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How about a release?

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    #31
    Re: How about a release?

    Jukka

    I am not clear

    Do you have the beta?
    Have requested it but not received it?
    If that is the case just email [email protected]

    I am sure there are alternatives. We have over 500 beta testers, many of whom are very knowledgeable developers and users and we are very encouraged by the feedback we have received from this group of informed users.
    Richard Rabins
    Co Chairman
    Alpha Software

    Comment


      #32
      Re: How about a release?

      Originally posted by jpeltola View Post
      Actually....while still waiting my beta...i had lots of time to search alternatives...and there actually are lots... so its not that monumental...
      I don't know. Some of us on this board have looked at some of the the alternatives, and they have always come up short - lack of reporting capabilities, lack of functions, too much programming, etc, etc. I don't know if the WiKi will "cut it" either, but v10 is Monumental, IMHO. The codeless AJAX is pretty amazing. Many of us have searched for the "ultimate" product, but have not found it yet. But if you do, let us know.
      Peter
      AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

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


      Comment


        #33
        Re: How about a release?

        Originally posted by Richard Rabins View Post
        the plan is to release this month

        we are anxious to release as soon as possible - as many of you are - but we have to feel that it is ready

        if you want the beta - just email me at [email protected]

        web features videos http://news.alphasoftware.com/V10Preview/videos.htm
        (there are new ones here) (the first few do not have sound)

        desk features videos
        http://news.alphasoftware.com/V10Pre...uresVideos.htm
        Are you answering your email? I have sent you two emails requesting the beta download to look at and have heard nothing back.
        Regards,
        Chet Sapino
        President,
        SAPINO Enterprises
        6451 Pheasant Rd
        East Syracuse, NY 13057

        Comment


          #34
          Re: How about a release?

          well i think i have sent like 10 emails....

          maybe they got blocked or something...

          but defn....v10 will be a great product.... thats why i'm staying here :-)
          Last edited by jpeltola; 09-09-2009, 06:24 PM.

          Comment


            #35
            Re: How about a release?

            I have Beta Tested V10, and I think this release is awesome, but maybe that is because I focus on the SSL secured Web Dev side.

            I think Alpha is light years ahead of comparable products - but Like doctors, we all have our own opinions.

            I try not to put alot of energy into issues that are not within my control!


            Here is to a great new version of Alpha!

            Julie

            Comment


              #36
              Re: How about a release?

              if you have not received a reply from [email protected] please email me at [email protected]
              Richard Rabins
              Co Chairman
              Alpha Software

              Comment


                #37
                Re: How about a release?

                When I email Richard, I got a pretty quick response.

                Something wierd must have happened.

                Try emailing him again!

                Comment


                  #38
                  Re: How about a release?

                  Originally posted by Julie View Post
                  Here is to a great new version of Alpha!
                  I'll drink to that! ;)
                  Peter
                  AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

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


                  Comment


                    #39
                    Re: How about a release?

                    I used to think that if you knew how to program in PHP or ASP you shouldn't be in this forum in the first place, but now with version 10 I'm changing my mind.
                    Good luck trying to achieve what is now possible in v10 with other alternatives
                    Cheers
                    Mauricio

                    Comment


                      #40
                      Re: How about a release?

                      Well ok...just got the beta....i'm kinda stunned now ^^

                      thx Richard :-)

                      Comment


                        #41
                        Re: How about a release?

                        Originally posted by jpeltola View Post
                        Well ok...just got the beta....i'm kinda stunned now ^^

                        thx Richard :-)
                        Welcome to the club...
                        Bill Griffin
                        Parkell, Inc

                        Comment


                          #42
                          Re: How about a release?

                          I am glad you received it Jukka.

                          Chet did you get yours?
                          regards
                          Richard Rabins
                          Richard Rabins
                          Co Chairman
                          Alpha Software

                          Comment


                            #43
                            Re: How about a release?

                            Originally posted by jfh2005 View Post
                            This "Wiki" idea is not gonna do it.

                            It does not replace a well written, comprehensive, concise, authorative, up to date manual, that takes me systematically through the product A-Z's.

                            The absence of proper documentation works 100% against your marketing efforts and completely sabotages your ability to attract new users.
                            I am trying to 'jump ship' after working with DataEase for the last 20+ years, and learn Alpha Five.

