New Version of KitBase Now Available
This page has been superceded following the release of the latest version of KitBase.
KitBase v1.20 Major Enhancements
KitBase v1.20 adds much better support for accessories,improved functionality for
maintaining and browsing kit images along with many other enhancements.
This will be another free update for owners of KitBase.
Planned Enhancements
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Full Accessory Details
Accessories are no longer second class citizens.
Full details of accessories can be recorded in much the same way as kits.
Accessories are distinguished from kits by the new Accessory Type field (e.g. "Cockpit").
As with other master lists, the list of accessory types is fully customisable.
You can add as much or as little detail as you prefer.
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Separate Accessories
Accessories can be entered separately as per kits. These will appear in the main list with the kits.
The 'Accessory Type' filter can be used to show just kits or just accessories (as shown), as well as
listing accessories by type.
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Accessories with Kits
Accessories can be marked as 'with kit' to indicate that they are stored in the box with the kit.
These will be shown in the main list as well as the new 'Accessories with Kit' tabs. Their location
will be shown as '(with kit)' and their location number will be the RecNo (record number) of the
kit they are stored with.
Clicking the 'Add Accessory' button on the 'Accessories with Kits' tab will automatically
populate the main fields of the new Accessory record based on the kit it is being stored with.
If you just want to add an accessory without full details you can simply click 'Add Accessory',
choose an Accessory Type then save the record.
So as to be as flexible as possible, kits can also be placed with other kits.
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Has [Accessory Type] Columns
For each accessory type you have set up, a new column will become available in the Kit List.
For example, if you create an accessory type of 'Ground Crew' a column called 'Has Ground Crew' will be available.
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Mask Field Retirement
The mask (tick box) field will be removed in the new version. Instead, masks will be treated
as an accessory type using the new functionality.
Where the box was ticked on existing records, a 'Mask' accessory will be automatically added to
the 'with kit' list (as described above).
The 'Mask' column in the main list will be replaced by a 'Has Mask' column as per other accessory
types.
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Quicker Corrections
Mistakes made when adding to master lists via the Kit Record screen can now be corrected
immediately via the new Edit and Delete functions.
Previously, they had to be fixed via the
separate master list screens after saving the kit record.
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Image Gallery
A new 'Gallery' tab has been added. This picks up images from the kit's 'documents and images'
that match a naming convention (e.g. starting with 'Box' for box images).
Credit: The Harrier photograph was taken by Andrew P. Clarke and published via Wikipedia.
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Other Enhancements
- Toolbars - the kit list and master list screens now have toolbars, replacing the buttons at the bottom.
- Duplicate Function - kit records can now be copied, making entry of multiples easier.
- Better Text Size Handling - In Windows Vista and Windows 7, setting the text size to 'Larger' (125%) or a custom setting resulted
in some screens being laid out incorrectly. KitBase now works cleanly regardless of the Text Size
(Dots per Inch) settings.
- Document and Image Import - images and documents can be more easily added via an 'Import' function.
- Document and Image Maintenance - the documents and images tab now has a toolbar and image preview.
Future Functionality
The functionality in KitBase has increased significantly since the first release. There are still several
chunks of work to be completed, in order to cover the requirements of most users.
- Custom columns - ability to create your own columns.
- Excel Compatible Export - get data out of KitBase.
- Excel Compatible Import - pull your existing Excel model list into KitBase.
- Separate References List - maintain a list of references.
Note that the above is not a complete list of all planned future enhancements. There are numerous smaller
enhancements suggested by the modelling community.
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