http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/recent.aspx Whistling Fish Software - Recent Posts en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Jitbit AspNetForum Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:21:09 GMT Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:21:09 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
Resolution of the issue you spotted with missing tax amounts on the Invoices tab will also fix the problem you've just noted. I'll release a new version shortly.

Cheers
Pete]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:21:09 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
You are right the word "corrupt" may not have been such a good choice here. (some language barrier issue here, sorry!)

On the "Repairs" tab a list shows all repairs (I have the "Show closed repairs" set to ON) on the top.
At the bottom the invoice corresponding to the highlighted repair is shown on a tab called "Invoices".
Note that the "Tax" value here is also zero.

Cheers! Hans]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:16:41 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
For the benefit of anyone else reading this, I think it's important to emphasise that the data isn't "corrupt" as I understand the term. From your description, it seems the current version of the application initially looks for the data file in a different location to the earlier version, however, the data within each data file is fine.

There was simple error in the logic that calculates tax amounts based on the percentage value stored as part of the repair record. This has now been fixed and tax amounts will now display correctly.

Logic relating to the option to display paid invoices was also faulty and has been modified accordingly.

I'll make a new version available tomorrow.

Cheers
Pete]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:13:12 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
How to corrupt data:
Somehow the new version of the program "knows" where the data resides.
After installation of the new version you can opt to run the program. I did that and started changing prices (including the decimals to check if it woul work ok). After closing the program I started it again (I thought) but using the quick startmenu item.
I was not aware, but this was the shortcut to the previous version, when the data was loaded the values I had just changed (from no decimals to decimals) was all reset. After closing the program and running the correct (new) version data was still without decimals and I had to re-enter all decimals. After checking thing I found the name difference... Figured the installer would have replaced the previous version if the names would have been the same...

Tax is 0,00 on all invoices shown on the "Invoices and Receipts" tab, see the provided screendumps. (btw, yes, default tax pecentage is set in the prefences screen.)
The invoice values shown are all excluding tax.




Also noticed a new one for you:
In the Invoices and Receipts tab there is an option "tick thingy" named "Show paid invoices" somehow this does not do anything, the list always shows all invoices, paid and unpaid ones. See screendumps.

Swift reply/action! Thanks again!
Cheers, Hans
edited by hansgeerdink on 20/02/2012]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:46:52 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57 2. If there's an issue with the directory name, so be it. In what sense is the data "corrupted"?
3. An easy fix, the solution to which I will release in a new version shortly.
4. This behaviour is by design. Selecting a build option, service or part populates the price column with the corresponding list price. As you've noted, you can choose to vary the list price for whatever reason for an individual build or repair job.
5. This isn't what I'm seeing in any of the areas displaying invoice details. Which Invoice list in particular is missing the tax amount? Are you sure a default tax percentage has been set in the Preferences screen?
6. This is a feature I'll reinstate at some point as time permits. There were some complications I didn't have time to address in the latest release and I've hidden the buttons temporarily.
7. Correct!

Thanks again for taking the time to document these issues.

Cheers
Pete]]> Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:58:22 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
Thanks for the update.
I did some quick testing...Lightning speed on the network using a mapped network drive drive! NIce...

Adding parts seems to work now with the decimals getting stored, usage of the comma (allthough here the "." does not work anymore, hope this is due to nationalisation in Windows, so your englich customers will not have an issue now...)
As I mentioned I have done some quick testing, did not recalculate all the numbers yet, but found a few things you might want to review:

1. Version number when program starts (1.3.0) v.s. version number in the about menu item and configuration screen(1.3.1).
2. Installling without uninstalling the previous version will result in being able to run the previous version. When you use the same data file, your data will get corrupted!!! This is due to the naming of the directory, LuthiersWorkbench vs. Luthiers[space]Workbench.
3. Prices in the service- and partslist on the repair Specification tab are displayed without showing second decimal (mathmetically non significant) e.g. 6,50 is shown as 6,5...
4. Prices in the display part of a repair can changed in the screen. If one does and hits save, the changes are not reflected in the underlaying table (Services table or Parts Table) while the screen somehow holds this change... (could this be due to some minor normalisation issues in the database? storing the same data in different places?)
5. Tax amount not shown in the Invoice list.
6. I believe in the previous version, on the Pricing, Invoices & Receipts tab, it was possible to double click on the invoice to open and amand it. Now one needs to go to the Joblist and from there edit the invoice / add receipts. (the previous method works mor intuitive I believe)
7. Still no "add another" button in th e add parts? (just would be nice to have!)

All in all it looks very workable now and I will add all my parts and jobs to your system these comming few days and will keep you posted on any findings!

