Folks,

Barring the discovery of any _high level_ defects, the release of version 4.0 is imminent. I have realized some mistakes I made months ago in preparing this version that has made it very difficult to obtain release status. I seek to correct these mistakes for future releases, and I do appreciate the fact that every person has been very patient and courteous in waiting for 4.0 to go "release".

The bottom line is that I need to release 4.0, and that, thanks to the feedback I have received, I feel it is sound enough now to be called "release". Coming home every day thinking, "darn, I have to get this thing to release", is not fun... I need to free up some time and lower my stress level to where I can offer some weekly "how to make it go" seminars that I've been talking about. For a few current customers this means that you will want to consider upgrading (yippee!), but for most it now means that your 4.0 CD with Profiler DB will be sent to you.

This is the game plan, and it will give all interested an idea of where I am at:

A) I have to finish up fixing the way that Wager Tags work. This I've been doing today.

B) I need to add something to the way that Import/Export databases work to better handle the new "connection stats". Right now you have the choice to ignore the connection stats in a DB you are importing (or exporting to), or _REPLACE_ them. An option to _combine_ them will be made available. For those unsure of what this means -well, it will be part of the "on-line" help too (see below).

C) I want to add "on line" help that will available for every, or nearly every, EquiSim screen. This type of help will be the "show me how this works" kind that you can click on within the context of what you are trying to perform. On-Line does not mean "web", it means "while the program is running". Additionally, I will touch up the user manual.

D) There will be, naturally, some low level bugs, warts on the software, and idiosyncratic problems that (seem) machine dependent that I have not been able to figure out yet (Ron's "clear" on the SPAT comes to mind...). Of course, I will continue to strive to fix them/add them, but as part of a 4.1 downloadable release.

If you think that I've forgotten about a bug/feature that you previously told me about _which_ I said I'd be sure to fix, please e-mail me as I may have forgotten about it (part of the process I need to improve on). Again, you may e-mail me if you are concerned.

E) I need to make the ES Profiler Foundation DB for 4.0, along with the new CD Label. I also need to make and ship disks. This will take a few days, or more. And note, there are a few folks who have 4.0 beta that owe upgrade $ - now would be a good time to send that because Santa will be checking his list, and checking it twice....

F) DataFresh for 4.0 will _not_ be immediately available on the release of the software, but it is something I will address shortly following the release.

Best,
-Nathan

Kudos! Nanthan- I am looking forward to 4.0. I have been learning on 3.5 and am ripe for upgrading while I am in the learning mode.
Will the data base I am now using be replaced or will it work with 4.0.
The on line (show me how) is a great idea.

>>Will the data base I am now using be replaced or will it work with 4.0.

Replaced.

Oh Nathan -

There are a couple parts of the program I haven't been into yet. The way I've been going I'm hunting like crazy. hehehe

However, much to your credit I have not been able to find anything for a week or so now. 4.x.x.18 really helped things fall into place.

Ok, now with all that free time I shall expect the other program to be ready about mid-year. I want it and will pay almost anything you ask.

Congrats fella you deserve a break today (I'll send you my coupon for a buy one get one free Big Mac),

Bob

Mailto:skyblue1@pobox.com

Hi Nathan, a couple of questions about the final release. Will we be able to install over the beta and keep what work we have done or start fresh? Also will the new database be like the sample ones published or much different? Finally if you send out the new database and it overlaps with the cards I have already dowloaded do I use your days that overlap....or should I use the ones I have already done... or does it matter?

Thanks for the hard work and great product

Doug

Nathan,

quote:

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Originally posted by Nathan M.:
>>Will the data base I am now using be replaced or will it work with 4.0.

Replaced.

---

But, what if we do not need nor want this new db? Do we have to install it or will we have the option to "opt out?"

Bob

Mailto:skyblue1@pobox.com

Bob, no, you needn't use it.

Doug - yes, you can install over the existing version. I almost made a change yesterday to the way that wager tags work that would have mandated a database re-build - but decided against it to avoid punishing beta people (you're limited to 250 wager tags though).

New database is the same format as the sample ones, it's just bigger. You can chop it up using the import/export feature to make it more manageable if it is an issue.

Remember, Prof DB's don't have the "card" data in them. It is EquiSim data. But you can still have issues with overlapping days -- which data to use -- the stuff in the Prof DB, or the stuff you can get ES to generate using your own cards? It's a good, and, with the advent of connection stats, quite complicated question.

The best thing is to simplify this.
A) If you rely on profiler database info built by someone else then you lose some of the flexibility of the program - the settings that go into what makes the profiler values, for example, are already set by the time data gets into a profiler database. In order to create databases yourself with different "setup" options you need the data cards and result files.

B) There's a ton of flexibility in the program just with the stock database stuff, probably more than most people will ever make use of.

C) Combining databases now has some serious issues when it comes to the "connection stats" due to the way connection stats are stored (due to speed/space issues, they are stored cumulatively rather than as individual records). See - connection stats will be replaced, ignored, or "combined" when you merge two databases. It is impossible to put together two databases that overlap without screwing up the connection stats.

Soooooo, I would use the Prof Foundation DB to create a new db (create a new db then import from the foundation db the tracks you want). I'd then add on to it using your own data cards (that do not already exist in the foundation db) or use DataFresh when it becomes available. I would not try to combine existing databases ***that have cards which overlap with the foundation db*** with stuff from the foundation DB _at all_ because of the way connection stats are managed.

Nathan,

Can the foundation DB be used by those of us who use Bris cards?

Yes, but many (most/all) of the connection stats will not work in the profiler due to the fact that BRIS and TSN use different naming conventions for jockeys, trainers, and owners.

The "Connection Analysis Report Tool" will work fine though since you hand select the factors and connections you are interested in.