Diamond System

[Speed Figure]

What is the difference between the single and multi files?

[headhawg]

I posted incorrectly. I should have written that it would be a single-to-multi conversion. So all the data in the multi file(s) needs to be in the single file. That may be the sticking point. I looked at the data structures but that was a very long time ago. Of course the coder could use dummy data for missing data values in the single file, but it couldn't be anything used by Pandy's program, obviously.

[headhawg]

Originally Posted by pandy

Over the years, we put so much work into it, tweaking it and upgrading it so it would run smoothly and adapt to distance chances better, etc., that it would be difficult to try and start all over and get it to produce the same ratings. And we like the ratings the way they are. It's just one of those things, we created it 25 years ago on Foxpro.

This is the part I don't understand. An algorithm is an algorithm. Your stuff is proprietary but it can be duplicated. There is nothing magical about Foxpro; all programming languages can read data and crunch numbers. What data is used, and how it's combined and massaged mathematically is what makes it proprietary, not the language used. And the math is rudimentary -- add, subtract, multiply, divide.

[pandy]

Are you saying that you could create it in a single file system?

As for changing a single file to a multi file so it runs, I think we looked into that and couldn't find anything.

[headhawg]

Originally Posted by pandy

Are you saying that you could create it in a single file system?

As for changing a single file to a multi file so it runs, I think we looked into that and couldn't find anything.

I will say that I probably could but I am not a professional coder. A pro could get the job done much faster and with a nice UI. The important things for the programmer to know would be all the algorithms (formulas) for the numbers that are created, and if all the data to create said numbers are included in the single file format and not just in the multi- format. A pro also might be familiar with Foxpro and would be able to read the original source code to make his/her conversion job easier.

It's quite possible that Bris has somehow made it impossible to do a conversion from single to multi, but as long as all the data fields are there it should just a matter of creating the multi format. I am pretty sure I looked into doing this 10+ years ago, but I was also working on some Trackmaster stuff around the same time so I might be mistaken. Whatever the case I don't have a working conversion program.

[headhawg]

Originally Posted by Speed Figure

What is the difference between the single and multi files?

That's the $64,000 question. I want to say that the multi- format had four separate files instead of just one. But as I just posted previously, I may be thinking of a Trackmaster format.

[ranchwest]

Originally Posted by headhawg

At one time I thought about converting Bris multi to the single format. I was considering buying Pandy's Diamond system, but as most of my programs used the single format I wasn't going to buy two sets of files. If all of the data in the single file is in the multi, it shouldn't be too difficult to code. I am working on other software things now and I don't really have the time, but a decent coder shouldn't have a problem doing it. It's possible that my scratch program (HDST) would work on the newly created single file, but that is not a guarantee. Most programs worked fine with the modified single file but not all were tested.

Multicaps files have 1435 data elements in a single file format. It shouldn't be hard to convert to multi files, but it could be very time consuming. Just matching up the elements could take a while. Is there a layout template on the BRIS site for the multi files?

[ranchwest]

What would it be worth to have a conversion program?

[ranchwest]

Originally Posted by pandy

Are you saying that you could create it in a single file system?

As for changing a single file to a multi file so it runs, I think we looked into that and couldn't find anything.

I am pretty sure I could. I am familiar with the single file format.

[pandy]

Thanks for the interest. I'll think on it.

[wallst69]

@porkchop

What is the one thing the top 4 have in common? i.e. speed, pace or class?