Tutorial: Editing Entries in the Database

You can edit entries in the Musi-Cal database for which you are responsible using either the email interface or the Web interface at http://www.musi-cal.com/edit.html. This document describes the email interface.

Editing entries is a two-step process. During the first step you send an edit command to the list processor that selects one or more entries to change and returns them to you. During the second step you modify the reply and send it back to the list processor.

The edit command accepts the same fields as the get command. Additionally, it constrains the result to those entries you submitted or for which you are listed as an editor. (To see about becoming an editor for a particular artist or venue, send email to concertmaster@musi-cal.com.) A simple edit command is

    edit
        city Regina
        state SK
    end

The result will be a message containing (hopefully) one or more change commands similar to

    change
        id 19950330-239
    to
        type folk
        performer Bogle,Eric
        date 03 May 1995
        city Regina
        state SK
        venue Holy Rosary Hall
        info (306)949-6594
    end
    change
        id 19950405-7742
    to
        type folk
        performer Kaldor,Connie
        date 20 April 1995
        city Regina
        state SK
        venue Travelodge Conference Room
    end

To change the entry, simply change the relevant fields in the response. For instance, in the example above, if Boogaloo Bob was to be added to the Connie Kaldor entry above, edit it to

    change
        id 19950405-7742
    to
        performer Kaldor,Connie/Boogaloo Bob
    end

To add new fields (such as missing info, event or keywords fields), add them into the second section of the change command:

    change
        id 19950330-239
    to
        event Regina Folk Festival
    end

To delete an entry entirely, use the id as a field in a delete command:

    delete
        id 19950330-239
    end

Once you are satisfied with the changes, return the result via email to concerts@musi-cal.com.

Making Wholesale Updates to Itineraries

If you are responsible for a set of entries for a single artist or venue in Musi-Cal, you should consider the use of special keywords that allow you to delete entire blocks of entries. This is most helpful when used in concert with the Slicer-Dicer, or transparently through the itinerary@musi-cal.com email alias.