Alpha5 "for non-programmers". That's BS!

[braveulysses]

No prior experience here to get in the way. The last thing I coded was MS Basic on a TRS-80 (Model III - we where ahead of the times in our school...)waaaay back in the dreamtime. That, and a little bit of machine code for when I was feeling masochistic. (c: I can't remember any of it now, so it doesn't intrude - just my calcified brain, I guess. And I DON'T want to code - no time or inclination these days; just being able to make the d**n thing work at all would make me a happy little vegemite - but it will come, in time. Trouble is, time is short; this application is needed next week-end (can you spell dis-organised?)

Thanks for the advice - I will try to refrain from becoming frustrating. (c;
Rob

[trackmanpete]

I thought Radio Shack was going to blow IBM away with it's cute "portable" that I used to carry everywhere. I also used Basic back then and found it fun and easier to work with than x-basic today (ah, but those were the simple days of limited memory and simple programs). That exposure to "programming" in my opinion does somewhat get in the way of how Alpha works, as there is the constant desire to want to "write" directions, as I did back then.

Of course, setting short term deadlines puts additional pressure on you that will short circuit your ability to learn at a comfortable pace. I would compare your effort to finish a database program to trying to finish a marathon on only a month's worth of training.....:)

You may want to look at some of the sample programs available with the Alpha Five and try modifying it to your needs.

Best wishes,

Pete Schuder

[braveulysses]

No problems with the wanting to write code - it was over half a lifetime ago! And the Trash-80 Mk3 wasn't all that portable - fixed keyboard and monitor (green screen - YAY!!!!) , 5 1/4" floppy drive and a tape player to save/load large programs - what a hoot! The Apple II we had there as well looked like it came from 2001 - really modern stuff...
And yeah, time pressure is a real pain - but I've been working on this thing on and off for a couple of years (thru various iterations of the db and A5), and very little seems to have seeped into the brain - I've managed more in the last fortnight than I ever have. Can't seem to find a sample that is even close to what I need - I'm working very simply, as we don't have a lot to track - it's mostly just to speed up out paperwork. I'll get it working, or die in the attempt...

Thanks for the input
Rob

[braveulysses]

Yeah, I know - long story, involving Cream, Led Zep and sundry others. I try to use the same nick everywhere I go, so that the ppl I p**s off know who to avoid. (c:

Seriously, with my limited mental faculties these days (don't ever let yourself suffer from deep vein thrombosis - it will seriously stuff up your life), I try to keep nicks and passwords the same wherever I go, so I don't forget who I am when I get there.

Rob

[Bill]

Snapper,
I feel your pain. For example, I came across this thread doing a search for "developers", hoping I could find some direction/instruction/ideas for developing my application for other users.
I'm absolutely certain that what I want exists somewhere on this message board, I just haven't figured out the secret handshake yet, and the battery in my special decoder ring died.
I get very frustrated with the program and with myself (who I blame, at any given point in time, depends on the situation and how much coffee I've had). I also get frustrated with people here on the board. I have, on many occasions, been asked if I read this..., or searched for that..., before asking for help. Clearly the samaritans are frustrated with newbie-type questions that are repeated on a seemingly endless loop (which goes back to your original contention that this program is not as easy to use as advertised). It's annoying to feel like you have to preface your quesion with; "I've checked the help files, FAQs, and searched the message board's database..." (which I've found to be almost completely useless. User error? perhaps) to avoid being reprimanded. However, I have to remind myself that the people who are most able to help me, will have to know more than me and, thus, speak on a different level than I might easily understand. It's easy to remind myself of this because I've trolled through the board, hoping to give back, and frequently find that I can't offer help to the people on my level because I'm at this level.
That said, most of the people here have good intentions and will go out of their way to help others. None of them deserve to be crucified for their goodwill, so I'm glad you were able to regain your senses and make your apologies to Tom. He has helped, or attempted to help, many people (myself included) on many occasions.

[Peter.Greulich]

Yeah, I know - long story, involving Cream, Led Zep and sundry others. I try to use the same nick everywhere I go, so that the ppl I p**s off know who to avoid. (c:

No need to apologize. I was just giving you a hard time (sort of, but not really). I'd rather keep things interesting - that's why I commented. Otherwise, things can get pretty boring around here at times :)

[MoGrace]

Hi Bill,
You have a friend here! In the meantime I am building a pedestal for Tom...

[jmatienza]

This thread should be required reading

I didn't learn a thing on this thread--except that I'm not alone in my doubts and frustrations. And as a newbie, let me tell you, there are few facts more encouraging. As a result of reading this thread, I am more optimistic than ever that I'll make something out of this purchase. Someday.

By the way, is there any particular reason why this thread should be on the Version 6 forum?

[SteveHanson]

Re: Alpha5 "for non-programmers". That's BS!

