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Application Design Help

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    Application Design Help

    Hi All,

    I only write new code occasionally these days (for hobby use) so am getting rather rusty on somethings and have never used others within A5, my main problem is the initial design of an application (trial and error and lots of cups of coffee eventually gets me there).

    I have a "virtual radar" application that allows me to identify aircraft that fly around my home.

    1. This app has very basic OLE/COM methods to allow me access to data within it.
    2. there is an SQLite database that contains all the added details (maintained by myself).
    3. I also have an Alpha5 Application that I maintain all my aircraft hobby information (like aircraft type, when seen, where seen, operator etc etc)


    What I want to do is write an application that would allow me to share data between the three, but am unsure as how to go about it.

    I need to be able:
    • show a small on-screen form that contains data from my virtual radar app plus variables for current date and current location.
    • query each record against the SQL to see if it is present, if not write to 1st report
    • query the same record against an A5 table (within the app in 3 above) to see if it is present, if not write to 2nd report
    • at the same time query against a field called "as" in the A5 table and if it is blank then display record in the small on-screen form.
    • if I select a record in the form from above (double-click maybe?) I want to update two fields in the A5 table and SQLite database with current date current location.


    question is can this all be done from within A5V11?

    if so ,what methods should I be using to achieve this (activeX, OLE , ODBC ?)

    if not, what should I use?

    finally, is it possible to show the small on-screen form AND have the workspace window minimised (so I can display "virtual Radar" screen and A5 form together) ?

    thanks for your time
    --
    Support your local Search and Rescue Unit, Get Lost!

    www.westrowops.co.uk

    #2
    Re: Application Design Help

    Hi Graham

    Alpha has OLE support http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/~alpha...ctiveX+Methods.

    Alpha has no trouble working with multiple data sources, I do it daily. If I had an option I would not work this way.
    I need to connect to a series of standalone programs that have discrete and different databases.

    If you possibly can get all of your data into one database and then the Alpha side will be much easier.

    It is possible to design the program so the browser window is small.

    Your requirements are well within the scope of Alpha V10.5 and above.

    How do you currently get the OLE data? If it is dumped into excel then this is very simple to read into your database.

    Michael

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Application Design Help

      Michael,
      firstly thanks for your reply,
      its not possible to get all data into Alpha5 as the "Virtual-Radar" (PlanePlotter/PP) uses SQLite to read and write information. In PP all I have got working so far is to display data on specific aircraft, nothing special, just helps me understand what is going on (OLE/COM wrapped in VBS file). I have had the SQLite database and A5V11 "talking to each other" for quite a while now using ODBC. I suppose what I really need to do is to add the OLE/COM in PP to the mix. Do I do this outside A5 (VBScript,Visual Basic) create objects for each part and then write the control app to allow this?
      the problem will be when I am out and mobile, where I use the PP app on small laptop running in the car, there is not much room for an Alpha5 installation, so the simpler the better.

      I don't want to have to learn a new programing language only to find that it is not what I need, it gets harder as I get older :)
      --
      Support your local Search and Rescue Unit, Get Lost!

      www.westrowops.co.uk

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Application Design Help

        Hi Graham

        Just to clarify getting everything into Alpha. If you can get it all into SQLite you have done the same thing. Alpha looks at a data source. In Alpha you can create a pop up window modeless or modal (Single window must be closed before another one can be opened or multiple windows)Really I have no idea of Virtual radar the website was off line if it is like http://www.radarvirtuel.com/ then Alpha will allow you to embed a portion/all this page into a UX component.
        This UX component can then have Alpha controls. As you need to you can pop up Alpha grids and UX components.

        I am in Hong Kong for 2 months but I will try to help you if I can. Let me know how you want to proceed.

        Michael

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Application Design Help

          using the OLE/COM tutorial within "PlanePlotter", I got a simple VB script running to echo the data that I want:
          Dim MyObject
          Set MyObject = GetObject(,"PlanePlotter.Document")
          i = 0
          while i < MyObject.GetPlaneCount()
          si0 = MyObject.GetPlaneData(i,0)
          si1 = MyObject.GetPlaneData(i,1)
          si14 = MyObject.GetPlaneData(i,14)
          si23 = MyObject.GetPlaneData(i,23)
          if si23 = 0 then
          Wscript.Echo si0, si1, si14
          end if
          i = i + 1

          wend
          but how do I get this data into A5V11?
          --
          Support your local Search and Rescue Unit, Get Lost!

          www.westrowops.co.uk

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Application Design Help

            Hi Graham

            I show you here where I got in 5 minutes.

            Graham iFrame.png

            Here I put a website on a UX in an iFrame, next to this iFrame I have the ability to use Alpha.
            I can enter data on a form.
            Upload a photo.
            Display data and much more.

            I am very busy until Easter but I can devote a little time to this each day.

            Can you send me a link to download a trial of planeplotter just to make sure we are on the same page.
            Can you live with pp embedded into an iFrame?

            Michael

            Comment

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