Welcome

-TGBDMT-XGBDMT-
-The Graphical Botanical Database Management Tool-

Version1.0 conceived September, 2002.
(Current Version, V2 build 5)

To this point created by: Me {all credit will be given where credit is due.}
This Current build is only for MS Windows, coming soon to X-windows.

I have programmed this with MS Access, DreamWeaverMX, MS J++ 6.0, Borland-JBuilder and MS Word.

-Preface-
If it seems like I dont know what Im doing, youre probably right. But Im trying, and yes I need a little help to make it perfect.
However, I have put together an access database program that I find very useful. Its small stable and runs very well. When I started I knew nothing about MS Access, I needed a very specific botanical database, so I started to fiddle with it and this is what came out. It is very good, but can be great. I hope to find interested people to help me give it a go. I will make it available in native 97, 2000, and 2002, Access database formats. The MS java build is very much in beta, in fact its on hold till the database is ready so as not to waste time unnecessarily re-programming, and, is not due to be released for beta testing till mid to late spring 2004, depending on the status of the raw database. The Borland Java is even more in beta then that. IV never used it and having just started learning to use it. Any interested persons who wish to convert this to platform independent please contact me. And since sun java doesnt like Microsoft anything it will be a challenge.

Description-

-GBDMT--Graphical Botanical Database Management Tool- (Xgbdmt in UNIX)

This is a (as the title says) a Graphical Botanical Database Management Tool. It is for keeping track of a large number of (if not every conceivable) variable in the growth of plants, their environment, and experiments performed. Producing custom reports and displaying images. It is originally written in MS Access, and either can be run in MS Access, or through a web page interface. It currently requires no database server to function, though the user must (at this time) have full control privilege permissions to the web server. It is very small in data size and is extremely versatile and easy to use. It is mainly for use with grow room and green house plants of "any" Varity and growing environment, though will also work well with out door plants.
The goal is to make it not only a MS access application but to also, make it platform independent with web based java, and create a standalone windows executable. Right now it is fully functioning but with a to-do list. The couple of small bugs does not affect the use of the current build, and are easily fixable, mostly just lazy programming that doesnt affect the overall use of the program. I would also like it to be able to link to botanical databases to display a verity of information about particular species of plants along side of the variables you input yourself, enabling a baseline comparison, and a guide to proper growing conditions.
This program is useful from collage students to botanical labs, from the common household hobbyist to the most seasoned landscaper.

Please help to make this good software great.

To Do

1. Make the database available inter-network wide through a central server.
2. Better organization, the layout is inefficient and a bit of a mess and needs redoing a bit. Though version 1 to version 2 fixed most of this, it still needs to be more efficient.
3. Instead of a six month growth description make it a one year description. Maybe make it a popup or something. Somehow separate it, and make it accessible by mouse click.
4. Make the plant_id automatically increase as you add pages to the database. With the option to customize the style of the identifying number. Ex. 001 or 001-001 or 1a3b Etc. And, still be style adjustable and separated so that they can be unique for data reports
5. Make photo section work on web based client; make it so the file can be uploaded, and thumb-nailed to fit with the full image a click away.
6. Take the enter new line feature for input boxes that dont need it out.
7. Enable ability to generate customizable reports for web based clients.
8. Everything in the objects needs work. Aside from the main form which has had the most work. And, is being worked on the most currently. Other objects that need to be worked on are Tables, Queries, Reports, Pages, Macros, and Modules. Some may need modifying some may not.
9. Make interface client configurable. Color, skins, format, things like that.
10. I would also like it to be able to link to botanical databases the display a verity of information about particular species of plants, enabling a baseline comparison, and a guide to proper growing conditions. And to display effects from changes in the environmental variables.
11. The plants id's need to be referenced so that a plant ID number can be input and the form automatically directs itself to the plants database page number.
12. Convert the MDB file to DB5 to edit in Borland for cross platform. I hope this works. The idea is Borland will {should} build MSAccess converted to db5 databases to java web and exe front ends. The end product should be Sun JAVA, *NIX compatible.
13. Documents should open in there own browser window.

Known Bugs

1. Tab targets are out of whack. Easy to fix. Set the tab targets in appreciate order under preferences.
2. Total_Flowering_Time_To_Full_Maturity and Flowering_Light_In_Hours when in web page mode, unlike the rest of the selections, these have to be selected by clicking the text box instead of the text boxes label.
3. Total_Flowering_Time_To_Full_Maturity and Flowering_Light_In_Hours when in MS Access mode stay highlighted, as opposed to all the others that are light until active.
4. Picture insertion doesnt work in web page mode.
5. Unless you have no security, the web based interface over a network has a lot of problems. Locally on your machine it works great.
6. This isnt a bug, but a condition that needs to be clear. If you rebuild the web interface, you must open the web page in an editor and tell the web page where the database file is if you plan of moving the database file, or using it to access from a web site. This is easily done by performing a search string in the page code, looking for the exact file name of your database. Currently by default the file name is, db-Botanical-DB2000.mdb, and any customization to the page that you perform must be redone.
7. Having trouble accessing report buttons in web pages.

Trouble shooting tips

1. None of the files can have read only, or hidden set.
2. File permissions have to reflect user. Set full control for everyone for the least amount of trouble.
3. Data provider could not be initialized Error. Is caused by the main database file being open in MS Access or the web interface (or file permissions are prohibitive) and locked out from external access. Once the file has been saved and closed out of MS Access or the web page, click refresh in your web browser and the data will be available.
4. Make sure your web page is properly addressed to the database file. You can find it in the html code by doing a search for the exact name of your database file. Provided you didnt change the name of the database file since the build of the web page. If youre going to post it on a network web server you must properly address the link manually in the database web page. In fact any changes from default must be done manually at code level.

-Legal Stuff-
This is open source freeware. You may use it, change it, and delete it for all I care. But, you may not try to make money with it by selling it. If you say own a green house and you use it for your business, and as a result you make more money, thats ok. You may use this program free of charge in all educational and commercial work places. You may not incorporate any of these programs, into any program you intend to sell, unless I get a cut of the pie. Please let me know if you post if for download. I dont mined but Id like to keep track of such things, and it gives me a chance to promote your site. Dont add it to any package with out my permission. (Mostly cause I want a copy ;-) And, there is the whole respect for other peoples work thing.

-TGBDMT--Graphical Botanical Database Management ToolXGBDMT-
This document updated as of 1/9/2004 10:59:15 PM