(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Ok...version 0.6a is up...it works but has not been tested thoroughly...so go to it

A few notes on the new version

The custom database creation tool is under tools menu, as is the viewer/editor. The viewer/editor is capable of opening any dBase or Foxpro database, not just the ones created in ppdb.

In the viewer/editor, if your database has a BLOB(Image) field, you can click on the [Blob] in the grid and the image viewer will pop up(hopefully).

Can't think of anything else at the moment...other things will probably come to me...

Remember you can always get the latest versions here http://www.gposil.com/pets

Many thanks
downloaded, started from menu / personal etc
great startup logo [ahem]

Created a new database
initially in a directory of my choice and then in /opt/ppdb/bin/
When I try and load it i get the following message (see image) which closes the program or does not open my database

the database has 3 fields - desc, url, details
- no last name . . . so not sure of relevance of error message . . .
Created one database without index - one with - same result

. . . not quite sure how to proceed?

First: GOOD to see you back!

Second: Moving forward.. looking good.

On menu items across top of screen.. Prior, Next, Last and Refresh are missing tool tips... the control keys are on the file menu item.

Not sure the purpose of the edit button? Simply enter data into the bottom of the screen... default is EDIT?

I am sure Insert is the same as ADD a new record... matter of semantics...but a bit confusing. Add new record implies the addition of a new record.... insert has very different connotations... usually insert between something? Such as a new field in a record....

Save button Needed? If you go the next or previous record after editing data or INSERTING a new record... it will automatically save. Save is fine, other method is Feature

Several items are not obvious:
Select search.. search for something not in the data base.. and you receive a totally blank screen... it appears the database is missing. Refresh does not do a thing. Turns out YOU must go back to the menu item, to turn off the filter. Or open the database again. Turn off the filter should be new pop up button or in some way let the operator know what is next..... NOT obvious what to do... restore the file? Or what? Did I destroy the database?

What is the purpose of the refresh option (alt r)?

Why only selected fields to search? Can we search in all fields such as the comments field... which brings up a question.. will the search fields automatically adjust if the database is self created and the field names are very different?

Not obvious, but it appears wild cards work in the search field.. GOOD. *d* worked. Did not try case sensitive? Did not try "?"

Why must we enter twice to get print a report to work? File menu print.. then second question... double work for the operator.

Not totally obvious at first between NEW and Data Base Creator.. becomes obvious when you try to use the creator. Speaking there of... created a database. Did not enter the designation folder.. it said it saved it.. but don't have a clue where... that field should have a default.. the main location. Once I set the default... it saved the new TWO field database. OK, how do I use it... Didn't seem to go directly to new database for data entry... so I went to file to open the newly defined data base... BLEW up.... with error... "Index based on unknown filed LASTNAME" I did not have a last name in my self defined database.... only two fields..

Speaking of field definition.. first field was name... sixty characters. Second filed Number of disks... INTEGER.... gave it 60 characters is that right?

Printing: Not obvious that if you filter.. select specific records, those will be the only records that will print. Not obvious that you can SORT the data in the report by clicking on column headers on the database screen. As there are not any sort or selection criteria once you select print...

What does the ? Help do?????

In help, what is the INTERFACE screen? Currently it is blank.

Will keep testing... keep at it .

G

Sorry Lobster,

I didn't make it very clear.
Did you use puppybase creator in the tools menu...as below

All the custom database features...creation viewing editing are in the tools menu

Did you use puppybase creator in the tools menu...as below

yes
Did I do wrong?

No, certainly not Lobster, did you try to view the database in main Program or PuppyBase viewer in tools menu.

What I am going to have to do is make it more intuitive and straight forward...the difference between a 'Puppy Personal Database' file and a custom created file or .dbf from somewhere else.

Thanks Greg for the testing, all the feedback helps, I will address the issues you've raised as soon as I get some sleep....

gposil wrote: Did you use puppybase creator in the tools menu...as below

I did....set up a simple database
name
street
city

Told the program to index on name....and when I attempted to open the database, it told me that it was indexed on the lastname field and couldn't find the index.

Is there an option to delete or rename a field?

Once a custom database is created, does the screen showing the fileds for the default database disappear, or is it replaced by a screen showing the new database?

Thom

Is there a way to modify a database?

Supposing I create a database with three fields and want to add one more later. Is it possible?

Very exciting stuff.

Thanks

did you try to view the database in main Program or PuppyBase viewer in tools menu.

I did both
It now seems the open database is not implemented yet?
The tools menu option to add records seems to be OK
Which means I could start creating a database . . .

However as If you do not have enough to do, I will wait for a
comma delimited import option (is that planned)?

Great stuff - good to see people enthused

Thanks for all the feedback...working through it...
If it's possible could you report bugs on the PPDB Bug Report forum here

Lobster, yes .csv import will be a feature...

smokey01, yes database restructuring will be available in next point release.

The first update to 0.6 will do the following...when you create a custom database in PuppyBase Creator the database will open immediately in PuppyBase Viewer , so you can check structure and start adding entries...

