View Single Post
  #11  
Old 08-23-2011, 03:57 AM
ashwken ashwken is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: 10-16-2005
Location: Blairsville, GA USA
Posts: 431
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfjern View Post
The demos should focus on separate, specific UR features or topics, say, "All About Attributes." (Even this topic would have to be subdivided, considering the multitude of confusing options and tweaks available.)
Trying to wrap my mind around how do you address the topic "All About Attributes" in a video.

How do you explain general database concepts and components, and their implementation in UR, in a video?

For example,

General Database Concept
========================

At the most basic level a database is a two dimensional table consisting of rows and columns, where the rows are individual records and the columns are data fields. The intersecting cell contains a specific field value for a specific record.

A data field consists of:
- a field name
- a field value

Each field is of a specific type:
- Character
- Number
- Logical (yes/no, T/F, 1/0)
- Date

A Form can be employed to represent a single record of the table.


UR Translation and Implementation
=================================

A row (individual record) is an Item.

A field is an Attribute.

The two dimensional table is somewhat represented by a Template, in that, Attributes are created for a specific Template. But a two dimensional table is a collection of rows (records / Items), and in usage these would be grouped under a Folder, so that the Folder becomes the visual representation of the two dimensional table.

Or not.... because an Item (based on a specific Template) can reside under many different locations in the Data Explorer, which represents one aspect of UR's relational nature.


Understanding the UR Template
=============================

Every Item is based on a Template.

A Template will be one of three types:
- Text
- Document
- Search

The Template type governs what is displayed in the Detail Pane (Viewer).

The Templates - Appointment, Contact, Folder, Project, Task - are all based on the Template Type Text. What this means is that each of these Templates were created by Inserting a Text Template under the Templates parent item. Then specific attributes are created for this new Template, and in some cases, a Form is created and assigned.

The Templates - Appointment, Contact, Task - are special Templates because they can integrate with MS Outlook.

The Templates - Folder, Project - are simply Text Templates that have been renamed and specific values given to the Attributes for Icon and Default Child Template.

The Template - Document - will be used for ALL data files imported into UR.

What constitutes a data file in UR - email, html pages, images, MS Word and Excel, pdf, music... When these types of files are brought into UR, the Document Template will be used to create the Item.

Some of these data file types will be displayed in the Detail Pane (Viewer), while others will show a link to launch the file externally (relying on the Windows File Association to handle the file).

If the user wants to track additional data for a data file, then they should create a new Template based on the Document Template - Insert a Document Template under the Templates parent - and create the desried Attributes for this new Template (and possibily create and assign a Form for the new Template). This new Template can then be assigned as the Default Child Template of a specific Item, then ALL data files imported to this location will be created using this Default Child Template.

Now the queston becomes, what do you want to accomplish in UR?

The answer of how a goal can be implemented in UR will vary with the specifc needs of each user. In some cases, a structured relational database will be needed, in others, a loosely organized dumping ground will suffice.

While I can see where rudimentary procedures may be best explained thru a video presentation, the nuances of implementing a goal are probably best handled thru a forum discussion.

Which rudimentary procedures should be covered in these videos?
Reply With Quote