Database consistency

I selected the menu item "Sequence / Proofread / Specified" and said "No prompts". One of the error messages I got is: Sequence C2-96 line 6 -- Call not found: HOCUS POCUS Hocus Pocus [571] The sequence I tested is ok in the graphical editor: (This is a test, only), Heads Pass The Ocean, Extend The K, (#formation#) (Exit: Detour, Those Facing Start Dixie Grand, L.A.), Hocus Pocus, Split Counter Rotate 1/4, Vertical Tag Back To A Wave, R.L.G. Any idea what could cause error messages like that where it says "Call not found" but says "[571]" nevertheless ? Is there a way to check the consistency of the snapshot database or to repair it?

The most probable cause for this error is that there is a problem with the snapshot database. My guess is that you may have a bad record for "The K". You may have two records starting from the same position, one of which is incorrect. CSDS uses a binary search of the snapshot database, so if two records match the formation, it will choose the first one (with the highest priority and the lowest fuzziness rating) that it finds. Since the order of the actual records accessed by a binary search depends upon the number of records in the database, the program could match on a different snapshot record than was used when the sequence was written.

In any case, there are two validation functions for the snapshot database:

1. Snapshot | Validate | Record Access: -- (this is the validation function that should help you resolve the problem) -- for each record within the specified range, the program sets up all possible starting positions specified in the record and then tries to execute the specified call specified. If the 'execute call' function does not match the record itself, a message is output to the output file. Hence this function basically searches for
   1. duplicate records, and
   2. superfluous records (which aren't exactly duplicates, but if they are deleted then the specified call would still be executed in the exact same manner).
   This function also finds occurrences when two records specify different ending formations for the same call from the same position, or when two records specify different roll attributes at the end of the call. I generally run this function on the snapshot database prior to major releases of CSDS. Feel free to run it, and experiment with the checkbox settings.
2. Snapshot | Validate | Handle Lists: -- for each specified snapshot record, the program converts the handle list into a text string, then converts the text string back into a handle list. It then checks to see if the two handle lists match. Mismatches may indicate that there is a problem in the parse database, or the snapshot record may need to be edited to reflect the new handle list. A mismatch could also indicate that I need to rethink how the call is parsed.

Deleting or editing records
I created some snapshots soon after I got the program. I'm not sure I want to keep them. How do I find them so I can delete or correct them ?

1. From the main menu, select 'Snapshot' followed by 'View a record'.
2. From the view snapshot menu, select 'Change record' followed by 'Last record in database'. (if the 'Last record in database' menu option is disabled, it means that you are already positioned at the last record).
3. Near the lower right-hand corner, just above the 'flags' frame, you should see a box containing the author name (if you have a complete version of the program, this field should have your name in it; otherwise, if you have the demo version, this field will contain the word 'DEMO'). This box shows who created the currently displayed snapshot record. All snapshot records created by you should have this field set to your name (if you have the complete version) or to 'DEMO' (if you have the demo version).
4. To delete a record, press the F8 key, or select 'Toggle delete' from the menu. Similarly, a deleted record can be undeleted the same way. A deleted record will have the words RECORD MARKED AS DELETED displayed in large red letters centered on the screen. Records aren't physically deleted until the next time that the database is sorted. (and DEMO users can't sort the database).
5. To edit the current snapshot record, from the menu select 'Edit' followed either by 'Edit data' to modify the dancer positions, or by 'Edit name of call' to modify the name of the call.
6. To display other snapshot records that you created, use the 'Change record' menu to select the previous or next record in the database.
7. Alternatively, to find the records that you created, you can use the 'Find' menu option followed by 'Find a record'. From this screen, click on the 'Match everything' tab; then check the 'Author' checkbox and select your name (or 'DEMO' if you have the demo version) from the dropdown list. Click the 'OK' button to start the search. The program will search for and then display a record that you created. At this point you can navigate to each of your records by pressing 'F3' for the next record or 'Ctrl+F3' for the previous record.

Error - Snapshot database Version is 10 - This program requires version 1
I'm getting the following error message: Snapshot database Version is 10 This program requires version 1 Contact Vic for assistance After this message the screen goes to Initializing snapshot database and then it appears to lock up

There is no version 10 of the snapshot database, so something bad has happened.

