Monthly log files - Revision history

Sfws: /* Potential Name Confusion */ rewrite of this section

2021-12-31T23:17:57Z

Potential Name Confusion: rewrite of this section

Sfws at 23:04, 31 December 2021

2021-12-31T23:04:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:04, 31 December 2021
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	Please be aware that all of the above links lead to documentation about files that may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references.		Please be aware that all of the above links lead to documentation about files that may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references.

			==Potential Name Confusion==
⚫	~~For~~ the original Cumulus software (Cumulus 1 and 2), the name "monthly log" was most frequently used as a collective term for the last two files linked above.

			Those who used early versions of Cumulus will remember that the term '''Log File''' was originally used for [[Log.xml]], but Steve Loft later accepted that all the files with a [[:Category:Ini Files\|.ini]] file extension could be described as log files, so he introduced the term [[Weather Diary]]. A bit later, [[Standard log files\| the detailed data file]], began to be also called '''log files''', and the confusion grew. When [[Extra Sensor Files]] were added, these also became '''log files'''.
⚫	When Steve Loft was working on his [[Cumulus_3_(MX)_beta_documentation\|MX Beta]], he decided to implement within MX functionality the database schema that Mark Crossley had designed on [[ImportCumulusFile#Monthly_table_.28old.29\|this]] page, where Mark selected the name '''Monthly''' for the table. David A Jamieson created versions 1.0 and 1.1 of ImportCumulusFile for creating a single table called '''dayfile''', but Mark extended it to cover ''realtime'' and what he called ''monthly log files''. That means the standard log can in MX optionally feed data into a database table called '''Monthly''' by default in MX. The terminology is misleading as that database table is not organised by month in any way, a single table contains every logged line that has been inserted into it by '''ExportMySQL.exe''' or '''CumulusMX.exe'''.

			Steve Loft wrote the Cumulus software mainly for his own use, although after a while he let others use it and added features that others requested. Cumulus was developed in his spare time outside a full-time employment, and consistency and terminology were not issues he worried about.
⚫	~~Anyway, as~~ Mark Crossley has taken over development of MX, the terminology "monthly log" is now being used for the first linked file (standard logs) instead of for '''month.ini' the file that is truly logging monthly extremes. ~~This~~ ~~MX practice is a misleading naming for novices as a line does not represent a month (in the way each dayfile line represents a day), the~~ name has been adopted because a new log file is started for each month. ~~Further more the practice leaves "month.ini" without a descriptive name.~~

		⚫	During the development of the original Cumulus software (Cumulus 1 and 2) by Steve Loft, the name "monthly log" was most frequently used as a collective term for the last two (.ini) files linked above because those files tracked the monthly extreme records.
	As already pointed out, there is possible confusion because the last two links do contain monthly data in each line, just like the daily summary log file contains daily data in each line.

		⚫	When Steve Loft was working on his [[Cumulus_3_(MX)_beta_documentation\|MX Beta]], he decided to implement within MX functionality the database schema that Mark Crossley had designed on [[ImportCumulusFile#Monthly_table_.28old.29\|this]] page, where Mark selected the name '''Monthly''' for the table. David A Jamieson created versions 1.0 and 1.1 of ImportCumulusFile for creating a single table called '''dayfile''', but Mark extended it to cover ''realtime'' and what he called ''monthly log files''. That means the standard log can in MX optionally feed data into a database table called '''Monthly''' by default in MX.
	The original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, when they were first introduced in his original Cumulus software has been adopted throughout the documentation, to avoid possible future confusion for those looking at older articles in this wiki or oldest posts on the forum. It is probable that newcomers to Cumulus will prefer to use the terminology used in this documentation, where '''files are named based on their content'''.

			The new terminology can be misleading as that database table is not organised by month in any way, a single table contains every logged line that has been inserted into it by '''ExportMySQL.exe''' or '''CumulusMX.exe'''.

		⚫	Mark Crossley has taken over development of MX, the terminology "monthly log" is now being used for the first linked file (standard logs) instead of for '''month.ini''' the file that is truly logging monthly extremes. The name has been adopted simply because a new log file is started for each month.

