Eastern Centre web site goes dynamic

Now that a period has passed to enable us to analyse the best way to manage the input of information to the Eastern Centre web site, we have made several changes to the way that information on the site is delivered.

We had always envisaged that much of the information on the site would be updated by the membership itself, this being the best way to ensure accurate, up-to-date information. The initial design was, in retrospect, somewhat over-complicated. However, we still felt that supplying information dynamically from a central database was the best way to create a resource that would be truly useful to all members of the Centre.

In an effort to improve the accuracy of information supplied on the site many areas have been re-written, all of which are now served by a central database. Not only will this enable much more of the site to be updated by those with faster access to the required information, but also members will be able to change much of their own information themselves. For example, should you change your phone number or e-mail address, you will be able to access your (and only your) details on the database and update the details immediately. You can also delete any information that you do not wish to be viewable (e.g. mobile phone no.).

We are very aware that the information supplied on the Event Calendar has not always been as accurate as we would wish. Part of the problem has been our lack of intimate knowledge of venues, coupled with differing information. For example, we may receive information from two sources about a trials at Danbury and Royal Oak Pits. In the absence of any other identifying information we would not neccessarilly realise that it is the same event. This is not a criticism of any individuals, just an example of how confusion can arise. Hopefully, we have now address this situation with a new calendar system. Again, all information is drawn from a central database that can be updated by authorised people within the Centre itself. The calendar also has the facility for linking to maps, and we are hoping to eventually build a database of maps to most, if not all, venues before the 2009 calendar is published.

We hope that the above changes will improve your experience of the web site, and that we can all work together to provide a very useful source of information for both club members and potential spectators alike.

Kind regards
PA Promotions