Dear gang;
 
Is this a "wish list" kind of forum for the FILEX???  If yes,
 
then...
 
1. agree with Jeff lists, and
2. a Windows interface type of FILEX!!!
 
Cheers..
 
Attachai Jintrawet              Crop modeling/Decision Support Systems
Multiple Cropping Center        email: [log in to unmask]
Chiang Mai University           Phone: 66-53-221-275
Chiang Mai, 50200               Fax:   66-53-210-000
Thailand                        DBMS and MBMS support a great decision...
 
 
On Mon, 4 Mar 1996, Jeffrey W. White wrote:
 
>      Tony Hunt's recent message on the convergence of
>      experimental data and data for modeling agrees with my
>      experiences at CIAT and CIMMYT.  We are fast moving to a
>      situation where researchers will want to have all of their
>      data stored in a database and have the option to examine
>      the results with models.  One might add that in
>      international centers, where data are publicaly owned,
>      administrators may start requiring such databases.  As you
>      finish a project, data will be deposited in a data
>      wharehouse as a condition for terminating the project.
>
>      Concerning the present file system in DSSAT3, I encourage
>      people to take Tony up on his request for feedback.  The
>      better we make the system, the more widely it will be used
>      and supported.
>
>      My thoughts are as follows:
>
>      1)  Site location should include latitude, longitude,
>      altitude.  Ten years from now a farm or institute may have
>      changed names or owners, so a FILEX should always be tied
>      to an exact location.  GPS-level accuracy can be assumed
>      (e.g. decimal fractions of seconds).
>
 
 
>      2)  Associated publications should be cited in FILEX.  For the
>      moment, I use the "notes" section for references, but I
>      would prefer to see a separate section.  My experience
>      with other databases is that "note" sections create
>      a lot of problems for searches.
>
>      3)  Data distribution limitations should be noted.  People
>      may want to submit data to databases with restrictions on
>      distribution (particularly "in-house" databases).  Options
>      might be:
>
>          Public domain - no limitation on use
>          Acknowledgment requested - may be used, but contingent
>      upon acknowledgment in publications
>          Institutionally held - cannot be released externally
>      without permission
>
>
>      4)  Number of treatments should be increased.  At the
>      moment FILEX accepts up to 999 treatments, but that is done
>      using up the blank in column 3.  I would add two columns to
>      permit up 9999 treatments.  This is mostly of interest for GIS
>      applications, but I have run replicated photoperiod
>      screening trials with over 1000 entries.
>
>      Best regards,
>      Jeff White
>
>
>
>
> ----- End forwarded message
>
>
>
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