pcplantdb

[Richard Morris <webmaster@pfaf.org>]

Chad Knepp wrote:
> Ok folks, here it is.  This is a MAJOR release so expect it to be very
> buggy.  0.2.4 was 3048 lines, 0.3.0 is 5222 with a lot of changes to
> the database as well to support the implementation of features.
Great stuff.

> Major important changes:
>
>   o Can add top level plant botanical name aka 'add new plant'.  This
>     currently can't be edited or deleted because doing so would
>     violate the integrity of all the attached information.
>
>   o Add/edit/delete common names.
>
>   o Add/edit/delete uses.
>
>   o Add/edit/delete descriptions, including display of multiple
>     descriptions.
>
>   o Add/edit/delete cultivars and attach comments to cultivars.
>     Cultivars are first class objects now.
>
>   o Edit user info and attach comments to users.  Users are first
>     class objects now.
>   
>   o Saved state.  After performing add/edit/deletes/login/logouts you
>     should return to the place in PIW that you were / that makes
>     sense.
>
>   o Advanced search in pull down Bear magic menu.
>
>   o XML-RPC implemented and working over cgi.  Something like:
>
> #!/usr/bin/python
> import xmlrpclib
> server = 
> xmlrpclib.ServerProxy("http://dev.permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden_xml-rpc.py";)
> print server.GetComment(8000)
Cool this works.

> ...will print out the edible uses comment for Actinidia longicauda. 
>
> Todo:
>
>   o Implement add/edit/delete uses definitions
>
>   o Implement add/edit/delete botanical synonyms
>
>   o Implement relationships.
>
>   o Implement locales.
>
>   o Mix well and serve.
>
> Know bugs:
>
>   o Clunky user interface.  Open to suggestions on how to make things
>     work better here.  Non-obvious icons, etc.  Bear, we need you.
Search box overflows surrounding blue square, on home page.

>   o General uglyness from putting different parts of Bears new stuff
>     together.  Reports don't match search results.
>
>   o Inconsistencies in some forms (headers mostly)
>
>
> How to help:
>
> I'm effectively going to be gone the 11th - 20th but for the next
> three days I can squeeze in some serious bug squashing if folks will
> beat up on this release for me.  Create an account and then try and do
> stuff.  DO NOT add a new botanical name unless you are adding a real
> plant that is missing.  Other than that you can delete anything you
> create so it's ok to just bang on the keyboard for data so long as you
> go back and delete it.  Alternately feel free to add real/actual data,
> there is no reason that this stuff can't stay that I can see ATM.  Let
> me know how it goes.  Ideally I'd like to release a bug fix release
> before the 11th.
>
> Note to Bear: Feel free to edit all the good stuff in dev/ (esp. .css
> .js *php, dev/images/*, etc.) and remember you can also edit
> dev/cgi-bin/Eden/client/*html (head.html, tail.html, and search.html)
> which are the static html chunks that get wrapped around (search.html
> is the advanced search form) the output.  Make sure you tell me if you
> do so I don't clobber your changes with a new release.  
Tried to login in, (even though I didn't have an account on dev),
just got "Your are not currently logged in" message rather than
a login failed message.

Email confirming login got caught by my spam filter. I guess a bit more 
text in the email with some blurb about "welcome to piw..." would help 
it get past filters.

Adding a common name worked. I'd like to
a) specify the language of the name.
b) Add a citation for where the name came from.

I've added some info from the Tanplants database
for Abies balsamea. http://dev.permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden.py?plant=7

A few points: I'd like to make some of the terms added marked up, i.e.
similar to the Uses. Specifically suitable location.

I'd like to add some other book references.

Length of Comment titles is limited. I'd like to add ones a little bit 
longer.

Apart from these I'd say superb, great, wonderful. This is really 
getting close to a great realization.

Adding the tanplant data was relatively painless, being able to add it 
as sub comments to other parts really help in organizing info.

Great stuff.

        Rich