Recent Posts

501

General Software Discussion / Re: Getting started with Access?

« Last post by PPLandry on January 01, 2008, 11:28 AM »

One big advantage of using the Access UI is that it gives the car keys to users. They are free to create queries, new/modify forms, create reports.

-PPLandry (January 01, 2008, 09:32 AM)

That may also be an important disadvantage. If I had a dollar for every time I had to unravel the bad data resulting from someone who didn't have the knowledge to properly model the data relationships then, well, I'd have a lot of dollars.

-CWuestefeld (January 01, 2008, 11:12 AM)

True but if you split the DB into 2, and lockup the data-database, then if users mess-up the UI database, it can easily be restored. I never let user modify the data-database

502

General Software Discussion / Re: Getting started with Access?

« Last post by PPLandry on January 01, 2008, 09:32 AM »

One big advantage of using the Access UI is that it gives the car keys to users. They are free to create queries, new/modify forms, create reports. But always, always use 2 databases, one uniquely for data and one for UI (and temporary data)

503

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 31, 2007, 12:55 PM »

I can still sum up the individual items later if I need to.  Right?

-superboyac (December 31, 2007, 12:50 PM)

Yes, you can create a sum field (=practice1 + practice2 + ...) or use the pivot table or export to excel, etc

[edit]
BTW, if the comment on each practice is generally small, you can include it directly in the practice info. Here is how:
Instead of using a number field for the practice duration, use a text field. First enter the duration and then the comment. Set it to wordwrap if you want.

Now the neat thing, you can still do computations even though it is a text field! SQLNotes can evaluate text fields and treat them as number fields.

504

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 31, 2007, 11:59 AM »

OK, I'm trying something new now.  I want to keep a log of my jazz piano practices.  For each day, I want to track how long I spend on each item and maybe a comment in the HTML pane.  I'm thinking that the forms is the way to do this, here is what I want it to look like (with proper indentations):

12-30-2007
   practice item1 (15 minutes, comment)
   practice item2 (15 minutes, comment)
   practice item3 (25 minutes, comment)

For the form, it would be ideal if it could fill in the date to be whatever the date is when the form is invoked.  Also, if it could automatically set up the 4 lines in the grid with the proper indentation, that would be great.  Then I just fill in the time spent in a separate field, and comments in the html pane.  For each day, I would invoke the form and the basic outline would be setup for that day.  Is this possible?  Then I could print it out for my teacher.

-superboyac (December 31, 2007, 12:41 AM)

Such a outlining structure is certainly feasible, but I think you should question whether it is the best. Let me explain.
For each application, one must examine the relative merits (advantages/disadvantages) of each outline structures. Yes SQLNotes can do outlines/calculations, but it can also do flatter structures. Each have relative merits. Flatter structures are sometimes superior to indented ones. Similarly, separate values can be saved in separate fields vs single field but multiple items, vs single text field. Ease of data entry, data analysis (immediate and eventual), information sharing are key considerations here.

Only you can answer this kind of information. It seems to me that the individual practice times are probably not relevant, total time in the day is what you may want to do some analysis. A single entry with the date, total practice time and in the HTML pane, comments on the individual practice sessions would be easier to enter and to report to your teacher. But if after reflexion, you find that the indented structure provides you with valuable information, I can help out setting it up.

Happy new year!

505

General Software Discussion / Re: Getting started with Access?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 30, 2007, 11:17 PM »

Access is an excellent environment. I've developped tons of applications with it. If you need any specific help, I too can help out with the VBA code that is required (as others have said, this is required)

But if you want a easier database, check out sqlnotes. As superboyac said, it is like access but made easy. And your data is stored the same database format, so Access can read it. Discussed here:

https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=10432.0

www.sqlnotes.net which is in DNS transfer state, so use the following IP for the next few days: http://98.130.34.115/default.aspx

Pierre

506

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 29, 2007, 11:52 PM »

Thanks!

Migration was successful. In waiting for DNS propagation, the new web site can be reached at http://98.130.34.115/default.aspx

507

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 29, 2007, 03:32 PM »

A little note to say that I'm changing web server. so www.sqlnotes.net will be down for a few days.

