1 Reply by brianmiller

  • brianmiller
  • Veteran
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  • Registered: 10-05-2006
  • Posts: 113

Re: Deleting data and exchanging

I know this topic has been covered in different ways, but I am wondering how this works in the new update please?

Scenario: I exchange records with our local ERC and if I then delete a record in my database and then export to them again they will still have that old record in their database. How can they then know which record needs to be deleted?

If Recorder stored the deleted records' key in a deleted data table, that info could be exported at the same time and when the other person imports the data it could query the deleted data table and subsequently delete it from theirs too. Does this happen in the new updated version already? Is it something that could be set up if not?

Or as highlighted by Charles a while back should we not delete things and merely change them to invalid.

How can I also get round the problem of data deleted from another system like MapMate and then me importing that data and not knowing which records have been deleted from that system and are left in my Recorder 6?

Any updates on new functionility and advice welcomed please.

Brian

Brian Miller
(Conservation Officer (Buckinghamshire), BBOWT)

brianmiller's Website

2 Reply by charlesroper

  • charlesroper
  • charlesroper
  • Digital Development Manager
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  • From: Field Studies Council
  • Registered: 26-03-2006
  • Posts: 906

Re: Deleting data and exchanging

Adding an invalid determination to a record remains the only reliable way of 'deleting' a record. The new version doesn't do much to address the issue any further. It is much easier to re-determine records in the new version, but this feature should be used with caution because it changes the existing determination, rather than adding a new one. We ideally want it to add a new determination, otherwise, if we change the existing one, there's no way to undo the change we just made. Plus, with an additional determination, we can add an additional comment, date, etc., while retaining the detail of the original determination.

Mapmate does actually have a similar approach: it doesn't actually delete records exactly. What it does is blank out the information held in each of the fields while retaining the key. I actually prefer the invalidation method, because at least you can undo an invalidation. The downside of invalidation is that you can't delete associated records, such as surveys, locations, sources, etc.

Charles Roper
Digital Development Manager | Field Studies Council
http://www.field-studies-council.org | https://twitter.com/charlesroper | https://twitter.com/fsc_digital

charlesroper's Website