Plant Base FAQ
Can I use Plant Base to design my garden?
No, it is not a design application but it can help to select plants
for a planting plan.
I have a laptop and desktop PC, can I run
Plant Base on both?
Yes, our software license allows use on multiple computers within
a household or organisation. We do stipulate a maximum of five machines
for commercial use. If you can transfer files between your laptop
and PC then you can also synchronise data changes between them.
Do I need to understand about databases in order to use Plant Base?
No, technical knowledge of databases is not required at all. Everything is done through the Plant Base program user interface, which is easy to operate.
I'm already running Plant Base and I have
customised some of the plant records, but I now have a new version
on CD. How do I update my copy without losing my personal changes.
There are a couple of ways to to this, the best method is to:
- first create a Plant Base Archive file.
- then update the software from the CD (or download install file)
in the normal way.
- finally, Import your custom data back from the Archive file.
More detailed information about upgrading Plant Base can be found
here.
What is a "patch update"?
A patch update is an executable installation file, normally
downloaded from the web-site, which
updates the Plant Base programs to a new version. However, it does
not include any plant data or pictures, only the essential new program
versions. It is much smaller than a full new version (currently
about 1.9Mb), so it is relatively quick to download and simple to
apply.
A copy of Plant Base has updated records
and I want to use them in Plant Base on another machine?
Use the Import function:-
First either create a Plant Base Archive file or ensure that the
database containing the new information is accessible via using
a network connection.
If no connection is available, copy the Archive file or the complete
database to removable storage media such as a CD-R., then mount
it on the second machine.
From the second Plant Base open the Import data screen, from the
File menu.
Select the other database file as the import file and set any other
import options (see Help).
Click Start Importing. The source import database file is not changed
in any way.
How do I move the database files?
While Plant Base in not running, use Windows Explorer to to move
or copy one or more of the database files to another location
- a different folder or disk. When you start up Plant Base, it may
complain that it cannot open a file. Type, or select the new file
path with the open dialog and click the Continue button. If the
original files are still in place, open the Change/re-open dialog
from the "File" menu. Check the correct files are open
in the Help | About display.
I've taken some nice plant pictures with
my digital camera, can I use them in Plant Base?
Yes, no problem:- see How
to add pictures
Why aren't there more pictures supplied
with the database?
Simple - though we love taking plant photographs, there are severe
time and opportunity limits. Most of the pictures in Plant Base
are own own, plus some from kind contributors. We always respect
copyright rules and avoid using any of uncertain origin. More are
being added continuously, but you can also include your own from
various sources - see How
to add pictures.
What kind of database does Plant
Base use?
Microsoft's Jet SQL database engine, as used by MS Access and many
other products.
I don't use the Menu Panel, how
do I stop it loading when the program starts?
Select File | Config options ... or click the Program Config Option
toolbar icon. Remove the tick from the "Show Menu Panel at
startup" option box. Click the OK button.
I am only interested in trees,
but when I scroll through PlantMaster it takes time to get past
all the other stuff?
Use the PlantSelector screen to set Plant type = tree. Run the search
and in the results windows, double-click on any interesting name.
The PlantMaster screen will now show a "Selected" toggle
button and when you scroll the records only trees will be shown.
I don't understand all these
horticultural words?
See the Glossary section of the Help.
I've displayed a plant picture,
but when I move to another plant, it stays on the screen?
That may be correct. Plant pictures are each shown in a separate
window and usually remain open until you wish to close them. So
pictures for several different plant varieties can be on screen
at one time. Useful if you want to compare them. To close all the
pictures quickly, use the Window menu item "Close All Pictures".
However you can also close picture windows automatically when you
move to a new plant. This is controled by a program configuration
option. Open the config screen, click the pictures tab and check
or uncheck the box.
Can Plant Base make customised plant
reports for printing?
Not directly, but Yes! Individual plant data sheets can be
printed directly and also Plant Lists. There is also a method for
preparing more extensive plant information reports, by extracting
to a disc file in HTML format. This may be valuable for some people. The HTML Reporter module can be found in the extras folder of the CD, or
please contact us for further details.
Will Plant Base run on a MAC?
No, at least not as a native program. It has been successfully run under emulation, using VirtualPC with Windows XP Home installed under it. At some time in the future we plan to write a native MAC version, and also an edition for Linux.
|
