[Portabase-announce] PortaBase 2.0 beta 1 released

[Jeremy B. <ml...@ya...>]

PortaBase 2.0 beta 1
--------------------
PortaBase (portable database) is a program for conveniently managing one-table
database files. It is available for many platforms, including Linux, Mac OS X
(Tiger and up), Windows (XP and up), and Maemo (Diablo and Fremantle).

This is a beta release intended to flush out any remaining important bugs
before officially declaring a new stable 2.0 release.  The code is in pretty good
shape, but the code has been massively rewritten since 1.9 in order to
support new platforms and updated libraries, and it's possible there are some
bugs I simply haven't stumbled across yet in my testing.

New in this version
-------------------
- Added Mac OS X port (Tiger, Leopard, and Snow Leopard)
- Added Maemo port (Diablo and Fremantle)
- Stopped development on the Zaurus version
- Printing support
- Added new, open, import, and recent file buttons to the start screen
- Updated icons
- View, sorting, and filter selection/management dialogs via toolbar buttons
- Fullscreen mode, toggled via a toolbar button
- Good performance even when scrolling directly through thousands of records
  (previously required pagination, which is still optional but no longer the
  default behavior)
- Remember dialog sizes so they stay at your preferred size until manually
  changed
- Launch the row viewer with a single click on a row (preference to disable)
- Locale-aware number formatting (not used in data export, for portability)
- Removed customization of the menu and toolbar layout (it was really only
  needed on the Zaurus)
- Assorted usability enhancements and visual improvements

Note for Zaurus Users
---------------------
The complete lack of new releases of Qt or Qtopia for the Zaurus has made it
impractical to continue developing for it; every single feature would need to
be implemented separately for two different codebases.  However, there are no
file format changes for PortaBase 2.0; files can still be moved freely between
the new release and PortaBase 1.9 on the Zaurus.  A future PortaBase 2.1
release is likely to end this compatibility, however.  Maemo (as used on the
Nokia N810 and N900) is recommended for people who want to continue using
PortaBase on a pocketable device.  Ports to Windows Mobile, Symbian S60,
and/or webOS may be forthcoming as well.

Maemo Installation
------------------
PortaBase is now in the extras-devel repository, you should be able to
download and install it from there.  In time, it should make its way to the
extras-testing and extras repositories as well, for users who are a little less
adventurous.

Windows Installation and Upgrades
---------------------------------
Run the downloaded executable; it will launch the installation program,
just follow the directions.

Mac OS X Installation
---------------------
Extract the application bundle from the downloaded archive and put it where
you want it (usually your Applications folder).

Known Issues
------------
I discovered a pair of bugs that prevent XML import a few hours after posting
the binaries (and one of them prevents MobileDB import as well).  These
have been fixed and will be included in the next release after people have
had time to flush out other potential problems.