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Re: arsclist Cataloging
Dear Peter,
Microsoft Access can do Boolean searches exactly as you list. They
are not command line, but they are quite easy to do, using simple queries.
Access fully supports diacriticals, although not as thoroughly as did the
WordPerfect database called DataPerfect. I would posit that any database
program that cannot support diacriticals is fatally flawed, at least for
collectors of classical or ethnic music.
Access also easily exports/imports to/from ASCII text files; the
diacriticals are not lost in this process.
Windows XP fully supports DOS programs; I'm using one (YARN) to write this
reply to you. Its support for DOS is even better than that of Windows 2000.
I do not claim that all DOS programs will run, but certainly most non-game
programs will.
I am not a shill for Microsoft; indeed I am a vociferous critic of many of
their actions. However, old is not necessarily better, unless one is talking
about recordings!
Kevin Mostyn
In article <343540CF89C2774289E7F3C9EE4F5DF15939E2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, you wrote:
>Dear All,
> I'm afraid the question of which software to use depends very much upon
>what kind of person *you* are. Personally, I still use dBaseII (version
>2.41) for the following reason. It came with a simple programming language,
>which makes it possible to *export* the data in any way you like, including
>ASCII .TXT files, which (in my experience) most things can read. And, if
>people preserved their original floppydiscs (as in my case), the program
>could be migrated onto any new computer which can handle 8-bit software.
>(This rules out Microsoft XP, due to Bill Gates' apparent penchant for
>deliberate obsolescence. What is the point of 32-bit capability anyway?).
> Personally, I have written software for printing my catalogue using a
>short form (when listing the titles on an album), in long form (when listing
>a complete album and printing details like matrix numbers, notes about the
>item, recording dates (translated from numeric into English, etc)), and in
>tabular form (for broadcasts, where it is important to see the stuff in
>chronological order of first transmission, and either a "subtitle" or a
>made-up "subtitle" to identify the programme unambiguously). In the
>short-form case, dBase copies all the details into the next record (using
>the word in its computer sense). So usually, one only needs to overwrite the
>title and the composer(s), when an album takes only a few minutes more than
>a "single".
> It is possible to sort or index upon any field or group of fields, or
>upon characters within a field. The structure of my database includes
>characters representing (for example) Western Art Music composers, solo
>instruments, sound-effects, mono/stereo/quadraphonic, media format, etc. The
>only restrictions are (1) that a field is limited to 254 characters, so a
>complete plot summary of a film is out of the question; (2) one database
>cannot exceed 65536 records; and (3) the data is ASCII, so it loses the
>diacriticals as Don Cox mentioned.
> Furthermore, it seems infinitely flexible for searching, using a command
>line such as :
>loca for "Goon Show"$title .and. "1957"$recorded <CR>
>At present, this kind of command-line does not seem to be provided on
>software for the public to use, because users aren't accustomed to logical
>expressions (such as .and. .or. .not., etc).
> Yes, I am a "nerd"; and programmable databases are hated by IT
>professionals because of the risk of viruses and other damage. But the point
>of this posting is that one should closely examine *what kind of person you
>are*, back up the data on another computer (for which dBaseII won't be
>necessary), and do regular sorted printed catalogues of various forms.
> I was *given* a version of dBase called dBaseIII, but I've never needed
>to use it. But I suggest anyone used to reproducing obsolete audio-visual
>formats might like to buy a second-hand legal version of dBaseII - and its
>instruction-book!
>Peter Copeland
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Don Cox [mailto:doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: 15 December 2002 12:31
>To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: arsclist Cataloging
>
>On 14/12/02, Mwcpc6@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>> It is remarkable that anyone connected with modern computers and
>> computer science would mention using ASCII text files for anything.
>> The mere thought of putting down a string of characters without a kb
>> of formatting information must be appalling. The fact that anyone,
>> anytime (even an alien with six fingers would still use binary
>> numbers) could interpret it with just the ASCII code list.
>
>Your irony is appreciated. Actually, Linux uses ASCII files extensively.
>
>Plain ASCII cannot handle accented characters, which is a limitation for
>music cataloguing. It's a pity Unicode was not around earlier in the
>development of computers.
>
>The advantages of a database stored as a plain ASCII text file are
>obvious - simple, robust, and easily edited without deep knowledge of
>computers.
>
>The advantage of a properly set up database management system is that
>you can ask for combinations such as "All recordings of Beethoven
>symphonies conducted by Klemperer not with the Philharmonia". But
>setting up and maintaining such a database needs a lot of well informed
>planning, and the data entry must be done by expert staff, otherwise the
>whole thing is worse than useless.
>
>The technology of setting up an SQL database with a web page as a front
>end is well known. It's the planning, design and construction of the
>database that is a mammoth effort.
>
>It could well be that not enough users would benefit to make the effort
>worth while. In which case, ASCII files would do fine.
>
>Regards
>--
>Don Cox
>doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
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--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin P. Mostyn
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Copyright of individual posting is owned by the author of the posting and
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