Nick Boldrini wrote:

>This point is one that is a lot more relevant. I had the unique experience =
>recently of a contractor contacting me to ask how we would want them to =
>structure their database for these records, to help data exchange! When I =
>had picked myself off the floor and got back into my chair, and had a =
>cuppa to recover from the shock, I realised I didn't have a good answer, =
>so fudged it by suggesting something else. However, this could be =
>something that increasingly we may want to consider. It may be that what =
>is needed is not how to import these datasets into HER's (purely from =
>logistics) but some sort of standardised way for a: these sorts of =
>databases (Finds, Context etc) to be formatted so that B; HER Officers can =
>fairly easily extract the sorts of data they might want into their =
>database. I am not sure if what I have suggested is the best way, but this =
>issue would be more pressing (I think) than linking to e.g. Libraries etc
>
>
IMHO this is absolutely essential. You only have to look at some of the
datasets that have been uploaded to the ADS to realise that we are in
desperate need of some sort of standard schema and exchange format for
this sort of data. If this isn't done then we're only storing up
problems further down the line. When all the parties mentioned below by
Nick (local Societies, interest groups &c) have digital data in their
own format it'll be a damn sight harder and more expensive to integrate
all of that data into regional or national databases.

>Yes, I think we should be encouraging every local Society with a database, =
>every interest Group which records data relevant to us, to be aware of and =
>using MIDAS. It would make data exchange a lot easier, at least. I am =
>dealing with a number of local and National Groups to try and get their =
>data into the SMR, and I can fudge it in, but it would be nicer not to =
>have to. However, MIDAS is fairly dull to read and technical, and to try =
>and encourage more take up, the format of it needs to be re-considered - =
>perhaps a more user friendly version could be used (though to be fair, its =
>pretty good as it is). The format might also include e.g. a downloadable =
>MIDAS compatible standard database for use with your project, which you =
>can edit to a certain extent and which comes with an easily formattable =
>manual for you to edit to record how you have actually used it for your =
>project
>
>
>
This (the database) is a wonderful idea. I would propose this: An open,
well documented schema, and a reference implementation in the form of a
downloadable database program. By having the database's schema freely
available to anyone the choice of whether to use the reference
implementation, or build their own would be down to the individual
group. This is a common model in the software world.

On the documentation side, yes, MIDAS is dull, but that's the nature of
all technical documents. There could, however be something akin to a
'user guide' (where MIDAS would be the 'reference manual') which could
help newcomers read through MIDAS with some examples, ranging from simple.

Andrew Larcombe