ZapTools Update

[UncleJohnsBand]

Well....this has turned into a PITA.....

The current release works with the ZapDb in SQLite version and GBPVR in either Access or SQlite....

Reworking the code I can get it to work with the ZapDb being in Access format and GBPVR being in either Access or SQlite.....except the auto-compact will not work.....this is becuse aligining the code to work with the .Net 2.0 Database provider structure now locks the database and prevents the compact from working.....

So I I have two choices......Re-Post the last release that will let people that want to stay with the Access version of ZapDB......but this will limit them to only being able to read GBPVR that is using an Access DB.....which is ok for now but with the next major (not maintenance) relase of GBPVR Access will no longer be an option for the GBPVR database.....

Or

I can publish the version I have that works if the ZapDb is in Access (it will not work if the ZapDb is in SQLite) and GBPVR is in Access or SQLite....the in-in-line compact just will not work... I would provide a new compact program that will compact the ZapDb. This could be added right after the Zapimport line in the postupdateepg.bat.

Anyone have anythoughts on these two ideas?

[ydekmekji]

obviously we like this utility. I'm willing to wait until you have a working version for post 0.9707 releases

[ubu]

The current release works with the ZapDb in SQLite version and GBPVR in either Access or SQlite....

For what it's worth, I vote to stay with the current release. It's not a huge hassle to switch to using SQLite for ZapDb (and you've provided a conversion utility on the wiki) whereas converting GBPVR to SQLite has a lot of implications/complications for people so might take them a little longer to switch.

Re-Post the last release that will let people that want to stay with the Access version of ZapDB......but this will limit them to only being able to read GBPVR that is using an Access DB.....which is ok for now but with the next major (not maintenance) relase of GBPVR Access will no longer be an option for the GBPVR database.....

Having this available on the wiki as an optional "legacy" version for use with pre-97.7 versions of GBPVR would be helpful. From the forum buzz, there seem to be quite a few existing users who aren't quite ready to make the leap and new users who want to start out with a GBPVR version they perceive to be "stable". Of course everybody will have to go to .Net 2.0 and SQLite eventually but..... (I should talk, I'm still using Windows 98 on one of my boxes :eek: ).

I can publish the version I have that works if the ZapDb is in Access (it will not work if the ZapDb is in SQLite) and GBPVR is in Access or SQLite....the in-in-line compact just will not work... I would provide a new compact program that will compact the ZapDb. This could be added right after the Zapimport line in the postupdateepg.bat.

Least useful option IMO. Once people have converted GBPVR to SQLite they probably won't want Access in their lives any more (I certainly won't).

If the Access/SQLite incompatibility is still the transaction issue, can't the transaction code be conditional on SQLite being the DbProvider and simply not executed at all if Access is being used? In my code I'm doing:

Code:

{
    DbTransaction myTran = null;
    if (gbpvrProviderFactory.ToString() == "System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory")
         myTran = gbpvrConn.BeginTransaction();
    DbCommand myDbCommand = gbpvrConn.CreateCommand();
    myDbCommand.CommandText = sqlCmd;
    Int32 myCount = myDbCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
    if (gbpvrProviderFactory.ToString() == "System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory")
        myTran.Commit();
    return myCount;
}

A bit hokey but it works with SQLite. I haven't tried it with Access yet, but I'm hopeful it will work OK. Do you see any probs?

[ydekmekji]

What about some better instructions for non-techie folks who like this utility?

[UncleJohnsBand]

If the Access/SQLite incompatibility is still the transaction issue, can't the transaction code be conditional on SQLite being the DbProvider and simply not executed at all if Access is being used? In my code I'm doing:

Code:

{
    DbTransaction myTran = null;
    if (gbpvrProviderFactory.ToString() == "System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory")
         myTran = gbpvrConn.BeginTransaction();
    DbCommand myDbCommand = gbpvrConn.CreateCommand();
    myDbCommand.CommandText = sqlCmd;
    Int32 myCount = myDbCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
    if (gbpvrProviderFactory.ToString() == "System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteFactory")
        myTran.Commit();
    return myCount;
}

A bit hokey but it works with SQLite. I haven't tried it with Access yet, but I'm hopeful it will work OK. Do you see any probs?

I had thought about this but then it is just a lot of extra code that will be usless at some point in the future.

I think I will post the legacy ZapTools for pre-97.7 users and then update the current version to only support the zapdb in SQLite but leave the multi-access for GBPVR being in either SQLite or Access (at least for now).

[UncleJohnsBand]

What about some better instructions for non-techie folks who like this utility?

What specifically do you need help with....we're always willing to lend a hand.

[ydekmekji]

I downloaded what you posted on the wiki and I get the exact same error

[ubu]

What specifically do you need help with....we're always willing to lend a hand.

I think the instructions are pretty good (compared with some "offerings" on the wiki ). Right now we're hitting some non-standard bumps in the road caused by the 97.7 upgrade but once the dust has settled the install should still be fairly straightforward.

Room for improvement:

• The conversion utility download is embedded in the "history" part of the wiki page. Maybe make it more obvious at the top of the page.
  
• Some users are uncomfortable with editing xml config files. Maybe a simple install utility that would tweak the config files if a user wanted to save and use the gbpvr Zap2it.xml file. Perhaps it could check that the zapimport exe and zapinterface dll are present in the gbpvr directory too. (I know this is extra work that you probably don't have time for. I could probably knock something together, if you think it would be helpful.)

I'm not sure what other people use zaptools for and what additional instructions they need. It has always seemed very easy to install and always worked "out of the box" for me.

[UncleJohnsBand]

I downloaded what you posted on the wiki and I get the exact same error

Hmmm....shouldn't be.

Lets collect all the pieces.....

1. What version of GBPVR are you using?
2. If you are using 97.7 are you using the SQLite DB or Access DB?
3. Did you download the legacy Zaptools (only supports access) or the updated one that only supports a SQLite ZapDb DB and either an Access or SQLite GBPVR DB?
4. What is the version information in Zapimport.exe and Zapinterface.dll? (right click on each of these files and select properties and go to the version tab)

[UncleJohnsBand]

I think the instructions are pretty good (compared with some "offerings" on the wiki ). Right now we're hitting some non-standard bumps in the road caused by the 97.7 upgrade but once the dust has settled the install should still be fairly straightforward.

Room for improvement:

• The conversion utility download is embedded in the "history" part of the wiki page. Maybe make it more obvious at the top of the page.

[INDENT][INDENT]Good Point....I updated the wiki layout slightly....hopefully making it a little easier to understand and find things.
[/INDENT][/INDENT]

• Some users are uncomfortable with editing xml config files. Maybe a simple install utility that would tweak the config files if a user wanted to save and use the gbpvr Zap2it.xml file. Perhaps it could check that the zapimport exe and zapinterface dll are present in the gbpvr directory too. (I know this is extra work that you probably don't have time for. I could probably knock something together, if you think it would be helpful.)

[INDENT][INDENT]I have that on the list of things to do...wouldn't be too dificult to build a 1 page windows form app to maintain the config file.....I just need to find the time.
[/INDENT][/INDENT]

I'm not sure what other people use zaptools for and what additional instructions they need. It has always seemed very easy to install and always worked "out of the box" for me.

Things can only get better as people come forward with ideas and suggestions....that's what Open Source is all about.