The latest 8.3.0.382 update with a number bug fixes and a few new features is now available for download (Aquabase will check for an update on start-up) and will require a password to complete the update process. This password is included in an email to subscribers to the Aquabase Support and Development programme. If Aquabase cannot download the update automatically you can also get it from the Download section of this website. You have to be a registered user to access the individual downloads in this section.
Please read the notes during installation for the latest exciting additions and bug fixes! We (the developers and the users) are constantly working on improving and fixing Aquabase functionality. Please let me know if you find any bugs and/or would like to make suggestions for new functions.
SO WHAT’S NEW IN THIS LATEST VERSION?
- This update was complied with Lazarus 2.0.12 and FreePascal 3.2.0 for Linux and under Wine for Windows 32 and 64 bit. The Zeos database components were also updated in the process to 7.2.8.0. All these are open-source!
- THE WMS chemistry import (for South Africa) has been improved with the option to match the “Monitoring Point ID” of the CSV file from the WMS with existing chemistry “Sample Nr.” which might already be there from previous imports. This improves the import speed as the relevant SITE_ID_NR does not have to be searched in the other CSV fields or spatially matched.
- The Import|Other Table function has been optimised and some previous changes reversed due to the inability to work with other Aquabase functions during the data upload process (this was especially painful on remote databases). Now the process also does not run through any import table records that are excluded with the restrictions on the records to allow importing in batches.
- A few database triggers were removed and their relative resulting fields updated with default values. This specifically applied to date fields (Date_Entry and Date_Updatd), but also some others, which makes it easier to import data, the process of which automatically fills certain fields. (Please note that this does not necessarily work in existing databases, only new ones that will be created after this update; so if you want the latest database version for e.g. SQLite then you can just rund the “Apply new SQLite Database” tool).
- Another dropdown button has been added to the toolbar. The “Comments and other” button allows quick access to most commonly used entry forms for comments, instrumentation, names of owners, site visits and field measurements.
- A new report has been added: The Meteorology report has the option to select which meteorology tables/readings should be shown on the report within the date range selected.
- The Name of Owner and Site Visitor entry forms now display the ADRESS4 field as lowercase, if it contains an email address.
AND WHAT HAS BEEN FIXED SINCE THE LAST VERSION?
- When using PostgreSQL databases with the PostGIS extension and adding new sites the sites were added, but a check on the coordinated failed with an SQL error. This was due to changes in the PostGIS function st_distancesphere in newer PostGIS versions >= 2.2. This has been adapted to the newer PostGIS function.
- When adding new sites and using a map reference and default coordinates to the center of map the coordinates were not properly changed/updated in the coordinate entry boxes according to the map reference, if the previous current site map reference was not the same as the new site’s map reference. This has been fixed.
- The Import|Other Table function did not work as expected when the “to row:” limit was activated. This is now fixed with new functionality (see 2. above).
- The Instrumentation entry form only allowed one entry into the Notes field and then made the field read-only. This has been fixed.
- The time-dependent chart water level settings did not respond properly to the selection of the filter field…it was only working for PIEZOM_NR. This is now resolved.
- Some page reports did not switch on/off the report dates and page numbers and also did not show the comments selected/edited in the settings form. These have been fixed.
- The chemistry import did not clean up the imported samples which did not have chemistry results and also created records for results, which did not actually have and parameter results. This has been fixed.
- A few smaller bugs and a lot of optimisations, especially in connection with remote database speeds, have also been sorted out.