xmbase-grok-1.5: description + notes
xmbase-grok, formerly just called "grok",
is a simple X/Motif database manager and interface builder that can:
- keep phone and address lists (like a rolodex)
- store phone call logs
- keep web page databases
- keep todo lists
- manage any other database after simple GUI-driven customization
- custom export to programmable data formats, HTML export built in
More precisely, xmbase-grok is a program for displaying
and editing strings arranged in a grid of rows and columns. Each row is
presented as a card consisting of multiple columns, or
fields, that allow data entry. The presentation of the
data is programmable; a user interface builder that allows the user to
arrange fields on a card graphically is part of xmbase-grok.
xmbase-grok also supports a simple language that allows
sophisticated queries and data retrieval. xmbase-grok comes
with the above examples and a few others as pre-built applications.
xmbase-grok is not a general-purpose database program. It
was designed for small applications typical for desktop accessories. If
you attempt to run your major airline reservation system or your space
shuttle project with it, you are guaranteed to be disappointed. (To my
great amusement, a manager at NASA involved in the shuttle project has
told me that he does use xmbase-grok, successfully.)
Troubleshooting
- On SGI systems, if the icon doesn't show a picture, copy the icon
picture Grok.icon into your ~/.icons directory. If you don't have
one and don't want one, set the grok*noIcon resource to False in
your ~/.Xdefaults file. It may be necessary to restart 4Dwm to
register the icon after copying it to ~/.icons.
- The grok program uses quite a few colormap entries. Although there
is a black and white fallback mode, you may have problems starting other
programs that also need many colormap entries. The only workaround
is to kill grok when you don't need it.
- If radio and toggle buttons appear gray regardless of the colToggle
and colRed resources, make sure that the sgiMode resource is False.
In SGI desktop mode, colToggle and colRed are disabled because they
would override the desktop defaults.
Copyright
xmbase-grok is Copyrighted by Thomas Driemeyer,
1993-2001. License to copy, publish, and distribute is granted to
everyone provided that three conditions are met:
- my name and email address, "Thomas Driemeyer
" must remain in the distribution
and any documentation that was not part of this distribution. In
particular, my name and address must be shown in the About popup.
- if you redistribute a modified version, the fact that the version is
modified must be stated in all places that my name is shown.
- this copyright notice must be included in your distribution.
If these conditions are met, you can do whatever you like. The idea is that
I would be pissed if someone else claimed he wrote the thing, and I don't
want bugs introduced by others attributed to me. Make as much money with it
as you can. Drop me a line, I am curious.
If you put xmbase-grok on a CD, send me a free copy if
your company policy allows it and you want to. (Not obligatory, I just
collect trophies.)
There are no implied or expressed warranties for xmbase-grok.
I do not claim it is good for anything whatsoever, and if you lose your
precious data or your dog dies this is entirely your problem.
Special thanks to Andrea Suatoni
(a.suatoni@telefonica.net)
for helping port this package to IRIX.
To auto-install this package, go back and click on the respective install icon.