Re: Iris CD-Rom & Registrar's Database

I think all these ideas are wonderful.  I also would gladly pay $25 for a CD containing all that information.  I find the AIS checklist on the Internet very hard to navigate.  Needed are people with the technical expertise, unlimited time, and enthusiasm for doing it.  Finding those is the hardest part.
Francelle Edwards, near Prescott, AZ
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Iris Moose 
  To: Iris Talk Email List 
  Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 11:31 AM
  Subject: [iris-talk] 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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