XLS Export of Collection contains duplicates

[bjallen2880]

Hello - 
I am noticing that when you export your collection, there are duplicate entries if a toy is associated with multiple toylines.
For example, if you have  Transformers Prime Cyberverse Optimus Prime (UPC 653569805724) in your collection, it shows up twice in the Excel export because he is listed under these two entries:

•  Transformers > Cyberverse > Commander Class > Series 3
• Transformers > Prime > Cyberverse > Beast Hunters > Commander Class

I guess my first question - should an item be listed in more than one toyline?

If yes, there are instances where an item has more than one toyline, then is there a way to handle the exports differently so there's no duplicates?

[engledogg]

Yep, a toy can (and should) be listed in multiple toylines - especially crossover lines, like the Collaborative toys, the Star Wars and Marvel Transformers crossovers, Kre-O, Funko, etc.  Since both properties are involved, those toys are considered to be parts of both properties/ top-level categories.

For example, the Star Wars crossovers (like Yoda here, https://www.shmax.com/product_details/6782/yoda-to-republic-attack-shuttle) - I, as a Transformers collector, consider them to be Transformers first, Star Wars second, whereas someone that focuses on Star Wars would likely consider them to be Star Wars toys first, Transformers second.  They are a combination of both properties, so each toy appears in both top-level categories (Star Wars and Transformers).

[engledogg]

Now, for toys like the Cyberverse example you provide above, in which a Transformers toy appears in two lines within the Transformers category, Cyberverse is a bit of a special case as it started off in Dark of the Moon, as a "sub-toyline" composed of smaller toys all at a similar scale, meant to interact with each other), and spanned into Transformers: Prime (ending with Beast Hunters).  All Cyberverse toys were co-branded, either DotM or Prime, so both toylines have to be accounted for in the database.  Cyberverse is more complex than a size class and was its own thing. so that's why we treat it as such. 

We can't say that the Optimus Prime above was only a Transformers: Prime Cyberverse toy, nor can we say that he was only a Cyberverse Series 2 toy - he was both, so that's why he is cross-listed.

Same goes for something like DotM Cyberverse Prime ( https://www.shmax.com/product_details/8350/optimus-prime ) .

As far a solution to the spreadsheet duplicate entries issue goes, unfortunately, that's above my pay grade, lol.

I'll pass it on to shmax and see if he has any ideas.

MIKE
engledogg

[shmax]

Well, my take on this is that each tab in the generated spreadsheet is a "collection" (one for Star Wars, one for Transformers, etc), and that it would be more surprising if toys that make appearances in both top-level categories *weren't* present in both tabs. But if you would much rather have it the other way, then I could try adding a "Collapse duplicates" checkbox, or something. Let us know what you think.