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By Important Reminder -- Folder Structure for the coming New Year
jeff
12/30/2018
10:57:49 AM
It's that time again. (Time to create folder structure for the coming new year.)

One of the things you NEVER want to do is mix and match files from different years on the same folder. The file names of data and results files that you download do not contain a year element.

Unless you create (and use) folder structure for the new year:

Not only do you run the risk of overwriting 2018 files with 2019 files... But you also risk corrupting your 2018 databases in the event you run a db build using a 2018 data file and a 2019 results file (or vice versa) for file names involving the same track code, month, and day of month.

I (personally) use a single folder for each year with 4 separate sub folders (one per calendar quarter) and 2 additional sub folders (to facilitate breaking up my race day into multiple groups in the DFM Card Loader.)

My old 2018 folder structure looks like this:
C:\2018
C:\2018\Q1_2018
C:\2018\Q2_2018
C:\2018\Q3_2018
C:\2018\Q4_2018
C:\2018\Folder2
C:\2018\Folder3

My new 2019 folder structure looks like this:
C:\2019
C:\2019\Q1_2019
C:\2019\Q2_2019
C:\2019\Q3_2019
C:\2019\Q4_2019
C:\2019\Folder2
C:\2019\Folder3

For the next several days, I will be toggling folders back and forth inside the DFM being EXTREMELY careful that all 2018 files are saved to my C:\2018\Q4_2018 folder - and that all 2019 files are saved to my C:\2019\Q1_2019 folder.




Year end is probably a good time to check the file size of your c:\JCapper\Exe\JCapper2.mdb file. The max size for any .mdb file allowed by Windows is 2.0 gigabytes (2000 mb.)

If you are at 1.5 gigabytes or larger it's probably a VERY good idea to bite the bullet as soon as you reach year end -- and archive your JCapper2.mdb file by renaming your c:\JCapper\Exe\JCapper2.mdb file to something like c:\JCapper\Exe\JCapper2_YE2018.mdb - which serves to 1. Get the file out of the way and 2. Archive the file in such a way that you can connect to it using the Data Window MENU.

From there navigate to your c:\JCapperBuild folder, find the fresh blank copy of the JCapper.2.mdb file put there by the installer (filename: c:\JCapperBuild\JCapper2.mdb) and copy that file to your c:\JCapper\Exe folder. (Important: Make sure that you complete the file rename process first!)

From there use the JCapper2 Import Module to import the sql factor setup and html report layout out of your old file into your new file - and at this point your're all set for the new year.

Note: Here's a link to an older thread titled JCapper2.mdb file - what you need to know that contains comprehensive background info about folder structure and managing JCapper2.mdb files:
http://www.jcapper.com/MessageBoard/TopicReader.asp?topic=1340&forum=JCapper%20101


-jp

.

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jeff
1/1/2019
5:29:30 PM
Couple of related questions from the email inbox:

Q. Instead of creating new folders manually can I use the Create Data Folders for New Year menu option in the DFM?

A. It doesn't matter how you create folders for the new year.

The important thing is to get them created and start using them in the DFM before you start downloading files for the new year.

That said, here are the Basic Operating Instructions for using the Create Data Folders for New Year menu option in the DFM:

  1. Bring up the DFM, click MENU, and select Create Data Folders for New Year to bring up the DFM's Year End Folder Creation Tool.

  2. On the Year End Folder Creation Tool click the Create Data Folders for New Year button.

  3. Enter the four characters of the new year, double check those four characters, and answer Yes at the prompt.

    --Hint: Because you are creating new folders for 2019 key "2019" (without the quotes.)


That's it! The Interface will create new folders for the four character year that you entered.




Q. What about the folder Scratch BOT uses to archive the Scratches and Changes XML file? Do I need to create a new folder for that too?

A. Yes. Fyi, it's called the XML Archive Folder. (Good catch.)

You'll need to create your new XML Archive Folder manually.

Fyi, your new XML Archive Folder can be located on any drive on your machine.

After creating your new XML Archive Folder you'll need to bring up the XML Folder Archive Tool from the Scratch BOT Menu and point Scratch BOT at your new new XML Archive Folder.

--Hint: The interface for the XML Folder Archive Tool is almost identical to that of the DFM.

Basic Operating Instructions for the XML Folder Archive Tool:

  1. Bring up Scratch BOT, click MENU, and select XML Folder Archive Tool.

  2. On the XML Folder Archive Tool:

    • Click the Edit button to bring up the Nav Tools.

    • Use the Nav Tools to find and select your new XML Archive Folder.

    • Check the active box.

    • Click the Save button.

That's It!

At this point, your new XML Archive Folder will be the active folder location in the XML Folder Archive Tool -- and in turn that's where Scratch BOT will archive the scratches and changes XML file after each XML parse routine.


-jp

.


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jeff
1/1/2020
9:09:49 AM
Folder Structure for Calendar Year 2020 --

It's that time again. (Time to create folder structure for the coming new year.)

One of the things you NEVER want to do is mix and match files from different years on the same folder. The file names of data and results files that you download do not contain a year element.

Unless you create (and use) folder structure for the new year:

Not only do you run the risk of overwriting 2019 files with 2020 files... But you also risk corrupting your 2019 databases in the event you run a db build using a 2019 data file and a 2020 results file (or vice versa) for file names involving the same track code, month, and day of month.

I (personally) use a single folder for each year with 4 separate sub folders (one per calendar quarter) and 2 additional sub folders (to facilitate breaking up my race day into multiple groups in the DFM Card Loader.)

My old 2019 folder structure looks like this:
C:\2019
C:\2019\Q1_2019
C:\2019\Q2_2019
C:\2019\Q3_2019
C:\2019\Q4_2019
C:\2019\Folder2
C:\2019\Folder3

My new 2020 folder structure looks like this:
C:\2020
C:\2020\Q1_2020
C:\2020\Q2_2020
C:\2020\Q3_2020
C:\2020\Q4_2020
C:\2020\Folder2
C:\2020\Folder3

For the next few days, I will be toggling folders back and forth inside the DFM being EXTREMELY careful that all 2019 files are saved to my C:\2019\Q4_2019 folder - and that all 2020 files are saved to my C:\2020\Q1_2020 folder.


-jp

.


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