Scraping

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Cicima6709
    SBR MVP
    • 09-12-10
    • 1023

    #1
    Scraping
    I'v read a lot on here about people "scraping" data from a website and converting it into excel (i think?).

    Now, i have like 0 knowledge of programming, however i am good at excel, so i am curious how do-able this is, and how hard it would be for me to learn to do this.

    I would like to take a website such as http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/...y7eJzqAEdivLYF and convert all those stats into excel.

    Now i realize i can just highlight the data, copy and paste it, and clean it up, showing me the columns i'd like to see. I guess i can just keep copy and pasting values, knowing which columns theyll be in, and set up equations to only extract data from those columns.

    My question is...is there a faster way to do this? Is there a way i can just simply change the player # in the yahoo sports game log link, and have excel automatically extra data the way i want it to? I guess i just want to cut down on taking the time to copy and paste the table and cleaning it up, was hoping there was some kind of code to do that for me?
  • Full Time Hobo
    SBR MVP
    • 05-16-10
    • 2778

    #2
    Try the sticky at the top of the Think Tank...

    Intro to research
    Comment
    • phillybadboy
      SBR Hall of Famer
      • 12-11-09
      • 9383

      #3
      Originally posted by Full Time Hobo
      Try the sticky at the top of the Think Tank... Intro to research
      just follow ssk, the ats atm
      Comment
      • Maverick22
        SBR Wise Guy
        • 04-10-10
        • 807

        #4
        Pay someone to do it.

        Fastest way. You ramping up to learn how will take ages.

        OR... Look online for some application that takes an html table, and convert it to csv. That will same ALOT of time and headaches. But still require some time to ramp up, to understand how to use whichever application you can find
        Comment
        • Blax0r
          SBR Wise Guy
          • 10-13-10
          • 688

          #5
          Originally posted by Maverick22
          Pay someone to do it.

          Fastest way. You ramping up to learn how will take ages.

          OR... Look online for some application that takes an html table, and convert it to csv. That will same ALOT of time and headaches. But still require some time to ramp up, to understand how to use whichever application you can find
          For someone with 0 knowledge, I'd go w/ Maverick's first option. The time lost + high probability of mashing your data in a dangerous way (ex: flipping td and ints or something) will be much more expensive than paying someone.
          Comment
          • Cap dat 4ss
            Restricted User
            • 10-11-10
            • 3665

            #6
            WOuld someone on here be willing to take payment via Paypal for something like this or are you recommending we go find a local to take care of this for us? I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for someone to something like this, except here.
            Comment
            • Wrecktangle
              SBR MVP
              • 03-01-09
              • 1524

              #7
              Originally posted by Cap dat 4ss
              WOuld someone on here be willing to take payment via Paypal for something like this or are you recommending we go find a local to take care of this for us? I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for someone to something like this, except here.
              Well, if you PM on paying someone for anything here at SBR, the mods will pull your PM privileges, so this isn't a decent place to advert either.

              Oh BTW, if you read between the lines: PMs aren't P either.
              Comment
              • Emily_Haines
                SBR Posting Legend
                • 04-14-09
                • 15917

                #8
                Originally posted by Wrecktangle
                Oh BTW, if you read between the lines: PMs aren't P either.
                Were the fuk SBR get this idea from. Just like the US government they think they got the right to read your PM's. Complete bullshit.
                Comment
                • LtDementia
                  SBR High Roller
                  • 08-22-10
                  • 203

                  #9
                  I'd have a look at excel's 'Import External Data' first. It would be easy to try:

                  Go to page that you want in a browser (or have the url handy).
                  In Excel to to the menu Item 'Data -> Import External Data -> New Web Query' and Select.

                  A window will appear - highlight the url at the top and paste in your url. Hit the options button and disable date recognition. Press the 'Go' button and the site that you are interested in will appear.

                  Decide what data you want and click the yellow marks to select - the marks will turn into green checks.

                  Hit 'Import' and boom - the page will appear in excel all separated into columns. Save as a .csv file ....

                  LT


                  Originally posted by Cicima6709
                  I'v read a lot on here about people "scraping" data from a website and converting it into excel (i think?).

                  Now, i have like 0 knowledge of programming, however i am good at excel, so i am curious how do-able this is, and how hard it would be for me to learn to do this.

                  I would like to take a website such as http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/...y7eJzqAEdivLYF and convert all those stats into excel.

                  Now i realize i can just highlight the data, copy and paste it, and clean it up, showing me the columns i'd like to see. I guess i can just keep copy and pasting values, knowing which columns theyll be in, and set up equations to only extract data from those columns.

                  My question is...is there a faster way to do this? Is there a way i can just simply change the player # in the yahoo sports game log link, and have excel automatically extra data the way i want it to? I guess i just want to cut down on taking the time to copy and paste the table and cleaning it up, was hoping there was some kind of code to do that for me?
                  Comment
                  • Flight
                    Restricted User
                    • 01-28-09
                    • 1979

                    #10
                    A page like the one you linked sometimes copies well into Excel straight up. Try all browsers - IE, Firefox, Chrome. Some will copy paste to excel better than others for certain tables.

