For years I have listed my boxes only on LbNA, but have decided to put them on AQ also. I have a LOT (13 years' worth) of retired boxes, and a handful of active boxes. Certainly I would list the active boxes, but I am wondering about the retired boxes?

I can see a benefit in listing them for non-premium finders who would like to record their finds, just for historical reference as to what once was, and also so my own plants/carves are more accurate. But since the boxes are retired and nobody is looking for them, does it make sense to even list them? Does it just load up the database with useless stuff? Is there a right or wrong? Just personal preference?

Thanks!

SpringChick

Nah, there's no reason to newly list retired boxes on AQ. If the boxes are listed on LbNA, non-premium finders can record them on AQ as unlisted finds on Hat Day.

Does it just load up the database with useless stuff? Is there a right or wrong? Just personal preference?

1) Pretty inconsequential, as far as the database is concerned. Not something to worry about.
2) Nope.
3) Yep.

Personally, if you WANT to put in the effort to list them, just to make them "Retired", then I think that is pretty cool, as a historical reference. It also allows people to log their finds WITHOUT needing to be Premium, or waiting for Hat Day. But it's a lot of work, and really only you can determine if you will gain some satisfaction through the effort.

In ANY case... WELCOME BACK!!! It's GREAT to "see" you around!

Given the historical significance of the boxes, and of course the planter :), it might make the most sense, and save the most work, to declare and advertise a special hat day just for this purpose.

it might make the most sense, and save the most work, to declare and advertise a special hat day just for this purpose.

Well, that would allow the Finders to easily add it to their PFX number, but that's about all it would accomplish. The advantages of a more "official" listing are that you can see the history of finds, add/read comments, logbook finds will all link to the same listing (rather than 20 different "Hat Day typed-in names" for 20 different finders), and correct (and consistent) location information. But as you say, that's a whole lotta work.

I'm hoping you list them. I'm a premium member, but I'll re-log them under the official listings and write comments about how much I enjoyed finding them.

But as you say, that's a whole lotta work.

Yes, I was trying to strike a balance between Rocklun's comment and yours, without understanding all that much. Better luck next time :)

Perhaps a script can be written to do the work in question. Just another suggestion.

Yes, I was trying to strike a balance between Rocklun's comment and yours, without understanding all that much. Better luck next time :)

Sorry, I wasn't (and still am not) familiar with springchick and her historical boxes. I was just trying to save her some work, since people have had an opportunity to log her boxes on Hat Day for years.

In ANY case... WELCOME BACK!!! It's GREAT to "see" you around!

Thanks Wassa! Trying to clean up what's been in limbo for a few years before I jump back in... glad to be back at it though!

SC

I second the welcome back! Your member # may be the lowest I've ever seen!

If you do list all those old boxes, I'd suggest you post a notification after it's done. That'll give those of us who have them logged as unlisted finds can go and change that status.

Even better, of course, you could go through the records of who found them and send them personal invites to change their logs. Now that would be a lot of work!

BTW, be prepared for a lot of the find logs to have the CURRENT date rather than the date the box was actually found. There's something about the find logging here on AQ that makes finders forget to change that particular field to the correct date.

If you do list all those old boxes, I'd suggest you post a notification after it's done.

Thanks Kirbert! I think I will be listing them all (as retired), but not immediately, and not all at once... Thought I'd start with active boxes and travelers and then do the retired boxes as I have time, starting from the beginning (i.e. 2002 boxes first). I did a few last week, just to see how the process works, and I was surprised that people immediately logged them -- is there some kind of notification or watch they have -- how did they know I listed the boxes? I will consider some kind of notification, perhaps once they have all been listed.

There's something about the find logging here on AQ that makes finders forget to change that particular field to the correct date.

I've been logging a few finds and your comment prompted me to look to make sure I set the dates... I did miss one!

SC

A lot of us have searches set up to email us when new local boxes are listed. That is probably how people quickly found out about your new postings.

I was surprised that people immediately logged them -- is there some kind of notification or watch they have -- how did they know I listed the boxes?

I knew because you posted the following message on one of the boards:

I've always just listed my boxes on LnBA and have decided to add the clues on AQ. How do I do a plant date prior to 2005, as that is the oldest date on the drop-down for plant date?

BTW, be prepared for a lot of the find logs to have the CURRENT date rather than the date the box was actually found. There's something about the find logging here on AQ that makes finders forget to change that particular field to the correct date.

This morning I logged 2 boxes that I found yesterday. I had JUST read this comment and I thought to myself, "have to remember to change the date when I log those boxes."

Yep, I logged them with today's date. :)

Anybody think this calls for a suggestion? One idea I can come up right off is to not have a default find date at all, you have to click on something or the page comes back with "no find date selected". That'd mean we'd all have to make one more click when logging a find ("Ow! My carpal tunnel!") but perhaps we wouldn't forget to change that date as often.

Though, I suspect, that the planter of said boxes is actually more happy you came to visit than what day you logged!

LB

I did this last year. Took a long time, but wanted full accounting of all my boxes so others could log finds. Also will show up in your count for Hall of Fame.

Good Luck

Baby Bear

It looks like springchick has been busy!

Your member # may be the lowest I've ever seen!

You've never seen DoubleSaj and Old Blue on the boards? They're # 16. Or Amanda from Seattle #6 or Princess Lea #9? These boxers are infamous.

deniserows
while namedropping numbers

I know Amanda from FB but I'm not a big poster. I don't know the others :(

One plus of listing them is to be able to see any restricted boxes with a "planted" requirement.