Simple Database ideas wanted.

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

Ray Murphy

2004-06-22 18:30:05 UTC

Hi All,

What's a good way to solve this database problem as a stand-alone
program (not commercial) - preferably in Visual Basic.

1. Create a simple database which *imports* a large number of birth
datafiles (in comma delimited format).
2. Displays every line of data (let's say prominent world figures) in
one page - maybe 20,000 lines scrollable.
3. Allows each name to be selected, and then go to an "Edit" page
after pressing a button.
4. In the Edit page view a long list of events in a pull-down menu
such as: "surgery", "engaged", "married", "moved house".
5. Select (say) "maried" and type in a date only.
6. Escape and return to main page.
7. Get database to filter all records to provide only those which meet
certain criteria such as "Married".
8. Get the database to print a text file which gives for each person:
-- (a) Each person's datafile ie: Name,YY,MM,DD,HH,MM,SS,Z,
Long, Lat (Identical to the line shown in main page)
-- (b) Identical line as above BUT with the word "married" appended
after the name AND also with the date changed to "marriage" date.

Prince Charles ,1948,11,14,21,17,00,0,+51,00,+00,10
Prince Charles Married,1981,07,30,21,17,00,0,+51,00,+00,10

It is essential for each person and event to be displayed sequentially
as above.
It s not important to alter the long + lat or time for viewing simple
transits. Obviously the Angles + Moon positions are irrelevant.

Currently the AstroDatabank program produces this information, but it
is never done in "pairs" and always includes pages of unwanted text
containing the complete boigraphy of the person for their birth AND
for their event.
This means that all data lines have to be pruned extensively, and
the event data line manually inserted and is an enormous waste of
time.

** If we could get such a program built as 'freeware' or open source,
then all astrologers could gradually build up records of events for
their own research or for sharing data with others :-)

Ray
---------------------------------------------
ALT.ASTROLOGY.MODERATED
http://readystump.algebra.com/~aam/
The best place on the net to discuss
astrology in the English language

Rose

2004-06-23 07:31:13 UTC

Permalink

Ray,

As an X-programmer, it doesn't sound very hard. I'd probably just do
it in Access. But I wouldn't have time to even consider it until I
figure out where I'm going to live next month. (and recover).

FYI -
Access will let you pull in delimited data with a few menu clicks and
screens.
I believe the data will automatically display in "spreadsheet" format
if you choose. You can do simple selection for data or create a screen
to enter criteria that creates a dataset you could also display in
"spreadsheet" form. After that, you can create an automatic report
and adjust the fields so it looks how you want to get the print out
you describe.

Ok, think you can do that yourself? Packaging it as a program is
another issue. But that can be for later.
Maybe I can take a crack at it. I can't believe i remember any ofthis
after 2 years.
well, good luck, Rose

Post by Ray Murphy
Hi All,
What's a good way to solve this database problem as a stand-alone
program (not commercial) - preferably in Visual Basic.
1. Create a simple database which *imports* a large number of birth
datafiles (in comma delimited format).
2. Displays every line of data (let's say prominent world figures) in
one page - maybe 20,000 lines scrollable.
3. Allows each name to be selected, and then go to an "Edit" page
after pressing a button.
4. In the Edit page view a long list of events in a pull-down menu
such as: "surgery", "engaged", "married", "moved house".
5. Select (say) "maried" and type in a date only.
6. Escape and return to main page.
7. Get database to filter all records to provide only those which meet
certain criteria such as "Married".
-- (a) Each person's datafile ie: Name,YY,MM,DD,HH,MM,SS,Z,
Long, Lat (Identical to the line shown in main page)
-- (b) Identical line as above BUT with the word "married" appended
after the name AND also with the date changed to "marriage" date.
Prince Charles ,1948,11,14,21,17,00,0,+51,00,+00,10
Prince Charles Married,1981,07,30,21,17,00,0,+51,00,+00,10
It is essential for each person and event to be displayed sequentially
as above.
It s not important to alter the long + lat or time for viewing simple
transits. Obviously the Angles + Moon positions are irrelevant.
Currently the AstroDatabank program produces this information, but it
is never done in "pairs" and always includes pages of unwanted text
containing the complete boigraphy of the person for their birth AND
for their event.
This means that all data lines have to be pruned extensively, and
the event data line manually inserted and is an enormous waste of
time.
** If we could get such a program built as 'freeware' or open source,
then all astrologers could gradually build up records of events for
their own research or for sharing data with others :-)
Ray
---------------------------------------------
ALT.ASTROLOGY.MODERATED
http://readystump.algebra.com/~aam/
The best place on the net to discuss
astrology in the English language

