Master Database available as a download

[ideasguy]

Updated 17th Sept 11: Latest version of the Master Database uploaded today

This database can now be downloaded.
It will take up about 33mb on your computer.
Its a database of plants and gardens, but the download version does NOT have DISC photos (disc space limitations on my server).
It does have links to photos on the web.

Ive been working extensively on this item for a few weeks now.
After my visits to three RHS Gardens and Chelsea Flower Show in May 2008, then Tatton Park and Arley Hall in July, I had well over 1000 photos of plants to sort out, and attached to names, all to be added to the Master Database.
The Master Database had 9400 plants,and still didn't contain the plants I found on my travels.
So, I decided to add a few more 

Updated: 17th Sept 11
As a result, the Master Database now has about 36,348 plants in the download issue 17th Sept 11

Its built using Ideas Genie Pro but you can also use it with all my Gardening Software items, provided you have the latest version.
Ideas Genie 5
Bonsai Genie 5
Flower Genie 3

I'd like you to download it, and test how it performs on your computer.
Heres the link:
http://www.cultivars.co.uk/dl/Master-dl.exe

If you are receiving this broadcast email, please visit the forum and follow this thread, as there will be links to instructions on how to use the Master Database.

Initially (after download) do this:
Flower Genie users - its all explained here:
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/UserGuide/Sess10/sess10.html

Ideas Genie 5, Bonsai Genie and Ideas Genie Pro 5
Start the program Database Explorer - GA037
Click the Data Source pop-up
Select igmaster-dl
The program closes YOUR database down and opens the downloaded Master database
Note that a Copy this plant button appears on the initial screen when you are using the Master
You can explore the plants on the database as if on your own database
If you see a plant you like, click the Copy this plant button, and you'll be able to add it to YOUR database

Heres what I'd like you to test:
In GA037, click the All button.
All plants in the database are listed.
Any problems?

The next biggest listing is under R
You'll find 7579 plants listed

I'll be adding more instructions on how to use and fully explore the Master Database in this forum topic. Please revisit the forum regularly and help make this project a success.

[NightHawk]

Master Database loaded correctly, no problems. 

Can be accessed by both Flower Genie 3 and Ideas Genie Pro 5.

Tested all alphabet buttons in Flower Genie 3 and Ideas Genie Pro 5.

All performed correctly. 

Awaiting the next test phase.

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

Thats great news, Laurie, thanks for the very quick response.

Start IG Pro as normal and view your own database.
Click Add a Plant button
Takes you to screen GA100S00
On the right of the screen, look for the pop-up under the caption Master Databases found on this computer
You should see
Cdrive - IGMASTER

Key in a few characters of the Genus name Rhododendron
When Rhododendron appears in the lower green field (beside the caption Master Database), click in that field
All the Rhodos in the Master are listed ( a few thousand).
Anything with **New** at the end of the line are NOT in YOUR database
Click on one of the NEW plants
Click Add from Master.
That adds the plant to YOUR database.

The biggest Genera in the Master Database are Rhododendron and Rosa

[NightHawk]

That worked perfectly George - no problems. 

Next ....... 

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

Begorrah, you dont hang about!

I'm more than happy that the programs are working normally, Laurie. You'll notice its a bit more sluggish when clicking the A to Z buttons when using GA037 (well, when clicking R for example)
As long as it doesnt give any problems, then I'm happy.

You can try this (IG and IG Pro):
Under Tools tab, start the program Switch Databases - GA026
Use the pop-up to select:
Cdrive: IGMASTER
Wait (the program does an integrity check on the files)
Click Switch button.

Then use all the programs in the system.
Thats the mode I set it to when working with the Master Database.
I actually carry it around on a Flash disc (memory pen)

NOTE: You DONT get the option to Copy this Plant in this mode.

To return to YOUR database, simply exit, then restart IG pro. The system starts up, opening YOUR database as normal again.

[NightHawk]

All is working correctly as you instructed. 

Laurie.

[Palustris]

Seems to be ok, but not had much time to play with it yet. Took  about 15 minutes to download on Dialup by the way, so not too bad.

[ideasguy]

Thank you for downloading on dial up Eric- and thanks for timing it. Its good it came down OK.

Since you are using Flower Genie, I'd like to hear how you get on Eric. You should be able to use it to add some of the plants in your garden to your database. Since youve just started this exercise, please let me know if you have questions. You can ask questions by email, or I'll be quite happy to phone you and talk you through any stumbling blocks. My new BT package allows me free phone calls within the UK, and very cheap rates internationally.

Feedback from other members will be much appreciated on this subject, folk.

[ideasguy]

Ive uploaded the latest version of the Master Database today.
The instructions in this topic still apply if anyone has time to give it a go.

