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

      Finding those may not be the hardest part.   As a programmer analyst
who does Visual Basic programming, MS Access programming, and web page
designing, I know that once the data is all collected, getting it produced
on CD's isn't all that difficult.   Iris Moose is correct in that it could
be developed with Visual Basic in a run time program which wouldn't require
users to purchase a license.   Once a database and run time software were
prepared, burning the CD's isn't a difficult job; it would probably take
more time to process the order, package, and mail.  (I have a CD drive at
home that burns (makes) CDs, how many of you also do?  I can't seem to keep
my son away from duplicating CDs... that's another story.)  Checking it for
viruses before it's sent out is no big deal, and it's silly to worry about
it crashing someone's PC...  Windows 95/98 will already to that for you!
(you've seen Windows' blue screen of death?  That's what we call it in the
office...)  Backup and security is not difficult to do electronically.  Zip
drives are cheap!   3 x 5 cards?   How easy is that to back up????   John
has never mentioned what database is currently used, but if it only contains
a minimal amount of fields, we're not talking much to accomplish a program
which many could use in their home.  Once a person had the database,
quarterly or annual updates could be available from the AIS website.
Individuals could download their own updates, saving AIS time and money.
         This past week I was digging iris for our local club sale.  I can
count at least 10 times I dialed into the name database in two days to look
up an iris variety so that I could figure out whether I might have the
correct checklist or whether I needed to search catalogs for a description.
My phone line is slow, so it easily took 5 minutes per name to sign in to
get the information.  And more time to look it up in a catalog or a
checklist.  A file on my PC would have been so much handier and quicker.
If it were on a CD, I might even have put it on my laptop and taken it
outside with me.   And I would still purchase the hard volume checklists.
There's a place for both.
         I envision the day when the database will have links to pictures of
many varieties.   Recording the picture images would take a bit more time,
but hybridizers might pay a small fee to have pictures included of their
iris.
         John has done us all a great service to get the name database and
checklist database to the point it is.  I, and I know that others feel the
same way too, are very appreciative of what he's accomplished so far.   I'm
also very glad that many of you continue to make and support great
suggestions that could be implemented very quickly if there's enough help
and willingness by AIS to do it.
Kitty Loberg, Reg. 14 past RVP, northern Calif.

p.s.  And thank you, Iris Moose,  for sharing the news with us that the
National Daylily Convention already has their electronic check list CD's
published.


 

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