			For novices, there can be a feeling of confusion:
			* The new practice leaves "month.ini" without a descriptive name
			* Each "dayfile" line represents a new day, but a line in "Oct16log.txt" does not represent a month, and the name does not contain the phrase "month"
			* The names "Month.ini" and "Monthlyalltime.ini" do contain the phrase "month", they do contain monthly data in each line, and do log extreme records

			A future Wiki editor may decide on a different strategy, but at the moment the Cumulus Wiki tries to adopt the original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, for consistency with older articles in this Wiki and the oldest posts on the forum.

	=Enhancement never implemented=		=Enhancement never implemented=

Sfws: /* Enhancement never implemented */

2021-08-01T08:53:13Z

Enhancement never implemented

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:53, 1 August 2021
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	=Enhancement never implemented=		=Enhancement never implemented=

	Steve Loft was several times asked if he could change the design of his software and what it stored in[[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]] and the other files.		Steve Loft was several times asked if he could change the design of his software and what it stored in [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]] and the other detailed logging files.

	All these files currently periodically store spot readings. Some of the competition in weather software, periodically store the highest and lowest since the previous line was stored.		All these files currently periodically store spot readings. Some of the competition in weather software, periodically store the highest and lowest since the previous line was stored.
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	Steve Loft would respond he had made many design decisions that were not ideal, but the software was based on his own needs. If people wanted drastic changes, they should do what he had done, and write software that did what suited them.		Steve Loft would respond he had made many design decisions that were not ideal, but the software was based on his own needs. If people wanted drastic changes, they should do what he had done, and write software that did what suited them.

			Yet it appears he did plan to implement this suggestion in MX, see [[Cumulusmx.db#Releases 3.0.0 to 3.11.4 inclusive]].

Sfws at 19:09, 19 July 2021

2021-07-19T19:09:58Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Please see [[Standard log files]],  [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Air_Link_Log.txt]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.
+[[Category:Cumulus Files]]Please see [[Standard log files]],  [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Air_Link_Log.txt]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.
 Please be aware that all of the above links lead to documentation about files that may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references.
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 The original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, when they were first introduced in his original Cumulus software has been adopted throughout the documentation, to avoid possible future confusion for those looking at older articles in this wiki or oldest posts on the forum.  It is probable that newcomers to Cumulus will prefer to use the terminology used in this documentation, where '''files are named based on their content'''.

Sfws at 17:03, 27 January 2021

2021-01-27T17:03:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:03, 27 January 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [Air_Link_Log.txt]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.		Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Air_Link_Log.txt]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.

	Please be aware that all of the above links lead to documentation about files that may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references.		Please be aware that all of the above links lead to documentation about files that may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references.

Sfws: changed sequence

2021-01-27T17:02:59Z

changed sequence

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 27 January 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.		Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [Air_Link_Log.txt]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.

	Please be aware that all of above may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references~~. Prior to MX, the name "monthly log" was most often used as a collective term for the last two files linked above~~.		Please be aware that all of the above links lead to documentation about files that may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references.

			For the original Cumulus software (Cumulus 1 and 2), the name "monthly log" was most frequently used as a collective term for the last two files linked above.
⚫	The original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, when they were first introduced in Cumulus 1 has been adopted ~~here~~ to avoid possible future confusion for those looking at older articles in this wiki or oldest posts on the forum. It is ~~hoped~~ that ~~people~~ will ~~return~~ to ~~this~~ terminology, where files are named based on their content~~, the last two links contain monthly data in each line, just like the daily summary log file contains daily data in each line~~.

			When Steve Loft was working on his [[Cumulus_3_(MX)_beta_documentation\|MX Beta]], he decided to implement within MX functionality the database schema that Mark Crossley had designed on [[ImportCumulusFile#Monthly_table_.28old.29\|this]] page, where Mark selected the name '''Monthly''' for the table. David A Jamieson created versions 1.0 and 1.1 of ImportCumulusFile for creating a single table called '''dayfile''', but Mark extended it to cover ''realtime'' and what he called ''monthly log files''. That means the standard log can in MX optionally feed data into a database table called '''Monthly''' by default in MX. The terminology is misleading as that database table is not organised by month in any way, a single table contains every logged line that has been inserted into it by '''ExportMySQL.exe''' or '''CumulusMX.exe'''.
	For users of MX, the terminology "monthly log" has shifted to the first linked file which is the log file feeding into a database table called by default '''Monthly''', which of course does not contain monthly data, it is just a log file that is regenerated each month.

