Client Server options

[TimStone]

Lots of good input here. I appreciate all the comments.

For now ( the next year ) I have been able to resolve the issue involving ADS. That gives me some time to work out alternatives. For now, I have code developed over many years ( updated and refined of course ) that I want to continue to offer in the marketplace. Because it uses ADS for multi-user, thats a good way to keep it.

There is a "new game in Town" called oData. It promises to change everything, and Microsoft has embraced it in a big way, making it integral to their new tool versions!

I still have one open question. Does anyone know of a program that can take current .dbf files and create a Datebase in SQL and import those existing files as tables ? There were some in the past for older versions of SQL, but I have not seen anything on the current versions.

Tim

[Armando]

Tim:

I still have one open question. Does anyone know of a program that can take current .dbf files and create a Datebase in SQL and import those existing files as tables ?

Search for dbf2sql

Regards

[Otto]

Hello Tim,

BTW, have you ever tried my AutoCode editor?

Best regards,
Otto

[TimStone]

Otto,

Not yet ... but I have been following the thread on it.

I think I'm swimming in a sea of "ToDo" tasks, and there are sharks out here !

Tim

[Otto]

HEllo Tim,

thank you for your answer.
Present demo expires by 30 April you have to download the new demo which is extended till 31 May.
Added syntax for METROPANEL and METROBUTTON.

http://www.atzwanger-software.com/fw/ACD5DEMO.Zip

Best regards,
Otto

[RuFerSo]

Tim: this is that you are looking for
http://www.easyfrom.net

Best regards Ruben Fernandez
(sorry for my English)

[Kleyber]

Tim:

I still have one open question. Does anyone know of a program that can take current .dbf files and create a Datebase in SQL and import those existing files as tables ?

Search for dbf2sql

Regards

Tim,

You can download at http://www.tkinformidia.net/dbf2sql-3.0.zip. It iport DBFs into MySQL or PostgreSQL databases.

[Richard Chidiak]

Tim

I do not think it is a good idea to import automatically dbf to sql , Table creation is fairly easy in sql and doing this will allow probably to review tables, set the primary key etc...

I have converted part of our dbfs to sql , it was straight and easy, here is a sample of a table creation, you will see it is not complicated. In order to load dbfs into sql tables i use php generated directly from my fivewin programs.

If you need help, let me know .
Below is a sample of a table creation

Hth

Richard

Code: Select all  Expand view

CREATE TABLE prospect
(
  idprospect   INT AUTO_INCREMENT, 
  nom          varchar(40),
  prenom       varchar(20),
  email        varchar(80),
 tel          varchar(10),
  fax          varchar(10), 
  mobile       varchar(10),
  adresse      varchar(40), 
  adresse2     varchar(40),   
 postal       varchar(05),
ville        varchar(40),     
logiciel     INT(02),     
tlogiciel    varchar(12),   
origine      varchar(01),      
datecreation DATETIME,
comment      text,
PRIMARY KEY (idprospect)
  );

 

[dutch]

I've read this topic and got a question.
How can we make the code that use several database such as DBF/MySql/MS-SQL without code modification?
We will void the problem, If we can select the Database Driver and all code will support it.

Anyway, I've been coding with DBFCDX for many years and got some problem.
It is not only point of index problem for file sharing but it is the weak point of large table also. I heard many gossip from my competition's sales that my program is really old fashion and some of IT guys said my program cannot handle the big database and stable for 50 workstations. It is suitable for 3-5 workstation. It is an idea from whom has not seen the program yet and customer will not look for us anymore (if they trust is voice).

I think the database is not the direct point of the problem. You must see the feature, coding (how much bug) and the error handle. If you program has not a problem with database but the feature are so boring and not useful. What is your choice? BUT IF THE CUSTOMER don't see the demonstration of my program because they heard my program is old fashion and not client-server. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT.

Now I use ADS for a year but the weak point is not free and big cost for a big site also. Free MS-SQL Express/MySql is a good choice also, if we can make the same code with all compatible with the ADS too.

My idea and thanks for read.
Dutch

[Rick Lipkin]

Dutch

ADS makes a SQLOLEDB client that will accept all the ADO code you use to be able to connect to any RDBS be it Sql Server, Oracle, dB2, MS Access.

http://www.connectionstrings.com/sybase-advantage

Code: Select all  Expand view

Provider=Advantage OLE DB Provider;User ID=adssys;Data Source=MyDataDictionaryPath;Advantage Server Type=ADS_REMOTE_SERVER;
 

All you have to do is to change your connection string to match your Database .. ADO is a standard MS class and you can tap into that with Harbour and xHarbour.

http://wiki.fivetechsoft.com/doku.php?i ... ted_stuffs

Rick Lipkin

[reinaldocrespo]

Hi, Tim;

Too bad I was away and did not see this thread before.

