CompuPed©, from RCI Software of Loveland, CO is a widely used and reliable program that provides a variety of pedigree and genetic analysis function that are similar to some of those provided by SeaJay. Each, however, provides some functionality that the other doesn't, and some of the complementary functions are produced or formatted differently.
The following is presented to outline some of these differences to help Users decide which package most closely fits their needs and also to help clear up any confusion caused when SeaJay and CompuPed results differ.
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Platforms Supported
CompuPed runs on DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, or Windows 2000® systems and will operate efficiently on older computers of modest power. SeaJay, on the other hand, operates only on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000® systems.
CompuPed, then, is the better choice when wide platform support is necessary or desirable.
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User Interface
SeaJay uses the standard Windows® interface while CompuPed uses its own proprietary interface. As a result, SeaJay can be used almost immediately by anyone familiar with the Windows Operating Environment. CompuPed, on the other hand, requires that Users learn its specialized environment.
Because SeaJay is a standard Windows program it automatically provides support for all the Windows features such a network operation, email support, and plug and play compatibility.
SeaJay, then, is the better choice when familiarity, standardization, and environmental compatibility is desirable.
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CompuPed is Faster
Because CompuPed operates in its own specialized environment and uses its own specialized database, it offers speed advantage over SeaJay, which operates in a generalized environment with a generalized database. You will find that most complementary functions run somewhat faster under CompuPed than they do under SeaJay.
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CompuPed's Database is proprietary, SeaJay's is standard
CompuPed's Database is a small, proprietary, specialized, structure that is optimized for its functionality but is also restricted to that functionality. In other words, the things that CompuPed allows you to do with your data is done very efficiently but these are the only things that you can do with your data.
SeaJay's Database is a larger, standard, relational database managed by Microsoft Access97®, a ubiquitous relational database management system that comes packaged with the Professional Version of Microsoft Office97®. This database can be used by both SeaJay and by many other products that are compatible with Access. Microsoft Word®, for example, is one of these. SeaJay data can be openly viewed, extracted, and operated upon by other programs. The SeaJay Database can be modified and extended by Users. Specialized reports can be created outside of SeaJay.
CompuPed is a better choice if size and speed are primary considerations, and all your current and projected needs for your data are well served by the CompuPed functions. SeaJay is the product of choice when control over your data and flexibility are of importance.
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Arrow Pedigrees
SeaJay provides Arrow Pedigrees which are extremely useful in visualizing relationships between dogs. CompuPed does not have this capability.
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Show Entries
SeaJay provides the ability to create and print official AKC Dog Show Entry forms for any dog for any show. CompuPed does not have this capability.
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Show and Placement Reports
SeaJay provides the ability to report the results of AKC Conformation Show placements, including all Terrier Group and Cairn Terrier Breed Placements. CompuPed does not have this capability.
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Inbreeding Coefficient Computation
You will notice that, when all other things are equal, that the Inbreeding Coefficients computed for a particular dog are often different when computed by CompuPed and SeaJay. The result is often a small, not usually significant, difference. These differences result from two reasons. First, the SeaJay and CompuPed Databases contain different Ancestors in a pedigree due either to errors or lack of completeness in one or the other. Second, Inbreeding Coefficients depend upon the previously computed Inbreeding Coefficients of Common Ancestors in a Pedigree. When these are different, the resulting Inbreeding Coefficient of the Subject Dog will also be different.
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Genetic Influences
A more major difference between the two programs is in the measures that each uses in its respective genetic analysis reports. CompuPed measures the influence of ancestors by the " total percent homozygosity". This is also known as the "percentage of blood". SeaJay, on the other hand uses "Relationship Coefficients". The difference between the two is that Relationship Coefficients fully factor in the effects of Inbreeding. The Percentage of Blood does not. As a result, a Relationship Coefficient between a particular dog and a particular ancestor will tend to the higher than its Percentage of Blood Relationship to that ancestor. Geneticists prefer the Relationship Coefficient as the more meaningful measure.
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