Green Light!! OK now!

[Eric Hardy]

I have done as you asked, George, and I do have exactly 36,348 plants listed and 7,579 under "R".

[ideasguy]

Well done Eric, and thanks!

Have fun exploring that lot!!
To be honest, I havent done much to it this year, with all the "happenings" around here, but I put a lot of effort into it along the way.

Out in the garden today, so will post more later.

[JohnB]

Hi George,
Well, I guess someone had to be the 'problem child'. The instructions below don't say into which folder the downloaded file should be placed. I tried a couple of locations, but don't seem to be able to see it.

In GA037, the Data Source selector either has "My MAIN Data Files" or "*My ALTERNATIVE Data Files* defined with GA197" as options.

I'm probably missing something obvious, but not sure what it is!

- John

[ideasguy]

Hi John

During installation, a dialog box appears saying: Location to save files.
The default folder location shown is: c:\igdata_sets\igmaster\igdata
For the database to "behave" as a Master (and appear in the Data Source Pop-up/selector) don't change that. Simply click the Next button.

If it doesn't exist already, the installer will create the folder (and folder structure).

If the folder already exists and contains Ideas Genie data files, you will be issued with another Overwrite Protection message. If you do wish to overwrite an older version of the Master database then click the Yes to all button, otherwise click the No to all button

This will be normal next time you download a future release of the Master Database.
Your old Master Database will then be overwritten.
 

[JohnB]

That worked, George -- I made the simple mistake of NOT running the Master-DL.exe file after download.

[ideasguy]

Ah, that would explain that little hiccup

To all Ideas Genie, Ideas Genie Pro and Bonsai Genie users:
When you have the Master Database installed, you can do this.
Start Ideas Genie, Ideas Genie Pro or Bonsai Genie.
Your own database opens.
In this exercise, don't switch using GA026 and don't change the data source.
Try adding a new plant, say using GA004, as follows.
Click the Add/Get a plant button.
Screen GA100S00 appears.
Default setting is Keying a Genus name for a plant. Leave that as is.

A radio button control with the caption Exploring has two options:
My (implying that its your own current database)
Master (implying the Master Database)
The default is Master. Leave it as is for this exercise.

Start typing a few letters in the field Key the name of a plant to add or find.
e.g. Rh (for Rhododendron)
Predictive text takes over, and a list of Genera appear.
The more you type, the shorter the list.
At any point, if you see the Genus you are after in the list, click the line showing the required Genus.
Now use the buttons inside the Green box to refine your search within that Genus.
You can click the List all button, a list of 1000's of names if Rhododendrons
The search fields offered are Within, Species, Cultivar.
Species and Cultivar have predictive text.
Use those tools to home in on a plant.

In the case of cultivar, you can search for either a Trade Name, or a Cultivar name

In the case of Within, you can type the initial characters, or any characters in the middle of a plant name.
No predictive text for this - click the Within button when you are ready.
This is useful if you have found a part of a broken, faded or illegible plant label, or you have taken a photo of a label and its a bit out of focus.

If you find the plant you are looking for and it has the suffix ***NEW, then it exists in the Master, but not in your database.
Click the Add from Master button to add it to your own database.

Note: Check the Repeat checkbox if you wish to quickly add a number of plants from the selected Genus.
The screen GA100S00 doesn't close each time you add a plant in that mode.

[bossgard]

George:

My IG Master Plant database count jumped from 29,991 to 36,348 after installing the recent download. Since EricH reports that this is the correct total, I assume that all is OK here.

Have tried the exercise you have given to JohnB for GA100S00. Very interesting, there?s another screen that I haven?t been into before.

That one will take time to sink in. Oh, so much to learn!

Toby

[ideasguy]

That all looks correct Toby. Enjoy playing around in that new found screen!
Its an alternative method of adding plants to that in the program GA027. I hope you find it useful!

[Edna]

All I can say is "Wow!" Browsing through this Master Database is as much fun as receiving the first seed catalogs in January! Thank you for all your hard work.

As for testing... I've tried all your tests after reading the various posts and haven't found any problems whatsoever. Except for maybe one, and it's my own fault. Everything is arranged by scientific names and I only know a few of those at this point.  I'm working on that.

[ideasguy]

It looks like it was a good idea to revive this posting! Its very nice to make contact with you again.
The Master Database will help you get to grips with Botanical plant names. When you get to the plant profile screen GA100S36 (using GA004 or GA037 etc) click on the Google button. You can then browse the Google results to see if they are suitable for your location.

I wish we could have some of your nice Florida sunshine here in Ireland. I was just about to go gardening,and the rain came on!