Gatherer has gotten a complete overhaul. Much of it is consmetic, but significantly the capability of exporting the query results in the Text Spoiler format has been removed. I suspect this will seriously impact a number of developers of third party tools. I know that I will no longer be able to use the card tracking database I use (the trusty old Magic the Database 5.0). This is quite depressing...I hope someone finds a workaround.
So.....exactly what was wrong with it that's now fixed? I find it somewhat less intuitive and just harder to read now. Good example of fixing something that's not broken.
can still copy paste text from gatherer. That means the text versions are still in the database.
The underlying database is unchanged and the text is still there. But there is no longer a way to obtain an entire expansion set, let's say, in text form. At least not as far as I can tell.
Oh good, instead of that old layout that had easy-to-read black text on a white background and card rulings that fit on the screen, they changed it to grey on darker grey and shoved the card rulings off the screen. And hey, the common set symbols are the same colour as the background they’re on.
Here is an email response I got from a support representative on the issue:
"Currently there is no way to log into and comment on cards in Gatherer after the update. I have no information on whether or not this functionality will return at this time."
Is the spacing off with everyone else's gatherer page, or is it just my browser (Chrome). There's like this weird phantom circle that takes up the whole screen so I have to scroll down to actually see the card/info, and lots of the texts overlaps on itself.
I suspect this will seriously impact a number of developers of third party tools.
I am one of those people. I manage a number of statistics threads on the commander sub-forums and I depended on the text spoiler to crawl gatherer for card rulings.
If anyone finds a workaround, keep me posted!
EDIT: it is still mentioned in the documentation and in the settings page but it is no longer selectable as output.
Luckily, if you have trouble using Gatherer, there is a working feedback page to file issues. *cough* *cough*
can still copy paste text from gatherer. That means the text versions are still in the database.
The underlying database is unchanged and the text is still there. But there is no longer a way to obtain an entire expansion set, let's say, in text form. At least not as far as I can tell.
It's still limited to 20 per page, but doing an Advanced search for an expansion still gives a list with text spoilers that can be sorted in any number of ways. (Collector's Number, Color, Rating, etc.) But I think I see what you mean, now that I read up on it a little more. Hopefully they can resolve the issues for all you folks who make useful automated tools for the community.
Luckily, if you have trouble using Gatherer, there is a working feedback page to file issues. *cough* *cough*
Hilariously, the feedback page gives me the general "The Gatherer website has experienced an unexpected server error." error.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
UUU Talrand, Sky Summoner // (W/U)(W/U)(W/U) Grand Arbiter Augustin IV // RRR Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker // (R/G)(R/G)(R/G) Wort, the Raidmother // URG Riku of Two Reflections // RWU Ruhan of the Fomori
Quote from Mark Rosewater »
In response to your Lightning Blast, I'll eat this burrito.
Quote from slipknot72102 »
This is why I started playing magic in the first place. It wasn't PT aspirations just making noobs cry by doing things that are perfectly fair.
I like it. I read web sites white text on black anytime I can anyway, so that improves the look as far as I'm concerned. I like that "advanced" is a tab now rather than a new page, and I think the card output is much more visually pleasing. I think it's a huge improvement.
Advanced is still a new page. They're still Default.aspx and Advanced.aspx. It's just laid out slightly differently.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
UUU Talrand, Sky Summoner // (W/U)(W/U)(W/U) Grand Arbiter Augustin IV // RRR Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker // (R/G)(R/G)(R/G) Wort, the Raidmother // URG Riku of Two Reflections // RWU Ruhan of the Fomori
Quote from Mark Rosewater »
In response to your Lightning Blast, I'll eat this burrito.
Quote from slipknot72102 »
This is why I started playing magic in the first place. It wasn't PT aspirations just making noobs cry by doing things that are perfectly fair.
I don't think it's an improvement, but I suppose it looks more modern. Not being able to comment on cards is kind of a huge deal if you ask me, though. I always thought the high-rated card comments were pretty funny and insightful.
The underlying HTML remains almost identical, this appears to be mostly just a visual facelift using CSS.