                    For ESPN pages I copy paste straight to Excel. I can analyze player props within 5 minutes with this method. The only thing that a scraper would do would be to bring that number down under a minute. This would be nice, but I still have yet to do it... I just stick with the manual approach when it comes to player props. But if you need to update constantly (like NHL or MLB), then yah you need a sweet program to get data from the internet.
                    Comment
                    • arwar
                      SBR High Roller
                      • 07-09-09
                      • 208

                      #11
                      ncaa boxscores

                      well i code scrapers almost exclusively. i am attaching 'scraped' boxscores for the the first 4 weeks of ncaa season. if have any questions or need explanation of columns send me a pm. as always these are free to use and distribute. change the extension to .csv and pull them into Excel. Enjoy
                      Attached Files
                      Comment
                      • arwar
                        SBR High Roller
                        • 07-09-09
                        • 208

                        #12
                        here are co0lumn headings for above files:
                        1st downs,3rd dwn eff (2col), 4th dwn eff, tot yds, ps yds, com/att (2col),yds/ps,rsh yds, rsh att,yds/rsh,penal (2col),fumbles lost,ints, top (secs)
                        Comment
                        • podonne
                          SBR High Roller
                          • 07-01-11
                          • 104

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Wrecktangle
                          Well, if you PM on paying someone for anything here at SBR, the mods will pull your PM privileges, so this isn't a decent place to advert either.

                          Oh BTW, if you read between the lines: PMs aren't P either.
                          Really? I made an offer to write scrapers for people on this forum and no one from SBR said anything. Can I get paid in points?
                          Comment
                          • arwar
                            SBR High Roller
                            • 07-09-09
                            • 208

                            #14
                            week 5 boxes

                            a couple rows (A&M & nor ill) need a bit of edit
                            Attached Files
                            Comment
                            • Wrecktangle
                              SBR MVP
                              • 03-01-09
                              • 1524

                              #15
                              Originally posted by podonne
                              Really? I made an offer to write scrapers for people on this forum and no one from SBR said anything. Can I get paid in points?
                              Keep it up, they'll get you eventually.

                              But if you'd rather, I can turn you in...your choice.
                              Comment
                              • podonne
                                SBR High Roller
                                • 07-01-11
                                • 104

                                #16
                                Originally posted by Wrecktangle
                                Keep it up, they'll get you eventually.

                                But if you'd rather, I can turn you in...your choice.
                                Not trying to do anything wrong. I posted my own thread and no admins\mods commented there either. I never saw anywhere where it said you couldn't offer other your services to other handicappers on here. Just trying to make a few bucks during unemployment, and since I write so many scrapers myself, seemed natural.

                                I'll contact SBR directly as ask what their policy is.
                                Comment
                                • MonkeyF0cker
                                  SBR Posting Legend
                                  • 06-12-07
                                  • 12144

                                  #17
                                  Originally posted by Wrecktangle
                                  Keep it up, they'll get you eventually.

                                  But if you'd rather, I can turn you in...your choice.
                                  Whoever said you were a douchebag? They were OBVIOUSLY wrong.
                                  Comment
                                  • MonkeyF0cker
                                    SBR Posting Legend
                                    • 06-12-07
                                    • 12144

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by podonne
                                    Not trying to do anything wrong. I posted my own thread and no admins\mods commented there either. I never saw anywhere where it said you couldn't offer other your services to other handicappers on here. Just trying to make a few bucks during unemployment, and since I write so many scrapers myself, seemed natural.

                                    I'll contact SBR directly as ask what their policy is.
                                    I'd let him tattle on you instead.
                                    Comment
                                    • Wrecktangle
                                      SBR MVP
                                      • 03-01-09
                                      • 1524

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by MonkeyF0cker
                                      Whoever said you were a douchebag? They were OBVIOUSLY wrong.
                                      Monkey droppings, my one stab at your sarcastic games...

                                      ...no where near your level, obviously.
                                      Comment
                                      • Maverick22
                                        SBR Wise Guy
                                        • 04-10-10
                                        • 807

                                        #20
                                        The world needs more douche bags. Noone likes smelly vaginas.
                                        Comment
                                        • subs
                                          SBR MVP
                                          • 04-30-10
                                          • 1412

                                          #21
                                          Comment
                                          • Jackson1003
                                            SBR Rookie
                                            • 01-22-12
                                            • 13

                                            #22
                                            good luck on your scraping
                                            Comment
                                            • ManBearPig
                                              SBR MVP
                                              • 12-04-08
                                              • 2473

                                              #23
                                              Google Excel SMF Add-In...may save time from learning to code or buy you time while learning
                                              Comment
                                              SBR Contests
                                              Collapse
                                              Top-Rated US Sportsbooks
                                              Collapse
                                              Working...