Site Forum

I am so totally confused by how checklist should read for variation cards. I was once informed, it was make one ###a and another ###b. I have seen them listed with the sub letter and without. Now someone (you can see who in the change log) has removed a bunch of the a's from variations (I am referring to the 2017 Topps base set). I honestly now, do not know which way is correct. I love this site, and would help edit more, but there are too many editors changing things without being held accountable. I am not asking for punishment, but rather, just someone with authority letting this person know that what they are doing is not the way it should be unless it is, in which case many others need changing. Very frustrated by this. 

I'd prefer to see the base cards without any "a's" on them because the card number doesn't actually have an "a" on it; however, I agree that you can't have a "b" without an "a".  Maybe a fix would be that the "a's" and "b's" don't start until the variation cards, but I think you're right that the system has already been established--at least for baseball

I think the problem is that you may be remembering old guidelines.

Sometime last year, Admin added some functionality to the database that eliminates the need to include the suffix letters in the card number.  The newest guidance is that the card number field should read the same as written on the card.  The system will then add the a, b, etc., where appropriate for variations.

The only thing you need to enter is "VAR" in the note 1 field and "VAR: description of the variation" in the Note 2 field.

-Tom

Guess I am getting old, and also missed that memo. Thanks for the update.

Tom is correct on this. This also helps the users as they want to add complete sets to their collections or want lists minus the variations. We are attempting to move toward a database that reflects the ACTUAL number on the card, rather than an "a" or "b" (or more) when it does not have it on the card. It makes for looking up unknown cards next to impossible.

At one point a couple years ago, I bought nice sized lots of both Tony Gwynn & Frank Thomas (the Big Hurt one). Most of the cards were from the "insert era" and I had no clue what they were (I don't own a lot from that era - hence the reason I got these lots, filled in some gaps nicely). I wound up having to look several up using the card number filter on the player page. Worked VERY well when there were no artificial suffixes. Didn't work so well when the database had Beckett's lack of prefix or an artificial suffix.

I thought that I had heard about these new rules.  I was starting to get concerned about my Garbage Pail Kids numbering.  They are already numbered with suffixes like #1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, etc.  I would've hated to have to add some more letters like #1aa, #1ab, #1ba, #1bb, and didn't.  VAR or ERR in the notes and moved on. 

I am going to apologize for any wrong changes I may have made in the past. I don't think there were many, because when I wasn't sure, I'd usually just leave a note in the "see any inaccuracies?" section. I was re-looking through the permissions, but didn't see any mention of how to do variations. A visual guide would be helpful for those of us who seem never sure, and for newcomers.