Ray Murphy

2004-06-23 10:06:38 UTC

Permalink

[Unsnipped on this occasion]

----------

Post by Rose
Ray,
As an X-programmer, it doesn't sound very hard. I'd probably just do
it in Access. But I wouldn't have time to even consider it until I
figure out where I'm going to live next month. (and recover).
FYI -
Access will let you pull in delimited data with a few menu clicks and
screens.
I believe the data will automatically display in "spreadsheet" format
if you choose. You can do simple selection for data or create a screen
to enter criteria that creates a dataset you could also display in
"spreadsheet" form. After that, you can create an automatic report
and adjust the fields so it looks how you want to get the print out
you describe.
Ok, think you can do that yourself? Packaging it as a program is
another issue. But that can be for later.
Maybe I can take a crack at it. I can't believe i remember any ofthis
after 2 years.well, good luck, Rose

RM: Thanks for that information Rose. I like it when people start
talking about how things ~can~ be done, rather than why it's all too
hard :-)
Unfortunately I don't have 'Access' on the PC but it sounds like the
old Excel program I have on the Mac - which I've never learned to use
very well anyway, mostly because I didn't like it and had little use
for databases in the past. (Graphics has been my scene).

I haven't figured out which direction to head in yet, but I was
thinking of creating a very simple program to start with, that anyone
could use without having to buy a program like 'Access'. (Most people
involved in astrology don't even like paying for basic astrology
programs yet).

Ideally of course a program like this should be a stand-alone one,
where all data can be entered in the appropriate boxes, and where the
ACS Atlas can be called to drop in the coordinates and Time Zones etc.
just like in good astrology programs, but it would take me a long time
to get something like organised when I know next to nothing about
databases.

I decided that the second best thing (to store & retrieve transit
data) up and running in a few weeks was to use existing astrology
programs to enter each person's birth data, and then move the datafile
to the database, to save building a front-end for data entry. The
pull-down menu doesn't sound too hard, and I thought that if we only
had to enter dates, then that shouldn't be too hard either-- even if
dates were also done with pull-down menus to overcome the US/ non-US
date format problem.

This simple database, even if it's a bit slow, could be used
immediately by all astrologers as a free program, and we could start
getting a serious amount of "event data" collated and swapped.

Even if astrologers don't process the "event data" (such as a batch of
marriages) in any research program, they can still import the
resulting datafile back into their own programs and examine transits
(without the Angles + Moon).
Of course we can do that anyway in normal circumstances, but we never
have batches of similar events grouped together - but with something
like this it would be easy.

My main priority is to start getting many thousands of "event dates"
in and out of *some* program easily, so I can begin processing them
-- so it sounds like a database program like 'Access' might be the
best idea unless it can be done as a home made database program in
Visual Basic or similar.

Currently I'm putting all my people in JigSaw - where I can see every
name, then I'm entering marriage dates as new charts below their name,
and then deleting all the excess names. It's a complete waste of time
doing it that way, because when I start another category like
"Surgery" I've gotta start all over a-g-a-i-n. :-))

Hey Rose, you don't have to absorb all this. I've mentioned it, just
in case anyone else has some ideas to add to yours.

Ray
---------------

Post by Rose

Martin Lewicki

2004-06-23 10:37:23 UTC

Permalink

Post by Ray Murphy
[Unsnipped on this occasion]
----------

Post by Rose
Ray,
As an X-programmer, it doesn't sound very hard. I'd probably just do
it in Access. But I wouldn't have time to even consider it until I
figure out where I'm going to live next month. (and recover).
FYI -
Access will let you pull in delimited data with a few menu clicks and
screens. I believe the data will automatically display in "spreadsheet"
format if you choose. You can do simple selection for data or create a
screen to enter criteria that creates a dataset you could also display
in "spreadsheet" form. After that, you can create an automatic report
and adjust the fields so it looks how you want to get the print out
you describe.
Ok, think you can do that yourself? Packaging it as a program is
another issue. But that can be for later.
Maybe I can take a crack at it. I can't believe i remember any ofthis
after 2 years.well, good luck, Rose

