Data Utilities

There are three different types of data utility designed to help you manage your database.

• • REPORTS which will print out your READING RESULTS, BACKGROUND/THOUGHTS on the readings, and your COMMENTS. This enables you to generate a hard copy of your readings.

  • BATCH DELETE so you can delete a large batch of readings in a few clicks of the mouse. This is useful if you decide to copy your database for archiving purposes. Batch delete can then be used to erase all the readings which have been archived. This may be advantageous if you have been using you database for many years, and you feel the need to improve the speed and efficiency of the ‘live’ database. The disadvantage of this, of course, is that you will need to utilise two separate databases when you do your searches – so you may not want to do this unless it is necessary ie your database is extremely large and if speed of operation becomes an issue. This, however, should not be a problem.

  • EXPORT READINGS TO XML. XML is a standardized data file format that can be read by different software applications. This export feature will export your READING RESULTS, BACKGROUND/THOUGHTS on the readings, and your COMMENTS into three external XML files. Many years down the line, you may wish to use this feature to migrate your data to a different system. For example, if you exported your database of readings to XML files using this feature, you could then use Microsoft Excel to import data from these files into a spreadsheet.

Above - The DATA UTILITIES MENU

You might want to run through this export and import procedure. I have used Excel 2007 for illustration purposes.

• 1. Click the DATA UTILITIES button in the main Reading’s screen of your I Ching Journal.

  2. When the pop up form opens click the EXPORT READINGS TO XML FILES button.

  3. A dialogue box will then prompt you to type in the file path for the folder on your own PC, where you would like to save the files to. Make sure your end the path with a backslash \ and do NOT choose a file name because there are three different files and the names are already selected.

  4. Used your Windows Explorer to check the folder where the files have been saved. There should be three files – CommentsReadingSummary.XML, ReadingSummary.XML, and ThoughtsBackgroundSummary.XML. You can open these files and read your journal entries directly. Information is enclosed within tags eg <date>2009-12-01</date> <question>Please can you provide feedback on this issue?</question>. However, we are going to use Excel to import your journal into a table format.

  5. Open Excel on your machine.

  6. Select the DATA tab, and look to the left of the Ribbon to the GET EXTERNAL DATA Group.

  7. Click the FROM OTHER SOURCES Icon.

  8. A drop down list opens from which you should select FROM XML DATA IMPORT.

  9. A window then opens allowing you to browse to the folder where you saved your XML files from the journal. Select one of the XML files – try ReadingSummary.XML.

  10. Click ok when you are asked whether you want " ... Excel to Create a Schema ..."

  11. Click the top option button to put the XML table in the existing worksheet.

  12. A summary of your readings now appears in the Excel worksheet.

Above - The EXPORT XML dialogue form. Enter the path to a location on your C: drive.

Above - Importing your XML file into Excel 2007.

Although this may seem complicated, it could be useful if you ever wanted to migrate your journal entries to another system. For example, sometime in the future you may need to replace your computer for whatever reason. When you do, there is no guarantee that your new computer will be able to run this journal software – assuming of course it is not within the next 10 years or so. There is more chance that XML will still be around – or there will be systems that can still read XML (because of it being a standardized format today in 2010). Exporting your data won’t enable you to use any of the features that you have used in the I Ching Reading's Journal, but it will protect the contents of your journal which is what is important.

Exporting Direct to Excel (New with v2.1)

With the release of version 2.1, it is now possible to export a readings summary directly to an Excel format. Here is the procedure:

1. Open your I Ching Readings Journal

2. Click the Data Utilities button on the right hand side of the main readings screen.

3. You should see a new button called EXPORT READINGS SUMMARY on the Data Utilities pop up form.

4. Click this button to bring up a list of export formats

5. The format at the top of the list will export your reading to Excel. The latest version of Excel has the xlsx file extension (third in the list). Other options include Excel 97-2003 (top) and Excel 5.0/95 (5th). Certain other non-Excel formats (eg rtf and pdf) are not suitable for this task. Click OK.

6. You will then be prompted to browse for a location on your computer to save your exported file.

Edit the Legge Hexagram/Line Text (New with v3.9)

Your Journal Software comes pre-loaded with Legge's translation of the Hexagram, Image and Line text. This can be changed if you prefer to display a different translation of commentary. The procedure for doing this is as follows:

1. Click the DATA UTILITIES button on the main READINGS SCREEN.

2. Click the EDIT HEXAGRAM AND LINE TEXT button when the pop up form opens.

3. This opens the new EDIT HEXAGRAM/LINE TEXT form.

4. To change the text, just delete the old, then type in the new.

Above: The new Edit Hexagram/Line Text form. Please click for full size image.

Navigate to through different hexagrams by using the navigation buttons at the bottom left of the screen. To go directly to a particular hexagram, just type in the hexagram number in the box between the buttons (you will need to type over the bit where it says something like “1 of 64”).

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