RELEASE: Crop Planning Software v. PreAlpha2
Clayton Carter
package. This release is still a "pre-alpha" version, which means
that it's still "only" for testing. That said, it's progressing
rapidly and I feel that it will leave this testing-only phase within
the next month or so. At the end of the email, you will find more
information about the program and list of changes from the previous
version. Downloads are available from the website:
http://cropplanning.googlecode.com
At this point, the single greatest thing you can do to help improve
the software and speed along its development is to SEND ME FEEDBACK.
(Please email your thoughts to croppl...@gmail.com) Give the
software a try and tell me about:
* your general impressions and experiences using the software
* obvious software bugs and problems:
* things that don't work as expected
* things that look funny on the screen
* incorrect output
* software crashes, etc.
* things that are confusing and that need to be clarified
* features that AREN'T there that you think SHOULD be
* features that ARE there that you think SHOULDN'T be
Please remember that this is being released as totally free software
and it's SUPPOSED TO BE USEFUL; if you don't find it useful or don't
think you would ever use it, please let me know why so that I can
consider how to make it more useful to more people.
Thank you,
Clayton Carter
===[ Release Notes for Pre-Release version PreAlpha2 ]===
CropPlanning Software
http://cropplanning.googlecode.com
croppl...@gmail.com
Release Notes for Pre-Release version PreAlpha2
Feb 17, 2008
===[ WARNING ]===
This software is being released in a "pre-alpha" state. This means that
the software MAY be unstable or unpredictable. Please use this version
for testing and tinkering ONLY. In reality, it is unlikely that the
software will lose your data and crash your computer, but it is likely that
it may not work properly or have a complete set of usable features. This
is being released because we need your help to test and find problems with
the software. Have fun, but remember that this software is currently intended
FOR TESTING ONLY.
Please email your thoughts, suggestions and experiences to the email listed
above. This software is supposed to be helpful; if you don't think that it
is, please help us make it so by telling us how to improve it!
===[ Installation ]===
Please follow installation instructions at:
http://code.google.com/p/cropplanning/wiki/SetupAndInstallation
Briefly: 1) Make sure Java 1.5 or greater is installed, 2) Open the
archive (which you had to do to read this), 3) Copy the enclosed files
to your hard drive, 4) double click on the program file (On Mac:
CropPlanning, on Windows: CropPlanning.exe)
===[ Using the Program ]===
There is a brief introduction to the program available at
http://code.google.com/p/cropplanning/wiki/ProgramUsageIntroduction
===[ How To Help ]===
Communicate! Send all of your ideas, suggestions, bugs, etc to
croppl...@gmail.com. If you feel comfortable, submit "issues" (ie,
bugs, feature requests, etc) directly through the website at
http://code.google.com/p/cropplanning/issues/list
Also, just take a look at our "HelpWanted" page to see if you can help
out any other way:
http://code.google.com/p/cropplanning/wiki/HelpWanted
===[ CHANGES from version PreAlpha1 ]===
* numerous bug fixes
* numerous improvements to the user interface
* much improved and simplified filtering
* ability to create "complex" filters involving dates and such
* filter field is now sort of like the iTunes search field
* focus is handled better when different buttons are pressed,
making the program behave more "friendly"
* text areas (big boxes that can contain text) can now be TABbed out of
* more fields now support "autocompletion" as you type
* crop plans can now have names that start with or contain only
numbers (eg, "2008" or "2008-main" )
* keybindings: Alt-Enter (or Option-Enter) now saves the changes
for the currect record
* dates can now be editted by simply entering + or - X after them,
and X can be qualified as days, weeks or months
* the database/list view has been improved:
* duplicate entries are displayed correctly (each is only
displayed once now)
* plantings whose 'crop' doesn't exist in the CropDB are displayed
(which means that users have the option of ignoring the CropDB)
* blank records are displayed
* field calculation has been improved:
* maturity adjustments are now taken into account (although they
can only be editted in the CropDB for now)
* total yield can be used to trigger other fields (eg, 100# of
potatoes ==> plant XX rowfeet)
* dates are more correct now, but probably still a little finicky
* bed/row lengths can now be specified in the location or field name
* if none is specified, then the default length is used
* the program defaults to 100', but this can be changed in the settings
* an example: specifying a location of "field blah blah blah
(350)" will make that planting calculate everything for a long 350'
bed or row; another entry could list "field blah blah blah (325)" and
so on
* settings!
* the program can now be told where to store it's data, allowing
users to run the program right off of the disk image (for macs)
* the program's default bed length can now be set
* data export
* crop plans and the CropDB can now be exported to CSV-text
format, ready for import to Excel and such