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questions about converting to SQL

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    questions about converting to SQL

    I have to convert an existing A5V9 web app from dBASE tables to MySQL or MS SQLServer2005.

    If anyone has experience with this, can you jot out a short list of todo's and potential problem areas.

    Also, what performance improvements will I see (if any) for searches, screen refresh, etc.
    Steve Wood
    See my profile on IADN


    #2
    Re: questions about converting to SQL

    I'd stick with mySQL, there are certain issues with row locks on SQL Server which I found difficult to get around, even in read only views, especially if the SQL server database is also used by desktop products (not necessarily Alpha5!).

    I have found conversion to mySQL of several mini-hybrid apps very easy and have found a SQL back end to be more efficient than DBF files, especially as it keeps storage of the data separate from the desktop and web files.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: questions about converting to SQL

      Great topic for a white paper!

      Bill.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: questions about converting to SQL

        Steve,

        I'm about to start on a similar project, so this might be a good place to exhange ideas/problems/solutions.

        So far, I've read three mySQL books and created one small app from scratch. My take on converting is about what you would expect. There is a big difference between just converting and converting well.

        In it's simplest form, you change all your auto increment fields to numerics, export the tables using the Alpha Export, convert your grids to use the new database and you are in business.

        However, if you want to do it well, it's a bit more involved.

        1. Decide how you will restucture your tables. The select capability gives more flexibility on how you structure your data. For example, one suggestion I heard is to split a table into the often changed and the seldom changed fields and make those two different tables. The reason is the cache is flushed for each change, so the seldom changed table can stay in the cache and not have to be reloaded.

        2. Determine the best data type for each field in the table. There are a number of different field types and each takes up a different amount of space. That decision can also change depending on the database engine you use. With mySQL, there are several to choose from, and these can be mixed in a single application.

        3. Decide what you want the database to do vs what Alpha will do. For example, the database includes triggers to perform functions and "stored procedures". So, for example, if you want an audit trail, you can set a trigger on the table and let the database take care of saving the record. The database can also format and concatinate character fields and perform math on numeric fields before they get to Alpha.

        4. Decide if you will use Alpha's built in security. If you do, I believe that the security tables will be dbf, even if everything else is SQL. That may or may not be a problem for you.

        What I miss the most with SQL is being able to open up a table in a browse and enter the fields directly.

        As far as performance comparisons, I have no experience, and it probably depends a lot on how you set up the 1~3 items above.

        Pat
        Pat Bremkamp
        MindKicks Consulting

        Comment


          #5
          Re: questions about converting to SQL

          Pat,

          Are there mySQL book titles you would recomend over others?

          Bill.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: questions about converting to SQL

            The three I read were (in order of smallest and simplest to largest and most detailed) were:

            MySQL, second edition, Visual Quickstart Guide. - Larry Ullman. This book is a "get your feet wet" book that introduces the basics, but doesn't cover nearly enough. It is a fast and easy read. Covers 4 and 5.

            MYSQL in a Nutshell, second edition - Russell J.T. Dyer. Calls itself "A desktop Quick Reference. - Organized like a reference manual - sectiions are organized in alphabetical order; good to look up a particular command, with options and examples. Not a good book to start with. When I know the command I want, I use it for syntax.

            MySQL Developer's Library, fourth edition - Paul Dubois - This is a great book. If I could only pick one, I'd buy this one, but it's so big, it's not good if you want to start next week. Takes a long time to read to figure out what you need.

            Then, there is an on-line manual, which is free, and which is organized by version (I'm using 5.1, the latest stable release). This is the definitive source for correct and up-to-date information...I just prefer to write in, dog-ear and highlight the books I use, and didn't want to print it all out.

            Pat
            Pat Bremkamp
            MindKicks Consulting

            Comment


              #7
              Re: questions about converting to SQL

              Steve, so how do you convert dbf to mysql? I find there are some dbf2mysql softwares on the web, and I tried the one from Spectra Core, but it seems not quite working for my tables. I wonder how you do it?

              David

              Comment


                #8
                Re: questions about converting to SQL

                Originally posted by hungry4grace View Post
                Steve, so how do you convert dbf to mysql? I find there are some dbf2mysql softwares on the web, and I tried the one from Spectra Core, but it seems not quite working for my tables. I wonder how you do it?

                David
                Just use Alpha5... read up about export operations

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: questions about converting to SQL

                  Yes, I got it. I can export from file->export data->define connection string->mySQL ...,

                  Thanks

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: questions about converting to SQL

                    Originally posted by hungry4grace View Post
                    Yes, I got it. I can export from file->export data->define connection string->mySQL ...,

                    Thanks
                    Glad - mySQL seems to most-tested and most reliable for this job, I have not done a huuuge deal of DBF work but have done a few smaller projects in DBF first and found it easy to export to mYSQL and adapt both desktop and web interfaces for mySQL.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: questions about converting to SQL

                      If you're considering Oracle DB ( f.i. because it is the market leader), then Oracle Express edition is also free for upto 4 GB databases. You only have to leave you email address at oracle.com to download it.

                      Then this attached PDF article from Kurt Rayner (Alpha Software) may help in the equation ( on Oracle sequences).

                      regards, Ron

                      Comment

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