RM: Thanks for that information Rose. I like it when people start
talking about how things ~can~ be done, rather than why it's all too
hard :-)
Unfortunately I don't have 'Access' on the PC but it sounds like the
old Excel program I have on the Mac - which I've never learned to use
very well anyway, mostly because I didn't like it and had little use
for databases in the past. (Graphics has been my scene).
I haven't figured out which direction to head in yet, but I was
thinking of creating a very simple program to start with, that anyone
could use without having to buy a program like 'Access'. (Most people
involved in astrology don't even like paying for basic astrology
programs yet).
Ideally of course a program like this should be a stand-alone one,
where all data can be entered in the appropriate boxes, and where the
ACS Atlas can be called to drop in the coordinates and Time Zones etc.
just like in good astrology programs, but it would take me a long time
to get something like organised when I know next to nothing about
databases.
I decided that the second best thing (to store & retrieve transit
data) up and running in a few weeks was to use existing astrology
programs to enter each person's birth data, and then move the datafile
to the database, to save building a front-end for data entry. The
pull-down menu doesn't sound too hard, and I thought that if we only
had to enter dates, then that shouldn't be too hard either-- even if
dates were also done with pull-down menus to overcome the US/ non-US
date format problem.
This simple database, even if it's a bit slow, could be used
immediately by all astrologers as a free program, and we could start
getting a serious amount of "event data" collated and swapped.
Even if astrologers don't process the "event data" (such as a batch of
marriages) in any research program, they can still import the
resulting datafile back into their own programs and examine transits
(without the Angles + Moon).
Of course we can do that anyway in normal circumstances, but we never
have batches of similar events grouped together - but with something
like this it would be easy.
My main priority is to start getting many thousands of "event dates"
in and out of *some* program easily, so I can begin processing them
-- so it sounds like a database program like 'Access' might be the
best idea unless it can be done as a home made database program in
Visual Basic or similar.
Currently I'm putting all my people in JigSaw - where I can see every
name, then I'm entering marriage dates as new charts below their name,
and then deleting all the excess names. It's a complete waste of time
doing it that way, because when I start another category like
"Surgery" I've gotta start all over a-g-a-i-n. :-))
Hey Rose, you don't have to absorb all this. I've mentioned it, just
in case anyone else has some ideas to add to yours.
Ray
---------------

Post by Rose

Post by Ray Murphy
Hi All,
What's a good way to solve this database problem as a stand-alone
program (not commercial) - preferably in Visual Basic.
1. Create a simple database which *imports* a large number of birth
datafiles (in comma delimited format).
2. Displays every line of data (let's say prominent world figures) in
one page - maybe 20,000 lines scrollable.
3. Allows each name to be selected, and then go to an "Edit" page
after pressing a button.
4. In the Edit page view a long list of events in a pull-down menu
such as: "surgery", "engaged", "married", "moved house".
5. Select (say) "maried" and type in a date only.
6. Escape and return to main page.
7. Get database to filter all records to provide only those which meet
certain criteria such as "Married".
-- (a) Each person's datafile ie: Name,YY,MM,DD,HH,MM,SS,Z,
Long, Lat (Identical to the line shown in main page)
-- (b) Identical line as above BUT with the word "married" appended
after the name AND also with the date changed to "marriage" date.
Prince Charles ,1948,11,14,21,17,00,0,+51,00,+00,10
Prince Charles Married,1981,07,30,21,17,00,0,+51,00,+00,10
It is essential for each person and event to be displayed sequentially
as above.
It s not important to alter the long + lat or time for viewing simple
transits. Obviously the Angles + Moon positions are irrelevant.
Currently the AstroDatabank program produces this information, but it
is never done in "pairs" and always includes pages of unwanted text
containing the complete boigraphy of the person for their birth AND
for their event.
This means that all data lines have to be pruned extensively, and
the event data line manually inserted and is an enormous waste of
time.
** If we could get such a program built as 'freeware' or open source,
then all astrologers could gradually build up records of events for
their own research or for sharing data with others :-)
Ray
---------------------------------------------
ALT.ASTROLOGY.MODERATED http://readystump.algebra.com/~aam/
The best place on the net to discuss astrology in the English language