			Anyway, as Mark Crossley has taken over development of MX, the terminology "monthly log" is now being used for the first linked file (standard logs) instead of for '''month.ini' the file that is truly logging monthly extremes. This MX practice is a misleading naming for novices as a line does not represent a month (in the way each dayfile line represents a day), the name has been adopted because a new log file is started for each month. Further more the practice leaves "month.ini" without a descriptive name.

			As already pointed out, there is possible confusion because the last two links do contain monthly data in each line, just like the daily summary log file contains daily data in each line.

		⚫	The original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, when they were first introduced in his original Cumulus software has been adopted throughout the documentation, to avoid possible future confusion for those looking at older articles in this wiki or oldest posts on the forum. It is probable that newcomers to Cumulus will prefer to use the terminology used in this documentation, where '''files are named based on their content'''.

Sfws at 19:10, 29 June 2020

2020-06-29T19:10:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:10, 29 June 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Month.ini]] or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]] as relevant.		Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Month.ini]], or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]], as relevant.

	Please be aware that all of above may be ~~called~~ ''monthly log files'' in individual Cumulus forum and wiki references. ~~The~~ ~~Steve~~ ~~Loft~~ ~~terminology~~ ~~for~~ ~~each~~ of ~~the~~ ~~log~~ ~~files~~ ~~has~~ ~~been~~ ~~adopted~~ ~~now~~ to ~~avoid~~ ~~future~~ ~~confusion~~.		Please be aware that all of above may be described as ''monthly log files'' when reading individual Cumulus forum and wiki references. Prior to MX, the name "monthly log" was most often used as a collective term for the last two files linked above.

			The original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, when they were first introduced in Cumulus 1 has been adopted here to avoid possible future confusion for those looking at older articles in this wiki or oldest posts on the forum. It is hoped that people will return to this terminology, where files are named based on their content, the last two links contain monthly data in each line, just like the daily summary log file contains daily data in each line.
	The adoption of the name "monthly log" that used to be used for the last two files named above has shifted to the first named file with the introduction of MX as in that flavour of Cumulus, it is used for the log file feeding into a database table called '''Monthly'''.

			For users of MX, the terminology "monthly log" has shifted to the first linked file which is the log file feeding into a database table called by default '''Monthly''', which of course does not contain monthly data, it is just a log file that is regenerated each month.

Sfws at 18:57, 29 June 2020

2020-06-29T18:57:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 29 June 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Month.ini]] or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]] as relevant~~; all of these can be called monthly log files in some references, but the first is that most often meant in MX context due to it feeding into a database table called '''Monthly'''~~.		Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Month.ini]] or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]] as relevant.

			Please be aware that all of above may be called ''monthly log files'' in individual Cumulus forum and wiki references. The Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files has been adopted now to avoid future confusion.

			The adoption of the name "monthly log" that used to be used for the last two files named above has shifted to the first named file with the introduction of MX as in that flavour of Cumulus, it is used for the log file feeding into a database table called '''Monthly'''.

Sfws at 18:49, 29 June 2020

2020-06-29T18:49:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:49, 29 June 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
			Please see [[Standard log files]], [[Extra Sensor Files]], [[Month.ini]] or [[Monthlyalltime.ini]] as relevant; all of these can be called monthly log files in some references, but the first is that most often meant in MX context due to it feeding into a database table called '''Monthly'''.
	Please see [[Standard log files]].

Sfws: Replaced content with "Please see Standard log files."

2020-06-09T15:20:38Z

Replaced content with "Please see Standard log files."

Show changes

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:17, 31 December 2021
Line 5:		Line 5:
	==Potential Name Confusion==		==Potential Name Confusion==

	Those who used early versions of Cumulus will remember that the term '''Log File''' was originally used for [[Log.xml]], but Steve Loft later accepted that all the files with a [[:Category:Ini Files\|.ini]] file extension could be described as log files, so he introduced the term [[Weather Diary]]. A bit later, [[Standard log files\| the detailed data file]], began to be also called '''log files''', and the confusion grew. When [[Extra Sensor Files]] were added, these also became '''log files'''.		Those who used early versions of Cumulus will remember that the term '''Log File''' was originally used for [[Log.xml]], but Steve Loft later accepted that all the files with a [[:Category:Ini Files\|.ini]] file extension could be described as log files, so he introduced the term [[Weather Diary]]. A bit later, [[Standard log files\| the detailed data file]], began to be also called '''log files''', and the confusion grew. When [[Extra Sensor Files]] were added, these also became '''log files'''. The Wiki page now called "Standard Log Files" was first called "Log files", then became "Monthly Log Files" because "Log files" became a category. Then "Extra Sensor Files" were added and "standard log files" replaced "Monthly Log Files" to make it clearer which file held the standard values, and which file held values for extra sensors.


