The Master Database > Installing and Maintaining the Master Database
Installing the Master Database - Overview and Installation considerations
ideasguy:
For simplicity, in this discussion it is assumed that your computer drive is c:
Overview.
The Master Database is continually expanding. Currently, it contains over 36,000 plants and has something like 2000 photos.
There are two methods of refreshing your copy.
1) Download the latest version
2) Obtain a copy of the most recent version on DVD
See this topic for a link to the Master Database download:
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php/topic,710.0.html
The downloaded version does not contain DISC photos.
However, since the rise in popularity of the Web Page Generator (a standard program in Ideas Genie Pro) my latest direction has been to request permission to use the web photos from the members who publish their web sites.
Web links are simply lines of text, and they are easily included in the download, so the end user has lots of web photos to view.
Installation considerations
a) Installing from the Download
By default, the download installation puts the Master database into the recommended location with a special folder structure.
I highly recommend that you don't change that.
The special location is:
c:\igdata_sets\igmaster\igdata\
That path is recognised by all programs in IG Pro, IG, Bonsai Genie and Flower Genie
The Master Database name is IGMASTER
Again, that name is reserved and is recognised by all programs in IG Pro, IG, Bonsai Genie and Flower Genie
b) Considerations regarding Installing the Master Database from CD/DVD.
The version you receive on DVD is read only.
That means you cant add more plants and you cant add/link photos.
If you want to work on that edition of the Master Database, then you need to install it onto another device - your computer, external drive, or Flash.
Bear in mind that any changes you do may not be included in the next issue of the Master Database
For inclusion, your contributions would be very much appreciated and added to the Master copy for general release in subsequent editions
I recommend that you:
* reserve your computer for the downloaded Master Database.
* Install the DVD Master Database on a FLASH disc, or external drive
Following these guidelines, you have these advantages:
* Fast access to data in the Master Database compared to accessing the data on DVD
* When you click on the Data Source pop-up (e.g. in GA037 or FG037), you will see c: drive IGMASTER and f: drive IG MASTER (assuming f:= flash drive)
This is made possible due to the special folder structure being maintained on each device.
* Can add more plants, and link more photos
* Can edit/delete anything in the database
* When you download an updated version of the IGMASTER, you can overwrite the existing copy
* When you get a new DVD copy of the Master Database, you may overwrite your older copy on your Flash drive.
However, you may choose to install it on a NEW Flash device, thus preserving any changes you made.
* You can even make the Master Database your Main (Core) database
Working with full access to the Master Database
There are certain restrictions when using the Data source Pop-up in each program.
There is an alternative method which allows full access - use the SWITCH program - GA026.
This link explains using GA026
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/ideas/forum/index.php/topic,211.0.html
Eric Hardy:
Thank you for this George, I just found it this morning. Will a download now be more up to date than my current DVD copy?
Eric H
ideasguy:
I'll update it later this evening, Eric, so you folk can download the very latest version.
I thought long and hard about how to advise on the best configuration for the two "flavours" of the Master Database installation onto a computer (the download and the DVD).
The above posting is is my current thinking, and its very practical. I can vouch for that, as I have exactly the same configuration.
Matter of interest, heres my way of working.
The master of the Master Database resides on my 2GB Flash. I can therefore use it on any computer, by using the SWITCH (GA026) program.
It has links to photos on a number of devices, but when I plug it into another computer (without those devices attached), those images appear as the grey rectangle with a cross through (as you have seen before). Thats what you get when the images are not found.
The links between plants and photos are quite safe, of course.
Thats not important, as I am primarily adding new plants and linking to NEW photos (e.g. the photos sent by members on our forum)
Also de-duping and correcting plant names and adding information (links to good web sites etc).
For security, I do a backup from it onto whichever computer I use. It turns the usual logic on its head, but thats another important option available to any user who works over two computers.
If you look under the Tools tab on the menu you'll find GA053 Embed Photos.
I run that program targeted on the Master (the backup) on my Main Computer. I plug in Flash drives and an external drive.
GA053 gathers up photos from all those devices and embeds the photos into what now becomes the "finished article" Master Database.
Thus, I don't need to drag image files onto the DVD. The other advantage is that the images (being embedded) are safe.
This was intended to protect the copyright of images owned by contributors to the project.
That Master Database is then copied onto DVD for distribution to each new customer.
Now you know!
NightHawk:
That's real 'heady'stuff George.
Well explained, but rather you than me. :D
A real 'hair-puller.
Laurie.
ideasguy:
It takes a lot of words to explain, but in essence it is fairly straight forward.
I'm explaining, because its something our members might progress to in the future.
Each of our databases are treasure. I'd like to get to encourage our members to work on their databases and make them available to other users - either simply for sharing info or commercially.
My term for such a product is a SWAP database. Yet another one of my dreams. Soon to be realised? :)
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