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JCapper 101
-- File Maintenance For The New Year

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File Maintenance For The New Year

jeff
12/30/2008
7:13:02 PM

Something ALL of you need to be aware of:

Keep your files for 2008 and 2009 on separate folders!

At the start of each new calendar year you need to create a new Default Data Folder and start putting files for the new year onto that folder. NEVER mix files for different years on the same folder.

If you are using a yearly folder structure:

If you haven't already done so create a 2009 folder right now. The only files that go onto that folder are files for race cards run in 2009.

If you are using a quarterly folder structure:

If you haven't already done so create a Q1_2009 folder right now. The only files that go onto that folder are files for race cards run in Q1 of 2009.

If you are using some other folder structure:

If you haven't already done so create a new folder right now. The only files that go onto that folder are files for race cards run Jan 01, 2009 and later.

The reason?

The file names for data and results files contain characters that designate track month and day only. They do not contain characters that designate the year. It is possible to download identical filenames for the same track month and day but for different years.

Examples:


Track Month Day Year  Filename
------------------------------------------------
TAM   Jan    01 2007  TAM0101.DRF or TAM0101.PCS
TAM   Jan    01 2008  TAM0101.DRF or TAM0101.PCS
TAM   Jan    01 2009  TAM0101.DRF or TAM0101.PCS

Mixing files from different years onto the same folder is something you want to avoid at all costs.

Every year I get calls and emails from users who have accidentally done this.

Be warned:

When you try to build a database on a target folder that has a data file for a given track and date from one year and a results file for the same track and date from a different year your database build routine is going to error out.

Cleaning up this type of user mistake can be a be a real pain in the you know what. It's up to you - by process of elimination - to figure out and remove the offending file.

Don't get caught with your pants down...

Create a new Default Data Folder for the new year right now and start using it. Keep your files for 2008 and 2009 on separate folders!

Cheers and Happy New Year!

-jp

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JCapper Message Board

JCapper 101 -- File Maintenance For The New Year

JCapper 101
-- File Maintenance For The New Year