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"Converting" desktop app to web app

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    #16
    Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

    I agree with Pat on the myswl/mariadb. I use mysqlyog instead of Navicat.
    Never tried V4 framework, but know Steve Wood has done excellent work for the web side for years.
    I use entirely different tools for the web apps.
    Dave Mason
    [email protected]
    Skype is dave.mason46

    Comment


      #17
      Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

      To Pat, DaveM and Gandhi - Thanks. I have been in contact with Steve and once I get my bearings, I'll be speaking with him. I will, just for the hell of it, let everyone know how this ends up. I truly appreciate the info and feedback.

      DaveM - just curious, but which tools do you use for web apps? I'm predominantly a small business consultant so my depth of knowledge on the programming side is limited. Thanks.

      David

      Comment


        #18
        Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

        Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app
        This is what I have been asking Alpha for in the past months.
        Thanks for enable me know that dbf is not going to work so I will start with sql.
        But how do I do that on A5v12???

        Comment


          #19
          Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

          Well, you see - that's where I'm at myself. Having not spent any time on the web development side in V9 or V10, I'm struggling to determine exactly what I should start with. I suspect it will require recreating the DB file structures in AA under thw Web development side. I suspect that we must also download and install one of the various flavors of SQL (MYSQL, MariaDB, etc., etc., etc.) on your development box in order to do anything. From there, we'll have to use the UX module to recraft old FORMS into new screens that will handle the data in a similar manner to what you're used to. Clearly there are many advancements with V12 and if you've been upgrading faithfully all along, they shouldn't be too dramatic. For me, with no experience on the web side, it's lots of time with online videos and tutorials. NOT what I had been hoping for when my business partner asked if we could port my desktop app into a cloud-based, subscription-style app.

          That said, if what you're working on has some proven financial viability, the $1500-3000 outlay shouldn't be prohibitive. For me, I haven't proven the market yet, so the whole thing will be a flyer, so to speak. If app design or DB work is your focus, this is also probably worth the effort. I'm more of a business consultant with enough DB knowledge to get myself in trouble when asked, so I've got to be willing to drop the money (and time) and see what happens. I haven't done any real modifications to my app in the last 9 years or so, so it's not been a priority. With some effort and luck, maybe I can change that.

          Keep reading this thread as I will be posting updates on progress in the hope that it helps others in our same situation.

          David

          P.S. For the more expert among us, please correct me if anything I've mentioned technically is out of whack.

          Comment


            #20
            Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

            I've done a few DBF/desktop to SQL/web conversions.

            Start with the tables. The upsize genie is cool, but doesn't optimize what you can do with SQL. My general routine for this part goes like this:

            - Export a handful of DBF record for each table to SQL. That gives you a starting structure and a few records in each table to start working with.

            - Edit each SQL table to be what you need. For instance, DBF date fields imported to SQL produce DateTime fields. Is that what you really want?

            - Add a primary key identity field (it pays to name it "ID", or at least an identical name, every time if you can) to the SQL table. Many of us have DBF structures with auto-incrementing character fields for this, which won't work in SQL.

            - Build an import function (a UDF for each table) that allows DBF data to be imported as needed throughout the testing process and again on "Go" day. Truncate the SQL table, export the DBF data, import the DBF data to the SQL table. I do some other things too, depending on the table and needs. MS SQL users should pay particular attention to the bulk import feature for large tables.

            - If you're working on your project with, say, a customer, or have a large number of tables, make a UX with a menu to easily pick the table(s) to be imported from DBF. For instance, we're currently testing a billing process, so there are a handful of tables that need to be up to date in SQL to compare with this month's DBF billing run. My customer/tester knows what he wants, so he just selects & runs them.

            - I've ignored sets up this point, something many DBF applications use. My advice is to not just run off and start creating SQL views to duplicate the sets. Instead, consider the relational data needs each time your UX or report requires them, and then decide what to do. Views can be very helpful, but sometimes a simple SELECT statement will do the job just fine.

            After you have your tables built and sample data imported, then get to work to build the UI and reports.

            I hope this is helpful.
            -Steve
            sigpic

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              #21
              Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

              EXTREMELY. Thank you. This gives me a sense of what my starting point should be. This is great.

              Comment


                #22
                Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

                Steve,

                Any thoughts on MySQL vs MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL for my purposes?

                Comment


                  #23
                  Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app (please note quotes)

                  Other Steve here - I have converted over to MariaDB and am happy with it. Their help documentation is better than MySQL as well. I found PostgreSQL difficult to use. And MariaDB/MySQL are easier to deploy/manage than Microsoft SQL Server.

