Good points, Gary. I think part of the problem, though, is that version 2 is mostly being portrayed as ready to go, even though it clearly is in a quasi-development phase. It seems to me the public is given a misleading idea that V2 is largely bug-free and ready for the average user, and I think this may be doing a disservice (both to users and to the reputation of ebase). It is my opinion that the website should CLEARLY indicate the limitations, caveats and potential buggy nature of the database to users, and that they will be, in essence, beta testers for the database. The number and nature of problems suggests that only dedicated ebase users should be trying to work with the database for now. --My $1.89.
Carl "Bogue, Gary" wrote: > > As Matthew has already agreed, this process should be friendlier. If you > paid $10-20,000 and another $1,000 a year in support fees, you could > probably find software with excellent documentation and handholding, which > would do something similar to ebase. That's not what we have here. TechRocks > has, with limited resources and much feedback from the NPO community, put > together a system for addressing some of our most pressing problems. And > they distribute it at no cost. That's incredible. > > But there is a subtle cost. Ebase 2 must be seen as a work in progress and, > in a way, we're all its developers. TechRocks has continually modified > ebase2 as it evolved, in response to feedback from the ebase community, > myself included. That community is incredibly broad, with very diverse (and > sometimes conflicting) needs. This is a very different process from a > commercial developer working on fixed specifications. The eventual result > will be a robust product that is well documented and that meets the needs of > many diverse groups. But we're not there yet. Ebase 2 is still thrashing > through its infancy and still evolving as it moves into new neighborhoods > (multiple incarnations of Windows, Mac OS X and classic Mac), all with > different requirements. It's not always a pretty process. More conservative > users should remain with v1 and forego the advantages of a second-generation > system a little longer. Clearly, many users have decided to jump in despite > the difficulties of adapting an evolving system. Between releases, as > problems arise, these lists are as important a part of ebase support as are > the documentation files. > > BTW, you might find the ebase2 list a little better suited to your needs > than this Support list, which is primarily for v1 users. > > Gary > > > Now I tackle the next complication, trying to export label > > information. I have started on that with the same results, unclear > > instructions in the User manual not matching the actual results, etc > > etc etc. I expect that will eventually work too, no thanks to the > > documentation or program info. Please pardon my obvious annoyance, > > but I think computer programs should be user-friendly and facilitate > > activities, not make them more difficult. > > > > ------------------ > Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to > http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email >address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org > --------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Carl Paulsen New Hampshire Rivers Council 54 Portsmouth Street Concord, NH 03301 603-228-6472 603-228-0423 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------ Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------
