Iris CD-Rom & Registrar's Database

There has been some wonderful discussion the past couple of weeks about
placing the Iris Registration Record onto a CD.  In fact, the messages on
this forum suggest an overwhelming support for such a product.

Now may be the time to float some ideas as to how this could be accomplished
in the shortest possible time with consideration of a long range plan.

I would offer that placing all the digital data that has been accumulated
into the master database, as it is today, be prepared immediately for the
first release.  This would allow all registered cultivar names to be
accessible right away.  Perhaps John Jones could also elaborate on the data
that is actually prepared at this time.  Does this also include hybridizer
name and year for each of these cultivars?  This first CD would also contain
the more detailed registration information from the Check List books that
John already has completed the digital work on.  Since this appears to be
the more recent cultivars, a CD even with this "not yet total information"
would still be a very useful product for the majority of iris fanciers.

I believe John mentioned there are only seven fields in the database at this
time.  This sounds like it would be a fairly simple job of building a
stand-alone program in either Visual Basic or File Maker that could be used
to search and study the records on everyone's home computer.  This would
also allow the most advanced search capability of the data that is available
to date.

It would probably take about a month to prepare the program and another two
weeks to run a beta test of the program.  If a volunteer is found to do the
programming then there is practically no expense to the Iris Society.  The
actual cost of a CD with a disk label and jewel case insert would not exceed
$1.50.  I would easily pay $25 for this product before spending the proposed
$15 for the slower and more limited website access.

I also think the argument concerning a decline in the sales of the printed
checklist is a bit silly.  AIS is not out to make money.  Publication of a
checklist is a mandatory stipulation of being the International Cultivar
Registration Authority (ICRA) for Iris.  In fact the International Society
for Horticultural Science (ISHS) recommends "The promotion of lists of names
by an ICRA, with or without ancillary information, through internet sources
such as the World Wide Web is highly desirable and, because of ease of
access to the international community, helps deter unwitting re-use of
names."  This clearly means that a website such as the one currently under
construction by the AIS should continue.  However, perhaps access to the
site should free and the more detailed information on an electronic
checklist CD should be purchased through the AIS as the printed checklists
are right now.  For more information regarding the ISHS, ICRA's, and HORTAX
please visit http://www.ishs.org/

Publishing a CD at this time as the one I mention above would also satisfy
the current appetite of registration information many of us have.  This
would also allow at least a year of further work to be accomplished on the
current project of digitizing the registration information.  It would
probably also relieve some of the stress involved with trying to get the
information completed too hurriedly causing errors and other possible
delays.  Preparing a product now would also allow input in regards to
improving the product in future versions.  I believe the benefits of this
project can clearly be seen by others so I am not going to list them all
here.

=================

I have no idea what kind of database or file system the Iris Registrar now
utilizes.  However, he must not have a comprehensive database of iris
registrations since all this work is currently being done.  Has a designer,
programmer, and the Registrar ever sat down together to plan and implement a
logical database for the Registrar?  Something that would allow the
Registrar to easily verify the availability of names?  A program that could
generate all the printed checklist reports with the push of a button?
Something that would allow him to send a letter to each registrant
containing all the cultivar's registration information the moment it is
recorded?  A program that would allow the easy flow of information into
program for release via CD-rom. ETC....

If the current registration data file contains only seven fields then the
Registrar is clearly being overworked to generate reports and compile
information with such a limited database.  Two weeks ago I wrote about a
flower database utilizing 16 fields for just recording the plant's
parentage.

Where are the priorities of the AIS right now.  Is it towards a registration
website, a registration CD, or the Registrar's own master record?  I think
the later is probably the most important, but the other two can be done
simultaneously if given the proper planning.  This goes back to publishing a
CD now, and then taking the next year to complete the digitizing of
registration information and taking care of the man responsible for
recording all the Registration data in the first place.

Again, I hope this leads to further positive discussions.  Isn't life great
as we wait for the iris to rebloom?

Respectfully,

Iris Moose
Wake Forest, NC
http://daylily.net/irismoose/


ps.  At the National Daylily Convention this past weekend all of the
available 150 Daylily Electronic Check List CD's sold out very quickly and
there were less than 500 conventioneers!!!


 

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