Removing Features From Digestive
Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 1:16PM Update - 14 September 2011
Unfortunately the project has now been killed off and I’d recommend that people use the database picker built in to Bento itself. See this article for further information.
Introduction
Early in 2008 I wrote a simple AppleScript application to allow people to use multiple data files with FileMaker’s Bento. For a reason that I’ve never resolved it caused some people problems by duplicating data files so a while ago I decided to re-write it as a Cocoa application. I had great plans and aspirations for it and a fairly substantial feature list but over time development has dragged on with little progress. I’ve decided that I have to remedy this and realistically the only way I am going to do this is by scaling back the features and functionality. This article describes what is staying and what is going and, perhaps more importantly, why.
Multiple Bento Versions
Perhaps the biggest cause of headaches during the development of Digestive is that I wanted to support multiple versions of Bento within one application. However, whilst Bento 2 and 3 are very similar in the way that they can support multiple data files, Bento 1 is a totally different animal. Therefore the first decision is to drop support for Bento 1 in the initial release and, if there is significant demand for it, I may either incorporate it into a future version or release a separate Bento 1 version. However since Bento 1 does not work under Snow Leopard I am hoping that most people have moved on to Bento 2 or 3.
If you are a Bento 1 user please do post a comment asking me to support your version. Also note that FileMaker’s upgrade pricing discount for Bento 3 ends on 28 January 2010 so if you want to upgrade the time to do it is now.
Concurrent Bento Versions
An initial aim was to allow people to manage and use data file for different versions of Bento simultaneously. For example, if someone had Bento 1, Bento 2 and Bento 3 installed the application would allow them to select a Bento 1 data file and have it open in Bento 1, a Bento 2 data file in Bento 2 and a Bento 3 data file in Bento 3. This idea was mainly conceived because I have multiple versions of Bento installed for research purposes related to BentoUsers but I realise that I am far from a normal Bento user. Therefore Digestive will now support the primary version of Bento (if more than one is installed it will be the one Finder thinks is the default version) and data files related to previous and later versions will be visible but unusable unless they are upgraded to the correct version.
Library Icons
Something that was frequently requested on the Bento forums was the ability to change the icons associated with a Library. Bento 3 has introduced some support for this but restricts you to using one of their icons whilst I had a plan to allow people to use their own images too. However, this goes back to the problem of supporting multiple Bento versions and each version handles icons slightly differently. Therefore this functionality will be dropped for now too.
If you are using an earlier version of Bento or want to be able to use your own Library icons as well as the built-in ones, please post a comment and mention the version of Bento you are using.
Pricing
I intend to release Digestive for free. If I add more functionality such as the ability to link imported, related data automatically then I would make it a paid-for application where the basic functionality of managing data files remains fully functional in an unregistered version.
Timescales
Without wishing to back myself into a corner again over a release date I am anticipating that Digestive will be available by the start of April 2010.
Reader Comments (26)
I found all the Library icons in Bento.app/contents/resources/icons/
Is it not possible simply to drop your own custom icons into that folder?
I didn't dare to try it, but I ctrl-clicked on an existing icon and all commands were available, like duplcate
Well you could make your own icon bundles but it's far from simple and I'm not 100% sure that they are applied properly even if they do show up as an option (they may need an associated template bundle to go with them). In addition this sort of solution is understandably way beyond what the average user would expect to have to do.
From a technical point of view, this is also not the approach that Digestive would take since it is also possible (and much easier) to store the raw image in the Bento data file and have Bento use that instead. From my testing this is a much more robust and less involved approach.
Interesting,
Great information about Multiple Bento Versions,
Anyway, thanks for the post
I'm looking forward to this potentially very helpful application. I appreciate your hard work best of luck getting it done !! :)
I can't wait! this is going to open up so many possibilities for bento users! thanks for your work.
HI Simon.,
I am a Bento 1 user who has been waiting patiently.....I completely understand your logic and dont blame you at all.
I am also happy to upgrade to Bento 3, the problem is that I have not read anything positive about Bento 3 and have read a lot about people loosing Data? Can you offer any thoughts on this ? Do you know what I am talking about? thanks!
Hi Victoria,
Does the original AppleScript version not work for you with Bento 1? I've never been able to replicate the problems people had and hoped that it was restricted to Bento 2 and Bento 3 files.
Regarding Bento 3, I think that some of the new versions they have released have fixed a lot of the bugs and made it more stable but, without wanting to give you the run-around, I'd suggest visiting BentoUsers.com and sending them a message via the page at http://www.bentousers.com/contact/. Florian who now runs the site was quite upset about the bugs and problems in version 3 but he seems happier about it all now so he may be the best person to ask.
As an aside, if you are planning on upgrading to Snow Leopard then you would need to get Bento 3 because the earlier versions are not compatible with it.
