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Best A5V5 reference book

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    Best A5V5 reference book

    I am just finishing a class at Bossier Parish Community College on Alpha5 in which we learn the basics of the program. I would like to learn more and was wanting to get your opinion on which book/manual/reference would be the best to help me move forward from this point.

    Thanks for your input.
    Gerald

    #2
    RE: Best A5V5 reference book

    Gerald,

    I've found that once you understand the basics, the best way to truly learn A5 is to dive in and try things. When you run up against something you can't figure out -- search this board. If you can't find a previous post that solves your problem, post your questions here.

    The people on this board have taught me much more than any of the 4 books I've bought. The books were good for helping me to understand the basic concepts -- but this board is the best reference for A5 that there is!

    Charlain

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Best A5V5 reference book

      Charlain,
      Thanks for the input. This message board is one resource that I do plan on using.

      It is just that I like to try and solve my problems myself (hence the reason for the book) before I start asking others to solve them for me.

      Also I know that I will not be able to solve every problem that comes up, that is why I am thankful for this resource (message board) and all the knowledgeable people that participate on it.

      Gerald

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Best A5V5 reference book

        the PDF's that come with it are good. Also there is a chm help file for xbasic and for xdialog you can download. Together, these are quite adequate. Go to Alph's web site - Learning Center on the panel, and then download what you need - but be sure to get the chm's - I have the xbasic one in my quicklaunch/taskbar for quick loading
        Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
        972 524 8714
        [email protected]

        ____________________
        "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

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          #5
          RE: Best A5V5 reference book

          Gerald,

          What did the course cover? What do you want to know more about?

          I have four different A5 books by 3rd party authors, and will be happy to let you know if I think any of them will help you, once I know what you've learned already and what you feel like you need to know more about.

          Charlain

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Best A5V5 reference book

            Martin,

            Thanks, this works for me.

            Gerald

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Best A5V5 reference book

              I'm also in the process of ramping up on A5. My path has been as follows:

              1) print each and every PDF, commit to 3-ring binder, and read/skim each page. This includes the ones that explain AlphaSports, etc. In contrast to other software, the documentation is really very good.

              2) review AlphaSports for UI or contructs that I like, and recreate them in my own dummy app.

              3) use my dummy app to pile on as many objects and operations that seem interesting. eg.: creating an email button that pulls data from the record, sends an email to myself, etc. I also try to break my dummy app so I know the limitations of Alpha, and where I need to develop workarounds.

              4) Play with standard options like spellcheck, toolbars, menus, etc.

              5) REVIEW THIS FORUM. As said before, this is a great place to learn Alpha. Especially search for a thread using "Screen Shots" for visual examples of the work others have done.

              6) Pull up my favorite non-Alpha program (eg. Outlook, Palm, etc.) and try to recreate the same environment (you can!)

              7) compare to my previous development environment (DataEase) and try to unlearn where required. eg. DataEase requires a relationship between tables to create a lookup, not so with Alpha.

              ----

              This hammering-on-it style still requires me to go back and learn the basics. For example, when building Forms, I don't always know when to use a Set, when to use a Table. But this approach keeps my interest level on high

              Steve Wood
              See my profile on IADN

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Best A5V5 reference book

                Steve:
                Welcome. Excellent methodology !!!!
                I hope all Alpha Five newcomers read your message.
                Look forward to seeing more posts from you in the future.
                Bob

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Best A5V5 reference book

                  Hi Steve!

                  >>7) compare to my previous development environment (DataEase) and try to unlearn where required. eg. DataEase requires a relationship between tables to create a lookup, not so with Alpha.
                  SwissCharles
                  Between the Alps and a comfy place

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Best A5V5 reference book

                    Steve,
                    Excellent suggestion! Thanks for the help and guidance.

                    Gerald

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Best A5V5 reference book

                      Charles;

                      Yes I saw you here earlier. "Charles of the Swiss" wasn't it?

                      Overall A5 has more potential and the staff seems more dedicated to put out a superior product, but I do miss some portions of how DataEase approached the development environment. I think some of that is my need to 'gain rhythm' in this new platform. But then again, I also miss some portions of the old DOS system. With DOS, one could stare through the monitor, into the distance, and finger-stroke away, at one with the keyboard and the application.
                      Steve Wood
                      See my profile on IADN

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Best A5V5 reference book

                        Hi Steve,

                        Yep, it was "Charles of the Switz" aka "between the Alps and a hard place" :-)

                        Yes, It's such a pity, that DataEase didn't quite cut it anymore :-(

                        Though, once the 're-think' process comes to a certain point, A5 can be as intuitive regarding the basic set of everyday's task IMO. It's the vast amount of available functions/methods/genies/documentation/features (of which you don't even find a trace in DataEase) which I found to be almost daunting at the beginning. Not that I am complaining - unlike other good things in life, one never can have too much of these things - in an IDE :-)

                        It all is such a pity, given the great potential, DE once had in it. But alas - times are changing...

                        See you

                        Charles
                        SwissCharles
                        Between the Alps and a comfy place

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