Ray,

OpenOffice (free) has database capabilties comparable to Access. You just
simply import a spreadsheet saved as a dbase file. OpenOffice is packaged
with MS compatible spreadsheet, wordprocessor, presentation etc. It's
really an MS Office competitor, and is open source. Lastest version
includes a long list of improvements and fixes, all from user suggestions.
Its a big download 64Mb but worth it.

http://www.openoffice.org/

You need:
Microsoft Windows 98, ME, NT (Service Pack 6 or higher), 2000 or XP
Pentium compatible PC, 64 MB RAM, 250 MB available hard disk space
And at least 200Mhz for it to load and run without an intollerable wait.

Alternatively try some of the shareware database programs available at
Simtel
http://www.simtel.net/welcome.php

Martin

--
Replace username: mlewicki
Relpace dot delimited numbers with ozemail com au

Ed Falis

2004-06-23 12:21:35 UTC

Permalink

As you start doing this, you may want to consider using AAF, an attempt at
a standardized format for astrological data interchange.

http://www.sternwerkstatt.de/aaf/eng/Lib/aafspecs.htm

- Ed

Chris Mitchell

2004-06-23 13:12:30 UTC

Permalink

Post by Ed Falis
As you start doing this, you may want to consider using AAF, an attempt at
a standardized format for astrological data interchange.
http://www.sternwerkstatt.de/aaf/eng/Lib/aafspecs.htm
- Ed

Yes, AAF supports subsidiary "event" type data, too.

As far as Access is concerned, I converted the DAV (German
Astrological Association) database (which is in AAF) into a set of
HTML pages, and also into an Access database. Access is OK, but it
does struggle with very large databases. My 25,000 odd records were
OK, but I then added another Access table with planet positions -
resulting in around 300,000 records altogether. Access just about
managed it, but it's really at its limit.

--
Chris Mitchell,
Bristol, England.
http://www.zaalberg.freeserve.co.uk
Remove the "nospam" from my e-mail address to reply!

Ed Falis

2004-06-23 13:33:58 UTC

Permalink

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 07:12:30 CST, Chris Mitchell

Post by Chris Mitchell
As far as Access is concerned, I converted the DAV (German
Astrological Association) database (which is in AAF) into a set of
HTML pages, and also into an Access database. Access is OK, but it
does struggle with very large databases. My 25,000 odd records were
OK, but I then added another Access table with planet positions -
resulting in around 300,000 records altogether. Access just about
managed it, but it's really at its limit.

How about something like MySQL, which is open source?

Bill Kneuper

2004-06-24 14:40:31 UTC

Permalink

Ray,
Stop trying to reinvent the wheel. The people at AstroDatabank are
serious, professional researchers. As you know, the AstroDatabank
program stores its data in a Microsoft Access database. An Access
relational database is the most elegant way to handle the one-to-many
problems associated with astrological data. You already have all the
tools you need to make custom SQL queries of the database in your
Visual Basic software.

For the last five years we have used a program at my work that manages
our inventory. The program stores its data in a MS Access database. We
currently have 6 users sharing the file that has over 17,000 records.
To date not a single problem. I wrote a program to check the database
for items that were low on inventory. I put the code at the end of
this reply.

I haven't checked out http://www.openoffice.org/ but it sounds
interesting. If you can get a database engine for free that reads
Access files I strongly recommend it.

Stuff only a programmer could love...

Public Sub OpenPartsNVendorsDatabase()
On Error GoTo OOPS

'Database stuff
Set wsCM1 = CreateWorkspace("", "admin", "")
Set dbCM1 = wsCM1.OpenDatabase(dbPath, , True)

Exit Sub
OOPS:
MsgBox "Error opening Parts N Vendors Database" & Chr(13) &
"Error:" & Err.Number & Chr(13) & Err.Description
End Sub

Public Sub OpenPartTrackerDatabase()
On Error GoTo OOPS

'Database stuff
Set wsPartTracker = CreateWorkspace("", "admin", "")
Set dbPartTracker = wsPartTracker.OpenDatabase(dbPath2, , True)

Exit Sub
OOPS:
MsgBox "Error opening Parts Tracker Database" & Chr(13) & "Error:"
& Err.Number & Chr(13) & Err.Description
End Sub

