DBSIG - Database for Special Interest Groups: Enhancements

[Berlin-Bob]

The DBSIG is having the weekend off ....  for maintenance and enhancements.

regards,
Bob

[Craclyn]

What is the DBSIG? What sort of special interest groups does it deal with?

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Craclyn,

have a look here:
Topic: DBSIG: Database for Special Interest Groups
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=625141.0

Since writing that, the DBSIG includes German Pork Butchers, Travelling People, and Boat People (canal & River boats). I plan to add a new category at the weekend, and if anybody else has any ideas, then let me know

See also some of the DBSIG topics, here in the Reference Library forum
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/reference-library/

regards,
Bob

[Craclyn]

Ah I see. I have previously read some of your German Pork butcher posts, but had not realised they were in a specific database.

[Berlin-Bob]

The database DBSIG is back online 

As preparation for a "coming attraction" - British Home Children", the following items are new or have been improved ..

• The input forms for "Add" & "Edit", and "Advanced Search", and for the table view output have all been re-vamped and have now have a similar "look & feel
   
• Every name (surnames and forenames) can now also have three variations.
  For the 'German Pork Butchers' the third variation is the anglicised name.
  A surname search will automatically examine all four name fields.
   
• Dates ( births, deaths or other events) are now entered in three fields - year, month, day
  The 'year' field is searchable.
   
• Dates can now be marked as unknown, approx. or exact
   
• An additional address field has been added: the District.
  This can be an american or canadian county (i.e. within a State, irish homelands, city boroughs, etc.
   
• An emigration date has been added for the "German Pork Butchers"
   
• A 'primitive' paging mechanism has been implemented.  This is not very good and I am still working on improvements to it, but at least it's a start...
  Sorry, that was a bit t-o-o primitive - it was missing out on stuff !
  I've turned it off for now, but it's still on my ToDo list !
   

For those who hadn't noticed ... some other enhancements in the past have included

• Members can now add comments to other submitters' entries. 
   
• Members can request permission to edit. Only the submitter can process this request.
   

There are still some errors and "clumsinesses" to be ironed out (that I know of), and I hope you will point out any I've missed.

Enjoy
Bob

[Berlin-Bob]

Ooops !  back offline - there is an error which didn't happen on my test-system 

[Berlin-Bob]

fingers crossed - seems to be OK now - !!

[Berlin-Bob]

After receiving some feedback I've added a few more fields ...

• All date fields now have a drop-down selection for the month. You can also enter Q1, Q2, Q3 or Q4 if you know the quarter (through GRO records) but not the exact date.
   
• All date fields have a 'notes' field for additional data (source, cause, etc).
   
• There are now fields for entering up to two marriages. You can enter the spouse in the 'Notes' field.
   
• There is an extra item for the "German Pork Butchers. You can now enter the date of Naturalisation.
   

There will be more later, but that should keep you busy for a while.

If you also have any ideas for improving the database, please let me know. These ideas / wishes were passed on to me by PM, but I would find it better, if you let us know here on this topic. If there is enough feedback, I will get a better idea of what's necessary, useful, or just playing.

Enjoy
Bob

[Berlin-Bob]

Please be prepared for a few "hiccups" now and then.

I'm monitoring the database and I've just noticed (and corrected) an error .
This meant the DBSIG was off-line for 15 mins. or so.

regards,
Bob