuel catalyst and speed up. Is old wiki still correct? If not we have to fly them all, or wait till can ask for more info.

Is it worth starting a thread with a list of what info we need for fuel catalysts and fuel speed up? We can then input the info.

 

[Madge59230]

Ok.

Just to double checked, I was going to go through the alliance maps and alliance flights tonight and add the two additional fields into every destination. Hold fire on those as well?

No. Add the fields. Even if we use a table merge, you need the field in place.

Im going to do Alliance Flights next.

 

[Madge59230]

@Dave im going to start a google sheet with shortcuts to various spreadsheets. I have a list of missing photos for standard destinations at the moment but we can add lists of missing stuff as we go through, so we know exactly what info is missing from where. Sounds a good idea?

 

[Dave]

@Dave im going to start a google sheet with shortcuts to various spreadsheets. I have a list of missing photos for standard destinations at the moment but we can add lists of missing stuff as we go through, so we know exactly what info is missing from where. Sounds a good idea?

Sounds like a fab idea. I can start working through missing photos when I get back. Seems it's pretty simple to do on my phone when I tried the other day.

I keep looking at the Wiki and am pretty amazed how much we have all managed to do in less then a week. It's really starting to come along and take shape now.

 

[VdW]

@Madge59230 can you help with Event Destination too? Because my biggest plane is currently Giant and the event destinations will only be here for 2 weeks.

 

[Madge59230]

@Madge59230 can you help with Event Destination too? Because my biggest plane is currently Giant and the event destinations will only be here for 2 weeks.

Ok, but I don’t have condor. I’ll ask in alliance as there are several there flying those.

 

[Madge59230]

@Madge59230 can you help with Event Destination too? Because my biggest plane is currently Giant and the event destinations will only be here for 2 weeks.

Ive set off falcon and tbird. Will buy swift and owl for those 2. Only one I cant do is jumbo as I only have rangers.

 

[exwhy]

@Madge59230 @Dave @VdW9 @Wired Parrott

Sorry for the delay - I was out the whole of Saturday. Here's how I'm using Mail Merge to update the excavation pages, hope it clarifies your doubts Appreciate any further comments/questions too.

1. Start with an Excel table with raw data for all 96 excavation destinations. It helps to organise data and makes updating more efficient as we can simply copy-paste or drag across the fields with same data (e.g. time and flight stars).

2. Create the template in Word. Note that each <<field>> corresponds to a column header in Excel. This is where the individual data for each destination is inserted into the code.

3. The Mail Merge generates a 96-page Word document, where each page contains the code for one destination. Copy paste the entire block of code into Wiki and the page is updated.

Two examples:

This process is helpful when we create new pages or insert lots of data for the first time. Subsequently, we need to edit the code line by line to add new information or fix errors.

 

[Madge59230]

@Madge59230 @Dave @VdW9

Sorry for the delay - I was out the whole of Saturday. Here's how I'm using Mail Merge to update the excavation pages, hope it clarifies your doubts

1. Start with an Excel table with raw data for all 96 excavation destinations. It helps to organise data and makes updating more efficient as we can simply copy-paste or drag across the fields with same data (e.g. time and flight stars).

View attachment 24871

2. Create the template in Word. Note that each <<field>> corresponds to a column header in Excel. This is where the individual data for each destination is inserted into the code.

View attachment 24872

3. The Mail Merge generates a 96-page Word document, where each page contains the code for one destination. Copy paste the entire block of code into Wiki and the page is updated.

Two examples:

View attachment 24875View attachment 24874

This process is helpful when we creates pages or insert lots of data for the first time. Subsequently, we need to edit the code line by line to add new information or fix errors.

Looks good. I have no doubt it works, its a mail merge. My concern is afterwards. . But who keeps all the data sheets? If you move the data sheet does it corrupt the new template?

Make sure you use the updated sheet though as i added quite a bit of missing info on catalyst and speed up

 

[exwhy]

Looks good. I have no doubt it works, its a mail merge. My concern is afterwards. . But who keeps all the data sheets? If you move the data sheet does it corrupt the new template?

Make sure you use the updated sheet though as i added quite a bit of missing info on catalyst and speed up

Saw that new data were added to the google sheet, I'll use the latest version when running mail merge. I'm happy to share the template file and data file as well, so someone else may use them in future. There will be connection issues if the data file is moved or renamed, or its captions edited. We need to re-link the data file and mark the fields again (if captions edited). Either way, what's generated by Word and already pasted into Wiki won't change what's shown on the page.

 

[Madge59230]

Saw that new data were added to the google sheet, I'll use the latest version when running mail merge. I'm happy to share the template file and data file as well, so someone else may use them in future. There will be connection issues if the data file is moved or renamed, or its captions edited. We need to re-link the data file and mark the fields again (if captions edited). Either way, what's generated by Word and already pasted into Wiki won't change what's shown on the page.

For me its the connection issues that make it problematic. Your computer crashes the whole wiki goes up in the air till its reset up. For me its too big a risk. But s a way of keeping a back up of all the data I dont have a problem. When I do it for my students, its for me, its merged printed and delivered. If i move things after as aI always do or change compluter, I dont mind. Here youre talking about an open air Wiki.

What are anyone elses thoughts?

 

[Madge59230]

@Dave Sorry but contrary to what I thought helicopter DO have fuel catalyst speed up. From Niagara Falls onwards. Need to add a line back in.

