A Thousand IPDb Hints

Along the way, as we get more experienced, with the App, we pick up good ways to use IPDb, so here is one long list of such hints:

They are not rules, so by all means, find the way that suits you best.  Even so, it might serve as an inspiration point for experienced, regular users and a good starting point for new users.

If you have a super hint you would like to share, please create a ticket and submit it to us, and we will add it to the list.

• IPDb has a great knowledge base, with a lot of detailed information about the many features of IPDb. You access it, by clicking/tapping the '?' icon in the lower-right corner of the app. Spend time here and learn how to get the most out of IPDb
• If further assistance is needed or you can't find the help you need, you can find a Submit Ticket link in the top right-hand corner of the Knowledge Base screen. Use this, to submit your query or report, and we will assist, wherever, we can
  
  

Duplicate entries

• Once a puzzle has been entered into IPDb, there is, no need to add it again. Duplicate entries confuse things, so try to avoid them. A good way to prevent duplicates is to search for your puzzle, to see if it is already in IPDb before you start entering it. And don't worry if you forget to search first, IPDb will try and warn you when it detects that you are trying to enter a duplicate
• If a duplicate does find its way into IPDb and you happen to come across one, please create a support ticket to let the admin group know, so we can try to resolve this

• When entering puzzles into IPDb, please try to add as much information as possible, Very often, the box will contain important information. Although it might not be important to you, it might be essential to other users
• Be precise when adding information, do not guess. Others may know and can help you to make your entry perfect if you are unsure.  So don't be afraid to ask for help, if required or, leave a field blank when the information, isn't available to you
• Only put official alternative names in the field, for alternative names/puzzle titles; this means only the names shown on the box or, the vendor's sales pages. It may, also include titles in different languages to the title name entered in the main name field. Names in alternate languages help users from countries with those languages to find your puzzle. Please avoid using names that you made up
• Brands. Try to avoid creating duplicates of brands which already exist in IPDb. Brand names are easy to spell with small variations (Eg: using initials instead of full name), or names that may have changed slightly over time, yet they refer to the same Brand. So please make sure that the Brand doesn't already exist, before creating a new Brand
• Barcodes are super informative for any puzzle, so if you can, be sure to, enter it. It makes the puzzle unique (or at least it should, but some Brands, do, re-use the same barcode for multiple puzzles...). If you use a phone, you can scan the barcode on the box using IPDb
• When you start typing text in most fields you will notice suggestion pop-ups.  They display similar text already input previously, in the relevant field. Please use one of the suggestions if appropriate, wherever, possible. By using the same text for all entries that should be the same, we make puzzles easier to find. The names of artists can very easily be entered with small variations; this is something, we should all try to avoid. If you want to submit multi-puzzles (one box with many puzzles), be sure, to read the knowledge base article about it; it is tricky!

Photos/Images

• We recommend you use your own photos instead of unauthorised images from other websites. This way, you will avoid potential problems and make IPDb look much better by showing actual puzzle photos. Images from vendor's websites, are often just digital images instead of the real deal and are boring... We have no desire to look like a retail site
• When taking photos, try to put the box/puzzle down on a neutral background and use up as much of the camera resolution, to cover the box/puzzle. Try using your built-in camera editing function in crop mode to, only show the puzzle. Avoid other objects (read cats etc.) in the image. Do not disclose personal information through your images so, please keep it safe, and remember, that other people will also be looking at your pictures
• When uploading images, you can specify each type of each photo by marking them as a box image, a poster or an image of the finished puzzle or, even blur a mystery puzzle result. User preferences differ - some people prefer to see boxes, others prefer finished puzzles as their first images, and most people like to avoid spoilers of mystery puzzles. By tagging your images by the appropriate type, it gives everyone, an option of what they prefer to see to enhance their IPDb experience

Tags, Tags, Tags

• Please consider adding tags to your entries.  Tags are a great way to find puzzles by certain terms/words that describe the puzzle or puzzle image.  Apart from a tag needing to be a single word only, there is no limit or pre-defined set of words that can be used; this makes it very easy to be precise
  
  

When you have completed a puzzle

• Whenever you complete a puzzle, please be sure to do, at least 2 things.
  1. Take a picture and add the puzzle to IPDb (even if a puzzle record already exists and has a completed image, add yours as well so you will have a reference for it too), and:
  2. Mark the puzzle as completed (tick completed when entering a new record, or add it to your completed folder if the record already exists), then enter the completion date in the screen that pops up after either of the 2 actions mentioned before. It is a fun way, to create a history trail of all your puzzling! 

Messaging System / Notifications / Updates

• IPDb has an internal message system, where all users can message each other. In addition, the IPDb Admin Team uses this message system intensively to communicate directly with members. You can find your inbox by clicking/tapping the Settings (Cog icon) in the lower-right corner and scrolling down to the message section
• After adding new features, enhancing existing ones or applying patches, IPDb will release an update to ensure that Members, will have the latest access to them. Please update to the newest version, when notified. IPDb will advise you to update whenever a new version becomes available, and it is advisable to update at your earliest convenience to ensure you have the latest functionality at your fingertips

Rating and Reviewing

• Each puzzle can be rated, both in terms of overall puzzling experience, as well as difficulty.  As long as you have completed the puzzle, you can rate any puzzle, either entered by yourself or a puzzle that has been entered by someone else
  
• And why not add a short personal review? How did you like it? What was good? What was bad?  Reviews help other puzzlers decide if the puzzle will be suitable for them

Sharing and Promoting IPDb

• IPDb has multiple ways of sharing information contained within the database. (wherever you see icons with 3 dots and lines in between).
  As IPDb is a non-profit community project, based solely, on donations from users; we have no marketing budget. So to help spread the word about IPDb, we encourage you all to use the sharing options to help us market and promote the puzzle resource you have so kindly spent time contributing to. Having more puzzlers enter their collections will help grow the database, so that it will become more relevant and useful to all those, who will also search the database