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[Lonewolf10]

Hi,

Has anyone started some sort of AMOS Database?

I know I'm unveiling this a bit too soon, but something this big needs to be started early. I am thinking of writing an AMOS Database program to store all AMOS related information in text format (in a compressed file), possible with some images too. It would contain information about the following:


 - AMOS coders, past and present, CV's (AMOS related)

 - AMOS VIP's (e.g. Francois Lionet, Stephen Hill etc.)

 - AMOS bug list (hopefully for all versions)

 - AMOS: TC and AMOS Pro version listings (along with advantages/disadvantages)

 - AMOS Extension list

 - AMOS games/demo list

 - AMOS-made Diskzines (MiggyByte, Sauce 'n' Code, AMOSzine etc.)


... and anything else I (or you) think of.

I do have my own list of games, extensions, diskzines etc., but I will likely need help with gathering anything I may have missed. The coding of the Database will be pretty easy and I will include a search function (no point in having a database without it!)

I do have an AMOS PD database somewhere (which also included various other AMOS disks too), but that is on an Amiga floppy. I also have AMOS PD disks 1-600 on various CD's too


Regards,
Lonewolf10

[SamuraiCrow]

While there hasn't been an orgainized database of what you are trying to establish, there have been threads on this forum about some of the subjects you mentioned.  Maybe we could use some "sticky" threads at the top of some of the forums to share what information we know.

[Lonewolf10]

That could be a good idea. That way people can add to information and/or look it up quickly whilst I get this database put together.


Regards,
Lonewolf10

PS. How to we make threads "sticky"? Or can only admin do that?

[SamuraiCrow]

Only an admin can make a thread "sticky" but I'm an admin and will make a thread sticky if it needs it.

[Hungry Horace]

all sounds like a good plan to me

[Lonewolf10]

Ok. Been thinking about the file format for the database. At the moment I think the best idea is to have one large (compressed) data file.

Here's a rough idea how the data will be stored (uncompressed):


Compression info: not concrete at this time

Header data: chr$0 (represents type of data follows)
                  byte value (1=represents People, 2=represents VIP's etc.)

That way new types can be added later, with a theoretical maximum of 255 types (not gonna use value of 0), by the user.


Main data: chr$1+"Text 1"+chr$2
           chr$3+"Text 2"+chr$4
           chr$5+"Text 3"+chr$6
           chr$7+"Text 4"+chr$8


Text 1 is the name of the person/demo/diskzine etc. (see below)
Text 2 is the nickname/created by/no. issues released etc. (see below)
Text 3 is the email address/release date/release date etc. (see below)
Text 4 is the notes about person/demo/diskzine and can contain an IFF image (IFF data marked with chr$0+chr$0 before it), up to a maximum of 5 (or would 10 be better?).
Not sure if the markers before and after each text part are necessary, but they could prove useful later.



The way I have done it is to allow for quick searches through the uncompressed datafile using the Hunt command (e.g. searching for files with images is simply a case of scanning fromn start to finish looking for chr$0+chr$0). I'm not entirely sure how I will store the data for the searches though - possibly by creating a temporary reference file in the RAM disk which points to relevant message numbers (or location, whichever proves faster).


Here's what I have on each data type so far..


People
-------
Text 1 = Name
Text 2 = Nickname
Text 3 = Email address
Text 4 = Notes

VIP's
------
As People but Text 4 = VIP because...

Diskzines
---------
Text 1 = Diskzine Name
Text 2 = Number of issues released
Text 3 = Released
Text 4 = Notes

Demo's
------
Text 1 = Demo Name
text 2 = Created By
Text 3 = Released
Text 4 = Notes

Games
-----
Text 1 = Game Name
Text 2 = Created By
Text 3 = Released
Text 4 = Notes

AMOS PD disks
-------------
Text 1 = Disk Name
Text 2 = Released by (eg. Len & Ann tucker)
Text 3 = Release date
Text 4 = Disk Contents

Extensions
----------
Text 1 = Extension Name
Text 2 = Created By
Text 3 = Last version released
Text 4 = Notes



I think that's about it. Any suggestions/commnents welcome. BTW, I haven't done any coding on it yet


Regards,
Lonewolf10

[FOL]

Hey, couldnt help but notice this topic, as i love messing with database stuff. You thinking of doing this as PHP, as I could knock something up and add it to site (granted will be simple, no user info access from DB, due to the sercurity of forums, ). Let me know what your going to do, make a nice change as i havent really touched any php for almost a year.

