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Try a Search First
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Set design principles...

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    Set design principles...

    My search for finding information on this topic in the message board was fruitless so hears the general question...

    Is it better to try to keep your sets small and have more sets that support forms that can be called vs. having a just a couple of sets that drill down the relationships of the tables, creating much larger sets or does it matter?

    Some of the aspects for the question:
    1. How does A5 itself work better?
    2. Multi user environments?
    3. Reporting?
    4. Overall speed of performance?

    It seems to me that the alpha sports example embraces the smaller/more sets model. I find myself gravitating to the larger/less sets model and I'm concerned that I may be creating a future problem. Any thougts?
    Kim Dickerman

    #2
    Re: Set design principles...

    Arguably the single most important article ever written about Alpha Five (certainly the case for the issue of set design), by the master himself:

    http://www.learn alpha.com/SimplifyY...ifyYourApp.htm

    Ignore the reference to "version 4", the principle applies to any version of Alpha.
    Peter
    AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

    [email protected]
    https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


    Comment


      #3
      Re: Set design principles...

      Hi Kim,

      Originally posted by dickerman7239 View Post
      Is it better to try to keep your sets small and have more sets that support forms that can be called vs. having a just a couple of sets that drill down the relationships of the tables, creating much larger sets or does it matter?
      For every parent and child record being accessed, requires a record lock for each, a relatively high cost (in terms of speed) operation on ANY shared non-"True" client/server database (Alpha DBF's, Filemaker Pro, Access (normally anyway)). You want to reduce, within reason any extra locks that are not needed, so use simpler sets always. See my tips page here

      Originally posted by dickerman7239 View Post
      Some of the aspects for the question:
      1. How does A5 itself work better?
      2. Multi user environments?
      3. Reporting?
      4. Overall speed of performance?
      Read other tips on the same page

      Originally posted by dickerman7239 View Post
      It seems to me that the alpha sports example embraces the smaller/more sets model. I find myself gravitating to the larger/less sets model and I'm concerned that I may be creating a future problem. Any thougts?
      You will be creating a bigger problem. Smaller is always better, unless it is absolutely needed.
      Regards,

      Ira J. Perlow
      Computer Systems Design


      CSDA A5 Products
      New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
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      CSDA Code Utility
      CSDA Screen Capture


      Comment


        #4
        Re: Set design principles...

        All - Great feedback, I'm glad I asked! It appears that I was indeed setting the trap for myself. Back to the design board...
        Kim Dickerman

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