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  • 11 messages
  • February 25, 2024 12:19
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I have recently started collecting Postcards with illustrations from nature.
I also have a large number of Maximum cards in my collection, especially from André Buzin.

If I now search for Maximum cards under Stamps, only the stamps (Standard) are shown.
Only when you select “All” or “Type: (MORE) Maximum Card” do I see the Maximum Cards.
For the simple user/visitor of LastDodo (like me) this is anything but intuitive; it makes the map difficult to impossible to find.
Because of this, I initially entered a number of Maximum cards that turned out to be duplicates.
When entering Maximum Cards, I experience the problem that the form is seal-based, while the desired information is card-based. This causes confusion/errors.
Postcards use a clear input form that could be used for Maximum Cards with a few simple adjustments.
Finally, the problem I experience is that the designer of the stamp cannot be mentioned, while a Maximum card is a combination of stamp and card.
(This rule is not applied consistently; see, for example, André Buzin, which also contains cards with photos).
This step-childish approach to Maximum Cards makes further entering Maximum Cards under Stamps pointless for me.
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  • Catalogue administrator
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  • February 25, 2024 12:47
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February 25, 2024 12:47
If I now search for Maximum cards under Stamps, only the stamps (Standard) are shown.
Only when you select “All” or “Type: (MORE) Maximum Card” do I see the Maximum Cards.

It is of course logical that you should first filter for maximum cards in a stamp category HenkPasje . But this is quite simple.

Finally, I experience the problem that the designer of the stamp cannot be mentioned.

If the designer of the stamp is the same as the maximum card, this is of course allowed. And of course also the designer of the maximum card.
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  • 11 messages
  • February 25, 2024 13:01
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February 25, 2024 13:01
Yes, that was clear to me (I had also described it).
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az60
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February 25, 2024 14:27
Only when you select “All” or “Type: (MORE) Maximum Card” do I see the Maximum Cards
I can imagine that it is difficult for people who start with Lastdodo that the site starts with the Standard filter. The more experienced people know. So in that respect it might be better to start with the All setting. For me, that's not much extra effort. So I have no problem with it if Everything has to become the new standard. At least, if this is a problem that people encounter more often.
When entering Maximum Cards, I experience the problem that the form is stamp-based
This applies to more types of stamps, such as the FDC and the postal stationery. There have been several discussions about this and it has not (yet) resulted in changes to the existing situation. I agree with you that the cards can be better described if a number of stamp fields are replaced by fields that are more applicable to these types of products, where the fields on the postcards can serve as a reference.
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  • 11 messages
  • February 25, 2024 14:56
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February 25, 2024 14:56
az60
1. As a Postcard collector I have problems with it, and I assume that other beginners experience this. Only after contacting Raoul62 did the operation become clear to me. I can't find anything about this in the description of the Stamp Catalogue.
2. You could also put the items Types and Use Types first in the menu.
3. It seems to me that other types such as FDC and Postal Stationery can be summarized in the same form as Maximum cards.
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  • February 25, 2024 16:41
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February 25, 2024 16:41
HenkPasje
That's what administrators are there for, to explain it.
What it is like and how it functions.
You express your wishes to adjust something on the forum, for discussion, and you do that very well.

I think one of the most important things for MK (Maximum cards) on LD is the back. And you add it neatly. Fine!

Mixing FDC with Postal Stationery is impossible.
Postal stationery is part of the essentials, just like stamps, blocks, sheets and booklets. They are issued with postage due by recognized national postal services and used to send a message.
Postal stationery has a nominal value (the postage value you pay for sending a message).
FDCs are made with 3 components: Envelopes, Stamp(s) and Cancellation(s). Just like MK, EDK and EDB. Often by companies that benefit financially from it, and may or may not be protected by an exclusivity contract. FDCs initially have a significantly higher value than the sum of the components. However, after a while that value can melt away in the sun :)
The purpose of this work is not to send a message, but to make the cash register ring at the companies that issue them. And of course you also need collectors for that.

