We need a "what if?" plan for managing without an Alpha Five volunteer. That's most likely to be an Access person if I guess right. The database structure is well documented, DBF files will open directly, but what about FPT files? All but one are plain text memos.
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Re: Disaster plan
What are you asking for? Join at www.iadn.com so you can find other developers to back you up. Or perhaps search here for "Access". -
Re: Disaster plan
I am asking if Access can get data from FPT fields.
Exporting seems to work, so I could write an export operation, but why bother if the Access folk can get current data without the help.
The guys here have been fantastic help over the last umpteen years. We wouldn't have a database without them. But we need someone to show up weekly during the school year for free. As far as I know, only one other Girl Scout speaks A5, and he is in Florida.Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
I don't think access is going to be much of a help. Maybe I don't know enough for it to happen though.
Question: why does someone have to show up in person each week? Is there something that needs doing each week?Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
Hi, Sandy.
Do any of your volunteers have Access experience? An easy answer to your question is to let them take a crack at the data (using a copy of the database of course).
It may be time to do some cross-training with staff or volunteers. The IADN folks could provide technical support without having to actually be on-site.
-- tomComment
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Re: Disaster plan
I w3ould think that many on this forum could provide technical support with out having to be there. The question remains of why do they have to be there in person? there are so many ways to log in remotely if actually needed. Depending on circumstances, a few may even do it as a charitable gesture.Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
We have one lady who is comfortable creating reports in Access. The rest need help putting a file in D:\A5V11\Archives. Most of the weekly stuff is basic Windows, and any real coding is on my desktop at home at a different time.
There are copies of the database on many members' laptops and a lovely set of directions.
I am about to suggest they play with the database in Access. I know they can open the DBFs directly and the forms and scripts won't translate, but I was hoping someone would know about the FPTs.
The desired result is that someone with purse strings recognize how great A5 is and provide for the current app's maintenance. Not likely, but....Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
Sandy,
I did do a couple tests and they came up negative, but it has been years since I did anything in access. It may have been more me than the database/access.
Can you not automate their stuff more and/or let them us the report writer in alpha?
I am not trying to be rude, but I know you know your way around in alpha. runtime plus can let a user create their own reports, I believe. I never had a reason to use it , but others on here do it frequently.Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
Sandy,
The 16 FPT files are a mix of Bitmaps and Text records I believe.
Not sure why you need to use Access, although I realise that you have people with that knowledge.
You can purchase software to manage FPT's of there is this,
http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/uploadf...read-fpt-file/
http://file.org/extension/fpt#
http://dbfviewereditor.com/fpt-file-viewer.html $69
As Dave mentioned, you can use RT Plus to let users develop their own reports, so what sort of reports do you need which cannot be built from the Query Genie?
It should be easy enough to create a table with the most commonly required data and allow users to do data mining on it.Last edited by Ted Giles; 05-15-2014, 04:47 AM.See our Hybrid Option here;
https://hybridapps.example-software.com/
Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
They never recognize the need until it is no longer there.The desired result is that someone with purse strings recognize how great A5 is and provide for the current app's maintenance. Not likely, but....Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
FPT files happen for Memos, Bitmaps, and Image File References. But if I open the DBF of a DBF/FPT pair in OOCalc, all the memo text and the fully qualified path to the image file show. So the only data lost in a migration would be the bitmaps in Pix.dbf. Not bad.
The only reason for mentioning report is one person can do a report in Access. The other ladies are considerably less technical.Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
If one can make a report in access, it should be a breeze in alpha, but access may have gotten much better since I toyed with it years ago.Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
I'm sorry but I find this to be a thread that is .... about... what?
Sorry to be so blunt but I'm back with Steve Wood's in what is you circumstance, what are your problems, what are your barriers and constraints, and what are you trying to ultimately achieve. Maybe all that have engage with Sandy are well versed in Sandy's circumstances but this thread makes absolutely no sense to me. But must be just me...Mike W
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"I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"Comment
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Re: Disaster plan
The original question was how to read a FPT file outside of Alpha Five. That is the last piece needed to fill a request for a five year plan to maintain our database without me.
The short answer is opening a table in a spreadsheet shows the text in a memo field or the fully qualified name of the IFR, but it does not show a bitmap.
".FPT Contains memo fields, which are text fields of arbitrary length. This file is only present if you define memo field(s)."
Surprise! FPT also includes IFRs and BMPs - at least.Comment
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