Regimental Roll Spreadsheet for CWT members?

[Shadow9216]

Anyone interested in creating a spreadsheet (or similar document) by Army/State/Regiment where we can all add our ancestors? I was thinking about this over the weekend- I've found a number of ancestors from various units, and I've got some info on them (mostly when/where they served), and some general info on the unit- but it's essentially in a vacuum; there's no context of who they served with, what their stories were, etc.

So I came up with the bright (or not) idea of compiling a roster of soldiers with descendents on CWT- maybe we'll come up with guys in the same unit, who served at the same time, maybe even knew each other and left some record of that. At least it would provide data points for furthering CW research.

Thoughts?

 

[Littlestown]

Anyone interested in creating a spreadsheet (or similar document) by Army/State/Regiment where we can all add our ancestors? I was thinking about this over the weekend- I've found a number of ancestors from various units, and I've got some info on them (mostly when/where they served), and some general info on the unit- but it's essentially in a vacuum; there's no context of who they served with, what their stories were, etc.

So I came up with the bright (or not) idea of compiling a roster of soldiers with descendents on CWT- maybe we'll come up with guys in the same unit, who served at the same time, maybe even knew each other and left some record of that. At least it would provide data points for furthering CW research.

Thoughts?

Sounds like an excellent idea!

 

[rpkennedy]

I second Littlestown's response.

R

 

[chellers]

What an interesting idea!

 

[Shadow9216]

Now for the hard part- how best to create it, so it's accessible, usable, and easily modified.
I thought about doing something in Google Drive, giving people access as requested. I don't have a web host or I'd come up with some nice html interface- thought about a basic form with drop-down boxes for CSA/USA, then state, then regiment, with the final link taking you to the (editable) spreadsheet. The menus could be modified as-needed by the web owner, but the spreadsheets could be user-edited. Alternatively, it could be one humongous spreadsheet. Or it could be individually maintained (by me) with users submitting their data for incorporation (would prevent inadvertent deletions/overwrites, but be a bit slower).

 

[Stony]

I like it.

 

[DixieRifles]

I just love Spreadsheet lists.

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Great idea. I'm willing to submit my data, but I'm not much of a tech developer type so I wouldn't be much help in developing a site or app.

 

[pamc153PA]

Love the idea . . . if someone else figures out how to do it!

 

[Robtweb1]

Great idea, but I'm spreadsheet impaired.

 

[Floridaman1985]

Love the idea . . . if someone else figures out how to do it!

Same!

 

[Shadow9216]

I get it- my idea, my project No worries, I did web development in the Navy, so I've got the basic skills necessary- but the first task is what does the customer want/need? I can make a basic webpage with drop-down boxes which dump to sub-menus and ultimately into a spreadsheet, but would that be what people want? Do y'all want the ability to enter your own data, or is the consensus that you'd rather submit data to a finished product? Do we even want spreadsheets? (I could do html-derived tables instead, but it's a tad more work. Not much though).

 

[chellers]

I get it- my idea, my project No worries, I did web development in the Navy, so I've got the basic skills necessary- but the first task is what does the customer want/need? I can make a basic webpage with drop-down boxes which dump to sub-menus and ultimately into a spreadsheet, but would that be what people want? Do y'all want the ability to enter your own data, or is the consensus that you'd rather submit data to a finished product? Do we even want spreadsheets? (I could do html-derived tables instead, but it's a tad more work. Not much though).

I vote for whatever is easiest for you!

 

[DixieRifles]

This is a test----this is only a test. I will try to insert a spreadsheet here.

CWT User Name Soldier's Name CS/US STATE Regiment Type Service (Battles Campaigns)
Shadow9216 John Smith US NY 134 I
Littlestown John Doe US MA 51 A
rpkennedy John Williams CS VA 7 C
chellers John Jones CS VA 42 I
dixierifles John Sturdivant CS Com Staff -
Stonewall Jackson James Jackson CS SC 19 I
Robtweb Ramon de Aragon CS TN 13 Med

 

[DixieRifles]

This was how it should have looked. Wonder how we can attach a spreadsheet so everyone can download an add their veteran's names and data??

 

[Shadow9216]

Wonder how we can attach a spreadsheet so everyone can download an add their veteran's names and data??[/quote]
I dunno. We can create a doc and add users as collaborators, then post a link (maybe eventually make it a sticky) to access the spreadsheet.

I was playing around last night and came up with a webpage using anchor links; the user would click on a state, and it would jump to the section on the page listing the state's various regiments- links there would go to either a spreadsheet or another webpage, displaying the regimental information; we could provide links to personal webpages, email for contact info, documents, etc. That has the benefit of presenting the data in a bit more manageable fashion, as the results would be specific to a single regiment at a glance- hosting it shouldn't be a problem, most ISPs allow for personal webpages, plus there are any number of free sites out there.

 

[Stephen Terry]

I created a Google spreadsheet online. You can access it at this link.

Please let me know what you guys think. If you think it's a good idea, maybe we could add some basic security to only allow CWT users to access it or something.

 

[DaveBrt]

Wonder how we can attach a spreadsheet so everyone can download an add their veteran's names and data??

I dunno. We can create a doc and add users as collaborators, then post a link (maybe eventually make it a sticky) to access the spreadsheet.

I was playing around last night and came up with a webpage using anchor links; the user would click on a state, and it would jump to the section on the page listing the state's various regiments- links there would go to either a spreadsheet or another webpage, displaying the regimental information; we could provide links to personal webpages, email for contact info, documents, etc. That has the benefit of presenting the data in a bit more manageable fashion, as the results would be specific to a single regiment at a glance- hosting it shouldn't be a problem, most ISPs allow for personal webpages, plus there are any number of free sites out there.[/quote]
I'd rather not have my email address on this thing. Anyone who wants to chat can use the chat function.

 

[Toccoa101506]

I like the idea!

 

[DixieRifles]

I created a Google spreadsheet online. You can access it at this link.

My Security Police at my work PC will not let me access it. It poses a threat.
Security will be an issue for any webpage that can be updated/edited. That is why I never used Guest Books on my website.