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Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

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    #46
    Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

    Originally posted by neil_albala View Post
    This model-of-development presents a whole new market for developers and Alpha Software.
    The $699 price, is for a new user to buy and "Enterprise" runtime license.

    Note: Only the "Enterprise" licenses include remote SQL capability.

    Ok, thanks. I missed the obvious. Good question. The "upgrade" for Enterprise 3-RT is $549. Since, as you note, there was no prev. "Enterprise" RT, I imagine you automatically qualify. Perhaps a call into sales might be appropriate?
    Peter
    AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

    [email protected]
    https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


    Comment


      #47
      Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

      I would bet there is negotiating room.
      Dave Mason
      [email protected]
      Skype is dave.mason46

      Comment


        #48
        Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

        A classic example is RealBasic.com, they just realized that they needed a SQL compatible database and bought out SQLite, their product is called RealSQL server.
        That's not true. SQLite is 100% free and always will be. RealBasic created their own flavour and created a server version. The soure code for SQLite is freely available and any one can do anything they want with it. It is used in a large number of free and commercial products.

        Alpha can't control how many users connect to MySQL or MS SQL and they shouldn't. For example if you are connecting to MS SQL, then the number of connectios is controled by the license you have from MS. So MS controls it and not Alpha. If you have a 10 user license then only 10 users can use it at the same time.

        If you write an application in say VB6 it's available to everyone and they don't have to buy anything
        I totally agree. It is up to the developer to control licensing of software they create. If Alpha is a developent tool then they cannot put a restriction on the number of copies of my apps that I can distribute. If they do they will never win over users from other platforms. I use several developent tools and none of them have runtime licensing. I create my apps, and I distribute as many as I want.

        In the end, the whole thing is a disguised website.
        It's not a web site. He is building a full blown Windows app tha can connect to an MS SQL / MySQL database. That database can be on the local machine, a local network or a remote server. If it is a remote server then it uses the internet to connect to the server so in this case yes the interent is required for the connection. The point is that it cannot be called a web app because the same app can be used on a single computer, a network or over the internet and the app itself always runs on the local computer. In my opinion these kind of apps have way more potential than browser based apps and you don't have all the restrictions and limitations. If you build in sychronization, you can have a local copy of the data when you are not connected and then synch later when you are. Now you have the best of both worlds.

        The 3 User Runtime is a different issue because it relates to how many users can access the same Alpha database at the same time, just like how MS controls how many users can connect to MS SQL. Now that Alpha can be used as a frontend to other databases it's all changed. Alpha is better off trying to sell to more developers and not worry about charging runtime fees. When it comes to building frontend apps, there are a lot of tools to choose from so stick to making it powerfull and easy to use so that more developers will choose it and let the developer worry about licensing the apps she/he creates.

        Of course building these kind of apps is nothing new. Access has been doing this for years and so have others, but it is new for Alpha. Alpha should concentrate on making it so that using any backend database is the same has using native Alpha dbfs. make forms and reports independant of tables.
        Dermot Fitzpatrick
        www.fitzsolutions.com

        Comment


          #49
          Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

          In order to build such a project-- that is-- a desktop client for a remote mySQL server, it does seem... that the database design process, where you define the tables, keys, and views, needs to start with a mySQL database.

          And while the the A5 Data Explorer is ideal for designing views and reports, to actually create a mySQL table from scratch, you might need something else.

          EMS at
          SQLmanager.net
          had a long standing reputation of reliability. A couple of years back, they were marketing a LITE version. It turned out the LITE version had all the mySQL creation and editing tools most people need, so most people didn't upgrade. And now, even though they no longer promote the LITE version, if you look real closely on their web site, it is still available.

          It's a great place to start if you're considering one of these projects. Here's the download link. Notice it does say, "Free" under license.

          EMS SQL Manager 2007 Lite for MySQL 4

          PS: I wish I could create a table in A5, then have A5 generate a an SQL Create-Table. Can that be done?
          Last edited by neil_albala; 05-03-2007, 03:10 PM.

          Comment


            #50
            Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

            A great tool for managing and creating remote or local MySQL databases from your desktop is SQLyog http://www.webyog.com/en/ They have a free version that will fit most peoples needs.

            Originally posted by neil_albala View Post
            In order to build such a project-- that is a desktop client for a remote mySQL server, it does seem... that the database design process, where you define the tables, keys, and views, needs to start with a mySQL database.

            And while the the A5 Data Explorer is ideal for designing views and reports, to actually create a mySQL table from scratch, you might need something else.

            EMS at SQLmanager.net
            had a long standing reputation of reliability. A couple of years back, they were marketing a LITE version. It turned out the LITE version had all the mySQL creation and editing tools most people need, so most people didn't upgrade. And now, even though they no longer promote the LITE version, if you look real closely on their web site, it is still available.

            It's a great place to start if you're considering one of these projects. Here's the download link. Notice it does say, "Free" under license.

            EMS SQL Manager 2007 Lite for MySQL 4

            PS: I wish I could create a table in A5, then have A5 generate a an SQL Create-Table. Can that be done?
            Dermot Fitzpatrick
            www.fitzsolutions.com

            Comment


              #51
              Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

              Attached is a copy of the alpha database that now connects to MySQL version 5.0.
              The speed is excelent!!
              If you are able to get to the control panel and look at the code, you will be able to see that it really doesn't take much to create a remote desktop application.
              I only wish that there was a way to create an xdialog list with columns using a preformatted list. If you notice on the "View All", I created fake columns using buttons to be able to sort.

              I also love the Application Server, web apps have other advantages than desktop apps.

              The user name is : alphauser
              The password is: alpha
              Use server ip: 70.56.214.140

              Will keep the connection open for one day.
              If anybody has any suggestions or wants to improve coding, please let us know.

              Adios.
              The Mexican

              Comment


                #52
                Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

                Hi Mario,

                I get a 'Cannot Connect to DB' message using all 3 of the server IP's provided.

                Bob Arbuthnot

                Comment


                  #53
                  Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

                  Probably you are behind a firewall that is blocking tcp port 3306. Check on that. I just tried it and it works.
                  Remember that you have to have the enterprise version of A5V8 or the enterprise runtime in order to run the app.
                  The Mexican

                  Comment


                    #54
                    Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

                    Just got on and am impressed. Would be interesting to see how it would perform with considerably more records. I am going back in to look at coding etc.

                    Thanks for setting this up.

                    Ken

                    Comment


                      #55
                      Re: Can Desktop apps be better than Web based?

                      Feel free to add any records to database, this is a test database. I would like to see how long it takes to load over 200 records.
                      Of course you would limit the number of records that you show on the "View All" screen and add buttons to see the next 10 records and the next previous records.
                      This was actually the main reason I change from MS SQL to MySQL.
                      In MySQL you can decide what records you can see using the LIMIT clause
                      for example if you want to see records from 20 to 30 you would use:
                      Select from * from parents order by last Limit 19,10

                      With MS SQL it would take acommand 15 lines long. You have to combine two select statements within each other, horrible staff!

                      I will leave the server up for another day.
                      The Mexican

                      Comment

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