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Request recommendation on best table access method

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    Request recommendation on best table access method

    I began building an application in A5v11 using local DBF tables and GRID components. Recently I used the "upsize" genie to convert to a local SQL server database. This resulted in "active-link" tables.

    Multiple entries on the forum note that active-link tables are slow and have other drawbacks. So I created a connection-string and then called the tables directly from the GRIDs via connection strings.

    Unfortunately, I have found two problems with this:
    1. Access is MUCH slower using direct-connection SQL SELECT statements than with DBF or active-link structures. I have a high-end laptop with tons of memory and a solid SQL Server install. I would have expected a better response.
    2. It looks like all my record insert/update functions have to be re-written to use pure SQL


    I am beginning to work with the UX component. My two questions to the community are:
    1. What is the best and/or fastest method you are using to connect to tables from within GRIDs and/or UX components?
    2. Do you also build active-link tables in the Alpha development interface just so you can pop open tables for content review if not for actual use within GRIDs or UX-lists?


    Thanks,

    Allan

    #2
    Re: Request recommendation on best table access method

    Connection string to get to the SQL tables, no active-link tables at all. If you look in most of my web projects, the desktop control panel has no .dbfs at all.

    Yes, if you wrote code to work with your .dbfs, you'll have to re-write it for SQL. But better now than later when the job would just be bigger.
    -Steve
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      #3
      Re: Request recommendation on best table access method

      Thanks Steve.

      I just wanted to be sure there wasn't some other method people were using. I think I'll add in the active-link tables for my own "quick review" purposes but not for direct use in Alpha Five objects.

      This relates to another posting I had requesting recommended methods to handle DEV-to-PROD movement of the app (laptop to server).

      My conclusion at present is:
      1. Use DBFs for initial framing of the database (easy on-the-fly table re-design)
      2. Uprgrade to RDBMS tables as soon as database design stabilizes (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL), preferably using tools like Navicat rather than the "Upsize Genie"
      3. Create and test connection strings for DEV and PROD and name them accordingly (e.g., MyDatabaseName_DEV, MyDatabaseName_PROD)
      4. Create a connection string called "CURRENT" to point at either DEV or PROD depending on your current focus (e.g., MyDatabaseName_CURRENT)
      5. Make sure all GRID, DIALOG, UX, and XBASIC code refers to the "CURRENT" connection string (whatever you've named it)
      6. Then... simply switch the connection-string content for the CURRENT connection string as your app migrates from DEV to PROD (or back and forth)
      7. For data review but not for Alpha objects, create active-link tables for convenience (rather than TOAD, Navicat, PHPmyadmin, etc)


      Zeroing on a finished (beta) app!

      Thanks,

      Allan

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Request recommendation on best table access method

        Everyone will have different preferences, to be sure, and coming into all of this from Alpha Four, I understand your substantial use of .dbfs. However, I'll suggest that it's not that big a jump to just omit .dbf from what you're doing, save a bunch of work, effort, and maybe a surprise or two. Besides, if you're using SQL you're probably using Views -- might as well just work in SQL.
        -Steve
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