RishiRahul wrote:Thanks again Dada.
ADB is also available at the web; or is it something else that I dont understand.
Rishi
Rishi,
The actual database of birthdata and bio information was prepared, amassed by Lois M. Rodden, but it was simply a bunch of records in a text, wordprocessor format.
Then Mark Donough joined forces with Lois and produced it in a database format (searchable, sortable, etc). He converted the Rodden birth records into an access database and the two (birthdata records and the ADB access based software became a useful tool. At first using only western tropical criteria, eventually it also began vedic astrology criteria and different ayanamshas. It still remained a limited product (from vedic parameters point of view) as many things and terms that are of great interest to vedic astrology researchers are not supported. All the information is there but not utilized -- as is true for the research component of all vedic software. Western based research tools such as Jigsaw and others are way more powerfull but ONLY for western framework.
In order to protect exclusivity, ADB remained a locked software and so while birthdata updates still continue, its database manager function is crippled. The later versions, from what I hear, were designed by one Indian programmer.
After the 'surprising' and abrupt pull-out from the market, ADB has become an orphan, in the sense of the programming aspect.
Users can still add new birthdata etc and even create new personal databases, but are stuck with the searchable parameters programmed by the ADB company. The birthdata update is still supported by Astrodienst, and to their credit they have basically kept ADB (the orphan!) alive by CPR, but it is like a brain-dead comatosed patient! New search strategies cannot be added, and it seems that no one really cares to go through the hassle! All birthdata etc are in the public domain, courtesy of astrodienst after their acquisition of ADB, but the search strategy is missing. It is IRONICAL that the database of Lois Rodden, originally was created in the same discrete records (individual records) manner, and now is back in a sense to the same or similar original form :-(
The fault is not Mark Donough's or Astrodienst's. The fault lies squarely on the vibrant Jyotish communities who talk about research all the time, but never raised a finger to support a worthy product like ADB. Poor sales make any product unsustainable! The same is true for calculation software. Very few products have remained alive but many many more software have met with untimely and undeserving demise! At least in the past 20+ years that I have been monitoring the scene!
Love, Light, Lament!
Rohiniranjan