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Simple data manipulation - where to start

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    Simple data manipulation - where to start

    In short, can anybody point me to resources and examples of xbasic being used for data manipulation?

    I trawled through about 9 hours of training for the version 10 release, and, as is too often the case, there's a fetish with applications and hardly more than a few minutes reference to real data manipulation (above and beyond getting, editing and storing). I want to be able to open a couple of dbfs, set filters on both, compare data in records with the same URN in a loop, carry out a mathematical function, and write the results to the table. I can do this in Foxpro in about 7 minutes, but in Alpha I just do not know where to start, and it's clear that though many command names are the same, the way it is structured is very different.

    Any URLs with helpful tips would be much appreciated!

    #2
    Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

    See the Xbasic programming puzzles for some good examples.
    There can be only one.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

      Thanks Stan. I'll make a start there.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

        Originally posted by grahamrhind View Post
        I want to be able to open a couple of dbfs, set filters on both, compare data in records with the same URN in a loop, carry out a mathematical function, and write the results to the table. I can do this in Foxpro in about 7 minutes, but in Alpha I just do not know where to start, and it's clear that though many command names are the same, the way it is structured is very different.
        You are absolutely correct Graham, you can do these operations very swiftly with much simpler code in the <dbase> derivatives - Fox, Clipper, Visual Dbase. I too couldn't understand why simplecode had to be made so difficult. See response to my post in May this year http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...ipting-dialect

        Coming from Foxpro you will have no trouble understanding the puzzles. Where the big difference appears is in the apparent difficulty of table data manipulation.
        What took me a long while to figure out, coming from that environment myself, is that Alpha allows you to operate at many more levels and as a result you need to be very specific when coding, about which object, at what level you refer and for what purpose. This allows alpha to offer automated table, form and set methods (to mention a few) to run concurrently, adjudicate locking, handle multiple instances of the same table data etc with your code. Also eliminating a whole lot of of coding for user information purposes.
        I found that by doing my end of the learning, making the effort to apply it and post specific problems (as opposed to general) that there are a whole bunch of people here that will arrive at the scene to help.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

          Thanks Ray. I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue and that is can be overcome. I could never understand why new data-orientated languages are so complex, needing pages of code to do something that xbase languages do in one line. I read a book about ado.net, for example, and was none the wiser at the end.

          I think it's just a matter of getting my head around the what and the why (like I had to when moving from Foxpro 2.6 to the object-orientated VFP 3) and the how will come by itself. It is a frustration that so much is written about all the high-end stuff (web, sql back ends and so on) which I have no need for, and so little about what I think of as the basics. I just need to have something to manipulate my data when Foxpro stops working ...

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

            Graham, sounds like what you want is in the Operations section of the CP (Control Panel).
            Join/Subtract/Summarise are all in there.
            I've done what you are planning on some pretty big tables of about 1m large records using the bult in functions. Suggest you try those before coding, as the code produced is viewable and nearly always correct. But then it does exactly what you ask.
            See our Hybrid Option here;
            https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


            Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
            You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

              Originally posted by grahamrhind View Post
              I just need to have something to manipulate my data when Foxpro stops working ...
              Is that your main purpose for using Alpha5?

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                @Ted Thanks Ted, that would certainly give me a kick start.

                @Ray Yes. If Microsoft would make sure that Foxpro works on all future operating systems, I would stick with it. As it is, I have to be prepared for the moment that VFP stops working on a new OS. That said, there is a part of my work that does need to work with back end databases that don't have the 2GB size limit and which support Unicode. I haven't worked out a good way of doing this yet with Alpha, but baby steps ....

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                  Graham, the collection of articles at www.learn alpha.com have been very useful to me over the years.

                  Dr. Wayne's book "Xbasic for Everyone" (last released in 2008 I think) remains very good, as well.

                  This message board has a "Code Archive" forum filled with working examples of all sorts of different code. Check it out.

