Allow users to edit the table layout in their Collection
Add functionality that allows members the option and ability to go a few steps further with the built-in "Collection" tool.
1) Allow users to alter the column/row sizes similar to how an Excel spreadsheet has this function.
2) Allow users to add either custom created columns, or at the least - have a variety of different categories that users can opt to toggle on/off when in a defined viewing mode
*With this feature, it will be imperative to make sure that there is some kind of fail safes in place such that the user can always revert back to a "default" state, but also gives users more control over their collection data. An example of this kind of feature would be: I was interested in finding out when I added a specific comic book to my collection, so I began using the "Notes" column to not only add important info about a comic (key?, Variant?, etc.,) but I also began noting things like, the date in which I "bagged/boarded" or "re-bagged" a comic (this way I know exactly how long each of my comics has been bagged - and thus when it's time to replace the bags, etc.) This lead to me using that one and only column/section to input all kinds of relevant data, which has slowly morphed into my own coding system. However, the more data I have to enter into this one and only section where a user can manually add notes, the larger each of the rows (horizontal) had become - and now I had some issues entered into my collection where the default spacing still existed in my table, but if I had a comic that I entered in my collection and it was also, let's say, a Variant issue plus a first appearance - not to mention by now I have to use this "coding" system to track info like: Did I scan or take pics of the comic? Did I Bag/Board the comic? Have I assigned a grade yet? Is the book also listed into my own catalogue (using Excel I am working on my own system of cataloguing my comics - which is cool bc I can export my data here as a .csv, and then it's a simple matter of just plugging the info into the correct cell.)
So now I have something that looks like this all in the "Notes" column of my collection: I: [x] | G: [x] | S: [] | C: [] | B: [_] (MM/DD/YYYY)
the letters standing for: "I" = Inspected? Have I fully inspected the book? Are all pages present? etc., basically, Inspection is part of the grading process, but more preliminary. an "x" in the box next to each letter obviously means "check" this task is done. "G" = Graded - after inspecting the book, I then go thru the book meticulously, making sure to get as accurate of a grade as I possibly can based on my experiences with grading - it's a process that is constantly being updated and improved upon. And this is also a good time to discuss why I had the idea to add features that allow the user to manipulate the default table provided - within my own Excel Catalogue, I have extra columns for things like "Grade" - Once I have a grade I am comfortable with, I use that as a reference and in my Table - I have a column for GL, G, GH (Grade-Low, Grade, Grade-Hi) now I have a range of potential grades for each book and for each of these a corresponding "Book Value" which gives me just more data - then if I do decide to ever list and sell a book, I can refer to this data and then based on my initial investment (how much did the book cost me in total? Shipping if ordered online is part of that cost) Now I can figure out a price that ensures at least a minimum return on my investment while also ensuring that the book will be described and graded as accurately as possible.
"S" = Scan/Pic. This is self explanatory. I like to scan and/or take pics of all of my comics regardless of whether or not they are to remain in my personal collection or to be listed and sold!
"C" = Catalogued. Again, pretty straightforward here, Have I catalogued the book into my own Database aside from just on CBR.com?
"B" = Bagged/Boarded and then (the date in which the bagging was done)
then if there's any additional info that is worth noting, I'll add that afterward, but the whole point of all of this is that it would be nice to have the ability to manipulate the built-in "tool" that ComicBookRealm provides, especially for those of us who are as OCD and data driven as I am lol!
3) Another idea I had concerning this is the ability to add "Hyperlinks" - this is something I am implementing within my own MS Excel designed "Catalogue" - with the ability to create and add hyperlinks, I can now with the click of a button access things like a folder on my hard drive where I have stored the scans/pics of a specific issue. I can create a link that brings me directly to my eBay account and then to either a "draft" of a listing that I am working on, or to an actual listing - which then gives me just faster ability to get and interpret data and/or make any revisions in my listing if I need to now that I have linked directly to the live listing - being that I am the creator, by default at the top of the page there's another link I can click on while on eBay that brings me to the "revision" page where I can then make any changes to my listing!
I don't know.... I have a lot of ideas! I totally love this web site though because it does give me a lot more power to track and catalogue my collection - rather than just getting an idea of values, I love the interactive aspects - which are WELL worth the amounts I have donated in order to be able to Export any of my data at any time.
*I know that this is meant to be a free site and has been free since its inception, but I think something like I am describing should require at the very least some kind of min compensation - either in the form of a selection of "Premium" account tiers -or- something? I mean I would love it if it were 100% free and then included some of my ideas, too!
Thanks guys for the great job you do and for making my experience collecting comics even better by allowing me to use your awesome free tools!