Where .qetdb stands: what works, what's next, and testers wanted

[ispyisail]

.qetdb keeps a whole QElectroTech project in one SQLite database file: no XML, no zip. It grew out of #1512. Here is where it stands, and how you can help.

In the development version now

• Save as .qetdb (Add saving a project as one database file, .qetdb (experimental) #1642). Experimental and off by default: Settings → Configure QElectroTech → General, tick Offer saving a project as one database file, .qetdb (experimental).
• Crash recovery (Add recovering a crashed project as it was after its last edit #1634): after a crash, QElectroTech offers the project as it was after your last edit. This works for every project, not only .qetdb.

Waiting for review

• Faster, and damaged files refused (Speed up opening and saving .qetdb projects, and refuse damaged ones #1647): a 136-folio project opens in 1.8 s instead of 82 s and saves in 0.7 s. A damaged or altered file is refused, and QElectroTech offers the previous version instead.

Built, coming next

• Reading projects from other programs: stable tables of folios, devices, wires and links for a spreadsheet or a script, and qelectrotech --query "SELECT …" *.qetdb over many projects at once (343 projects in 2 s).
• History of saves, if you switch it on: who saved what and when, which symbols and wires each save changed, a copy of the project as it was at any earlier save, and a copy without the history for sending to a client.

Later

• Issued revisions with a revision table and change list, merging two copies of a project, and a .qet that only changes where the project did, for people who keep projects in git.
• Making .qetdb the default is up to the maintainers, and won't happen before it has been well tested.

Testers wanted

A Windows test build with everything above except the history will follow in a reply here, in the next day. Keep your .qet or .qetz copy: this is experimental.

Once you have it, open one of your own projects, Save As .qetdb, close it and open it again, then tell us:

1. Does it look the same? Labels, wires, cross-references, title blocks.
2. How long do opening and saving take, compared with the .qet? Say how many folios it has.
3. Anything refused, lost or odd, with the exact message. Attach the project if you can share it; if not, say what is in it.

Big projects help most. Reply here or open an issue mentioning .qetdb.

[ispyisail]

The Windows test build is ready: https://github.com/ispyisail/qelectrotech-source-mirror/actions/runs/40890077036 (download qelectrotech-windows-portable-qt6 at the bottom of that page; GitHub asks you to sign in). Unzip it and run qelectrotech.exe.

It has #1647 and #1649, both now merged: the faster opening and saving, damaged files refused, and reading projects from other programs. It does not include the history of saves yet. The download is available until 8 December.