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DBF vs SQL - pros and cons ...

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    DBF vs SQL - pros and cons ...

    I am wondering if people can chime in with what are the considerations for using DBF vs SQL.

    It seems to em that one obvoious advantage to DBF is that it is native to a5, and is what we are familar with. However, I am very concerned about index issues that have been mentioaned elsewhere. I am wondering if MySQL would completely alleviate the index problem?

    If so, how difficult would it be to migrate an entire application to SQL?

    And certainly there are other considerations that many users would hopefully be interested in hearing about - at least I am interested!

    Gary
    Gary S. Traub, Ph.D.


    #2
    Re: DBF vs SQL - pros and cons ...

    Hi Gary,
    Bet the reason you're not getting anyone's attention is that this has been discussed a few times and there is one thread that is very recent..check the Similar Threads located at the bottom of this one and you'll find a couple.
    Mike
    __________________________________________
    It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
    It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
    Henry David Thoreau
    __________________________________________



    Comment


      #3
      Re: DBF vs SQL - pros and cons ...

      Hi Gary,

      The first question one needs to ask is... Do I need SQL ? Will my application become so complex overtime that SQL would definitely benefit from it ? Do you have other 'products' that rely on SQL which would interact with the Alpha application ?

      Converting from DBF to SQL should be straightforware but requires work (be it a lot depending on the complexity of the application).

      At my job I use SQL all the time because it is enterprise related. I use Alpha for my hobby project. The SQL is great when there is interaction required by so many other products for Business Intelligence purposes but would I use it for a small website ? No, not a chance.

      The bottom line: it all depends what the application would be used for.

      Cheers

      Steven

      Comment


        #4
        Re: DBF vs SQL - pros and cons ...

        Hi guys,

        Thanks for your reply. I did read the other thread, and maybe I should have posted my question there. But I was hoping to get a more thorough discussion of more of the pros and cons.

        Here are some examples of some relevant questions, most of which were not touched on in the other thread:

        1. Speed issues

        2. Difficulty in implementing SQL vs DBF, specifically with alpha - e.g. dbf has a long tested history with alpha, but what about SQL files. What issues might come up that alpha is not as well able to handle?

        3. Security issues?

        4. Speed with very large tables - e..g., let's say millions of records.

        5. Chance of corrupted indexes of SQL vs DBF

        6. What other software would be needed e.g., I run a complex WAS app with just Windows XP - would I need 2003 server or soemthing like that if the app were using SQL.

        7. What about hardware - does SQL require more powerful computer relative to DBF?

        8. Would all queries have to be rewritten or is that handled by alpha?

        And this is just for starters.

        Since alpha has been using DBF files for decades, pretty much all the issues have been worked out over time. Not so with SQL. So I was hoping to start this thread to have a place to discuss all the issues that have come up or could come up as one comtemplates beginning to migrate to SQL.

        Gary
        Gary S. Traub, Ph.D.

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