Many thanks and Cheers!
Hans
edited by hansgeerdink on 19/02/2012]]> Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:14:57 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
A big thanks to Hans for bringing a number of bugs to my attention and suggesting some useful improvements.

Cheers
Pete]]> Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:57:52 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=64 - Improved performance when application connects with a networked data file.
- Minor cosmetic changes to screens, including those displaying data grids; alternating rows now appear in a different colour.
- Changes to logic and data file structure to allow decimal prices for repair parts.
- Maintain Build and Maintain Repair screens must now be explicitly closed after saving changes.
- Function added to Tools menu to initiate compacting of data file.

Fixes:
- Changes to screens, reports and program logic to deal with regional number and currency value formatting.
- Fixed bug whereby invoices were not deleted when the corresponding build or repair was deleted.

Cheers
Pete]]> Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:53:50 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=63
A: If there's a useful feature you feel has been missed, just let us know. It benefits everyone if oversights or great ideas are brought to our attention. We'd love to make Luthier's Workbench even more useful!]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:25:19 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=62
A: Yes, licensed users are entitled to all future Version 1 releases of Luthier's Workbench.]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:24:34 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=61 I added images on the Image Gallery tab but now I can't see them. Where have the pictures gone?

A:
Because there are limits to the database size and image files take up a lot of space, the locations of the images you link to are stored in the application database rather than the images themselves. The two most likely reasons you can no longer see your images on the Maintain Build screen are:
1. You added links to images stored on removable media such as your camera's memory card and the card is no longer accessible. You should therefore transfer image files from your memory card to a more permanent location on your computer's hard drive before adding links to them on the Image Gallery tab.
2. You've moved or deleted the image files, or renamed the folder they're stored in - the application simply can't find the files.]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:23:43 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=60
A: Yes, the license agreement allows for the original purchaser to install and run the software on a second computer.]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:22:51 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=59
A: Yes, simply move the data file (luthiersworkbench.dat) to the shared folder, then open the Preferences screen on each copy of Luthier's Workbench and change the path to the database.]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:21:43 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=58
A: No, your data is perfectly safe and will never be overwritten. The setup process only installs a fresh database when one is not found in the default location. When started, the application checks to see whether the existing database requires structural changes required by an upgrade - it never removes data.

Cheers
Pete]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:19:58 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
I have taken time off from my contract position this week and last week to attend to the issues you've raised.

The changes I've made have been fairly time-consuming, particularly where modifications necessary to improve performance across a network are concerned.

Screens and printed reports are now responsive to the user's system settings where number formats are concerned which resolves the issue of commas and periods being transposed for some users.

I will devote at least some of the coming weekend carrying out final adjustments and testing them comprehensively. A new version should be available next week.

Cheers
Pete]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:58:13 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
Any news on your progress?
This particular issue is realy a showstopper... (I wonder how to use this software when not being able to add parts correctly to repairs?)
Please inform!?

Cheers! Hans]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:23:01 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
I'll add your latest observation to the "to do" list".

Although I'm up to my ears in other work at the moment, rest assured that I sincerely appreciate your feedback and patience and will release an updated version as soon as I'm able.

Cheers
Pete]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:16 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
I forgot to mention:
Do you see the headings of the tabs in the repair specification section?
I cannot see them, this could be due to the fact that I am color blind...
You may want to change the color to a more contrasting one.

Cheers!
Hans
edited by hansgeerdink on 1/02/2012]]> Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:51:09 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
I'm working from home tomorrow and will check it out then.

Cheers
Pete]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:56:43 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=57
When adding parts to a repair, somehow your program uses halfrounding on the values. See attached screen dump.
Here I have say D'addario EXL 110 strings recorded as 6.35 in the parts section, when adding it to a repair it will first show the correct value until the screen is refreshed or recalculated...
Then it shows a value of 6. I cannot find a way to work around this!? The database seems correct, looking at it via MS Access or Open Office...
I also noticed a temporary file which is created when the progran starts Luthiersworkbench.ldb (local database???perhaps???) Might ther be a tracking issue inside this??? Again just guessing hope not to send you in the wrong direction....
Anyway, I am still not able to fill the databese without errors sneeking in...

Cheers! Hans
Somehow aataching a file does not seem to work :-(
So, here you go!..

edited by hansgeerdink on 30/01/2012
edited by hansgeerdink on 30/01/2012
edited by hansgeerdink on 30/01/2012]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:34:01 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=54
Cheers
Pete]]> Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:01:31 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=54
Installed your application on a Windows XP machine running the Enghlish language. This helps in being able to enter decimals! So, I believe this is definitly a multilingual issue..
This is a work around which I am not too happy about, since I must use the PC connected to my CNC machine to enter data... versus sitting at the kichen table enjoying a cup of coffee whilst entering parts and stuff...
Yeah I can remotely use that PC, but having to run 2 PC's is a bit overdone I think ;-)
Cheers!
Hans]]> Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:52:45 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=54
Well, that's a new one! It did not occur to me that some of you use a separator other than a decimal point.