Ok..0.6b is up...a few quick bug fixes to address some issues raised on 0.6a...more to come.

Please test the Custom Databases area....

A question was asked by Minnesota I think...what is the refresh button for...well PPDB was designed as a fully multi user database out of the box, so if someone else on your network is working on the same database as you at the same time, refresh will update your view incorporating any changes made by other users. I have specifically not locked the database, only used record locking...that is only single user can edit a record at a time...if you attempt to change a record that someone else is working on it will give a message to the effect that this record is locked until the other user finishes with it...hope that explains that little feature.

This is a long process, but it will be worth it...5981 lines of code and counting....

The record lock feature is vital to allow the database to grow. I use a huge database I built in Lotus Approach to run a large Optical Practice. In this situation, we can have several people accessing a single record because the patient is present in the practice and several staff members are updating the record at once, so record lock is vital to prevent data loss.
I have been looking forward to getting to grips with PPD, and it now looks feature rich enough to get to work on. For commercial application, it will need to be relational, but flat form is good for testing.
After switching to Linux, I needed to use OOBase, which is very competent, but a fine example of unintuitive! It took me a couple of months to builsd a reasonable accounting system, and most of that was spent figuring out the damn program. Java base also leads to slow performance.

Thanks for information on refresh, when I used it, nothing happened... or appeared to. You clarified.

Attached... first I defined an integer of 26 characters. I don't believe that is a valid integer. No error message. Attempted to enter data... and received an error. As a database may be defined days or weeks before use....wrong time for the error. Considering second example. Field defined for name as ten characters. NO error message when data entered over that number... simply truncation of the field.

MORE important question..... it appears that the define your own data base is a completely different format and "program". What are the plans for it...it should operator exactly the same as the PUPPY version.. same features same reports, same formats... only difference is the data fields are user defined.

Edit:
Forgot... when errors have occurred in several cases the option to CANCEL the operation.. is not really a cancel the operation it is KILL THE PROGRAM.. or exit entirely, requiring a restart from the menu.

Hi Greg,

Minnesota said:

it appears that the define your own data base is a completely different format and "program". What are the plans for it...it should operator exactly the same as the PUPPY version.. same features same reports, same formats... only difference is the data fields are user defined.

No it's exactly the same procedures...just in an earlier stage of development...quick and dirty for testing with no error checking or field validation as yet...that will come. Yes it will have the same features, in fact more(it has to) than the standard Puppy Personal Database.

BTW: The valid range for integers is -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. If I decide to go 64bit it will be -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. Oh, if you need numbers larger than integer, floating point can use 50+ significant digits...

The 0.6c release will have range checking and field type validation.

I'm working on a small personal database app for inclusion in Puppy, which is nearing completion, but I thought you'd like to have a look at a Personal Database where size is not a consideration...

Hi Guy and Puppy database aficionados

Barry seems unaware of the smaller database project
http://www.puppylinux.com/blog/?viewDetailed=00845
Is it nearing beta status?

Lobster wrote: Barry seems unaware of the smaller database project
http://www.puppylinux.com/blog/?viewDetailed=00845
Is it nearing beta status?

It would appear to me that Barry may be missing the boat....this database project brings a new level of practical use to puppy....and it also allows folks to create and use information that can be easily shared between various applications on various OS.

But, my views are jaundiced....I'd rather be productive than tinker.

Oh well.

Thom

Also, don't forget Portabase, which is a simple program that will meet many people's needs for a flat file database program. WhoDo did sterling work in adapting it for Puppy.

After reflecting on BarryK's comments on PPDB, I have decided to suspend development of the lite version of PPDB in favour of the real DBMS...which will continue, whilst not in Puppy Spirit, it fills a need for a real database management system for Puppy users that don't want to go full blown SQL or OOBase.

BTW...I have ported PPDB over to c++ instead of pascal to see if I could garner any size benefit...yes about 20%...the unupxed binary is reduced in size to about 4.3Mb as opposed to 5.4Mb...but I am not going to get away from the fact that the database engine is roughly 3Mb and whatever front end you put on it is not going to save a great deal...If any one is interested in why I chose to use a real database engine instead of Sqlite or Berkley(BDB), the reasons are manifold, but include such considerations as multi-user and network operability which both Sqlite and BDB have problems with...I will outline the philosophy on an upcoming page on my website....

Thanks for your attention.

Hi gposil,

just curious whether you have a link to BarryK's comments on PPDB, and also what is the real database engine you've decided to use. (Sorry if this is mentioned in previous threads, but I missed this info.)

I will outline the philosophy on an upcoming page on my website....

I look forward to that

Barry may be putting this sqlite database manager in Puppy 4.16 which
will be available soon
http://www.puppylinux.com/blog/?viewDetailed=00846

Is it possible/ feasible that the front end (which I rather like)
could still work with sqlite in some future incarnation?

I feel a little sad that we have lost the small DB
You say suspended - do you feel it may continue later?
I am encouraged by your efforts on the more comprehensive database

Any ideas who is able to create a small DB in Genie?
m m m . . . maybe Nicolas has finished tweaking his excellent editor . . .