CanDB version 2.1 - Breweriana Database Software

[Randy Karasek]

CanDB version 2.0 has now been released and as before, freely available for collector download. As a reminder, CanDB is a breweriana database, collection management, and HTML generation program. The intended use of this product is for creating PICTORIAL composites, whether this be just a handful of cans, your collection, your specialty, or maybe even an entire state or can type (e.g. cones) composite.

Details/download from: http://www.mbcinfo.com/CanDB

Some major changes in this CanDB 2.0 release:

• User editable HTML filters, create your own custom pictorials without need to know a bit of HTML

• Projects now have a "Breweriana Type", with built in knowledge of Cans, Coasters, Trays, Sheets, and general purpose Other, including multiple user configurable lists and text boxes

• Ability to import data from Canventory, reading binary files and copy/convert of both text and images

• Ability to import data from tab separated file, easily written by Excel

• Added "Cost to Price Report"

• Many misc new features such as drag/drop of items, more images, some "when used" help topics to answer some common questions from CanDB 1.2 users, many more help topics, cleaner UI, etc

• Two flavors of downloads now available, one assuming you already have Java installed, and another bigger package which has a private bundled Java Runtime Environment

• More testing on Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks). Workarounds added for some Mac OS limitations.

• 100% backwards compatible with version 1.2, and recommended to extract into same folder as earlier versions

For more details, please view the above URL and click on the "red CanDB 2.0", as well as preview the full set of online help topics that are also available within the program. Regarding import from Excel or Canventory, if any questions please drop me a PM and I can talk you through config needed to import your data.

Details/download from: http://www.mbcinfo.com/CanDB

Finally, thank you for the feedback received so far and patience getting a few issues worked out, especially with the Mac OS port. I have already incorporated some feedback in this 2.0 release and am committed to making sure all documented features work correctly. Thanks to Rand the "OI Whisperer" for software iterations getting import from Canventory functional. I will send PM based on individual questions/issues now resolved in CanDB 2.0. Happy CanDB'ing...

[aussieguinnessman]

Thank You Randy. I will update from the prior version. Got to get the camera out and start clicking !!

[oldmoneytexan]

I'll try it again on my Mac.

[Randy Karasek]

Note: I have had a request for a single document that could be printed to read over CanDB help topics. I had not intended for printing of a document and some of the help pages are not laid out for 8.5x11 printing, but I will produce such a PDF document for future releases.

For now I have quickly merged all the HTML documents into single PDF at:

http://www.mbcinfo.com/CanDB/help/AllHelp.pdf

Some pages/images/tables are "chopped" in the above PDF and will require a bit of document cleanup for both browser window and printable page.

[jmanns]

Randy - Looks like a neat inventory tool and plan to give it a try in the near future.

Thanks for the effort in putting this together.

[JAL]

Randy,

Does the software work with Windows 8 (or 8.1)?

JAL

[Randy Karasek]

Randy,

Does the software work with Windows 8 (or 8.1)?

JAL

As long as the Windows 8.1 system has Java installed there should be no issues. With CanDB 2.0 there is now an optional package which contains an embedded Java and won't care what is on your system. Now you would need to run from the desktop not an 8.1 tile. I don't have a Windows 8 system to double check but Sea Monkey was able to run on his. I will confirm any specifics Thursday at work.

CanDB 1.2 definitely runs on Windows Surface Pro tablet with Windows 8.1 since the Pro can run Java. CanDB will NOT run on the Windows Surface RT since doesnt support Java.

[Randy Karasek]

Long three day bullet trip from CA to Philly and back, lots of sitting in airport and plane has allowed me to release CanDB 2.1. As always, freely available and 100% backward compatible. As a reminder, CanDB is a breweriana database, collection management, and HTML generation program. The intended use of this product is for creating PICTORIAL composites, whether this be just a handful of cans, your collection, your specialty, or maybe even an entire state or can type (e.g. cones) composite.

Details/download from: http://www.mbcinfo.com/CanDB

Summary of changes and new features may be viewed at:

http://www.mbcinfo.com/CanDB/help/VersionHistory.htm

Thanks for the user feedback so far, and as of this release I have now implemented all planned changes. That is, there are no more CanDB releases planned unless bug reports or additional requests. If you have any problems or questions about using this software, or possibly web hosting your specialty pictorial composite, please don't hesitate to ask. Now I resume work on BMV and soon to be announced inclusion of two more chapters newsletters fully digital and keyword searchable...

[Beverlx]

I haven't used this yet, but I just want to give Randy a standing ovation for his work producing software and e-resources for this hobby.

Pro bono.

This summer I'll load it up and see how she runs. Thanks!