MultiBase 2.0 beta

[Fangbeast]

*UPDATE* The V1.xx series is no longer being developed so the project and links have been deleted. The V2.xx series is now uncrippled freeware, the link has been updated so that you download the main (rar'ed) executable. This is all I have time to update for now.

NOTE. Need some sensible comments, testing and suggestions please.

Introducing MultiBase(c) 2. Not revolutionary, just so very useful. (to my family at least)

A Ten database information manager for the home. This product provides for the tracking of your personal addresses, Books from the library, Batteries, Documents, gadgets (anything that uses batteries), Home inventory, Recipe keeper, Shopping list and Photographs.

Basic functions: Add, delete and edit records in all of the ten databases. Update the Australian postcode database (for the Address book) from an official Australia Post data file. Lend items to people from the books, gadgets and inventory database. Find as you type.

Other functions: The document tracker is a little more involved than the other modules combined (with the possible exception of the address section) , so be sure to read the bundled help file.

Many forms are interrelated such as the Address book looking up the postcode database, the recipe manager picking items from the shopping list, the gadgets database looking up the battery list, the inventory, gadgets and books databases having history of borrowing and more. Try it and see!

MultiBase(c) 2 now has a rudimentary data exchange capability and this is a distinctly different operation to import and export functions.

Send Scenario. User 1 has some data (out of any of the tables) that user 2 does not have.

a Select the correct table.
b Search for the entries (via search) or MultiSelect (Standard operating system shift, control and mouse functions) them.
c Press Control S to create an encrypted data packet for user 2. (Table, packet and compressed files are automatically generated and named)
c1 Field names are dumped as the first line in the encrypted data file.
c2 Dump file is named to the current table name.
c3 Dump file is encrypted while being written.
c4 Dump file is compressed for transport.
d Packet sending window appears with all data filled in except destination (of course!)
d1 Fill in Destination email address (Generated from the address book entries!)
d2 Click send and the progress is reported as it goes through to the destination.

Receive Scenario. User 2 has received a data packet from user 1.

a Press Control I to open the packet import window.
1 Browse to the directory that the import packets are in.
2 All entries from the packet are decrypted and listed on the screen with checkboxes.
3 Press Control + T to select ALL entries, Control U to unselect all entries (Or select checkboxes for individual records)
4 Press the save button to import all selected entries into the database.
4a All rejected entries are highlighted in red.
4b All accepted entries are removed from the list.

NOTE: The email and packet functions do not support SSL so if your email provider needs it, then you are out of luck for the present. I am working on it.

Added: Personal photograph database. Nothing fancy, just a database to track your photos and some information about them.
Added: Now has a popup menu that can be activated by a shortcut by people having problems with a mouse.
Added: Now has a full SQLite query module for people with advanced query needs.
Added: Can now copy formatted record to the system clipboard.
Added: Packet encryption key can be generated, opened, saved and copied from setup.
Added: Setup screen options for encryption key generation, open, save and copy.
Added: .INI file options to save and load encryption key.
Added: A setup flag to allow the user to pack pictures with the packet data.
Added: Code to pack pictures with data if flag selected.
Added: Photograph database to packet export and update code.
Added: Packet creation option to pack pictures with the data packet if flag is set.
Added: Import pictures with data if present in data packet and flag is set.
Changed: About window updated with more information.
Updated: The help file was completely updated.

IMPORTANT: This release can be tested by anyone but only the ability to save data for the address book is included. That also precludes the ability to run extended queries in the query module. As this product is the culimation of 3 long years of work with not much to show for it, I have to protect what I have done.

Note: Please read the (Huge!) help file for explanation of all the additions and how they work. I will not be retyping them all here.

http://members.westnet.com.au/bangfeast ... ase%202.7z

[dige]

Sorry Fangles, I'm not able to test it. I'm too stupid :-(
What I did so far:
- Renamed PeriTek MultiBase v2.00.0.ptk.example to PeriTek MultiBase v2.00.0.ptk
- Files / Open Database (Ctrl+O) -> PeriTek MultiBase v2.00.0.ptk

Nothing happens

I got no message if the database is now open or what.
I tried to type some chars on the "type here what you searching for.."
field. Still nothing happens, only the whole screen is flickering (refreshing)
on every new char..

I gave up..

[Fangbeast]

Sorry Fangles, I'm not able to test it. I'm too stupid

I seriously doubt that Dige. maybe it's the language barrier as the help file tells you EVERYTHING in English but maybe very disorganised..

- Renamed PeriTek MultiBase v2.00.0.ptk.example to PeriTek MultiBase v2.00.0.ptk
- Files / Open Database (Ctrl+O) -> PeriTek MultiBase v2.00.0.ptk

This is a wrong assumption.

From the help file "When you attempt to run the program, it creates a blank database. You can open another database by selecting it from the drop-down selector. There are three allowable extensions, .PTK, .sample and .db/.db3"

So as you can see from my statement above, the sample database doesn't need to be renamed, just the drop down filetype selector changed to the .sample extension. This was done so that everyone could give each other sample databases to play with instead of trashing their main one.

Nothing happens

It could be because the database wasn't opened, the sample database could be corrupt or it could be an older version and I might have forgotten to include the latest sample.

