I wish to create a new alpha database based on an existing one.... How best achieved?

[pulsoft]

Hi there,

If possible, I would like to avoid hard coded references in the existing system.
Perhaps , I should say flag the hard coded references or somehow action an automatic replacement

I appreciate that there may have been similar questions and a plethora of responses in the past, so, if that's the case, please point me in the forum direction necessary, if not, please advise on the most appropriate methods you have employed thus far...

Thanks, in advance,

Paul

P.S. Is there such a thing as a search and replace program for Alpha? Imagine being able to alter the name of a table field, a field rule's syntax, a form field's object name, etc.

[DaveM]

Re: I wish to create a new alpha database based on an existing one.... How best achie

Hello Paul,

As for your top line, you can copy a whole application(adb included) to a new folder and then rename the .adb and associated files(I think there are 5 of them - not on my main computer now to look). I would suggest changing the folder name of the original folder so your copied adb innards can't locate those hard coded file paths.

Some of the hard coded file paths(very few) may be taken care of by alpha, but don't bet on that one.

You will need to search each place where you think or know there is a hard coded path and correct it.

Suggest no hard coding in the future?

I always set a global variable at the beginning of the app ( I use vapath) to the app path, so whatever the app path becomes, the app is up for it. UI set another one as vepath = executable path.

I hope I understood what you were asking?

[pulsoft]

Re: I wish to create a new alpha database based on an existing one.... How best achie

Thanks for your reply Dave.

I don't mean hard coded locations, more hard coded table references, be it table names or field names.

Essentially I was hoping some enterprising Alpha expert had already cracked how to cross reference data tables and their fields and field rules.

From that point you could then do a variety of clever things:

You could identify where particular tables and fields are used, possibly even how they are used, etc.
You could request that a particular field be substituted with a different field from the same table or set.
and
You could create a copy of the database that has been cross referenced, supply a new application name and location, new table name and field name replacements, field rules could be amended to reference the new field names, scripts and operations could also be updated accordingly, reports, labels, queries, etc.
This is the one main thing I miss about my previous development tool (Edeveloper/Unipaas)

I know there is a tool called AIMS (I think) which goes some way towards what I would like but I would pay good money for something that did the above.
I don't know very much about the formats of Alpha files, whether they are readable as text after some sort of unscrambling techniques are applied, but in theory the sort of thing I am looking for should be possible...

Maybe some enterprising individual will bring something to market.

Any way, thanks again Dave..

Paul

[Ted Giles]

Re: I wish to create a new alpha database based on an existing one.... How best achie

Paul, there are other ways, but copying a whole folder and renaming the files is probably easiest.
See example;
NewDatabase.png
Just make sure that ALL of the tables are in the new folder. They may be scattered over a number of folders if someone -not you - didn't follow best practice.

As for finding the paths, you will need to look at the database Properties/Libraries Tab, and I recommend A5Doc as the best way to search your database. It's a Documenter programme.

[pulsoft]

Re: I wish to create a new alpha database based on an existing one.... How best achie

Thanks for the info Ted, will look into A5Docs

Paul

[DaveM]

Re: I wish to create a new alpha database based on an existing one.... How best achie

Paul,
If all your dbf files are in the same folder as the app(best practice), then there should be no issues for alpha for these, Fi8eld rules, forms, scripts, etc should work just fine.

The only place there may be issues is where a file was addressed as c:\someotherfolder\blabla.dbf. Also if any path to any file is hard coded.

I almost bet what I said above will work.

Aims a5doc is what you are probably looking for. http://www.csda1.com