                  Last, but not least, you should know that this board also supports uploads, so you could upload a couple of sample tables with a post describin what you would want your script to achieve. You will very likely get several different solutions shortly.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                    Brilliant, thanks Tom.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                      And here Graham,
                      http://www.csda1.com/index.html.
                      Suggest you go for Tom's advice and upload some non-sensitive data filled tables.
                      The response will vary from exceptional and detailed code, to a totally non-code answer using the built in functions. (The last one will probably be me.)
                      See our Hybrid Option here;
                      https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                      Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                      You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                        Originally posted by grahamrhind View Post
                        In short, can anybody point me to resources and examples of xbasic being used for data manipulation?

                        I trawled through about 9 hours of training for the version 10 release, and, as is too often the case, there's a fetish with applications and hardly more than a few minutes reference to real data manipulation (above and beyond getting, editing and storing). I want to be able to open a couple of dbfs, set filters on both, compare data in records with the same URN in a loop, carry out a mathematical function, and write the results to the table. I can do this in Foxpro in about 7 minutes, but in Alpha I just do not know where to start, and it's clear that though many command names are the same, the way it is structured is very different.

                        Any URLs with helpful tips would be much appreciated!

                        The best thing I've found for this is the Advanced Desktop Training Videos. You also can get many of the basis from the X-basic 101 training Videos. (I They come with the subscription, but I'm sure the must be available by other means too.) ~ Lots of information to sort through.

                        I watched them (and others) at home numerous times in the Win Media Player, (at high speed) while taking time-stamped notes & trying things. (Invaluable examples for learning IMHO!) ~Especially if you're on "an oasis" and you have to learn all this autonomously!

                        If you have either of these training videos, check out this link. They are the notes I took along with time stamps. NOTE: I' have updated them a bit with a few corrections and additions since then, but I think this will help.
                        Last edited by SNusa; 02-05-2012, 04:38 PM.
                        Robert T. ~ "I enjoy manipulating data... just not my data."
                        It's all about the "framework." (I suppose an "a5-induced" hard drive crash is now in order?)
                        RELOADED: My current posting activity here merely represents a "Momentary Lapse Of Reason."

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                          Thanks Robert. I did watch those videos for version 10, and they did give a basis, but not nearly data-orientated enough to be of much use for me - as I mentioned, they're app-orientated to the nth degree and the needs of data managers isn't covered. At least, not for my needs.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                            Originally posted by grahamrhind View Post
                            Thanks Robert. I did watch those videos for version 10, and they did give a basis, but not nearly data-orientated enough to be of much use for me - as I mentioned, they're app-orientated to the nth degree and the needs of data managers isn't covered. At least, not for my needs.
                            I tried to help...

                            PS: After watching these videos, (and piecing together everything else available online from Alpha, plus my notes and a couple of older small spiral bound a5 books no longer available) I'm pretty sure I can do just about anything I want regarding data manipulation directly from within X-basic code. (on .dbf files at least, right down to creating & manipulating tables on the fly etc.) ~ I'm presently researching before I "migrate" to mySQL, because I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that yet...... (even though in the past I have worked with MS SQL outside of Alpha 5)
                            Robert T. ~ "I enjoy manipulating data... just not my data."
                            It's all about the "framework." (I suppose an "a5-induced" hard drive crash is now in order?)
                            RELOADED: My current posting activity here merely represents a "Momentary Lapse Of Reason."

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Simple data manipulation - where to start

                              Graham
                              If you have gained some ground or succeeded in your quest, give us some ideas on what that looks like.

                              If not then please follow the advice to post some selected specifics or sample of what you mean.
                              This thread is titled "simple data manipulation". This is too broad a description for any kind of answer.
                              As you know, application software has three broad divisions
                              Data input, data manipulation and data output/result.
                              The first is what usually presents the biggest hurdle to newcomers resulting in a lot of focus on that.
                              The second has huge scope for different purposes and we always expect ours to be the norm. it appears that applies here.
                              Regards
                              Ray

                              Comment

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