                            I confess I am struggling to get started for exactly the reasons above. From what I've managed to see so far, Alpha is a fine product and could do the job, but, increasingly I'm frustrated. Why? Because, I'm trying to teach myself using the demo video presentations and a user manual, a good percentage of which seems to concentrate on "new features".

                            All the good things I keep hearing about v10 sound great, but they will be no good to the likes of me if the documentation doesn't reflect THE WHOLE product. I need to learn, from scratch, how to use 'Alpha Five' and I don't care which features are new or old.

                            As DataEase in my opinion has slowly been going down hill version by version over the years, it was noticeable that corners were cut with the tutorials, help screens and manuals getting out of date which made it harder and harder for new people to start. What started off as excellent documentation was gradually simply left behind. I don't suppose that hard core developers like me or those on the DataEase forum really noticed when talking about new features and bugs, because we were already fluent in the product. 'New features' were usually documented which kept us happy while I think everyone forgot that the success of Dataease when they first started was because it was initially easy to learn and they had the benefit of new and relevant tutorials and manuals.

                            Now I find myself a beginner again, looking at a mature piece of software that is about to have a major new version released. While I'm still struggling to get started with the videos etc. of version 8 or 9...

                            If version 10 really is as big a step forward as has been said, now is the time to really make the effort on the documentation/help/tutorials. To make them as relevent to beginners starting at version 10, as no doubt it they were when first written for version 1? I'd be suprised if pulling together all the maketing stuff, demo videos, accumulated manuals and appended features stuff of years gone by does this?

                            Comment


                              #44
                              Re: How about a release?

                              Kevin,

                              Welcome from DataEase. I was a top developer with that language but abandoned that ship about five years ago. The product was very solid and the docs were decent enough you could get by. And then, as you say, it all went down hill, even as the product improved slightly. They just released v7.2 I think, sort of re-released it for the fifth time or something, it seems like it keeps getting released. I feel sorry for the new DataEase company, absent the Sapphire management AND their top engineer Pete and no faith from the PLM group of consultants. Most of that started going South when Sapphire Group decided to be a consulting group, and not a software platform company, everything just lost steam. I tried to find Richard Zbory (VP) when I was in Boston, but couldn't locate him.

                              Anyway, Alpha Five is a dozen times more robust than DataEase. But that was not your question. A whole new set of Help Documentation is probably not going to come out of Alpha's office. DataEase had it easy because there were like 60 functions that never changed and were nicely hard bound in two volumes, one for functions and one sort of a How To Approach Development, can't remember the title.

                              Alpha's existing Help docs are really pretty good, but they are bloated and a mixture of technique popular in legacy version 6, 7 & 8, plus, as you say, spot descriptions of the latest features of versions 9 and now 10. So, using the Help, you cannot get a firm grasp on how to proceed. That plus the function examples in the Help are somewhat difficult to follow. Alpha does not have a professional documentation person or a hardline process to get new features into those documents, so not all of the more recent functions are listed in the official documentation. You have to use the Release Notes to keep up. Those notes are very detailed and worth reading as a whole.

                              So, I use the Help to recall how to use functions and learn new ones. I don't find it useful to describe how to build a product. There are several resources besides the documentation. This forum is the best one, all of us are doing our best to build the best. Alpha will occasionally sponsor beginner and intermediate online training sessions; the best ones are presented by Steve Workings - get his training CD from Alpha. Most of the available 3rd party books however are only for beginners and not written by actual developers; the best of those are written by Intellectual Business Solutions. I personally have a free webinar every Friday noon (Pacific) where we cover "anything that comes up". And IADN (see logo below) has various training resources online or coming online. IADN is similar to DataEase's "IDUA".
                              Last edited by Steve Wood; 09-11-2009, 11:40 AM.
                              Steve Wood
                              See my profile on IADN

                              Comment


                                #45
                                Re: How about a release?

                                +1 on the request for improvement to the documentation.

                                I have been working with Visual Studio and Visual Basic before that, I am trying to self teach myself A5. The documentation seems to be so out of date and convoluted. It is quite difficult to use, at least in my opinion. The people on the board seem so helpful, but its shame we have to rely on it so much.
                                Regards,

                                John W.
                                www.CustomReportWriters.net

                                Comment

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