Plant Base Data Support

Plant Base helper app to install and maintain database files. This does nothing else and therefore will be only of interest to users of the Plant Base Android edition.

Provides important on-device functions that can otherwise be achieved on a PC or Mac and then file transfer to the Android device. These infrequently required actions are not included in the main Plant Base encyclopaedia application in order to conserve resources.

There are three functions:

1 - Download the database files for Plant Base for initial installation or update. Can be run before or after installing the main app. The files are large and a good internet connection is required. They are saved in a PlantBase directory, which will be created if necessary.

2 - Merge data records between two copies of the database. This is normally needed after installing an updated release of the database files. Records are imported using your previous copy as input, so preserving user entered data, such as plant lists and any new plant data records.

3 - A compact database function. This cleans up and consolidates the data files, which is beneficial if there has been significant record amendment activity.

Each function has a Help display to explain about it. All these actions are intensive and lengthy processes, so should not be run when the device battery is low. Very old low powered phones may struggle to execute them, even though they are capable of running the main Plant Base app.