Public Sub ShortageReport()

Dim rsRestockItems As Recordset

On Error GoTo OOPS

'clear table in parts tracker database
Set rsRestockItems = dbPartTracker.OpenRecordset("RestockItems")
'populate the list
'rsRestockItems.Requery
If rsRestockItems.RecordCount > 1 Then rsRestockItems.MoveLast

If rsRestockItems.RecordCount > 1 Then
rsRestockItems.MoveLast
Do While rsRestockItems.RecordCount > 1
rsRestockItems.Delete
rsRestockItems.MovePrevious
Loop
End If

On Error GoTo 0

On Error GoTo OOPS

'construct sql query
Dim dat
dat = dat & "SELECT DISTINCTROW PN.PNPartNumber, PN.PNTitle,
PNQty, SUSupplier, LNKVendorPN, "
dat = dat & "PN.PNDetail, PN.PNCurrentCost, PN.PNUser1,
PN.PNUser2, PN.PNUser3, PN.PNUser4, "
dat = dat & "PN.PNUser5, PN.PNUser6, LNK.LNKUse, PN.PNMinStockQty,
qryLinkedMFRInfo.MFRMfrName, "
dat = dat & "qryLinkedMFRPNInfo.MFRPNPart FROM UN RIGHT JOIN (PN
LEFT "
dat = dat & "JOIN (qryLinkedMFRInfo RIGHT JOIN (qryLinkedMFRPNInfo
"
dat = dat & "RIGHT JOIN (qryLinkedSUInfo RIGHT JOIN LNK ON "
dat = dat & "qryLinkedSUInfo.SUID = LNK.LNKSUID) ON
qryLinkedMFRPNInfo.MFRPNID "
dat = dat & "= LNK.LNKMFRPNID) ON qryLinkedMFRInfo.MFRID =
LNK.LNKMFRID) "
dat = dat & "ON PN.PNID = LNK.LNKPNID) ON UN.UNID = LNK.LNKUNID; "

'open parts and vendors main data record
Set rsParts = dbCM1.OpenRecordset(dat, dbOpenSnapshot)
'populate the record
rsParts.MoveLast

Dim rsOnOrder As Recordset, OnOrder As Boolean
Dim dat2
dat2 = dat2 & "SELECT Sum(PO.POQty) AS SumOfPOQty, PO.POIHPart "
dat2 = dat2 & "FROM POM INNER JOIN PO ON POM.POMID = PO.POPOMID "
dat2 = dat2 & "Where (((POM.POMDatePrinted) Is Not Null) And "
dat2 = dat2 & "((POM.POMDateClosed) Is Null) And
((POM.POMThisIsRFQ) "
dat2 = dat2 & "= False)) GROUP BY PO.POIHPart;"

Set rsOnOrder = dbCM1.OpenRecordset(dat2, dbOpenSnapshot)
'populate the record
rsOnOrder.MoveLast

Dim rsOutstanding As Recordset, Outstanding As Boolean
Dim dat3
dat3 = dat3 & "SELECT Sum([POQty]-[POItemQtyReceived]) AS
QtyOutstanding, PO.POIHPart "
dat3 = dat3 & "FROM POM INNER JOIN PO ON POM.POMID = PO.POPOMID "
dat3 = dat3 & "Where (((POM.POMDatePrinted) Is Not Null) And
((POM.POMDateClosed) Is Null) And ((POM.POMThisIsRFQ) = False)) "
dat3 = dat3 & "GROUP BY PO.POIHPart;"

Set rsOutstanding = dbCM1.OpenRecordset(dat3, dbOpenSnapshot)
'populate the record
rsOutstanding.MoveLast

'loop through and fill pt table w/ shortages
With rsParts
.MoveFirst

Do

If !PNQty < !PNMinStockQty Then

'is the PnV link check box checked?
If !LNKUse = True Then

OnOrder = False
Outstanding = False

'check to see if the part is on an open PO
rsOnOrder.MoveFirst
If rsOnOrder.RecordCount > 0 Then
Do
If rsOnOrder!POIHPart = !PNPartNumber Then
OnOrder = True
Exit Do
End If
rsOnOrder.MoveNext
Loop While Not rsOnOrder.EOF
End If