                  On DBF->SQL conversions, like Steve, I have done many. I would never use the upsize genie, just export your data (or some of it as Steve suggests) using File>Export. When converting components and a5w (xbasic) from DBF to SQL, I do each one the hard way, one at a time. I know my sql syntax and have done this enough times that I can move through the application pretty quickly. If it is a big application, I do it in two passes. The first pass I do not optimize my sql or components, i just try to get the darn thing functional as an sql based app. As a final test I remove all of the dbf tables and test out the app. Once happy, I then go back through and optimize everything.
                  Steve Wood
                  See my profile on IADN

                  Comment


                    #24
                    Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

                    Steve,

                    Thanks for your input. Other Other-Steve suggested I look contact you. (Can you guys maybe do something about your names? The first name and same last initial seems to cause some confusion around here.
                    The rest of us would immensely appreciate it!)

                    Someone recommended your Web Framework V4, but (1) I have no clue what that is, and (2) when I went to view the demo at your website it said the site couldn't be reached (http://a5v12.com/framework_v4/index.a5w). So, might it help me in going from here to there? And if so, can I take a look at it somewhere?

                    David

                    Comment


                      #25
                      Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

                      It depends on how large your source system is. I've converted several Access back-end data systems containing hundreds of tables each. One had over six hundred tables I wouldn't want to do that manually... table by table... that would be a mess and there are dependencies involved. I wrote a table conversion routine working of a sql table which contained all the table names, dependency, and size. Once tested and in place, the routine could be run any time.

                      Comment


                        #26
                        Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

                        Originally posted by dlfeldman View Post
                        Steve,

                        Any thoughts on MySQL vs MariaDB vs. PostgreSQL for my purposes?
                        I don't have "advice" for you on this one. I've only used MySQL and MS SQL, and can build fine applications with both.

                        If you have a lot of document storage involved, I will recommend you at least learn about the MS SQL Filestream feature.

                        And I see that there's something about bulk imports in a couple of the other databases, I really do like this feature of MS SQL, clocking somewhere around 30,000 records/second depending on a few factors. That makes a difference to me when I have several very large dbf tables that need regular importing to SQL to keep our comparisons current with the old dbf app.
                        -Steve
                        sigpic

                        Comment


                          #27
                          Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

                          Originally posted by dlfeldman View Post
                          Steve,

                          Thanks for your input. Other Other-Steve suggested I look contact you. (Can you guys maybe do something about your names? The first name and same last initial seems to cause some confusion around here.
                          The rest of us would immensely appreciate it!)

                          Someone recommended your Web Framework V4, but (1) I have no clue what that is, and (2) when I went to view the demo at your website it said the site couldn't be reached (http://a5v12.com/framework_v4/index.a5w). So, might it help me in going from here to there? And if so, can I take a look at it somewhere?

                          David
                          http://www.alphatogo.com/framework.a5w
                          this is the site that steve has for the framework
                          thanks for reading

                          gandhi

                          version 11 3381 - 4096
                          mysql backend
                          http://www.alphawebprogramming.blogspot.com
                          [email protected]
                          Skype:[email protected]
                          1 914 924 5171

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                            #28
                            Re: "Converting" desktop app to web app

                            >>http://www.alphatogo.com/framework.a5w
                            this is the site that steve has for the framework<<

                            That is correct. However, the link under VISIT DEMO PAGE is the one I listed and it fails to load.

                            Comment


                              #29
                              Re: &quot;Converting&quot; desktop app to web app (please note quotes)

                              The best place to go is http://www.alphatogo.com/framework.a5w but I also just now fixed the demo link: http://a5v12.com/framework_v4/index.a5w.

                              I finished the latest Framework update last month, and then just a few days ago finished updated my IADN website (http://www.iadn.com) to use that latest Framework. That IADN update was a bit time consuming because it was going from a combination of Alpha V8 thru V11 + DBF to latest Alpha Anywhere + latest AlphaToGo Framework + SQL.
                              Steve Wood
                              See my profile on IADN

                              Comment


                                #30
                                Re: &quot;Converting&quot; desktop app to web app

                                I uae MySQL/mariadb exclusively and routinely upload a few thousand records and download even more on occasion. there are no issues I have found.

                                the uploads consist of id numbers, names, companies, emails, addresses, other information.
                                Dave Mason
                                [email protected]
                                Skype is dave.mason46

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