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Database type questions?

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    Database type questions?

    Hello all,

    I was wondering, which database format do most of the developers use for their applications.

    a: Do you use Alpha's format or something a little more robust such as mySql or MS-SQL server?

    b: Is the Alpha, ADB file format, the same as the old dBase .DBF format?

    c: I can assume that most of the applications that I develop will be for the Web. Asides from pricing, should that have any influence on the database type that I develop with?

    Thanks in advance for the help...

    -Jeff
    Jeff Goldstein
    Web Applications For Business
    www.wafbiz.com

    #2
    Re: Database type questions?

    Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
    a: Do you use Alpha's format or something a little more robust such as mySql or MS-SQL server?
    Use the one most appropriate for the task would be my suggestion.

    Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
    b: Is the Alpha, ADB file format, the same as the old dBase .DBF format?
    The ADB file is just a list of tables and sets used in the entire database.
    All of the Dictionarys (Database *.al*, Sets *.se*, and tables *.dd*) and the table data *.dbf, *.cdx, *.fpt are all DBF formats (albeit slightly some small variant of it, mostly 99.9999% compatible). Dictionaries store the associated field rules, layouts links, etc associated with tables and sets.

    Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
    c: I can assume that most of the applications that I develop will be for the Web. Asides from pricing, should that have any influence on the database type that I develop with?
    Not necessarily. It all depends on the application. However, over time, A5 should get easier to use with the web (and be more transparent between desktop and web), so it won't really matter. Developing for the web though, allows access from anywhere, both internet and intranets
    Regards,

    Ira J. Perlow
    Computer Systems Design


    CSDA A5 Products
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      #3
      Re: Database type questions?

      Ira,

      Thank you very much for the reply. I am very used to using SQL engines such as mySql for PHP and MS-SQL for ASP or Coldfusion, however I don't have any familiarity with the Alpha database in a Web environment (or desktop environment either)

      I can easliy envision the types of applications that I want to build getting very large / very quickly - so on that note if I may ask;

      1: Is their any limitation on row size using Alpha database

      2: How many records in a table before you start to see a significant slow down on retreiving indexed data.

      3: Are memo fields just external files

      4: I believe .dbf files have only 5 datatypes is this the same or the Alpha format.

      5: I have seen in some older posting needing a FoxPro driver for ODBC connectivity. Is that still the case? Is their a native ODBC available?

      Thanks again,

      Jeff
      Jeff Goldstein
      Web Applications For Business
      www.wafbiz.com

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Database type questions?

        Hi Jeff,

        Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
        1: Is their any limitation on row size Alpha database
        Only those inherent in a DBF format. There is a DBF limitation of 2GB in a file, but no row limitation. I do believe there is a record limitation in total bytes, but I've never reached that, as normalized design tends to never reach that. SQL or others have only their limitations

        Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
        2: How many records in a table before you start to see a significant slow down on retreiving indexed data.
        No degradation in speed for any number of records to access a single record. You do start to see poorly designed apps slowing down as they start to access 100K plus records for queries, but a well designed app should never see this. You must use LQO and design to limit extraneous accesses as it starts getting big. Bottom line: Bad design slow. Good design Fast. Using an SQL moves these issues to the server, not Alpha. Alpha 5 has probably the fastest MySQL interface in the industry.

        Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
        3: Are memo fields just external files
        No, they are a DBF file construct to store text of any size, but Alpha can store any data in them (blobs, images, binary, rtf, whatever). Not a good structure (Even in the 70's when Dbase II came out, were these people idiots that they couldn't design a good, resilient structure!), some people keep info in external files, which can be done,

        Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
        4: I believe .dbf files have only 5 datatypes is this the same or the Alpha format.
        Alpha has extended the format to Time/Date stamp fields and others, but it's basically the same as standard DBF

        Originally posted by advcomputer View Post
        5: I have seen in some older posting needing a FoxPro driver for ODBC connectivity. Is that still the case? Is their a native ODBC available?
        Not sure. I never connect the other way.
        Regards,

        Ira J. Perlow
        Computer Systems Design


        CSDA A5 Products
        New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
        CSDA Barcode Functions

        CSDA Code Utility
        CSDA Screen Capture


        Comment


          #5
          Re: Database type questions?

          Ira,

          I have been working with database and database design for a long time, and I thought I have heard all of the acronyms - LQO is a new one to me.

          What is LQO?

          -Jeff
          Jeff Goldstein
          Web Applications For Business
          www.wafbiz.com

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Database type questions?

            Its an Alpha-acronym, stands for Lightning Query Optimization.
            Steve Wood
            See my profile on IADN

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Database type questions?

              Thanks - Need to get familar with the Alpha acronyms..

              -jeff
              Jeff Goldstein
              Web Applications For Business
              www.wafbiz.com

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Database type questions?

                Jeff,

                Try running a search at the top of the page on the message forum, or look at the bottom for potentially related threads when encountering an unknown info. A lot of times you can find what you need quickly.
                Regards,

                Ira J. Perlow
                Computer Systems Design


                CSDA A5 Products
                New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                CSDA Barcode Functions

                CSDA Code Utility
                CSDA Screen Capture


                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Database type questions?

                  Agreed :)

                  Thanks

                  -Jeff
                  Jeff Goldstein
                  Web Applications For Business
                  www.wafbiz.com

                  Comment

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