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  • 11 messages
  • February 25, 2024 17:08
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February 25, 2024 17:08
Raoul62
1. If it doesn't work intuitively and the part doesn't make it clear, then it's not working properly. Why should you first ask an administrator for an explanation, where do you find one and do you have the time?
2. I identify user problems and suggest technical solutions. An explanation of the different Types of Stamps is separate from this.
The Maximum card is a neglected (unwanted?) child, and I have problems with that.
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February 25, 2024 17:25
HenkPasje
Don't worry, my baby is not a pushover.
Once you know certain things, things start to flow smoothly.
There are few things that you can just get started with without any obligation, without some basic knowledge. Have you ever opened MS Excel for the first time? Then you probably didn't know what you saw.
Lots of trial and error. Experiment with the filters. You'll get there.
And after a while you'll even find out how to find out who is the administrator for a particular collection area (outside office hours).



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  • 11 messages
  • February 25, 2024 18:13
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February 25, 2024 18:13
Raoul62
I don't understand your responses: what do they have to do with the problems I experience/bring to the Maximum cards?
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  • February 25, 2024 18:36
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February 25, 2024 18:36
My point is, HenkPasje, that you may (and that's just an impression) have a little too little experience with using LD, with the Stamp section in particular. But it all works out quite well after a while. There is no one who can handle all the bells and whistles on LD in 1-2-3. It's a bit much at once.

As Charles wrote, change your starting point: first filter by Maximum cards. You do not need to change the Standard filter for this. If you select that type, the Filter will automatically be set to 'All'. But limited to 'everything' of the MK type.
From there you still have all the other filter options (country, year from-to, issue, ...). Maybe this will help you achieve your goal (the maximum cards you are looking for) in a simple way.
There are many roads that lead to Rome.
Let's try out some other search options on LD.
LD and the stamp section are not easy. It only takes a lot of trying and practice to get the hang of it.

Stamps are completely different from postcards.
The species are clearly defined.
Almost every item has a Type, a species, a Year of Issue, a Country (area), ...

In addition, a 'Standard' filter is recommended as a start so as not to overwhelm the Stamp Collector who enters the section.
More experienced users will immediately switch to the 'All' filter, because they can easily use the other filters (in the left part of the category screen).
Because they know that 'perforation', for example, does not apply to Maximum cards. And they know this because of the experience they have gained in using it.
All beginnings are difficult. And that doesn't happen on its own.

Another way is to use the filters to search for a stamp that has such an MK (country, year, face value, ...). You will find it within a few seconds. Click on the 'Issue' name in the detail. And you see all the stamps, FDCs and MK that go into that issue. In one screen. That's just one click away from those few seconds...
Still more convenient than having to scroll through screen by screen with 'All' until you recognize something?
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  • 11 messages
  • February 25, 2024 19:03
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February 25, 2024 19:03
Raoul62
Fine.
As az60 already indicated, it is simple to make the cards easy to find.
But if you are not open to that, there is no point for me to introduce any more Maximum cards; Saves me a nice week of work.
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  • Catalogue administrator
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  • February 25, 2024 19:21
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February 25, 2024 19:21
HenkPasje I understand that the site doesn't feel completely intuitive to you, but the collectors on LastDodo (what they collect and how they want it to appear in the catalog) is extremely diverse. The display on the site is simply a compromise (for everyone).

I can imagine that it is difficult for people who start with Lastdodo that the site starts with the Standard filter. The more experienced people know. So in that respect it might be better to start with the All setting. For me, that's not much extra effort. So I have no problem with it if Everything has to become the new standard. At least, if this is a problem that people encounter more often.

az60 for some it's better this way, for the other it's better this way. The only way to address this is if users could save their preferred settings. E.g. I want to set it to see 'all' and 'stamps' by default, I would also like to see 'Austria' in the selected countries, and so on.
So more customization. But I fear that will be an expensive development...

Apart from that, I think that the important filter 'standard' should be more prominently visible & explained. Or, for example, be indicated with a few pop-up windows for new users.
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az60
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February 25, 2024 19:54
The only way to address this is if users could save their preferred settings.
That would indeed be a very nice improvement.
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February 25, 2024 21:04
HenkPasje
Don't misunderstand me. It's not a matter of being open or not. It is a matter of helping a user with the system as it is provided, as it has proven its worth for years. No idea if it's 15 years or a little less, I'm only 3 years old and a fart at LD.

