ITS Standards

[DC Kelley]

The "critical improvements" phase funded by the FHWA to add some additional needed features to Mini-Edit has largely completed and a new edition of the tool can now be found in the normal /curr directory for you use and feedback comments. Revision x.410 and beyond.

If you are a data steward, start using this immediately because you can now manage the annoying meta data like having your own name added when changes are made. Of course you know the new table styles are out there (been in there for many months now) and the there are any number of feature to brag about.

The download ZIP file is in the normal place at http://www.itsware.net/miniedit/beta/curr/

See the release notes here: [url]www.itsware.net/miniedit/beta/curr/Release_Notes.doc [/url]

Drop all the files you find into your installation in the normal way, there are a couple of new files now present.

Most important: you can now add a formal revision value to your entries and LOCK them when giving them to others. It is important that we all start using to establish a known configuration system for exchanging. Be sure to edit your own name and organization in the User Setting text section as well. I have likely spoken with you about any problem in upgrading (off hand I think we are work fine), please contract me if you need help or want support.

If you are a (new) user, take a week off and wait while I build you a new web page and get you a proper installer script. This will make your first time use easier, unless you know how to install any missing Active X controls you may need. You are welcome to download what you find today, but the FHWA contract was directed to help data stewards first and foremost, so I have delayed putting in a number of useful things for deployment users until this work was done. [For example, Find, stewards pretty much know what their own concepts are, find is most useful to the new user]

My next task in this area is to build a users guide and as documented elsewhere here, we will be building a modest complex CHM and help systems into the tool. I have received permission from all of the SDOs to provide people their DBs now, so I will address build a download page to keep those up to date as well (so much to do, so little time, anybody want to be volunteer php programmer?)

[Site Admin]

A complete installer script has been added and will be merged into the release pages, but for those in a hurry here it is:

Edited. See the link at the bottom of he page.

Download it, Click it, and run it if you are a first time user and want to get all the DLLs and ActiveX crap installed in a few seconds without all that tedious mucking about in hyperspace.

[DC Kelley]

The help file system is about to be released in another few days, but you can find the web based help system at the below link. We are tuning it up and adding last items and links, but the below link will be the final one.

http://www.itsware.net/miniedit/help/help.htm

In another week the CHM file will be integrated with the tools and pressing F1 from anywhere in each tool will take you to the relevant page. A new installer script will also be released. If you want the see the CHM file now, the above link will let you download it, but it is the same s the web pages.

[DC Kelley]

Yea, its done and out there!

Plus we have a rather cool installer script (we bought the Wise product) now that will let me play with fractional upgrades and make everyone much happier when new things come out (such as the spell checker) that need registration to install.

You can get the new script at:
www.itsware.net/miniedit/beta/curr/default.htm

[Site Admin]

Rev 444 now released, with many improvments in the help screens.

You can get the new installer script at:
www.itsware.net/miniedit/beta/curr/default.htm