Repair Software / Database

[TheDaddy]

As some of you are aware I have been writing some repair software for some time now & as I have had a couple of weeks of work I have been having a play adding bits too it ect. I am currently testing this and I have loads and loads to do before releasing (If I bother releasing) but below is a few pics of the working software.

I Need to sort GUI out as some buttons are plain ect ect (B4 any one mentions it ! lol)




The Boards Screen :-

The Repairs Screen :-

The Images/Documents Screen :-

The main usage is to store details regarding your PCB's and beable to catalogue repairs for future reference.




Things I will be adding to this :-




1) Coloured grids to show COMPLETE,AWAITING WORK & IN PROGRESS in repairs screen

2) Finish buttons and tidy GUI

3) Auto select game from list - As appose to entering all the details your self.

4) Grabbing details for ROMS and entering them automatically (Sounds easy - Its not !)

5) Coloured grids to show WORKING / NOT WORKING in Boards section.

6) Backup and restore options - Just incase (I have lost database a few times after messing & switching pc's HDD )

7) General testing to be done.




There will be lots more features being added over the coming months but I just want to start using it properly so I can see whats what.

Dave.

P.S Not sure what people think , Please feel free to comment and show your interest when and if I release.

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[BarrySlisk]

Great idea. I thought of something similar although I would have stored the information on the internet so that if the board had to be repaired by another the history would follow the PCB (requires serial no.).

 

[LawmanAUT]

looks interesting!!

 

[TheDaddy]

Added a DataSheets Screen. This screen will allow you to see the pinouts of Logic/CPU/Memory chips and give you access to the full datasheets (Opens via your preferred windows PDF viewer). If the PDF is not available locally then it will let you view via the web. You can also search via the search bar or select the required type.

Datasheets Screen :-

Again not even close to finishing this screen but already used it a ton of times whilst looking at a few repairs today. Very handy and quicker than the Data book I have.

Dave.

P.S All data sheets and images will be stored locally - Increases size but its just easier !

 

[TheDaddy]

Hi Guys / Gals, A few updates as I have had a bit of time.

1) Added the ability to add Your own datasheets

2) Added colour grids to the main grid - Makes it easier to see what is what. May be some changes as a little unsure about a few bits.

3) Added a settings page so you can select your own colours. Will also have general settings as well.

Yeh I know , Not pretty as not messed with the buttons , GUI ect.

Small progress but I am using it and is working realy well for me.

Thanks for reading ,

Dave.

 

[TheDaddy]

Just a few more updates as I have been bored today.

1) Added the ability to see from main page how many repairs are outstanding for the selected board.

2) Added Search for Working , None Working ect ect.

3) Added the ability to use a "Roms" image as appose to adding all roms manually ( Not sure how to explain this but basically I find it easier to look at an image for roms , People using fluke will need CRC32, SHA1 ect. I don't use use a fluke so I prefer this). This can be turned on / off in setting and also selected manually from main screen.

4) Tidied up the main game info screen and added a "Additional Info" opens another tab with roms / clock info as I personally don't use this much but may in the future so left it in.

5) Added colours to the repairs screen so you can see at a glance what repairs are complete / Awaiting work / In progress.

6) Made the main games list bigger now the game data has been shrunk. Nicer on the eye and also includes number of games displayed in the list.

7) Code changes so the resulting EXE is now 80% smaller than previous versions !!!

Some Screen Shots :-

So that was my day - I have a load of GUI stuff to do yet as I keep mentioning - IE Buttons. But I this can take a while to do so its a day job. Just want to get it running how I want first.

Have lots to do on the repair screen yet as no where near yet, Woks fine though just ugly.

Dave.

Feel free to comment if you like , I know its boring !!!! But still its keeping me happy and is saving me ages when cataloguing and repairing boards.

 

[TheDaddy]

Ok prob last post on this. Now 95% working, Have added buttons and also a handy prices button that will add up the prices of the pcbs (According to the values inputted). I am happy enough with it now, Bits I need to add and move but will be hammering it over the next few weeks entering all proper data !!! (Using demo data at the minute).

Repairs Screen :-

Supporting images / Docs

Datasheets Screen :-

Ok so there you have it !

Dave.

TheDaddy2020-04-14 16:25:15

 

[andyman]

Awesomeness Dave

Its something that has been mentioned many times in the past and never happened

 

[FabC]

Very interesting ! Seems to be like Agar but with alot of possibilities. Furthermore Agar seems to be a dead project.

 

[TheDaddy]

Thanks Guys , If I had more interest I would do an install package and release it. Not worth it as not much interest and will take me time to do that.

Not heard of Agar - Just had a quick look but cant seem to get it to do much.

People have mention it would be good if the database was online so everyone could have access , This can be done but would cost pennies so I couldn't do it.

There is plenty of scope to develop and the possibilities are endless I suppose - I will continue to develop as things pop up.

Dave.

 

[tin]

I wonder if it's a good idea to try and do an online one that a few people fund? I guess it would just get abused by the few, but would be a nice project.

 

[TheDaddy]

I wonder if it's a good idea to try and do an online one that a few people fund? I guess it would just get abused by the few, but would be a nice project.

Yeh its fairly easy to do , I would have to change the sql connection type ect but easy enough. I would want to manage it from my own server - Hate online clouds. This would intail me having a static IP and I think you can only get one if you are a business.

Questions would be :-

What databases would be shared ??

who would have rights to change data ???

It would slow the system down a lot as more data - Slower ??

I suppose I would have to set it so the user/creator could only alter that part of the software.

Like you said I think it would get abused. The system is pretty much configurable for each person, So they can change datasheets ect.

I think it would need a lot of thought if I was going this route , Doable though !!!

Dave.

 

[Macro]

depends on who you use for your internet connection - I use Plusnet and it cost me a one off payment of £5 for a fixed IP

 

[TheDaddy]

depends on who you use for your internet connection - I use Plusnet and it cost me a one off payment of £5 for a fixed IP

Ah realy ! Brill I will call and ask as I am with them .

But on saying that is it a business or residential ?? I thought it was residential they wont give you one (Or so I believe ?)

TheDaddy2020-04-15 12:54:11

 

[ZedEx48K]

Why not just use one of the free dynamic DNS providers, with give you a static webname, most modems/routers allow you to add it to them these days too.

Something like https://www.noip.com/

 

[TheDaddy]

Thanks Zed - I can confirm that I can get a static IP from PlusNet ;-)

 

[TheDaddy]

I may stick an interest post in detailing what the software does and see how many would be interested. At the moment though it will be stand alone.

Dave.

 

[Alpha1]

Made this a sticky

 

[TheDaddy]

Ok so as ppl know I have been unwell but have made some progress on the software over the last 6 months or so. I will get some updates on here when i can. The updates are way of for others at the moment but and they will be on V2 not added to V1.

I have been in the repair room today and have been using the updated version and have realised what an asset it is to me. I have boards all over the places and looking at them had no clue where i was up to or what I had done , With the software this was no issue - A few clicks and i picked up where I left off 8 months ago !!!!

Dave.

P.S Thanks Alpha for make this sticky - Only just spotted that.

P.P.S Looking at having data in the cloud as well (As requested and discussed)- That is way way off yet though.

TheDaddy2021-03-26 19:10:03

 

[VectorGlow]

Thanks for doing this, hope you're feeling better.