#1. I don't think you could ever have an issue with the re-seller license for ADS in North America. That's a very solvable problem.

#2. Sybase -now SAP would be crazy to kill the golden egg chicken. You have no idea how profitable ADS division is.

#3. No remote connection will give you triggers, FIPS compliant encryption, data security (no need to share or expose a directory to users), extended field types, event messaging, oData exposure, and the list goes on and on. Whenever you hear people compare ADS client-server technology to remote apps, they just don't understand the advantages of using triggers, RI rules, field constraints....

#4. ADS can actually help you learn and eventually master SQL just as you now master ISAM -one step at a time, and without totally stoping your dev cycle.

Just my 4 cents.

BTW- you should make plans to come to the next ADS Summit at Boise. I guarantee you will never regret it. I encourage any N. America harbour developer to come. It is well worth your time.


Reinaldo.

[TimStone]

Renaldo,

I wanted to stay with ADS but they were not thinking well. They finally decided to "extend" me for one more year. In that time I will be releasing a new update that expands my marketplace at least 10 fold, and that should make sales of their product take off.

Tim

[Otto]

Reinaldo,
maybe I miss something.
1. Can you please tell me why I should share or expose a directory to users using RDP.

2. I can't imagine how client server could be more stable as working locally (RDP) on the server if you use a WLAN connection and for example a mobile device like a PDA.
3. How could the transfer of data ever be as quick as sending only the changed pixels of the screen?
Best regards,
Otto

[reinaldocrespo]

Otto;

You are missing the point by so much, it ain't worth explaining.

Go work with SQL for a few years. Then come back and we'll talk about it.



Reinaldo.

[Otto]

Reinaldo,
Please excuse but I mend with missing in case of RDP.
Sure I know SQL. I have worked with SQL server for years. And I also tried ADS myself. And I think I also saw your video on the ADS homepage.
I don’t know how big the networks of Tim’s customers base are. I felt that his customers are like mines small companies. Therefore I suggested RDP as a solution for him.
It is now nearly over a year that I made my decision to go with my installations the RDP way and there are still questions I have how to organize best the workflow.
But times are changing and for my business ( up to 5 concurrent users) RDP offers a very good solution.
RDP advances rapidly. And Windows Server 2012 offers much more possibilities.

I post here a part from a paper which encourage me and confirmed my resolution:

You are aware of the limitations of DBFCDX in multi user environment. They are required to provide applications to be used by more clients and also over internet. That is the reason to look for alternatives.

Upto 5/6 users DBFCDX is okay. Actually this limit depends on how data intensive and how large are the data tables.

In my view this should not affect WinHotel because the size of DBFs is small and most importantly you are relying more on remote desktop. Performance penalties are very minimum. DBFCDX should serve the purpose with adequate dependability.

Quick review of other alternatives:

1. ADS. This is costly. Some of our developers are taking ADS partnership and selling ADS along with their application. They get price of application as well as margin from ADS for sale of ADS products.

PROS: Rock solid. No index maintenance is needed. Takes full advantage of both ISAM (for browses) and porting legacy code and at the same time SQL of RDMS with the great power for complex queries. Calculations are done on the server and only summary comes to server reducing network traffic and also highly improves speeds.
Free from the limitations of DBFCDX, importantly size. Better performance with more concurrent users and larger tables.
CONS: Cost
Porting problems from legacy ciode ( few but there are issues)
To take full advantage of SQL we need to recode.

2. SQL/RDMS like MySql or its replacements
PROS: FREE
Rock solid databases and limited or no maintenance like ADS
Good performace with unlimited concurrent connections and with very large tables
Advantage of using SQL for complex queries / jobs
CONS Time taken to port the legacy code
Change from RDD kind of programming

My Opinion:
Converting WinHotel to any other RDBMS is now a very big task. Conversion times will be very high/
Conversion to ADS is less time consuming, but it COSTS more to your clients and the benefits may not worth the effort and price.
As it is DBFCDX appears to be quite adequate for the purpose.

Why is thin client and remote desktop computing getting so much attention these days? What are some of the business factors that have changed within recent years to make these applications desirable?
http://enterprisefeatures.com/2011/04/frequently-asked-thin-computing-questions-faq/

Best regards,
Otto