[Lonewolf10]

Well I wasn't actually thinking of having it online, more for Amiga users offline. If you really wanted to create a sister one online that would be cool. Either way they would be full with a huge amount of information and both would require a huge amount of work from dedicated people.


Regards,
Lonewolf10

[Lonewolf10]

I spent 8 hours today coding RLE compression & decompression routines, then started work on the AMOS Database. To avoid confusion with the AMOS Database (some software someone wrote in AMOS to create databases), I'll probably end up calling it something like The Amiga AMOS Database - to avoid confusion with PC versions of AMOS aswell!
I have the week off work, so a beta version might be out by the end of this week (around 2nd Nov.).


Regards,
Lonewolf10

PS. I have also started updating the AMOS pages at www.amigacoding.com

[Lonewolf10]

I'm going to have to delay the beta until summer 2009. Sorry!

Partly because coding the data entry part (specificly the multiline field) took longer than I thought due to several bugs, most of which are now fixed. All that is left is to fix the backspace bug and to attempt to add some sort of wrap feature to text that reaches the end of the line when you are typing in the middle of the line. Full support of movement within text using backspace, enter/return and cursor keys has already been implemented

The other reason is that tomorrow I am going to expand my shares portfolio and I also need a tidy up in my bedroom - which has long been overdue.


Regards,
Lonewolf10

(Edit: Beta delay changed from 1 week to December '07, to summer 2008 and now summer 2009)

[asymetrix]

Hi,

Has anyone started some sort of AMOS Database?

I know I'm unveiling this a bit too soon, but something this big needs to be started early. I am thinking of writing an AMOS Database program to store all AMOS related information in text format (in a compressed file), possible with some images too. It would contain information about the following:


 - AMOS coders, past and present, CV's (AMOS related)

 - AMOS VIP's (e.g. Francois Lionet, Stephen Hill etc.)

 - AMOS bug list (hopefully for all versions)

 - AMOS: TC and AMOS Pro version listings (along with advantages/disadvantages)

 - AMOS Extension list

 - AMOS games/demo list

 - AMOS-made Diskzines (MiggyByte, Sauce 'n' Code, AMOSzine etc.)


... and anything else I (or you) think of.

Nice idea, I was thinking something similar, but online examples of amos code, complete progs etc, viewable online.

XML could be used, has structure, futureproof, for online and offline viewing, could be simply zipped.

I do have my own list of games, extensions, diskzines etc., but I will likely need help with gathering anything I may have missed. The coding of the Database will be pretty easy and I will include a search function (no point in having a database without it!)

I do have an AMOS PD database somewhere (which also included various other AMOS disks too), but that is on an Amiga floppy. I also have AMOS PD disks 1-600 on various CD's too

I still dont have AMOS PD cd. anyone know where I can buy it from ?

Having a complete collection of Amos stuff is what we need, Aminet is all mixed, and we cannot see the gfx/code .

[Hungry Horace]

AMOS PD CD was uploaded by me to this site yesterday

i will add the link shortly


i would add all the DMS files from it seperately, but it might take a long time to create all the entries for that!

[asymetrix]

AMOS PD CD was uploaded by me to this site yesterday

i will add the link shortly


i would add all the DMS files from it seperately, but it might take a long time to create all the entries for that!

Great ! I have been after this cd for so long !

[nitrofurano]

While there hasn't been an orgainized database of what you are trying to establish, there have been threads on this forum about some of the subjects you mentioned.  Maybe we could use some "sticky" threads at the top of some of the forums to share what information we know.

could we have an editable (by everyone) wikipage for it?

[SamuraiCrow]

could we have an editable (by everyone) wikipage for it?

There is currently no wiki engine on this webpage.  I could link to one on another website in a sticky topic though.