Data Exchange

Brian users can exchange session data via the use of export/import files. Brian will generate a file of session data. Another Brian user can import that session file and load the data to his database.

Here are the various restrictions on exchanging data:

  1. Only one session can be contained on a file.
  2. All personnel for a session are loaded for every song on the session. Even if the originating database had various artists sitting out some sessions, the receiving database will be updated as if all players were on every tune. The receiver will need to make corrections after the import.
  3. Issues are not included in the exchange.

Exporting Data

To export a session, first display the session in the Sessions window. Once the correct session is displayed, press the Export button. A save dialog box will display for the user to name the export file. Press save and the file will be created.

Once the file is generated, it must be transmitted to the importing user. Email attachment is generally the best.

Importing Data

Once a data exchange file is received, it can be imported by using the Import Session item in File menu. A dialog box will appear for the user to select the correct file. Once that is done, Brian will parse the file and display the data on the XML Import window as shown below.

Import window

Brian will evaluate some session components to see if they are already on the data base. The Date, Venue, and City fields are not checked. But the Label, Session Type, Songs, Composers, Instrument, and Personnel fields are checked for existence in the database. Any item that is not found will have an asterisk placed beside it.

On the example above it can be seen that the song Takin' A Chance On Love is not found on the importer's database. Also, the artist William Butterfield is not found.

If the importer presses the Load button, those 2 not found entries will be created in the Songs and Personnel tables respectively and then Brian will proceed to create the imported session. But the user may decide that the 2 not found entries are actually there but not as the import file has them listed. The use can cancel the load and then do one of two things to correct the mismatch:

  1. The entries can be changed using the Songs and Personnel windows.
  2. The file can be edited to have the entries match the already existing entries.

In the case above, the imported may already have Taking A Chance On Love on file. If it is decided that the correct title uses the word Takin' instead of Taking, the importer can use the Songs window to correct the entry on the database so it matches the entry on the file.

Also in the case above, the importer may determine that the name William Butterfield is on the database as Billy Butterfield. If the importer decides to continue using the more common form of the name that is already on the database, then the import file can be edited to change the William to Billy.

Editing the file should be done using a text editor. If a word processor must be used, be sure to save the edited file as TEXT ONLY or PLAIN TEXT. Otherwise the format of the file will be changed and Brian will not be able to read it. On the Mac, BBEdit Lite is a good choice. On Windows, Notepad will work well.

This document will not go into detail on editing the import file. Looking at the file, it should be apparent what will need to be done to change an entry. All entries are marked with "tags" similar in appearance to HTML tags. It is important not to disturb the appearance or order of the tags in the file. Only change the contents within the tags.