'check to if the parts have come in
rsOutstanding.MoveFirst
If rsOutstanding.RecordCount > 0 Then
Do
If rsOutstanding!POIHPart = !PNPartNumber
Then
Outstanding = True
Exit Do
End If
rsOutstanding.MoveNext
Loop While Not rsOutstanding.EOF
End If

rsRestockItems.AddNew

rsRestockItems!RSPartNumber = !PNPartNumber
rsRestockItems!RSTitle = !PNTitle
rsRestockItems!RSDetail = !PNDetail
rsRestockItems!RSVendor = !SUSupplier
rsRestockItems!RSVendorPartNumber = !LNKVendorPN
rsRestockItems!RSManufacturer = !MFRMfrName
rsRestockItems!RSMfrPartNumber = !MFRPNPart
rsRestockItems!RSCost = !PNCurrentCost
rsRestockItems!RSLocation = !PNUser3
rsRestockItems!RSStock = !PNQty
rsRestockItems!RSMinimum = !PNMinStockQty
rsRestockItems!RSUser1 = !PNUser1
rsRestockItems!RSUser2 = !PNUser2
rsRestockItems!RSUser4 = !PNUser4
rsRestockItems!RSUser5 = !PNUser5
rsRestockItems!RSUser6 = !PNUser6

If OnOrder = True Then
rsRestockItems!rsOnOrder =
rsOnOrder!SumOfPOQty
Else
rsRestockItems!rsOnOrder = 0
End If

If Outstanding = True Then
rsRestockItems!RSShort =
rsOutstanding!QtyOutstanding
Else
rsRestockItems!RSShort = 0
End If

rsRestockItems.Update

End If

End If

.MoveNext

Loop While .EOF = False

End With

Exit Sub
OOPS:

If Err.Number = 94 Then
'invalid use of null, caused by blank field
frmMain.List1.AddItem " "
Resume Next
End If

MsgBox "Error:" & Err.Number & Chr(13) & Err.Description
Resume Next

End Sub

Martin Lewicki

2004-06-24 15:47:24 UTC

Permalink

Post by Bill Kneuper
Ray,
Stop trying to reinvent the wheel. The people at AstroDatabank are
serious, professional researchers. As you know, the AstroDatabank
program stores its data in a Microsoft Access database. An Access
relational database is the most elegant way to handle the one-to-many
problems associated with astrological data. You already have all the
tools you need to make custom SQL queries of the database in your
Visual Basic software.
For the last five years we have used a program at my work that manages
our inventory. The program stores its data in a MS Access database. We
currently have 6 users sharing the file that has over 17,000 records.
To date not a single problem. I wrote a program to check the database
for items that were low on inventory. I put the code at the end of
this reply.
I haven't checked out http://www.openoffice.org/ but it sounds
interesting. If you can get a database engine for free that reads
Access files I strongly recommend it.

Yes it does read Access files if they are converted to DBF files. And
Access reads OpenOffice reports too.

Martin

Ray Murphy

2004-06-24 15:55:09 UTC

Permalink

----------

RM: I'm looking at this from a few angles at the moment:
(1) I cannot retrieve the ADB data I want without a massive amount of
manual processing.
(2) I need a fast data entry tool (much faster than ADB) for simple
data entry - both for myself and other astrologers, so we can begin
exchanging and gathering event data in a meaningful way. Currently
there is very little of this being done.

In (1) above - where I for example I want to extract say all the
marriage dates and the subject's birth data as well, I am forced to
export ALL the event dates for each person, and THEN manually delete
nearly all of them to obtain only the marriages. This means deleting
many hundreds or thousands of lines - such as 5 out of every 6 which
are exported. I then have to (for another purpose) copy/paste each
person's comma delimited data line every time there are two or more
marriages. Not very efficient at all [about 200 times slower according
to my trial today].

In (2) above I want to be able to import into thi snew simple database
all of the subjects from a JigSaw or Solar Fire file (several
thousand) and then when new events are found for each person - select
the event and type ONLY the date, and then export exactly what is
needed, to avoid all the manual handling described above, so that
JigSaw and other programs can process it (that's something ADB cannot
do - examine the data).
For example when I (or any astrologer) has new event dates to add to a
master file, a FAST system is needed whereby we:
(a) Open the program
(b) See all the subjects
(c) Click on a name
(d) Click on "add event"
(e) Select event
(f) Type date (with keypad)
(g) Return to main page + repeat.

