Re: [pilot-db-list] Re: UI changes

[Tom D. <td...@vg...>]

On Tue, 25 Apr 2000, Larry W. Virden wrote:

> Can you describe the database drivers layer a bit?

PalmOS has a set of interfaces called the Data Manager which allows a
program in access and manipulate databases on the device. Every program on
a Palm uses this interface. In DB 0.2.x, calls to this interface are
littered throughout the program. In DB 0.3.x, I've rewritten the code (at
the expense of more code) so that calls to the PalmOS Data Manager are
isolated in the io.c file.

The remainder of the DB source code now has no idea how a database is
being stored nor does it care. This allows me to support the legacy format
without changing any other code other than io.c. After 0.3.0 is out, it
will allow me to write a MobileDB driver so that DB can be used as a
frontend to MobileDB databases with no need to convert to DB's native
format.

One can envision a JFile Pro driver or a ThinkDB driver in the future if I
can figure out the file formats ... 

> Seems like maybe what is needed here is another button on the front page
> for rename, just like we currently have open/del/info/beam ...

Probably better to put it on the front screen.

> I'm still uncertain what the drivers conversion means...

Basically take a database that is in one file format and use another
"driver" to produce a copy in another file format. So you could convert
MobileDB -> DB native for example (if there were a MobileDB driver). More
applicable would be DB 0.2.x -> DB or DB -> DB 0.2.x formats (allowing me
to make changes to the 0.3.x format during its development without
breaking anyone's databases).

> > Also, new options on the chooser screen won't fit. Will it be a problem if
> > I replace the "Open", "Del", "Info", and "Beam" buttons at the bottom of
> > the screen with a popup list which you select an action from and then tap
> > the database title?
> 
> Why not menu bar options?  You could add rename and duplicate here as well.

The problem is that the UI needs some notion of an "active" action that
gets applied when you tap the database. The menu bar doesn't convey that
notion. And tapping the database first will cause it to open before you
get a chance to open the menu. 

Tom