Different people are entering iris heights as for ex: 32 inches or 32".

In wanting the database to look uniform, which is preferable?

Thanks!

This is the downside of a free form text field, anybody can type anything they want into it.

Either convention is fine. If you wanted to choose one, I'd say make your choice and go with it. If I had to choose one, I'd choose spelling out the word inches.

Alright, thanks as always.

Personally, because I see it most often in other databases, nurseries, etc., I prefer ". I see many in the iris database with both, bugs me.

I prefer to see the words spelled out. Less room for error.

This brings up the question of metric which much of the world uses. Europe does, the UK converted to metric a long time ago but both have been used. Younger people tend to know only metric, I grew up with imperial units but also learnt metric in Physics so I have learnt to do conversions to accommodate those who use metric.

What would be the case then if someone entered height in metric? Even less uniform.

I'm one who is guilty of using both the symbol and spelling out the word, I don't know why I don't stick to just one ... I should be more consistent.

I see metric being used more and more and I always have to google to find the equivalent in inches, feet etc. I'm old and doubt that I could ever learn/remember the metric system ... but, I think it would sure make it easier if the entire world over used the same system.

Metric can be easy if you remember there's approximately 2.54cm to one inch, and approx. 39.5 inches to a metre.

So, if you want to convert in a hurry just think 2.5 times and inch for cm. Or say 2 metres is 2 x 39.5 giving 79" or 6' 7".

You can pin the calculator from Accessories in the start menu to the bottom tool bar using the right click menu, that will make calculations easier. Practice makes perfect.

Sue, I was going to ask Dave if it was possible that he do a sweep of the " and turn them into inches.

Some of the databases are using ", some are using inches, but irises was too much of a combo of both. I did not even notice until patrob brought it to my attention.

That's a good idea Polly!

I've gone through some of the plants that I entered and changed it to inches instead of the " sign. I will slowly do the rest as time permits.

I can't automatically change all quotes to inches because quotes are used in more than one way.

For example:

"Fruit" is technically a synconium, that is, a fleshy, hollow receptacle with a small opening at the apex partly closed by small scales.

would become:

inches Fruit inches is technically a synconium, that is, a fleshy, hollow receptacle with a small opening at the apex partly closed by small scales.

Now THAT would be confusing!

We'll do it. Of course you can't, never thought of that, Dave. Thanks.

plantladylin said: :I see metric being used more and more and I always have to google to find the equivalent in inches, feet etc. I'm old and doubt that I could ever learn/remember the metric system ... but, I think it would sure make it easier if the entire world over used the same system.

I remember the big push in the 70's to change over to metric. There was too much push back at the time. At this point we all see plastic liter bottles, kph on our dash boards and if you use wrenches, mm more frequently than fractional inches. Very embarrassing. One of these days?

I've looked further into this and here is what I can do. I can check each entry in all the databoxes that contain a quote mark.

Then, check to see if there are any letters (A-Z). If there are, then don't change anything.

But if the entry only contains numbers, then assume it's safe to make the change.

I'm writing the script to do this right now and will run it soon.

This is done. 129,924 entries affecting 71,222 were updated!

Phew!

Indeed! Imagine doing those one-by-one.

Uhh what about feet?