Sorry not to be of more help.
Simon
Hi Simon!
Thanks for the reply. Do I need to upgrade to snow leapord in order to run Bento 3? Id rather save the $ if not neccessary. Is there anything I should do before I install your software -- like install Bento 3?
Thanks!
Hi Victoria.
Bento 2 runs fine on Leopard and Digestive works with Bento 2 and 3 so you should be fine. Bento 1 is currently unsupported.
Hi Simon.,
is your April 1 deadline going to happen? I am excited!
Victoria
Unfortunately I don't think I am. My main Mac has been in for a repair and needs to go back in for more work which introduced some minor delays and I'm finishing my day job tomorrow so things at work have been hectic whilst I finished things off and tied us some lose ends. However, early April is looking much more definite.
Sorry for the delay.
I use your original applescript app for bento v 1, 2 & 3. I like it and it has worked great for me. I have upgraded to 3 and do not have a need to support multiple versions. I like the idea to manage the icon library, which I would request be moved higher up on the priority list. My recommendation would be release your app targeted to the most recent version of bento and go from there. It is always easier to develop support for one release than multiple. Keep up the good work.
Rob
Hi Simon.,
I hate to ask , but when will the digestive be done? The database manager not only seems to duplicate databases, but since it is merged with my address book, it seems to be duplicating and screwing up my contact lists.
I use bento for business, and needless to say that fouled up address book is extremely bad and costly for a business.
I've been patiently waiting, because Bento is an incredible business tool and to have all this information integrated is especially good... but alas, I don't want to fix my address book, again, and have it all get messed up without having an end in sight to fix the issue.
Please let me know what is happening.
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
I'm sorry to hear about your Address Book issues and my suggestion would be to stop using the Bento Database Manager and simply manage your bentodb files manually for now or use the 'trick' of holding down the Alt key when you launch Bento which allows you to pick the data file you want to work with.
My progress with Digestive has unfortunately been delayed by client work and at the moment my schedule is looking pretty full until late September at the earliest so I can't really give you a more optimistic idea of when it may be available other than perhaps October.
Alas, one of the perils of being self-employed and trying to produce free software is that the paying work takes priority so, keen as I am to finish and release Digestive it's not one of my top priorities right now.
Sorry.
Simon
Hi Simon,
Thanks for your reply -- yes -- I know that paid work takes priority. I dont blame you at all. Im just a little desperate to feel like my data isn't doing some wierdness behind my back! I am now going to download a database manager for my iphoto, so that I can have multiple libraries. It has become such a mess there too with a oversimplified keyword system etc. I am concerned how this will interface with bento -- as I also use bento to get additional information associated with photos. PLus, I am re-doing my entire address book (ug) and then importing. Does the "trick" you mentioned above avoid confusion or duplication somehow? . I suppose I will find out when I delete everything an re-import
I am just such a bento maniac.......that I can hardly believe I am hanging in there, with all this complex data management stuff (I am SO un-techie...).
Is there anything I can do to help? I'd be happy to contribute in some way?
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
I'm not 100% sure how Bento will behave with multiple iPhoto libraries, probably not very well is my gut feeling unfortunately.
The trick I mentioned should eliminate problems with Address Book but then again I never understood why my old Bento Database Manager started to play up and cause problems either since what it was doing is essentially just renaming the bentodb file.
I'm afraid there's not much you can do to help but now that the school holidays are nearly over and work can then return to a more normal pattern things should settle down and allow me some time to finish off the annoyingly small outstanding bits of Digestive.
Simon
Hi Simon,
any word! I have switched computers now and am still trying to use the old digestive!
Soon... honestly!
Actually I've made a personal goal to get it into the forthcoming Mac App Store, hopefully at launch which is likely to be in January 2011.
great! I hope it just overwrites the old DB switcher. looking forward to it.
Hi Simon - Bento 4 is now out! Are you still working on this ?
Hi Victoria,
I am and I am making sure that both Bento 3 and 4 are supported.
I'm not going to promise anything (I've made that mistake too often) but, for once, progress is going well so watch this space!
Bento Database Manager seems to have corrupted one of my databases and I am trying to uninstall DB Manager. The problem is that it does not show up in applications..or anywhere else, for that matter. I know it is there because it pops up when I start Bento.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi Jason. I've replied via email but please let me know if you don't get it.
In Lion, It appears Bento Database Manager no longer works. Any chance of Digestive coming out soon? I am willing to pay for it along the lines of app micro-payments.
Any word on the digestive. Id like to move on to BENTO 4.05 from an ancient version, but I am very concerned because i have relied on the DB switcher that you made. I have been waiting for a very long time, and I cannot wait longer. Is my data in danger?
Will the old DB switcher work with the new Bento?
Thanks
Victoria