Post by Bill Kneuper
For the last five years we have used a program at my work that manages
our inventory. The program stores its data in a MS Access database. We
currently have 6 users sharing the file that has over 17,000 records.
To date not a single problem. I wrote a program to check the database
for items that were low on inventory. I put the code at the end of
this reply.

RM: For my own purposes I need something that will run a lot faster
than than ADB, and want to hold only a minimal amount of information -
rather than a hundred of lines of type for each person's biography and
life events and inter-relationships. All I want is a short csv line
for each person and each event -- about 50 times less data to
constantly process.

Post by Bill Kneuper
I haven't checked out http://www.openoffice.org/ but it sounds
interesting. If you can get a database engine for free that reads
Access files I strongly recommend it.

RM: There's probably a lot I don't know about databases, but whatever
happens I, (and hundreds of others) need something very easy and quick
to use.

If it all gets a bit too hard, I'll bypass the database idea
altogether, and append directly (from the front end) to existing
"event files" which contain each category such as:
* Marriages
* Engagements
* Emergency surgery
* Elective Surgery
* Real Estate sale
* House Moving
etc.

then when all "marriages" are wanted for a project, just open the
file - rather than using a database to select them.
This of course means we can't select marriages of certain types - such
as years, country, short, long, males, females etc - as we would with
a database.
-----------------

[Thanks for that programming gear] - snipped

Ray

Rose

2004-06-26 00:14:28 UTC

Permalink

snip

Ray, if it's not too many records (like Chris said - Access has
trouble in the 100's of thousands), it just doesn't sound too hard to
me. ((famous last words...) Except pulling in the map w/time zones.
If it's a special component, then it's doable (hopefully), but where
would I get the component? hmmm I didn't know openoffice worked on
windows boxxxxes. hmmm
But this is something you would have to talk with someone about. Esp
if you want the data exported to be used by jigsaw (which I've never
heard of-but my IT life may have been too mainstream) etc. I have VB
6 around here somewhere, but probably in storage. Youonly need it if
you're going to have a lot of records. Like I said, I could think
about it, or talk to you. Except youre in stupid Austrailia aren't
you. Well, not until this divorce thing gets worked out and I find a
new home. :-(

PS - how come my post doesn'tshow but you got it? ???????

Rose

Ray

Ray Murphy

2004-06-28 16:50:15 UTC

Permalink

----------

Post by Rose
snip
Ray, if it's not too many records (like Chris said - Access has
trouble in the 100's of thousands), it just doesn't sound too hard to
me. ((famous last words...) Except pulling in the map w/time zones.
If it's a special component, then it's doable (hopefully), but where
would I get the component? hmmm I didn't know openoffice worked on
windows boxxxxes. hmmm

RM: I still know very little about databases, however I have
discovered that what astrologers need (if they want to share "event
data") is ONE of ~several~ programs or systems to exchange datafiles-
depending upon their skills or resources.

(1) What I initially mentioned -- a simple free or shareware program
that allows all astrologers to *rapidly* store birth data plus "event
dates" in a format which is easily exchangeable with other
researchers.

(2) A program like (1) above , but which is more complex, and which
allows the storing of more data, and the viewing of it in various ways
- as one does with a database.

(3) A *System* for using existing database programs that various
astrologers own - where they still export datafiles for others to
use.

(4) A *System* for using most existing astrology programs to export
birth and "event" data in a useable form.

(5) An improvement in the AstroDatabank program - which allows the
export of csv datafiles in sequential order ie: Person-event;
person-event; person-event
(or more correctly)
"person name + b/data" in one line -- then
"person name + event + b/data" in next line.

[Your comment from above again:]

Post by Rose
Ray, if it's not too many records (like Chris said - Access has
trouble in the 100's of thousands), it just doesn't sound too hard to
me. ((famous last words...)

RM: The big problem we have with astrological research is that we
haven't really *begun* exchanging datafiles in a meaningful way yet,
so my main focus is on making it possible (and simple) for all
astrologers to begin doing that within several weeks. Once we get
~that~ happening, everyone will see the benefit of sharing data, and
they/we will suggest improvements.
Some participants will only have a few hundred event dates (including
family relationship dates), but others will have thousands; and those
who are collating *all they can get* from all sources, will have
hundreds of thousands, and they will discover what needs to be done --
even if it means trimming data into separate smaller files with
nominal information.
This may mean for example - converting all the larger AAF files into
small CSV files.

