GenesisIV Tutorial: The GenesisIV Database

Unlike most other landscape modelling systems, GenesisIV stores all project information in a relational database. This has the significant advantage that the system is multi-user and easily extendable.

Currently we are using the Open Source Flash Filer database because of it's tight integration with Delphi - the programming language GenesisIV is developed in. It is however intended to add support for other Open Source databases. SQL Server support is also under consideration. Our project Import and Export functions also use the SQLite database format which may be read by languages such as PHP and Perl.

The GenesisIV installation installs Flash Filer and all necessary support files onto your PC. The GenesisIV database is located in the db folder in you GenesisIV installation directory (by default c:\program files\genesisIV\) and users may wish to back up this directory to ensure against data loss. Several database utilities are installed along with GenesisIV itself:

• ffserver.exe: This is the Flash Filer server program, and it must be running when GenesisIV runs (should start automatically)
• ffserver.hlp: Help file for the Flash Filer server. Useful if you wish to move beyond the standard installation (for example to install the database on a network server).
• ffe.exe: Flash Filer explorer is a data management utility for the Flash Filer server. Although we encourage those who are interested to check out our data structures, be aware that the only change you should ever make to database objects is to add columns for your own purposes if designing an add-on utility.
  

We are always happy to support developers wishing to extend the GenesisIV system, please contact us if you would like details of the database and field use.