There are a few HTML structure changes (printings page links, some invalid HTML on single card pages, etc) but I was able to update the mtgjson.com source code pretty easily to accommodate the changes.
I haven't tested a large number of sets or cards yet (just tested out ISD and V13). So there may be more structural changes I haven't ran into yet, I plan on testing more sets as soon as I can (will be a few days, busy).
Thought I'd share what I ran into just in case some other 3rd party gatherer scraping apps out there were reading this thread.
Gatherer was broken before. Off the top of my head, you couldn't search for "+1/+1" without inputting the unicode for plus signs and you couldn't search for user comments. Those are still broken and so much more now. Once Magiccards.info updates with Vintage Masters and Conspiracy I will see no reason to use gatherer for the foreseeable future.
So, on a lark I went to look up Garruk Relentless.
It seems that the rulings on double-image cards (the Innistrad transform cards and the Kamigawa flip cards) alternate dark-gray and white, but the white ones are very hard to read because the text is still light gray. It it an issue on my end, or does everyone see it?
So, on a lark I went to look up Garruk Relentless.
It seems that the rulings on double-image cards (the Innistrad transform cards and the Kamigawa flip cards) alternate dark-gray and white, but the white ones are very hard to read because the text is still light gray. It it an issue on my end, or does everyone see it?
No, you are right on that one. The alternate bars of light and dark make it very hard to read half of the rulings.
Well, everyone send an email. I had to go through Customer Support though, because the server is "down". Oh well, I guess onto the Card Kingdom search site. Sigh....
There are a few HTML structure changes (printings page links, some invalid HTML on single card pages, etc) but I was able to update the mtgjson.com source code pretty easily to accommodate the changes.
Thoughts?
I can still copy paste text from gatherer. That means the text versions are still in the database.
It only means 3rd party databases will have to update.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Just what I always wanted.
"Currently there is no way to log into and comment on cards in Gatherer after the update. I have no information on whether or not this functionality will return at this time."
Awesome! Thanks for the update guys!
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
I am one of those people. I manage a number of statistics threads on the commander sub-forums and I depended on the text spoiler to crawl gatherer for card rulings.
If anyone finds a workaround, keep me posted!
EDIT: it is still mentioned in the documentation and in the settings page but it is no longer selectable as output.
Luckily, if you have trouble using Gatherer, there is a working feedback page to file issues. *cough* *cough*
DECKS
Ertai | Squee | Roon | Aurelia
USEFUL RESOURCES
Commander Decklist Database
Statistical breakdown of the commander metagame
50 Commanders / 50 Decks
27 Colors / 27 Decks
It's still limited to 20 per page, but doing an Advanced search for an expansion still gives a list with text spoilers that can be sorted in any number of ways. (Collector's Number, Color, Rating, etc.) But I think I see what you mean, now that I read up on it a little more. Hopefully they can resolve the issues for all you folks who make useful automated tools for the community.
Hilariously, the feedback page gives me the general "The Gatherer website has experienced an unexpected server error." error.
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
I know there have been longstanding issues for more advanced searches for years now... perhaps something got fixed?
There are a few HTML structure changes (printings page links, some invalid HTML on single card pages, etc) but I was able to update the mtgjson.com source code pretty easily to accommodate the changes.
I haven't tested a large number of sets or cards yet (just tested out ISD and V13). So there may be more structural changes I haven't ran into yet, I plan on testing more sets as soon as I can (will be a few days, busy).
Thought I'd share what I ran into just in case some other 3rd party gatherer scraping apps out there were reading this thread.
It seems that the rulings on double-image cards (the Innistrad transform cards and the Kamigawa flip cards) alternate dark-gray and white, but the white ones are very hard to read because the text is still light gray. It it an issue on my end, or does everyone see it?
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
FREE DIG THOROUGH TIME!
PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
WUBRGProgenitus
URGMaelstrom Wanderer
WUBOloro, Ageless Ascetic
WURZedruu, the Greathearted
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher ($100)
GWUDerevi, Empyrial Tactician ($100)
UGKruphix, God of Horizons ($100)(retired)UTalrand, Sky Summoner (French 1v1, $100)