	Steve Loft wrote the Cumulus software mainly for his own use, although after a while he let others use it and added features that others requested. Cumulus was developed in his spare time outside a full-time employment, and consistency and terminology were not issues he worried about.		Steve Loft wrote the Cumulus software mainly for his own use, although after a while he let others use it and added features that others requested. Cumulus was developed in his spare time outside a full-time employment, and consistency and terminology were not issues he worried about.
Line 13:		Line 14:
	When Steve Loft was working on his [[Cumulus_3_(MX)_beta_documentation\|MX Beta]], he decided to implement within MX functionality the database schema that Mark Crossley had designed on [[ImportCumulusFile#Monthly_table_.28old.29\|this]] page, where Mark selected the name '''Monthly''' for the table. David A Jamieson created versions 1.0 and 1.1 of ImportCumulusFile for creating a single table called '''dayfile''', but Mark extended it to cover ''realtime'' and what he called ''monthly log files''. That means the standard log can in MX optionally feed data into a database table called '''Monthly''' by default in MX.		When Steve Loft was working on his [[Cumulus_3_(MX)_beta_documentation\|MX Beta]], he decided to implement within MX functionality the database schema that Mark Crossley had designed on [[ImportCumulusFile#Monthly_table_.28old.29\|this]] page, where Mark selected the name '''Monthly''' for the table. David A Jamieson created versions 1.0 and 1.1 of ImportCumulusFile for creating a single table called '''dayfile''', but Mark extended it to cover ''realtime'' and what he called ''monthly log files''. That means the standard log can in MX optionally feed data into a database table called '''Monthly''' by default in MX.

	~~The~~ ~~new~~ terminology can be misleading as that database table is not organised by month in any way, a single table contains every logged line that has been inserted into it by '''ExportMySQL.exe''' or '''CumulusMX.exe'''.		This database table terminology can be misleading as ''that database table is not organised by month in any way'', a single table contains every logged line that has been inserted into it by Steve's '''ExportMySQL.exe''', Mark's '''ExportToMySQL.exe''', or by '''CumulusMX.exe''' itself. In fact MX allows you to give this table another name, which it will then use in all SQL.

	Mark Crossley has taken over development of MX, the terminology "monthly log" is now being used for the first linked file (standard logs) instead of for '''month.ini''' the file that is truly logging monthly extremes. The name has been adopted simply because a new log file is started for each month.		Mark Crossley has taken over development of MX, the terminology "monthly log" is now being used for the first linked file (standard logs) instead of for '''month.ini''' the file that is truly logging monthly extremes. The name has been adopted simply because a new log file is started for each month.
Line 19:		Line 20:
	For novices, there can be a feeling of confusion:		For novices, there can be a feeling of confusion:
	* The new practice leaves "month.ini" without a descriptive name		* The new practice leaves "month.ini" without a descriptive name
	* Each "dayfile" line represents a new day, but a line in "Oct16log.txt" does not represent a month, and the name does not contain the phrase "month"		* Each "dayfile" line represents a new day so the filename matches the content, but a line in "Oct16log.txt" does not represent a month, and the file name does not contain the phrase "month"
	* The names "Month.ini" and "Monthlyalltime.ini" do contain the phrase "month", they do contain monthly data in each line, and do log extreme records		* The names "Month.ini" and "Monthlyalltime.ini" do contain the phrase "month", they do contain monthly data in each line, and do log extreme records that clearly identify with a particular month

	A future Wiki editor may decide on a different strategy, but at the moment the Cumulus Wiki ~~tries~~ to ~~adopt~~ the original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, for consistency with older articles in this Wiki and the oldest posts on the forum.		A future Wiki editor may decide on a different strategy, but at the moment the Cumulus Wiki has returned to the original Steve Loft terminology for each of the log files, for consistency with older articles in this Wiki, and the oldest posts on the forum.

	=Enhancement never implemented=		=Enhancement never implemented=