Something can always change if several users push for it sufficiently. When I hear that the planning of the technicians (I apologize for the term, it is not meant negatively), who keep everything running here day after day, leaves little room, there is little chance that anything will change for Maximum cards alone. I can't contribute anything to that, I'm not a technician.

I manage the (data of the) Maximum cards as a volunteer (have I been blindsided, glued on by chance, or caught by surprise :)). I do this with the resources that have been made available. I can contribute there: with help and tips. Partly by playing on the ball as quickly as possible. Usually a newly added maximum card, or a change, is viewed by me within half a day, supplemented/changed if necessary, reviewed, and if appropriate, a message is sent to the user who added or changed it.

Perhaps the ideal option for you would be a new 'Maximum Cards' section, where everything is provided for and in function of the Maximum Card alone. It won't be. Those things have to live together with the other things in the Stamp section. Each (each species) has its place, and there is integration . It is difficult (not) to achieve this by dividing it into separate categories.
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Helv
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February 25, 2024 22:08
The only way to address this is if users could save their preferred settings.
Outside of LastDodo, this can be arranged via the "favorites" of your browser.

For example, I just saved the following link:
https://www.lastdodo.nl/nl/areas/351005-maximumkaart

This shows all items of the type "Maximum Card". You can possibly refine this to a specific country.

MennoGo
I want to set it to see 'all' and 'stamps' by default, I would also like to see 'Austria' in the selected countries, and so on.
https://www.lastdodo.nl/nl/areas/100483-oostenrijk?stamps_filter=0
Save the above link to your favorites. You can do this for multiple countries. You can also create a folder in most favorites bars. For example, in my bar there is immediately the folder "Stamps" where you can, for example, put the different countries, or different types, etc.
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  • 11 messages
  • February 26, 2024 00:44
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February 26, 2024 00:44
I am a card collector, and I have no interest in entering cards into LastDodo other than as a gesture to other (card) collectors and casual visitors.
If Maximum cards are so difficult/cumbersome to find, I see no point in entering them. An explanation of how and why it works does not change that.
Period.

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February 26, 2024 06:45
HenkPasje From everything you've done on LD, it's hard to argue that you're an inexperienced user who needs a lot of guidance from administrators. Most of the maximum cards you enter are nicely in their place in Postage Stamps, although a few have also been lost in Postcards (?).
I don't understand where you are going with your response. It works the way it works.
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  • Catalogue administrator
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February 26, 2024 08:24
How to find the maximum cards on LD in 5 simple steps (duration: < 15 seconds, depending on the enjoyment phase). Where step 1 actually has nothing to do with the site operation itself.

Required prior knowledge:
- be able to start an internet explorer and click with the mouse;
- want to find a maximum card.

Step1 : Go to the LD site LastDodo.
----------------------------------
Open your Internet Explorer and type www dot lastdodo dot NL). Like this:



Step2 : click on 'Stamps'. That's the first one at the top left.
-------------------------------------------------- ----------
There you have to click:



Step 3 : choose the type 'Maximum cards.
-------------------------------------
Scroll down a bit and click on the orange link 'ALL TYPES >' at the filters (which are on the left of your screen) under 'Types'. There you will find it:



Step 4 : choose Maximum card from the list (that's what those things are called).
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------


Step5 : Enjoy the view of a screen with ALL maximum cards.
-------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
You found them! Then you naturally use the Filters so that you don't have to view all the cards.



There are > 10,000 maximum cards on LD. You cannot go through them all to find the card you are looking for. You use Filters for this. A filter tells the site what it can show. 2 important filters are Country/Area and Year (of issue):
- a maximum card contains a stamp with a country name. You can select that country with the filter 'Country / Area';
- a maximum card also contains a legible stamp with a date (which is a condition for being a maximum card). With that year you can further refine the selection using the boxes FROM-TO (this contains years).