BTW. I do not recomment Brinkster as a hosting service. Bad system, bad service (and they closed by account 2 days before expiration 

To contact me in the meantime, please use this temporary email: ppl32  at  hotmail

508

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 28, 2007, 12:17 PM »

No probs. Give me a few days, since I'm busy changing web server today.

509

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 24, 2007, 07:51 AM »

@superboyac,

Importers will be developped on an as-demand basis, so if you have a need, shout and I'll do it.

Merry Christmas

510

Living Room / Re: Internet Faxing

« Last post by PPLandry on December 22, 2007, 05:12 PM »

eFax works great and it is free (if you're interested in receiving faxes only -- typical case) when you don't exceed your quota. If you do exceed, simply close and re-open a new one. I've used it for 5 years works great. No Spam, no junk fax

511

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 21, 2007, 09:51 PM »

I've been following Visual WebGUI dev (http://www.visualwebgui.com/). for the last few years. It is an outstanding web dev. framework for web applications. Very innovative. Try out some of the on-line demos.

How does this relate to SQLNotes ? How about using your SQLNotes database from a web browser ? Anywhere in the world... No installation, In read and write...

You'd put your database on a web server (JET or SQL Server) and access it with a rich UI web interface. You're on a business trip and want to access your schedule, tasks, notes, that were just updated by your secretary or collegues? Any computer or web-enabled mobile device would do.

Since Visual WebGUI also supports local mode, you could put it all on a USB stick and run it on any computer. A truly portable app.

This isn't for release 1.0 of course, but sometime in 2008.

This opens the door to use SQLNotes as a collaborative tool.


But... another door to collaborative work will be opened very soon. Let me explain: I'm making changes to support SQL Server as a back-end database. Very little is in fact required so it should not be very long.

Then put that database on a web server and users will be able to connect to the database, share data and collaborate, whereever you are, with a connection to live data. 

Expect this in 2008 Q1, in time for the initial release of ... Versatio, the versatile information organizer (possible new name)

512

General Software Discussion / Re: GemX - missing in action

« Last post by PPLandry on December 20, 2007, 03:24 PM »

I know Sally from Vizacc and she is not related to GemX. She's working on the very fine HelpMaker software. As to the other new poster, his posts were rather negative about GemX. True that another new member was (very) positive

Just my 2 cents.

513

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 19, 2007, 11:19 PM »

To keep this community updated, I'm adding internal linking in the HTML editing pane. 3 modes:

1- Insert hyperlink, enter Item ID. Clicking on the link will bring you to that item. Entering [Item ID] will automatically create the link.
2- Insert hyperlink, enter some criteria (e.g. Project="somiro") and all items meeting the criteria will be displayed on a click. Great to save searches
3- Through wiki style hyperlinks. Each item now has a new field (WikiTag). Enter a string in that field and whenever you enter that string in the HTML editor, a link to the item will automatically be created for you. If the WikiTag contains spaces, you'll need to enclose the text in the HTML pane with [  ].

The same will work with the grid items, but I must wait for an update from the grid manufacturer, which will enable hyperlinks in the item text.

Available very soon.

514

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 06:22 PM »

Well, they are mostly notes in proprietary format of other software right now.  But, for example, texnotes has the ability to export notes in a variety of ways, including text files, rtf files, a parsed test file (with user-specified delimiters).
I'll drag-drop as much as possible.  Either way, it's going to be a painful process.  But I'm comfortable with it because I know that once it's in SQLNotes, I'll be able to export in other flexible ways in the future, if necessary.

By the way, when will encryption/password be available for SQL?

-superboyac (December 18, 2007, 06:18 PM)

RTF drag-dropped from Word works very well
Encryption/password is already there 

If you don't care too much about formatting, but have many notes to import, you can use the standard importer on Textnotes parsed text file. Import could then be a few step to import 100's of notes

Also, if you have any specific needs, I can customize the import process since I know that other users will use it too eventually. I can work with you on this one!

515

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 05:44 PM »

I'm starting to import my information from other programs into SQL.  Is there a way I can import text files into SQL?  I might even be able to get them parsed in some ways and even retain RTF formatting, but I don't know if SQL can handle that kind of importing yet.

