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ODBC VS "Connecting to External Databases"

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    ODBC VS "Connecting to External Databases"

    There are so many good things about Alpha software but ODBC is a problem. While much of the documentation uses the word "Connecting" when they really only mean "Import". Importing is a kick back to "Batch" processing a one shot copy.

    ODBC "Connecting" is using Live data (and not just in a form). Please join me in pushing Alpha to finish their work on ODBC connections. This would really make their package Fly above all others.

    #2
    Originally posted by RobertG
    T
    ODBC "Connecting" is using Live data (and not just in a form). Please join me in pushing Alpha to finish their work on ODBC connections. This would really make their package Fly above all others.
    There is no need to push us. We are already working on this (and have been for some time).

    However, in Web Applications, you do *connect* to an external ADO/ODBC data source.

    Can you provide some examples in the documentation where "connecting" is used incorrectly?
    Aaron Brown
    Alpha Software Development Team

    Comment


      #3
      Corrected on Connected

      Upon checking, you are right. What I read was only for the Web App.

      Well please let us all know a date, there are lots of requests on the board for ODBC.

      I have a client with an application using Access DB, my dream was to use Alpha to write the code (Now I am stuck with Access Report Writer, what a pain in the AcceSS). Looking forward to that special day....


      Robert

      P.S. Anyone got a work around?

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by RobertG
        Well please let us all know a date, there are lots of requests on the board for ODBC.
        I do not have a date to give you, nor will Microsoft tell you when the next version of Office will be released.
        Aaron Brown
        Alpha Software Development Team

        Comment


          #5
          Robert I too am waiting to see whats in the queue with ODBC. We have two Developer V6 editions sitting on the shelf. I exclusively need ODBC connectivity not importing and would love to give Alpha a try.

          Aaron I saw nothing wrong with his post in fact complimenting the Alpha environment. Just asking for the community to make a push for a definite need in Alpha... Later

          Comment


            #6
            You can read/write to ODBC-connected tables if you use Xdialog instead of forms. You can then write reports in Alpha Five if you extract the data needed for the report and put it into Alpha Five dbf files.

            Comment


              #7
              Mr Wayne, I was able to read using Xdialog when testing the alpha product and created a table to view the data. Didnt see where I could write to that table using a form to allow me to make changes.

              Here is my example. We have an business application that uses multiple files versus one database such as Sybase. I use crystal to access the data for reports but we have an instance where we need to change values for a particular field that is identical in 3 files. This field is customer number and right now we use a backend utility to access these files to make the change but I dont want users to be able to use the utility. I want to build a front end to access these files and allow changes to only certain fields so the the integrity of the data is not damaged. The app is our accouting software. We are looking to develop a front end commission system that will update what we spend hours to manually do. Can Alpha help me or am I going to have to go to Visual Studios. I like products like crystal cause it doesnt take a rocket scientist to do basic reporting. I like Alpha for those same reasons but need ODBC. Thanks for any help..

              Comment


                #8
                What you can do is use either Xdialog or a browser/Web app server interface to do updating via ODBC. What you can't do, so far at least, is to use a regular Alpha Five form. If all you need is a small utility to update a customer number field in a few tables in the backend database, you can create an Xdialog or indeed any Alpha Five form to obtain the "new customer number", and then you can use Xbasic to write the new number via SQL statements to the Sybase backend. Is that what you need to do, or do you have a need for continuous and heavy-duty data entry via Alpha Five?

                Comment


                  #9
                  ODBC Needs to work

                  Indeed, ODBC should function as a connection, not import to a database. While Alpha 5 is a great product, there is no reason to lock developers into an antiquated means of importing data. I also use Clarion and when it uses ODBC it "connects", it does not import.

                  This is really a hinderance when trying to leverage existing skill sets and has the effect to make you a single product developer which BTW, can make you obsolete faster than taxes empty your wallet.

                  A true ODBC connection would extend Alpha 5 to new markets right away and cause the customer base to grow.

                  So, I am all for a real ODBC as just about anything can import.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    ODBC - Open Dollars Big Customers

                    My ideal is to work with a 4GL like Clarion or Alpha on any database I need to.

                    In the old days there were a number of 4GL packages and MS Access ran most off. But Clarion users know that they could write whole applications on a weekend that would take weeks to do in VBA. Alpha is in some ways is even more powerful and has a real price advantage too.

                    Being realistic, be you a contractor, developer, I.T. Manager, programmer or end user, few would want to advertise their application has a DBase file structure.

                    I look at OpenOffice 2.0 a free package that does 90% of what MS Office does and 100% of what "most" users use MS Office for. And they manage to have live interfaces to MS Access, MySQL, Oracle, Adabas, JDBC, Spreadsheet, DBase, Text, ODBC, ADO, LDAP address book and more.

                    While I am sure Alpha staff is working on ODBC connections it is clearly not one of their top items. There are questions about ODBC going back to 2002 and while the web application was a nice development I think there is a large market of people who would love what Alpha does. It only needs to do it to any ODBC compliant databases.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Just a heads up. Through a grid component (alpha web server)you can connect to a live access database and display and edit/post new records to the access database through the server. I am a newby to this and have done some inhouse testing. Yes I know it would be better to have a link from alpha to access so we could use the full power of the system. I really need to have a live link so that I can allow my customers to come in and print off reports from live access data base. So far I have Not discovered a live link to allow this to happen.

                      Of course being a newby there may be something that I am missing. If not we really need this live link.

                      If you find out better info please share it.
                      Last edited by Larry Prewitt; 02-23-2006, 12:39 PM.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        My Solution for ODBC

                        I just use A5 web apps for the amount of access/presentation required but all the other functionality is done in Clarion. It's too bad that Alpha5 won't "connect" for desktop applications; they'd get more customers. While the entry point costwise for Clarion is higher, distribution costs so much less it isn't even a question.

                        For webapps, A5 has it, but for desktop apps being distributed, you can't touch Clarion. Local exes are a snap and it's also faster.

                        I use Pervasive 9 PSQL as the backend, the cost at $25/seat is very reasonable and through that both Clarion and A5 "connect". Makes me happy.

                        So for me, a combination of the two makes for the best solution.

                        BTW, just a follow-on here - I use the Btrieve file system. Stable as granite and very easy to work with. Alpha5 connections (webapps) to it work really nice. You can get the Pervasive backend trial for free (30 days) but for a mere 25 dollars it makes sense to have it on hand. Now you can advertize an SQL solution using A5 yet have that low cost (to you) that makes for better profits.
                        Last edited by DHB; 02-23-2006, 01:04 PM.

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