Part Finder (revisited)

**CharlieC** · #1 04-19-2009, 06:03 PM

A long time ago I worked on a part finder solution based on a simple web/database. It ran into the sand when someone who didn't have a reasonable Internet connection asked for a standalone version. Someone raised this issue again recently so I thought it was worth revisiting especially since web browsers have become much more competent over the last few years.

I've come up with a proof of concept webpage based on Javascript/SVG. I picked a page from the ICM models T-34 since it's a free model and the parts are fairly well laid out. It can be viewed at AMMS Brisbane

NOTE: THIS WILL NOT WORK IN MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER.

Microsoft has chosen not to implement the SVG standard in any of their browsers but it will work fine in Firefox (>1.5) and Google Chrome. I haven't got a copy of Opera but it should be ok in the latest version.

There's lots of work left to do - on my "todo" list are:

- Make a scrollable list for the part numbers
- Allow for multiple parts pages
- Look at using polyline shapes rather than rectangles (the rects were just for convenience).
- Handle multiple parts with the same part number.

I'd appreciate feedback from the community to at least tell me if I'm on the right track.

Regards,

Charlie

**rickstef** · #2 04-19-2009, 06:27 PM

it works in Chrome

**dansls1** · #3 04-19-2009, 06:36 PM

Meh - won't work on the version of Firefox (latest 2.0) I have installed, crashes every time.

**CharlieC** · #4 04-19-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansls1

Meh - won't work on the version of Firefox (latest 2.0) I have installed, crashes every time.

Try 3.0.8 (which is the latest) - I'm surprised that 2.0 can be exposed to the Web without Mozilla.org wanting to update it.

Regards,

Charlie

**dansls1** · #5 04-19-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieC

Try 3.0.8 (which is the latest) - I'm surprised that 2.0 can be exposed to the Web without Mozilla.org wanting to update it.

Regards,

Charlie

Actually I tried Firefox a while ago and it's much slower than IE (on my PC), so I never bothered keeping up with updates. It asks when I open it, but I really don't want to bother with it.

**CharlieC** · #6 04-19-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dansls1

Actually I tried Firefox a while ago and it's much slower than IE (on my PC), so I never bothered keeping up with updates. It asks when I open it, but I really don't want to bother with it.

Try the latest version - FF 3.0 had a major speed increase. Google Chrome is even faster. IE is such a security hazard I'd take a more secure, if slower, browser every time. There is a Firefox plugin to emulate all the weird stuff IE does as well.

Regards,

Charlie

**Gharbad** · #7 04-19-2009, 07:07 PM

Works in Opera, though with every click it scrolls back to the top of the page.

**dansls1** · #8 04-19-2009, 07:17 PM

Ok - trying out Chrome and it works, it would be nicer if what Kuba says wasn't true, but otherwise seems decent.

**CharlieC** · #9 04-19-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gharbad

Works in Opera, though with every click it scrolls back to the top of the page.

I'd guess your screen resolution is limited - it was developed on a laptop at 1680 x 1050. This should be fixed with a scrolling part list - I'll make sure the height of the scroller is <750 px which should be ok for most screens.

Regards,

Charlie

**Gharbad** · #10 04-19-2009, 07:39 PM

Yeah this is an old PC with an old 15" LCD... 1024x768