 

[VdW]

For me its the connection issues that make it problematic. Your computer crashes the whole wiki goes up in the air till its reset up. For me its too big a risk. But s a way of keeping a back up of all the data I dont have a problem. When I do it for my students, its for me, its merged printed and delivered. If i move things after as aI always do or change compluter, I dont mind. Here youre talking about an open air Wiki.

What are anyone elses thoughts?

When you copy-pasted the Mail Merge thingy to the Wiki, it won’t change anymore since it’s already in the wiki. It’s the same as doing it manually.

But a bit easier, because you just need to copy-paste the data to the wiki pages one by one instead of writing one by one in the wiki in the specific section/column.

So what I think is, you can do whatever you feel like doing. Manually or copy-pasting the mail merge.

As long as we can get the wiki up and running.

 

[Madge59230]

When you copy-pasted the Mail Merge thingy to the Wiki, it won’t change anymore since it’s already in the wiki. It’s the same as doing it manually.

But a bit easier, because you just need to copy-paste the data to the wiki pages one by one instead of writing one by one in the wiki in the specific section/column.

So what I think is, you can do whatever you feel like doing. Manually or copy-pasting the mail merge.

As long as we can get the wiki up and running.

If a second objective as @exwhy says is being able to update across the board then you are keeping a data link to the original file. Unless I am missing something.
I suggest he trials a section or a section of a section, then moves his data files completely off the computer. I will be convinced when Ive seen data is the wiki is not effected by a major computer crash and loss of data source. IF that works then OK we take section each and make a spreadsheet, but there arent many sections left untouched!

dont forget the objective is also to have the Wiki changeable by anyone who wants to . Cant do that if you have to find the sheet and run a new merge.

I did all helicopters yesterday and in fact you get very quick. Hardest thing is finding the info you dont have. Flying goldfinch now which I thought Id finished!!

 

[VdW]

If a second objective as @exwhy says is being able to update across the board then you are keeping a data link to the original file. Unless I am missing something.
I suggest he trials a section or a section of a section, then moves his data files completely off the computer. I will be convinced when Ive seen data is the wiki is not effected by a major computer crash and loss of data source. IF that works then OK we take section each and make a spreadsheet, but there arent many sections left untouched!

dont forget the objective is also to have the Wiki changeable by anyone who wants to . Cant do that if you have to find the sheet and run a new merge.

I did all helicopters yesterday and in fact you get very quick. Hardest thing is finding the info you dont have. Flying goldfinch now which I thought Id finished!!

This is what @exwhy says when proposing to do the Mail Merge thingy:

The idea of a mail merge is to have a base template (the coding) with customised fields (flight data). It then creates the entire block of code for each individual wiki page.

I figured that it would be an efficient way to input the data into wiki with minimal human error and manual work, while you're right in that the host has to run the mail merge program and paste the individual pages of codes.

I don't see it as to "being able to update across the board then you are keeping a data link to the original file"

What I get from the idea is it is just another way to update the wiki. Manual updating vs copy-paste.

 

[Madge59230]

OK. Try it. Thats the only way to make sure it works. Perso not convinced by the time youve created and filled in your data sheet it isnt just as quitck to manually put in; Disadvantage is noone else can work on the section youre doing until its input.

Im off for 2 weeks so am doing Alliance flights manually. No data sheet for this section please.

 

[Dave]

Ive set off falcon and tbird. Will buy swift and owl for those 2. Only one I cant do is jumbo as I only have rangers.

I've got a swift and owl, save you buying them

@Dave Sorry but contrary to what I thought helicopter DO have fuel catalyst speed up. From Niagara Falls onwards. Need to add a line back in.

No worries, will get that added tomorrow.

 

[Madge59230]

I've got a swift and owl, save you buying them


No worries, will get that added tomorrow.

Already done. Ill start a baby game later and fill in all missing level and stars needed across the board. Then delete game.
Do need fuel catalyst in helicopter template if possible. Then all finished except the table of items

Hope you had a good walk!

 

[Madge59230]

@VdW9 @exwhy I know Im being a dimwit, or proverbial pain in the arse but I have to understand how things work. How is the wiki going to be searched? Keywords? Or how? Once the data is copied into the doc it is no longer a template. It is just a page of text, unlike the other sections where the template remains a template. Does losing the function of template have an effect on other possible uses in the future? Is it a decision that might be regretted later. Answer this one and I’ll shut up!

 

[VdW]

@VdW9 @exwhy Once the data is copied into the doc it is no longer a template. It is just a page of text, unlike the other sections where the template remains a template. Does losing the function of template have an effect on other possible uses in the future? Is it a decision that might be regretted later. Answer this one and I’ll shut up!

This is where you're wrong. The template is based on a text. As long as you follow the template from Dave, it won't matter. It will stay the same. I've been copying-pasting stuffs for the new pages I created.

For example:

[template=special_flights]
| name=
| image=
| level=
| plane_required=
| items_required=
| fuel_required=
| passengers_required=
| flight_time=
| catalyst_acceleration=
| fuel_speed_up=
| specialist=
| master=
| expert=
| gold_coins=
| experience=
| special_items=
[/template]

That is a template, it's based on text. You can manipulate stuffs from that. As long as you follow the "| name; | image, .... and so on", it won't matter whether you type manually, or copy-paste it.

In addition, using Mail Merge or Typing Manually is really no matter. As long as you're doing it and we can finish the Wiki. So really, you can do whatever you want to complete the pages that we've been working on.

If you want to complete the Alliance Flights without Mail Merge because you find that method is harder than typing manually, then go type it manually.

If @exwhy feels typing manually is a pain for him, then let him do the mail merge thing -> he's gonna do the details in Excavations Flights.

It's a matter of preference.