Interactive database

20 years ago

Hi All,

Well this has been a difficult trip. The kid next door who I charged with watering my trees may have moved (I have been unable to reach him). I've been gone for about six weeks and I've seen the temps are still in the 80s in Houston. I guess I'll find out if they are alive tomorrow.

Also,as a few of you know, the hard drive on my laptop has crashed. I have yet to determine if I can retrieve my files. If I've agreed to a trade or if I've left you hanging on an issue, please email me again to remind me.

Now on to the subject...

Earlier this year I had to learn a new database program for work. I decided to learn by creating a database of my fig trees. I thought it might be useful for others as and was planning on creating a website to post it to. This would be an interactive database. All users could use it to catalog their fig trees. I also thought it would be useful tool to gather and disseminate information. Some of the features that I had incorporated or had envisioned, if others were interested, included:

-A unique serial number designation for all trees.

-A lineage tracking system based on the parent's serial number.

-The ability to store historical data (i.e. date tree entered/emerged from dormancy, date of first fruit, date first fruit ripened, date last fruit ripened, etc. each year.) This data could be sorted by variety and/or zone.

-Fruit/Leaf/Tree characterisitics.

-General information about varieties

-Comments about varieties (similar to Fig4fun.com)

-Wish lists including links to sources with the ability to print a UCDavis order form.

Please give me feedback, comments, suggestions, etc. If there is enough interest, I will keep on this. I was hoping to have it up and running before many trades were made next year. Even if I can retrieve the database from my harddrive, the crash is going to set me back quite a bit.

I hope you all had (are having) a good Thanksgiving,

~james

p.s. After Friday morning, I will be unable to check on the forum for a week or so. I'm not ignoring you guys ;) LOL

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Comments (9)

gene_washdc
20 years ago
James,
It would certainly be interesting to see reports of a particular fig variety and see how it preforms for various people in different areas, climates, etc. Your database would help to standardize the reports and make them easier to compare to one another. The trap that I see for you though is data entry and updates. Unless you're a computer wiz and can set up logins for people to create and update reports, you'd soon go crazy trying to do all that yourself.
bjs496
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi All,

My problem is not setting up users and allowing people to enter their own data. I have not, however, posted a database to a website before. Also, the database structure is not complete, nor is the basic data population. I was hoping to have it up and running before too long, but given what's left and other time constraints, it's looking like it might be mid-06 before I will have it ready.

Another problem (and a more important issue) is support. I don't think this will be a valuable tool if only a few people participate (otherwise we can just rely on the information provided by UCD). If enough people are interested, I'm willing to put the effort into finishing the database and getting a home on the WWW for it.

Also, so that we can begin tracking data from the cuttings that are swapped this coming year, I can send out a blank Excel spreadsheet. People can put in basic information about their trees and I can import it into the database.

Let me know what you think.

~james
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gene_washdc
20 years ago
James,
I doubt you'll get lots of people upfront who'll commit themselves to this sight unseen. It might be helpful if you would post the structure of the database first -- perhaps using one of your current figs as an example -- and open it up to suggestions for improvement. Once that's settled, set it up and let it go. I sure participation will start out slow, but will build up momentum over time if people find it interesting and useful. I'll certainly be happy to contribute.
bjs496
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for your input, Gene. I was thinking along the same lines. I'll do some more work on the database and try to get screen shots up in January.

Some months ago, you posted a link to a PDF file called "descriptors for figs". I've been using some of the information as a guide. I know some qualities (leaf shape, fruit shape, etc) have been well defined. Others are certainly subjective (taste). However there are some descriptors (especially color) that I will need to touch on others to set up standards. I would have a hard time seeing the difference between dark strawberry, red and watermelon. Does anyone know of a fig color chart? LOL.

Anyway, I'll post more as I develop this further.

~james
ottawan_z5a
18 years ago
Hi James
This thread is now 2 years old/cold. What happened to this project of the database? It seemed interesting and would have probably helped newbies in many ways selecting a fig type for their area even if the hardiness zone and other environment of the data originators were a bit different.
hlyell
18 years ago
haha...I was reading this thread with enthusiasm all the way to the bottom (Ottawan's post) before I realized it wasn't a new thread :)

At any rate, it sounds very cool to me, and I would gladly be willing to participate if the idea can be given new life.
bjs496
Original Author
18 years ago
Sorry Everyone, the project is not dead, just stalled a bit. Has it been two years, already?

As I had originally envisioned it, this was more of a tool to track lineage to see differences in trees with the same genetics grown in different locations. As cuttings were passed around, each would carry a unique serial number along with the serial number of the parent tree.

The database could also be used as an Almanac type tool for figs. One could track first leaf, first fruit, etc. though out the years. Participants could post information about their trees which others would be able to read sorted either by variety and/or location and/or containerized vs. in ground etc.

I also have some other sorts of information in the database as well... Hilgardia's information, UCD's inventory (I might be able to link it to their ordering system), and retail sources (currently has some kinks).

I will try to post some sample pages after the new year.

~james
ottawan_z5a
18 years ago
That will be wonderful James (to post sample pages).
I hope there is a field for the location of the data-logger i.e. more specifically the location where the fig tree was growing.
tonysiny
18 years ago
Hi ~james :

I am a new user to this forum. T live in Staten Island, NY. I have 8 fig trees in my backyard garden along with other, grapes and vegtibles. I would like to know what language would your Interactive DB be written in? Is it MS ACCESS?

Please let me know.
Regards,
Tony From Staten Island, New York