The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 31, August 5, 2007, Article 3

NOTES ON THE STACK'S ECATALOGUE FORMAT

Tim L. Shuck of Ames, IA writes: "I just noticed that Stack's is
offering a new "eCatalogue" for their current J. A. Sherman and
Roraima Shield Collections auction (August 5). This digital
catalog is available at stacks.com, with links to it from their
Auctions and Current News sections.

"Though I like the idea of digital catalogs, and there are some
interesting features here, I have mixed feelings about this
implementation. It duplicates much of the Browse Lots capabilities
currently available on Stack's online auctions; and you end up in
that format anyway if you use the "Bid on Lot" function of the
eCatalogue. There are some fairly robust viewing tools, and image
quality is good at maximum allowable zoom.

"A more significant issue is the limited viewing area, which is
not user size-adjustable as far as I can tell. Readability is
limited for me until I go to maximum zoom. I don't see that a
downloadable pdf version is available, though I was able to print
to a pdf from a Windows machine but not from a Mac (not with the
image clarity of the online version however).

"With additional hands-on experience since the earlier discussion
on E- Sylum regarding the future of printed catalogs, I more and
more favor pdf files on a local machine. Benefits include greater
access speed, more robust view and search options, a minimal
physical footprint, and easily stored and backed up data formats.
At the same time I have purchased and will continue to purchase
hard-bound printed versions of auction classics for my reference
library.

"But it seems we are in a time of transition. The Internet has
shifted considerable market focus to digital information delivery,
companies continue to innovate in that direction, and I think that
is a good thing. It will be interesting to see how this develops
in the next few months and years."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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