Post by Rose
But this is something you would have to talk with someone about. Esp
if you want the data exported to be used by jigsaw (which I've never
heard of-but my IT life may have been too mainstream) etc.

RM: Jig Saw is an astrology research program which does an incredible
amount of work very easily and with a very simple user interface. It
can process100,000 charts with no problem at all -- although you have
to wait a few minutes for large quantitities like that to load. I
haven't seen it's upper limit yet; although it has one slight setback
because you cannot *view* more than 32,000 lines of chart names in one
scrollable panel.

JigSaw has a *great* advantage over other astrology programs because
it shows the transitting planets on the perimeter of a chart -- so you
can see in an instant what was happening for any given transit (unlike
SolarFire which requires a complicated set of instructions to achieve
the same thing). I've actually done it only about 3 times on SFire,
but about 20,000 times in JigSaw - where you open the chart with a
list of "event dates" for the person in a panel at one side, and then
click on each date to see where the transitting planets were. Simple
eh?

This system of exchanging datafiles which I'm currently promoting,
will allow JigSaw users to load say 500 (or 50,000) marriages and
immediately SEE what was happening for each person on their wedding
day. Each person and their wedding date will be loaded in *pairs* --
ie: Click on Liz Taylor, then click on 1st marriage date; then click
on Rod Stewart, then click on his first marriage date.

Other astrologers who don't use JigSaw could process "event dates" in
their own ways; and of course I can always process any batch of event
dates in my own program which was built for testing transits.

Post by Rose
Except pulling in the map w/time zones.
If it's a special component, then it's doable (hopefully), but where
would I get the component? hmmm I didn't know openoffice worked on
windows boxxxxes. hmmm

RM: I know a LOT of astrologers are than anxious to buy commercial
software, but if they don't buy anything else, everyone should get the
ACS atlas because it is such an incredibly good resource - with all
time zones shown, including a history of the changeover dates for
every location. (There are of course local anomalies, where a town was
divided, or where special rules applied by local authorities - so they
are not shown as a rule).
The good thing about it is that if you want ACS built into a VB6
program - you just click on it's icon and draw a rectangle of any size
in your project, and it's immediately working. I suppose it's just as
easy when writing with other program languages..

Post by Rose
I have VB
6 around here somewhere, but probably in storage. Youonly need it if
you're going to have a lot of records. Like I said, I could think
about it, or talk to you. Except youre in stupid Austrailia aren't
you. Well, not until this divorce thing gets worked out and I find a
new home. :-(

RM: Hey where are your priorities!
Are you saying that divorce and homelessness are more important than
your aamod friends - or revolutionising datafile exchange between
astrologers?
What about those coin-in-the-slot internet cafes -- couldn't you load
VB6 (in each town you visit) and do something online :-))>

Post by Rose
PS - how come my post doesn'tshow but you got it? ???????

RM: Oh your ISP probably didn't receive a batch of messages. It
happens occasionally.

Post by Rose
Rose

Ray
---------------------------------------------
ALT.ASTROLOGY.MODERATED
http://readystump.algebra.com/~aam/
The best place on the net to discuss
astrology in the English language.

Martin Lewicki

2004-06-29 06:39:32 UTC

Permalink

Post by Rose
snip

[snip]

I didn't know openoffice worked on

Post by Rose
windows boxxxxes. hmmm

In fact MS is settling $1.6 billion in copyright infringement fees to Sun
Systems who originated OpenOffice!

[snip]

Post by Rose
Rose

Ray

Martin

--
Replace username: mlewicki
Relpace dot delimited numbers with ozemail com au

p***@gmail.com

2015-04-29 10:12:27 UTC

Permalink

Hi Ray,

I know this is an old thread, I came across here by searching "astrodatabank" in google. I just find out this site: http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Main_Page
but after reading most of the pages, I still can't find out where to download the data as format like csv, it looks like the whole site has all the data represented as Web pages instead.
Do you know if they provide the download of the data?

Thanks.

Todd Carnes

2015-06-24 03:02:46 UTC

Permalink

The TOS of Astrodatabank strictly forbid what you are asking.

Todd