I'll look into it over the next couple of days.

Cheers
Pete]]> Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:45:39 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=55
I will look into the issues you mention over the coming weekend and report back.

Cheers
Pete]]> Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:43:48 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=55
Here are some more issues for you:
- When in editing a repair pressing the SAVE button will close the editing window.
- Sometimes people pay in parts, would be nice to be a ble to enter a certain amount in on the receipt. Now one can only receive the full amount of an order.
- Entering numbers is a bit akward, when entering a incorrect number one needs to fiddle ;-) around to correct the entry. (risking messing up de invoice) I understand the numbers must align to the right, but I still prefer writing from left to right...
- Looks like getting all data for a repair from the database takes a long time even with the data file on a local drive! (Is the program validating/verifying the data before getting it into the ui? or a connector issue?... just guessin' here!...)

These are issues which one can work around fairly easy, (or just waiting until stuff is loaded, which is bopring!) however would be nice if you could have a look into it!

Cheers! Hans]]> Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:28:55 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=54
Sorry for perhaps starting to bug you!
Somehow I cannot enter decimal values in the price entry field when maintaining parts.
Now since this is a Windows application, perhaps this is an issue regarding the internationalsation of the windows session? We, here in the Netherlands, use an ',' as a decimal seperator and the '.' as the thousands seperator.
BTW entering either wil result in a value without any decimals...
Perhaps I have overlooked a setting?
Cheers! Hans]]> Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:09:46 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=52
I'm certainly not a Java guru, but as the syntax is so similar to the C# code the application was written in; a significant portion of the conversion task involves nothing more challenging than a simple cut and paste. The syntax-related learning curve therefore isn't the issue; it's finding the necessary time to port the code and deal with the intricacies of Java's Swing platform. Now there's a learning curve - for this old dog anyway!

With some of the Java conversion completed, my long-term plan is still to release a cross-platform version, but as my working days are currently taken up with a short-term contract position, I've essentially shelved the remaining work - at least publicly - rather than give people false hope that it'll be available any time soon.

Oh, and I'd like to devote at least some of my spare time to building guitars!

Cheers
Pete]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:46:20 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=52 Regarding the X-platform discussion, it is your database which is the crux of the biscuit! I believe you can auto generate web pages based on a database model.
Perhaps you should have a look at IBM's Websphere (there is a component which can create database mining pages on the fly, etc) or Adobe's frameworks?
Java is a nice language, however it's learning curve is quite steep I believe.
Have you had a look at Python yet? there is a very smart database/web framework called Django, it is a different approach, but very easy to maintain!
And that is a good name for a framework don't you think?! Django generate pages based on views and models (MVC principals).
Personally I don't care too much about security for an application like yours, it should work, work fast and easy. As its name implies, I would like to use it right from my bench! (Got me a CNC last year so PC is already there ...;-) Not many people are likely to really care about the data inside... accept me and my accountant of course ;-)
Keep up the good work!
Cheers! Hans]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:23:18 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=52
I'm glad you like the application although, as you've noted, performance across a network is very slow.

As luck would have it, I have been faced with similar network performance issues with another much more complex application recently and have managed to devise a number of improvements that speed things up considerably. I'll spend some time implementing the same improvements in Luthier's Workbench over the week ahead and will release a new version after they are in place and have been thoroughly tested.

A web-based approach is certainly inviting, as is a cross-platform Java implementation, but without adequate time to essentially rewrite the application, neither solution is likely to happen any time soon.

The application will prompt you to download the new version when it's released. Alternatively, please check back here for progress.

Cheers
Pete]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:48:45 GMT http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=52 However, it seems that retrieving the data is realy slow! There is only 1 client and 1 repair in the database. If I want to edit the repair or the client data, will take more than 30 seconds to load the popup window!!!
There is nothing wrong whith my network, since I use this mapped drive for all my business data without any problem.
Might this be due to the use of Microsoft Components in your software? (I used to program databases...)
Why not make your (very nice) database web based and run it locally in a apache (or the like) small webserver?
advantages:
- fairly fast, from wherever in your local network.
- easy to program/maintain.
- X platform, so your "problem" regarding coding for MAC, Linux, BSD, which-ever platform is done (realy code once!)
- proven technilogy, see lots of help systems in high end CAD software packages for instance.
- Lots of choices regarding database engine, webserver, security, appearance (using Skins via CSS), etc.
Hope this helps and you can give me advice on the mapped networkdrive perfomance!
Cheers! Hans
edited by hansgeerdink on 27/01/2012]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:34:13 GMT