Presales type questions

[G.M.A. (Sandy) Corby]

I had a copy of Alpha Five several years back and found it to be unworkable for my needs at that time. I have come full circle now looking for a product that would make development possible without hurting myself--I think that means robust, easy to use and you can pick up the documentation without getting a hernia. On the other hand, the documents need to be other than criptic. I have kicked the tires on R:Base, Filemaker, Access, Delphi and find each f these to be too much of a gulp (Delphi), weak and skinny (Filemaker), obtuse (R:Base) and just plain silly (Access). So, as a kick the tires mode user I would like to know:

1) Does xbasic come with the $129 version? I did not come with the lowest level product offering in the past and I do not see an explicit statement about it on the web site.
2) Can the code be compiled?
3) Does it operate on a network without the network optimization module. This is important in kick the tires mode -- If I fell into a serious network need I would be more than happy to acquire the optimization module in the future.
4) Is the current version of XBasic a) a traditionally procedure oriented language or b) an attempt to cram object oriented constructs into a language platform that never wanted it in the first place or c) a reasonable and understandable object oriented language. Clearly answer (b) is the bad one but answer (C) can have serious implications in the area of application support. I am finding that most of my client sites are still more productive in development and support when object oriented languages are not used. (I wonder if anyone else has that experience?)
Many thanks for any insits you you folks can provide.

[Stan Mathews]

RE: Presales type questions

I'm answering from my experience, you'll have other answers I'm sure. As far as I am aware there are only two versions of Alpha sold in varying amounts of seat licenses. The "full" version with the capacity to create, design, and modify the various components, and the "runtime" version which allows users to access the data through the means devised by the developer using the "full" version. The full version, by definition, includes xbasic. The runtime does not as it would be meaningless.

There is no version without the network optimization feature. This is a menu choice that you access if you desire.

The code is not compiled. Your users have no way to modify the code, under runtime.

I have no experience with other object oriented languages. Alpha's implementation of objects seems extremely capable but not necessarily intuitive.

[Dan Blank]

RE: Presales type questions

The $129 version is a complete database program with all the bells and whistles included. It let's you use xbasic, and it has action scripting.

You can use it on the network, however, one liscense will only allow it to be accessed by one work station.

Most people write (develope) their database application using the full version, and put the finished product on the network. Then they purchase a Runtime (with liscense counts or an unlimited user count Runtime), and let other users use the finished product. [The Runtime has no design or programing features]

The network optimazion feature is up to you. It will work with it or without it. Although it will work faster with it.

Overall A5 is an excellent product, IMHO. This board is great at helping with answering questions. There are a couple of other web sites that will give you assistance.

It all boils down to if you can imagine it, it can be done, it just may not appear to be obivious, and will take some time.

Good Luck and Have Fun:
Dan

[forskare]

RE: Presales type questions

Sandy,

If you but the runtime version, it allows you to distribute limitless distributions. I believe the runtime includes the full version. I don't think you have to buy both. You can get a network licnese but that's a mute point unless you only want to do one network.

The runtime costs $399 and for another $100 you get a program similar to Install Shield. You might want to check out alphasoftware.com which I suspect you have as that is probably how you got to this message board.

I use Access at work and find that VB is more difficult than Xbasic but I do think Access is a bit more robust for creating applications w/o code. Alpha will be out with version 5 sometime late summer or early fall. Indications are that it will leave Access in the dust.

About this message board; The Access msg boards are a distant past compared to this one, both in format and the talent to draw from. I can't say enough about the help I've received; extermely knowledgeable and very patient.

ken

[French]

RE: Presales type questions

If you want to use the runtime, you must also purchase the full version. You develop your application using the full version, the runtime does nothing but run what you develop with the full version.