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Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

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    Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

    I'm a newbie here with Alpha5 and need to run some reports off the alpha5 tables. Is it possible to use regular SQL Statements to do this, or will I have to learn Alpha5's methods/operations to do it ?

    #2
    RE: Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

    Tracy,
    You'll have to use Alpha techniques. So in Alpha you make a report and in an easy to use interface you create a filter. The filter acts as your SQL statement and is for the most part a very easy thing to do.
    John

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      #3
      RE: Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5


      Thanks for the heads up John. This has been really frustrating as I know what I want to say in sql to gather the data, but can't seem to find the translation in alpha.
      I'm hoping I don't have to have a refresher course in xbasic to do this.

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

        Alpha Five is designed to allow you to do many things without programming. It takes a bit of time to learn where things are and how to make them work, but finding what you want is usually the hardest part.

        If you want to program, you certainly can, and the script recorder will record your actions in xbasic to give you a starting point. However, form and report construction are done in the layout editor, not through programming.

        A5 was originally billed as the relational database for non-programmers, and it can do more without programming than any other database I know about.

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          #5
          RE: Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

          Tracy,

          The expression language built into Alpha Five is a lot like that in dBase and FoxPro (all have their little differences -- just like diferent versions of transactional SQL as contained in Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, etc.).

          In fact it's not that different than SQL, other than the expressions seem to me to be more algebraic. You can put most queries together (and save them for recall) with the Expression Builder and perhaps, at first, the expressions-functions section of the manual handy.

          Once you see how the basic syntax works, I believe that you will catch on very fast as SQL is a lot more cumbersome and inefficient that Alpha's language.

          I also think that you will be impressed with Alpha's speed at processing your expressions and operations; and I know you will come to love (as the rest of us here have) the increased capabilities and precision that Alpha Five's language (not to be confused with XBasic -- Alpha's built-in programming language) provides.

          You can think of Alpha's expression language as a parrallel to SQL, and XBasic as the same to VBA. You can run one from within the other -- if anmd when you wish.

          Regards,

          Geoff Hollander

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            #6
            RE: Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

            Yes, once I'm stop try to think in sql terms, its making a little more sense to me. Specifically, I'm want to run reports for accounting from a master table of "charges" and
            child tables of "write-offs", "adjustments", & "payments"..

            I'm really been looking for expressions in alpha similiar to sql's Join & NOT IN.
            For example, I want to join all these tables in a query
            and show a report of all charges before a specific date and output in the report the amount owed (or overpayment) up to a specific user entered date.
            I'm thinking now instead of joining these tables in a sql statement, I will need to create a "set" and create a new
            report from that set. Then use the expression builder to filter the criteria.

            Let me know if I'm on the right track with this, I really feel handicapped here.

            Thanks for all your help !

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Is it possible to write SQL to Alpha5

              I believe you are correct. Creating a "set" (which is quickly done in the A5 control pannel, by right clicking and choosing "new") should produce the same result as an sql join.

              -Bill

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