The first try at a "Pack and Go" data transfer routine is done
I had a chance to finish up the first pass at a data transfer routine that makes it easy to transfer the Donor Manager data files from one computer to another. I've never found it difficult, but since my wife got her own computer, we've had a need for an easy way to transfer data from one computer to another to keep the two in synch. This little routine compresses all of the data files (and optionally your photo files) and puts them on a diskette (or diskettes if necessary), or on a USB Flash drive. We use the USB drive, and it's really great!
I ran into some snags getting the routine to work, though. I had downloaded a utility from the "Universal Thread" (a great on-line forum for Fox, .net, and other programmers), but it would corrupt the data files in certain circumstances (not good!). I sent off an email this morning to the developer of the compression routine (he had posted it over 2 years ago) and got a very nice note from him this afternoon with a new copy of the routine, with the bug fixed. Plus, he sent a very nice note and offered to help with some of the DM programming.
Since I've been working on this project, I've been impressed with the willingness of people to help. Just in the past few months, I've had incredible assistance from other programmers here at WGM, from New Tribes (Rodd Harris helped lick an elusive bug in the DM / Word envelope interface), plus a very patient team of beta testers who give feedback on new routines as they are still "works in progress."
I remember being involved in the Kenya Christian Computer User's Group for years in Nairobi. There was an incredible passion about helping one another, and just the sheer "joy of sharing." I've been a recipient of that lately, and it has been great!
So, now, what will I work on next? Probably a "rolling giving average" routine, an "e-mail people who gave this month" routine, and the "synch this stuff with Palm / Pocket PC" routines.
Got any suggestions? Let me know: john@donormanager.com.
I ran into some snags getting the routine to work, though. I had downloaded a utility from the "Universal Thread" (a great on-line forum for Fox, .net, and other programmers), but it would corrupt the data files in certain circumstances (not good!). I sent off an email this morning to the developer of the compression routine (he had posted it over 2 years ago) and got a very nice note from him this afternoon with a new copy of the routine, with the bug fixed. Plus, he sent a very nice note and offered to help with some of the DM programming.
Since I've been working on this project, I've been impressed with the willingness of people to help. Just in the past few months, I've had incredible assistance from other programmers here at WGM, from New Tribes (Rodd Harris helped lick an elusive bug in the DM / Word envelope interface), plus a very patient team of beta testers who give feedback on new routines as they are still "works in progress."
I remember being involved in the Kenya Christian Computer User's Group for years in Nairobi. There was an incredible passion about helping one another, and just the sheer "joy of sharing." I've been a recipient of that lately, and it has been great!
So, now, what will I work on next? Probably a "rolling giving average" routine, an "e-mail people who gave this month" routine, and the "synch this stuff with Palm / Pocket PC" routines.
Got any suggestions? Let me know: john@donormanager.com.
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