-superboyac (December 18, 2007, 04:49 PM)

Is it Word documents you want to import? For a reference to the file, drag-drop from Explorer to the grid. For the HTML Pane, to link content, you must save as HTM or MHT first and then do File>Open...File>Save. To import content, best is to drag-drop content (open in Word, and drag-drop)

516

General Software Discussion / Re: The MAIN reason EVERYONE should use EverNote!*

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 11:26 AM »

Too late, Tom! The first test was SQLNotes and was negative (ie none of the edits were there when I started my computer up and opened SQLNotes). The second test with OneNote was positive but fraught with danger! chkdsk popped up on system start and went nuts deleting files and moving things around. When the dust settled explorer.exe crashed soon after my desktop started loading and I had to kill it when it restarted because it hung, freezing my system... The "good news" is that OneNote DID save all of my edits.

In both cases I was typing as I hit the power button on my computer.

-Darwin (December 13, 2007, 12:28 PM)

SQLNotes saves on each field change. This was fine for the outlining grid. For the HTML editing pane, it isn't sufficient, because users can spend hours entering stuff. A time-base save will be added for the HTML pane.

517

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 11:17 AM »

One thing I realize from looking at the list of suggestions on the sqlnotes site is that the name SHOULD be descriptive of what the software does

-Darwin (December 18, 2007, 11:12 AM)

But when a software does so much, that is so difficult to categorize, how can you convey that in a word or two. An arbitrary word (i.e. Zoho, Joomla or whatever) may be better

518

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 11:03 AM »

I still like SQLNotes, actually. There, I said it  

-Darwin (December 18, 2007, 11:01 AM)

I don't mind it either, but so many people hate it (really!) that I think it must change

519

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 10:51 AM »

Check out this page for a summary of all proposed names:
http://www.sqlnotes....e/posts/Default.aspx

Winning name will get a free full licence 

520

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 09:57 AM »

I keep coming back to Squirrel Database - it's been stuck in my head for about a week. Don't know why!

-Darwin (December 18, 2007, 09:05 AM)

It's cute, but difficult to say in many non-english languages

How about YourPlan, or IkiPlan ?
Plan what you need to do (calendar, tasks)
Plan is an outlined steps list to achieve a goal

Iki would be a reference to Wiki, to Interactive, c(k)olapsable

Also DaPlan, DePlan, ZePlan, YouPlan

521

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 18, 2007, 08:54 AM »

followed that link, while I was looking down through the list 3 of them changed from "Available" to "Make Offer"
maybe someone else had the same idea

-tomos (December 18, 2007, 08:33 AM)

No, I think that it simply updates the status in the background

522

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 17, 2007, 11:38 PM »

The snow banks are 6 ft high here, and winter hasn't officially arrived yet.

523

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 17, 2007, 11:33 PM »

Time is running out to find a replacement name for SQLNotes... I need your help. If you want SQLNotes to succeed, it needs a good name. So please come in and comment/propose names

My latest proposition is OutBase, the outlining database/PIM.
Or Daou, the data outliner (along the lines of Zoho, Rico, IPod, etc)

www. outbase.biz is free

524

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 17, 2007, 10:41 PM »

>Great ! That was quick...   

When I get good ideas, simple to do, I might as well do it immediately.

Plus with all the snow we got here, I spent so much time shovling that I didn't have much time to start anything major. I'm also waiting before starting something big in case minor bugs get reported with the new version.

525

General Software Discussion / Re: SQLNotes...what is it exactly?

« Last post by PPLandry on December 17, 2007, 10:46 AM »

Thanks!

Search: In QuickSearch, I now display, in the search result grid, all fields that have the search text (except the HTML pane related ones because they can be large)

Empty items: CTRL-E now does not show a confirmation when the item is empty and the only assigned field is the grid source field (which was auto-assigned anyway)

Full undo will come as a freebee with disconnected mode (after release 1.0)

Grids sub-menu: The reason why it is there is that the Grid menu is not shown when no grid is open or when the current form is not a grid. In Ecco, it was also in the view menu... Keep in mind that Grids are just one of the (eventual) many display modes. The forthcoming Calendar is another display mode and the grid menu will not apply to it. It will have a Calendar menu. But suggestions are always welcomed, and menu structure is definitely not final. It is also very easy to re-arrange it if need be.

Changes are available in the latest build, as usual.