Interesting thread. I'm new here and am learning how to use A5v7.
I'm also fairly ancient and have been working in this field for 35 years - all the way back to 4 bit machines with a whopping 1k of memory.
Programming is really a relative term. Relative to what? Relative to the tools you have to work with.
Whether you press a button and an application magically appears or if you have to build it from ground zero one routine at a time, it really becomes an issue of the time it takes. It really is more simple to find the right button than to write the machine code to decipher if someone just pressed a button.
Still, if it takes you 6 months to find the right button, well, the issue is the time it takes isn't it.
What would be really ideal is to be able to peel this tool back in layers based upon answers to simple questions given to new users. In other words, only show the tools available that match the skills and/or needs of the person answering the questions.
The issue is the implication of what one has to learn to do what they want. And at this stage of its identity A5 is approaching vast dimensions. Dimensions that the newbie doesn't even need to know exist. The newbies are being overwhelmed with the breadth of the tool they thought was going to be easy.

When the user needs to do something that isn't available (coding in xbasic, for instance), they need to be able to initiate a drill deeper request which, based upon additional questions and answers will expose more tools - but again, only the tools necessary to do what they want.
That implies a user profile, i.e. a proficiency profile.
In a more general sense, a 'needs' profile too.
That implies a relationship between the user and the toolbox.
But like all such things, once we start focusing on this as a subject, patterns begin to emerge and order comes out of confusion.

.

[jmatienza]

Re: Alpha5 "for non-programmers". That's BS!

And at this stage of its identity A5 is approaching vast dimensions. Dimensions that the newbie doesn't even need to know exist. The newbies are being overwhelmed with the breadth of the tool they thought was going to be easy.

When the user needs to do something that isn't available (coding in xbasic, for instance), they need to be able to initiate a drill deeper request which, based upon additional questions and answers will expose more tools - but again, only the tools necessary to do what they want.
That implies a user profile, i.e. a proficiency profile.
In a more general sense, a 'needs' profile too.
That implies a relationship between the user and the toolbox.
But like all such things, once we start focusing on this as a subject, patterns begin to emerge and order comes out of confusion.

Hi, Steve.

I think you're on to something important. Gradually exposing the visible tools in response to the user's skills is something I feel Alpha has to seriously consider implementing, considering that they have positioned themselves as a "newbie's database".

[SteveHanson]

Re: Alpha5 "for non-programmers". That's BS!

I think so too. Incidentally, I am becoming quite fond of alpha. I have progressed farther and faster with this application in one week than I did with MS Access in 6 months. To be fair though, MS Access probably laid a lot of groundwork for making this easy.
But their approach (alpha) is so very fine. I have no doubt that they are becoming quite focused on issues such as this.
It's good to be part of that even if it's just from the user's point of view.

[mark8ter]

Re: Transferring Alpha 4 to Alpha 5V7

Defining Alpha five a database for non-programmers is akin to designating a bicycle for non-professional racers. Novices come at all levels. I am frequently designated by my peers as a �computer whiz�; freely translated, a computer whiz seems to be anyone who knows a tad more about computers than ones self. Alpha Five can only be considered software for non-programmers if �programmers� by definition are those who derive their principal income from programming. Anything short of that will have to bear the burden of compromising what others can achieve with Alpha Five.

I have been a customer of Alpha Software since 1991, starting with Alpha 4, Version 2. I have since purchased every series of Alpha 4 up to V7 and Alpha Five versions through Windows 3.1, 95, 98 and most recently Version 7. I sprung for a thousand dollars purchasing a run time program I never used, a 12 audio tape tutorial and several manuals to supplement the available documentation which accompanied the various Alpha Fives. The bottom line: I can�t even figure out how to transfer my Alpha 4 files to Alpha Five.

I did manage to transfer an Alpha 4 file to Five vs. 5, only to discover my Alpha 4 file was no longer retrievable. (I know I should have backed it up.) but the same procedure did not work in Alpha 5 vs. 7. HELP,

I was able to build a fairly large organization using a nine table database. I used the relational properties, but it wasn�t very sophisticated. I believe that Alpha Products are outstanding, but as suggested, they have focused more on marketing than customer satisfaction. When I purchased my first Alpha Program, I received a three inch stack of documentation materials. Comprehensive documentation would make a world of difference not only in Alpha�s software utility, but customer satisfaction and ultimate sales.

Anybody know a way I can import my Alpha 4 files to Alpha 5, version 7? I would be extremely grateful for the imput.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Transferring Alpha 4 to Alpha 5V7

Anybody know a way I can import my Alpha 4 files to Alpha 5, version 7? I would be extremely grateful for the imput.

• Your dbf files are good as is.
• Your indicies *.mdx have to be rebuilt in A5 as they are *.cdx files in A5.
• If you have memo fields you will have to translate them to *.fpt format (can't remember the A4 memo extension). Alpha has a utility to do this somewhere.
• All forms, reports, etc. have to be rebuilt from scratch.

Check out this forum to help you:
http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...splay.php?f=23

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Transferring Alpha 4 to Alpha 5V7

Anybody know a way I can import my Alpha 4 files to Alpha 5, version 7? I would be extremely grateful for the imput.

Copy the .dbf and the .dbt of each A4 database (optionally there - only if the A4 database has a memo field) to the directory that holds the A5 database. Open A5 control panel to the database in the directory that you just put those files and then press the green plus sign and add those tables into the A5 database.

Remember sematics - that a A5 table is the same as an A4 database. An A5 database holds pointers to multiple tables

[mark8ter]

Re: Transferring Alpha 4 to Alpha 5V7

Thanks Peter, you have helped me solve one part of a dilemma. The rest is not Alpha related. It's comforting to know there are people like you available.