Problem (BUG?) with Databases deleting/vanishing!!!!

[jag]

Oh no!!! Not again!!!!!!!!!

It appears that the iPhone version of HanDBase is suffering the same fate as the Palm version of HanDBase. However, I was assured that the Palm version was doomed because of a OS file system bug; not HanDBase's fault. Was encouraged to move to iPhone HanDBase to avoid the horror of losing a databases.

Well, it is happening to my iPhone HanDBase too! I am losing databases automatically!!! Is the iOS file system also buggy? Or could it possibly be the same problem that was causing Palm HanDBase databases to be deleted automatically. Is it possible that the Palm OS's file system problem was not the reason for the Palm HanDBasae databases being deleted, but a problem with the HanDBase code itself? I strongly think the latter to be a high possibility.

I have read others have lost databases with no reason. Anyone else being plagued with this horrible bug???
Why is this happening Dave? Brian? Anyone???

[dhaupert]

Jonathan,

Can you check when connected via iTunes (via the File Sharing app) to see if the files are truly there? HanDBase only shows valid databases in its list of databases, so any that have become corrupt will often not show up. Let me know if you see the file there. If you don't, a few other questions:

1. How much free space is currently on your device? You can check via the About screen.

2. Do you synchronize with the conduit on the desktop? If so, can you please check the log for the last syncs and see if there are any clues. Feel free to email the log to me if you'd like.

3. Are you set to sync to iCloud or the USB connection to iTunes? You can check this via your iTunes connection in the summary section I believe.

Let me know. Regarding the disappearing databases, I have never been dishonest about the bugs with the Palm or iPhone. I always disclose what is found on my end, whether it is my bug or someone else's. And the Palm deleting of files was not just something that effected HanDBase, many other data heavy apps had this same problem. Additionally, they later fixed the bug in the OS but never updated several devices with the fix, so there is more than enough evidence to prove my case there!

Thus far on iPhone there have been one or two cases where someone has lost a database. There have been a bunch more that had data corruption, which is a separate issue entirely (and a big problem, I do admit). But a database disappearing is not a widespread problem and something I've only heard of since the iOS5 update. I don't know enough to say for sure where the problem lies, but with your help perhaps I can find the cause and a solution.

One thing I'm sure of is that the old Palm issue and this issue are unrelated. There is no code shared between the iPhone and Palm version that involves deleting files, the only code that is shared is in regards to the reading of the database structures and such. All UI and file operations are rewritten on each platform!

[jag]

Connected to iTunes and database file is not there :-(
I have 162MB free space on my iPod Touch 4G (8GB)
I do not sync via conduit on desktop, sorry.
Not syncing to iCloud.

I am not questioning your honesty regarding the databases disappearing on Palm.

What I have always questioned is whether databases corrupting (both on Palm and iPhone) would be a cause for the databases to be deleted by the OS. I mean, if I was the OS, I would ensure that no corrupted file was around to cause harm to the rest of the system.

Is the iOS capable of deleting corrupted database files? I assume the answer is YES.
And the million dollar question, why are databases corrupting?
Which is the same question that was never answered for the Palm platform of HanDBase.
Ofourse the code would be different in Palm and iOS, but surely they share the same algorithm! Which would lead to similar results, right?

[Brian_Houghton]

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for posting. Even though you don't sync with the desktop regularly, do you sync with iTunes periodically? If so, there's a third party tool I can recommend that will allow you to extract files from the iTunes binary backup. This could be done for the purpose of recovering a file.

Next, if you mentioned this I apologize for overlooking it, but when do you notice the file is missing? For example, have you been working with another file in HanDBase and return to the database selection screen to find that a particular database is missing? ... or are you using the database, leave HanDBase for a while and then return to it only to find the database you were using is gone? Any tips on your usage scenario would be helpful. Also, you mention databaseS. Did you lose multiple databases?

[Brian_Houghton]

In HanDBase's settings, set "background closes databases" to always. Let me know if this makes any difference in your databases disappearing. This might provide a clue as per your issue.

[jag]

Thanks for posting. Even though you don't sync with the desktop regularly, do you sync with iTunes periodically? If so, there's a third party tool I can recommend that will allow you to extract files from the iTunes binary backup. This could be done for the purpose of recovering a file.

No, I don't use iTunes very much, it stresses me out too much. But I do use another tool that enables me to access my iPod Touch photos with ease. I am very interested in the binary extraction tool you have mentioned. Please post here or email to jag@omnifico.com

Next, if you mentioned this I apologize for overlooking it, but when do you notice the file is missing? For example, have you been working with another file in HanDBase and return to the database selection screen to find that a particular database is missing? ... or are you using the database, leave HanDBase for a while and then return to it only to find the database you were using is gone? Any tips on your usage scenario would be helpful. Also, you mention databaseS. Did you lose multiple databases?

I have lost two databases so far. One, was deleted after going to other apps. The most recent one got deleted before my very eyes. It was taking forever to load (I was timing it), then HanDBase closed (crashed?) and when I returned to HanDBase it was gone. At first I thought it had moved categories, but no, it was really gone!

[jag]

In HanDBase's settings, set "background closes databases" to always. Let me know if this makes any difference in your databases disappearing. This might provide a clue as per your issue.

It's already set to "Always close all databases"
Any more tips will be greatly appreciated!

[Brian_Houghton]

The iTunes binary backup extractors are:

Windows: www.iphonebackupextractor.com
Mac: www.supercrazyawesome.com

I'm suspecting that somehow the crash deleted the database, or corrupted it to the point that it is not visible to HanDBase any longer. Dave can chime in later...

[jag]

Thanks for the link Brian, I have paid and downloaded registered version. Will try asap. Also, I will look into buying your Conduit for Windows/iPhone. Does it need to be installed in same computer as iTune? Also, does it rely on having to backup databases in iTunes prior to using Conduit? Sorry for all the newbie questions!

[Brian_Houghton]

A HanDBase addon is completely independent of iTunes. It syncs via a wifi connection made between your iPod Touch and your computer. This functions on a local network only at this time.

It is a good way to archive databases and sync with the desktop if wanted/needed.

Demos are available at http://www.ddhsoftware.com/handbasedesktopwinios.html