My guess is that one of the following has happened:

1. you somehow tried to open the snapshot database (c:\sqdata\sqproof\sqproof.db) in word or some other program, and somehow you 'saved' it, overwriting something. In this case, the database is no longer useable.
2. you copied the database from one computer to another using FTP or some other program, and it swapped bytes, did disk blocking, or used text mode when it should have been using binary mode. In this case, the database is no longer useable.
3. you somehow have more than one version of CSDS or more than one version of the snapshot database on your computer. In this case, you must search your computer for 'sqproof.db' and also 'csds.exe' and see how many copies you can find. Get rid of all of them (but be sure to backup your sequences and other data); then re-install CSDS.
4. another (remote) possibility is that somehow CSDS was aborted while it was upgrading or sorting the snapshot database, and something happened to the database.

In any case, I believe the correct course of action now is to backup your sequences (c:\sqdata\seq\*.seq) and any other data you might need, delete the CSDS folder entirely (c:\sqdata), and re-install CSDS.

Fix a Bad Snapshot
I made a wrong definition of a call, but can not find where to change it.

If so, there are several ways to find it.

Method I:

1. From the CSDS main menu, select 'Snapshot | View a Record';
2. From the Snapshot View window's menu, select 'Find | Find All';
3. In the 'Other' frame, check 'Author', make sure 'Equal to' is selected, then select your name.
4. If you know when you created it, you can also set the 'Last Modified' filter.
5. Press the 'OK button, and a list of your snapshots will appear.
6. Find the offending one, and delete or edit it.

Method II:

1. via Sequence Edit [Graphics]', bring up the offending sequence;
2. Use F11 and F12 to position the sequence so the last line in the 'lines processed' window (upper left) contains the call that used the bad snapshot record.
3. Press Ctrl+S to bring up that snapshot record.

Record priorities
Could you explain the Priorities on Snapshot records?

The priority field is used only when determining how to execute calls from phantom formations. If more than one snapshot record could be executed from the current phantom position, the program selects the record with the 'highest' priority.

The values for the priority field has been somewhat arbitrarily defined as follows:

highest priority: Normal

medium priority: T-Bone

lowest priority: Same-spot

I wish I had better names than 'Normal', 'T-Bone', 'Same-spot'. But, anyway, that's the current state of the program.

1. If the call ends such that some dancers share the same spot, set the priority to 'Same spot'.
2. Otherwise, If the call starts from a T-Bone setup (or, from an usual setup, such as Pass Thru from a R-H Mini-Wave), then set the priority field to 'T-Bone'.
3. Otherwise, the default value of 'Normal' should be used.

Removing a record
I added a bogus definition of a call to the snapshot database. How do I remove it?

From the main screen, goto 'Snapshot | View Record'. If the record in question is not already displayed, you need to find it. Ctrl+F12 will go to the last record in the database. From there, press F11 as necessary until you locate it. (this assumes that you haven't sorted the snapshot database). Press Ctrl+D to mark the record as deleted.

If you are writing a sequence and just entered an incorrect record, from the menu bar, select 'View | Last snapshot record used'. Press Ctrl+D to delete it.

Unable to do 'Pass Thru'
I entered the Snapshot database to correct a new application that I had entered. That worked fine, but now I find that the program won't respond to Pass Thru. I apparently managed to erase the call inadvertently - how, I have no idea. However, is there a way to restore the snapshot database to a previous issue that contained Pass Thru?

If you're saying 'Pass Thru' when you should say 'Centers Pass Thru', Add the word 'Centers'.

There is no restore command for the snapshot database, however, Records are not physically deleted until the database has been sorted.

1. From the CSDS main menu, select 'Snapshot | View a Record'.
2. Then select 'Find | Find a Record'.
3. In the 'Exact Match' tab, enter 'Pass Thru'.
4. Press the 'OK' button.
5. Now cycle thru the Pass Thru records by pressing F3 (e.g., Find Next)
6. If a record has been deleted, it has a large pink banner near the top saying 'RECORD MARKED AS DELETED'.
7. To undelete the record, press the 'Del' key or 'Ctrl+D'.