I got no message if the database is now open or what.

I will investigate that. So many messages to wade through to make sure the right ones show up and you are not inundated.

I tried to type some chars on the "type here what you searching for.."
field. Still nothing happens, only the whole screen is flickering (refreshing)
on every new char..

Also from the help file somewhere" "When you open another database, the same previous search strings are applied as they are to the default one.

That means that if you searched for "Dige" in your default database and you had some matches, then opened the sample one and the "Dige" string still applied, you might not have anything with "Dige" in it in the sample database so nothing will show up!!!

Look at the search string bar and delete the characters and if the database is okay (as evidenced by the flickering), then something should now show from the list in any database table.

[dige]

I would recommend to create an "easy to use" case for the first run. because the very the very first impression is crucial.

That means, the demo database is opened and all items from a "interesting category" are listed. the user can start right away to test your application, without reading a manual or to have database skills.

what do you think?

[Fangbeast]

I would recommend to create an "easy to use" case for the first run. because the very the very first impression is crucial.

That means, the demo database is opened and all items from a "interesting category" are listed. the user can start right away to test your application, without reading a manual or to have database skills.

what do you think?

Yes and no. This is a workhorse application designed to manage a lot of data and reading the manual is crucial to the successful use of the software. The manual was provided to answer a lot of important questions and illustrate the use of the software to avoid misunderstanding and data damage and answering questions already answered in the manual.

And you don't need database skills to use the program, just read the manual, that's what it's there for. I didn't write it for my health you know :)

You wouldn't get in a car and drive around without knowing how would you? You would kill somebody.

The demo database isn't really a big, interesting one but then it's not designed to be and it's easy enough to open. Use the manual luke, use the manual!

[srod]

You wouldn't get in a car and drive around without knowing how would you?

I did!

[Fangbeast]

You wouldn't get in a car and drive around without knowing how would you?

I did!

I've seen that. And the council are still filling in the craters!!

[dige]

@Fangles: You just look through the eyes of a programmer. Just sit back, relax and try to empathize into an (bdu ^_^) customer.

What he's doing? He's looking for a little database application to arrange some stuff, is'nt he? Perhaps he has already tried 5 or 6 programs. Nothing
fits to his needs and he becomes a little bit shirty..

And now he have found a nice tool called 'PeriTek MultiBase v2.00'. What will he do? First read a manual?

But it's up to you, Fangles...

[Fangbeast]

You just look through the eyes of a programmer. Just sit back, relax and try to empathize into an (bdu ^_^) customer.

Translation: "Do a lot more for lazy people for absolutely nothing"

Nothing fits to his needs and he becomes a little bit shirty..

Translation: "So he becomes a little shirty and decides to ask the poor programmer who spent months writing a huge manual to explain it all to him because he's too bloody lazy to read it and wants to be supported for nothing"

What will he do? First read a manual?

Yes. That's a usual intelligent way.

But it's up to you, Fangles...

Yes, it is. And I am not going to sit there for hours re-explaining everything that is already there, right in front of them. People should try reading manuals, it would be a novel experience for most of them.

[Fangbeast]

Main update is the UnDump feature for restoring corrupt or empty tables from XML exports you might have done earlier.

Read the manual please. I need to take time out for personal family issues and not sit here explaining things.

Added: Packet update module creation.
Added: Packet import creation.
Added: Photograph collection table.
Added: Master SQLite query module for advanced users.
Added: Popup menu available via right mouse click or shortcut.
Added: Copy formatted record to system clipboard.
Added: Packet encryption key can be generated, opened, saved and copied from setup.
Added: Setup screen options for encryption key generation, open, save and copy.
Added: .INI file options to save and load encryption key.
Added: A setup flag to allow the user to pack pictures with the packet data.
Added: Code to pack pictures with data if flag selected.
Added: Photograph database to packet export and update code.
Added: Packet creation option to pack pictures with the data packet if flag is set.
Added: Import pictures with data if present in data packet and flag is set.
Added: Undump an empty or damaged database by re-importing XML export files assuming you have them.
Added: When the address form is open and you open the postcode lookup form on top of it, the address form zooms to the top left and docks the postcode lookup next to it. When you close the postcode form, the address forms zooms back to it's last position.
Added: Extra field to the mail tracking table for import/export flagging.
Updated: The help file was completely updated.
Changed: About window updated with more information.
Changed: In the lending table, Loaned to, Borrowed From, Returned To fields all take their selectable names from the address book now. If the first, middle and last fields are empty, the company name is used. if all fields are empty, no blanks are added to the list by mistake.
Fixed: Recipe keeper's shopping list was adding dollar signs everywhere.
Fixed: Wrong variable set that would have made MultiBase(c) fail on vista.
Fixed: Obscure bug that would fail to display anything from the photographs table in the status bar. (Took 4 hours to find!)
Fixed: Lots of spelling mistakes (again).
Fixed: Recipe keeper's shopping list was adding dollar signs everywhere when being edited.
Fixed: Spelling mistake in text database dump message.
Other: So much code has been cleaned up, streamlined, reformatted and areas linked for this version that it would take forever to find and document them all. Writing and updating this help file takes longer than the program changes themselves.For changes to the MultiBase(c) v1.xx versions, refer to their help files.