What is a user database? Since the early stages of Plantus' development, users have frequently expressed the wish to be able to customize the database structure themselves. From Version 2.1 on, it has been possible for users to define their own database fields, and to create new databases. The additionally created criteria and criterion groups are called a user database. Technically speaking, criterion groups represent their own database tables, linked to one another by plant names. These databases are managed dynamically, i.e., a criterion group only occupies memory space if corresponding data entries actually exist. The criteria of a criterion group are the database fields of this criterion group. You can create up to 75 criterion groups of your own, each containing up to 90 criteria, i.e., you can create as many as 6,750 of your own criteria. Once these have been activated, they become permanent components of Plantus.
Test the user database first! If you do define your own database structure, make sure that there are no overlaps with already existing criteria. A duplicated entry of, e.g., 'Height', which is already defined in the criterion group 'Basic data', can lead to problems when you run the program. Before deciding on the final form of a user database, you should test it on your own database structure first so that you know what is possible and what still needs to be improved. By using the commands [Delete user database] or [Delete user tables], you can delete the structure that you have defined in a dialog box. By deactivating the user database, you can also create and modify structures and delete them again without any problems, and without affecting the Plantus database structure in any way. Before finally defining your own database structure (and corresponding data entries), you should make a written documentation of it and check this carefully. There is nothing more annoying than having data contained in an inappropriate data structure.