An example for Liechtenstein 1995:
----------------------------------------


1 = the collection area in clear large bold letters (Maximum card)
2 = the active filters (here: Liechtenstein from 1995 to 1955
3 = the number in the overview (here = 20)
4 = the Maximum cards themselves (this is what they look like)

Now was this difficult?
This is a path that users normally find themselves by feeling. It is completely self-explanatory (I go on the internet to the LD site, I want to see the type Maximum cards in the stamp section and search there with the filters that are shown to me).
I wouldn't really know which 'intuitive' approach could make that easier, but I am curious.
Voice controlled might be useful. But you still have to know what you are looking for. By simply shouting ' show me my maximum card ', LD will not show it based on your voice command.

You also have to know what you are looking for and make selections in the postcard section. You don't go through all 366,000 on your screen in the hope of suddenly recognizing your card somewhere.

If interested, lesson 2 later: another simple road that also leads to Rome. A little harder but perhaps more powerful.


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Rene
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February 26, 2024 09:19
HenkPasje ,

You wrote at the beginning of this discussion:
If I now search for Maximum cards under Stamps, only the stamps (Standard) are shown.
Only when you select “All” or “Type: (MORE) Maximum Card” do I see the Maximum Cards.

I'm trying to find out where things went wrong so that we can improve something if necessary.

If I type "maximum card" in the stamp section in the search bar at the top, I get a dropdown from which I can choose the type of Maximum card and by clicking on it I see all maximum cards:



Even if I do not choose from the dropdown but click enter after entering the maximum card, the first option I get is a link to the type of maximum card:



If you choose this suit, you will immediately see all maximum cards and the Standard / All filter will automatically be set to All:




Can you indicate where you went wrong with your search and what you think we should change?
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  • 11 messages
  • February 26, 2024 11:00
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February 26, 2024 11:00
Rene
I am a postcard collector, which started last year with the purchase of an album with the 350 bird cards from the Royal Natural History Museum of Belgium . LastDodo was a great support in expanding my collection.
To serve fellow postcard collectors, I entered my collection into the Postcards section; I have no interest in that whatsoever.
While expanding my postcard collection, I came across André Buzin's bird cards, which are available as both blank and maximum cards. I decided to focus on the maximum version, of which I now have more than 200 (including 3 Luxembourgish stamps whose stamps I cannot find at Stamps when I search for André Buzin).

My problems as a simple postcard collector are:
1. When I search for Postcards, the Maximum cards are not shown; I should already know to look for it at Postage Stamps.
2. If I search under Stamps, I do not see the Maximum cards; I have to go through 5 "simple" steps that are not made clear anywhere in the Stamps section.
This problem can easily be solved by showing All instead of the Stamps (or Standard): 1 simple step. This change takes a programmer at most 5 minutes.
A collector who is only interested in stamps can then select them with 1 click.
(And if you put Types at the top of the menu (also a 5 minute change) you will also make it easier for other types of collectors. It's not necessary for me.)
3. When entering a maximum card, the designer of the stamp (essential information) may not be mentioned. I do not understand this restriction, and I also see that this rule is not applied consistently.
(By the way, I see designers who have been dead for hundreds of years, but that doesn't matter to me.)
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Rene
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February 26, 2024 11:07
HenkPasje

Uh, did you even read my message?

You indicated that your problem started when you searched stamps:
If I now search for Maximum cards under Stamps, only the stamps (Standard) are shown.
Only when you select “All” or “Type: (MORE) Maximum Card” do I see the Maximum Cards.

If I do that, I will find the Maximum cards.
What did you do differently that you didn't find them?
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  • 11 messages
  • February 26, 2024 11:20
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February 26, 2024 11:20
I search for Buzin in the Catalog (not the Stamps section).
Then be the first to get Buzin, André [1946] Stamp Designers (710) .
When I click on that I get 487 selected by default .
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  • 11 messages
  • February 26, 2024 11:28
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February 26, 2024 11:28
I also get the same result when I search under Stamps.
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Rene
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February 26, 2024 11:29
Aha, so you're looking for a specific designer.
Then you will indeed not get everything right away (because in the past that proved to be too overwhelming for many users). You can then indeed choose "Maximum card" for Type or set the filter to All.

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  • 11 messages
  • February 26, 2024 11:41
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February 26, 2024 11:41
Rene
About the past: we may have spoken at the CataWiki (Houten?) presentation about participation in the comics catalogue. However, I didn't have time for that, my own site already took up too much time.
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