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Looking for suggestions in becoming proficient in Alpha

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    Looking for suggestions in becoming proficient in Alpha

    Hi:

    My background is Microsoft Access/SQL Server. I've been using them both to develop applications for the past 14 years. I want to move our company's current desktop application to the web. I've been trying Alpha but I find it to be a very, very huge development platform with lots of options and easily get lost.

    I was wondering if the Giant Killer Training will get me proficient enough to know how things work in Alpha and eventually migrate our app to Alpha. I'm afraid to spend $500 in a training course and then to only cover the very basics. Thank you so much for any input, advice or suggestions.

    Andres Dominicci

    #2
    Dion knows his stuff.
    Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?
    Gregg
    https://paiza.io is a great site to test and share sql code

    Comment


      #3
      I learn most by asking questions and watching videos.
      The link below will let you search through thousands of videos.
      If you want to limit the souce to Alpha Anywhere, put alpha in the channel box.
      Video Finder (youshould-seethis.com)
      Gregg
      https://paiza.io is a great site to test and share sql code

      Comment


        #4
        Hi:

        In reply to
        "Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?​"

        I want to learn how to create web apps using my current SQL database. I would like to start by doing our sales order module first so we can make it available to our customers so they can start entering their own orders. Thank you for the quick response.

        Andres

        Comment


          #5
          You will want to start with a UX component.
          I would suggest using JSON form with view box controls or list controls.
          The video finder I posted in the previous post will do wonders.
          Gregg
          https://paiza.io is a great site to test and share sql code

          Comment


            #6
            Just a suggestion.
            Alpha is a whole different world to Access. The Db is much the same. You will need to "unlearn" Access methods and that will be difficult.
            Start easily with simple stuff on a small instance with SQL locally. Clear your mind of previous methods.
            Recommend you do not mess with the current application at the moment.
            Replicate the sales order module locally and practise. Once you are comfortable, again, replicate the S/O module on a server and run both in synch to make sure.
            Training is great, but the Web guys here will help you out a lot more. They have to get it right!
            See our Hybrid Option here;
            https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


            Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
            You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

            Comment


              #7
              I've been working with Alpha for about 15 years now. What helped me was having good mentors. That and just coding, designing, etc.. I would create really simple projects like name and address. Over time you become proficient.

              I can't speak to Alpha's product (Giant Killer) as I've never used it. My recommendation is, if it's in your budget, hire a developer that can act as a guide/mentor for you. I've helped many business professionals in this fashion when they wanted to do the developing themselves but needed a hand from time to time.
              Mike Brown - Contact Me
              Programmatic Technologies, LLC
              Programmatic-Technologies.com
              Independent Developer & Consultant​​

              Comment


                #8
                Few other things: Alpha has many templates included in their Developer. Login, user security, data entry, etc. You may learn a lot just by opening those templates and seeing how Alpha did it. Here is a link to an xbasic (server-side) guide: https://www.alphasoftware.com/hubfs/...basicGuide.pdf Alpha also has a YouTube channel. Tons of how-to videos there: https://www.youtube.com/@Alpha-Software/videos Finally, Alpha's documentation: https://documentation.alphasoftware.com/
                Mike Brown - Contact Me
                Programmatic Technologies, LLC
                Programmatic-Technologies.com
                Independent Developer & Consultant​​

                Comment


                  #9
                  I do believe you will not be disappointed.
                  If you decide to hire a mentor - make sure you have a goal.
                  This will help them help YOU.

                  My guess is, get your site online with users in security system (customers & admins)
                  create a login component that directs customers to a sales page maybe and an admin to a page to edit the sales page items...it's all HTML in the end!
                  maybe an end goal of a tabbedUi - fairly easy way to get a site up and running!


                  That alone would probably cover a LOT of ground getting there from scratch, especially if you do not already have a DB setup with security or a domain.
                  regardless, have a goal - achieve that goal - money well spent!

                  NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

                  Comment


                    #10
                    A couple of quick questions to better help you out and some of my tips:

                    -Are you leaving Access entirely?
                    -MS SQL and MySQL both work well (I prefer MS SQL significantly more though [mainly for the f5 execute and it's less nuanced]).
                    -I could help you out some. A simple login screen and main page component are fairly straightforward.
                    -I recommend using lists and never grids (I do not use view boxes or JSON Forms, but hear great things. I'm waiting for them to be developed out more, but at this point, I think I'm just procrastinating).
                    -I do not recommend using xbasic, but make your server do all of the work, and use a little bit of JavaScript to make your component do what you want.
                    -Alpha has a TON of built in features, and you'll find new things all the time.
                    -For your server, go IIS. I think that's kind of the way forward.
                    -AlwaysUp is worth every dollar for your server.

                    (Everyone else, please add or pick my suggestions apart. I'm here to learn too.)

                    Comment


                      #11
                      lol, and I love xbasic - man you can use curl functions and other APIs so easily with curl to xbasic - and a ton of other server-side uses (session variables, log things to console, pull things in, etc.) IMO xbasic is definately something I think the majority of users actually do use throughout development!
                      Also, the AA server is much easier to get going over IIS at least again - IMO.

                      I think it's pretty obvious, AA can be used to achieve a goal in many different ways - and it's different for all of us! Probably one of it's strongest suits is how versatile it is - if you're willing to set aside the fantastic support you will get from the AA staff if there's a problem.
                      NWCOPRO: Nuisance Wildlife Control Software My Application: http://www.nwcopro.com "Without forgetting, we would have no memory at all...now what was I saying?"

                      Comment

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