Data Based Advisor articles from February 1990

Data Based Advisor archives from February 1990

The right stuff. (tips for value-added resellers)(The VAR Report) (column)
February 1, 1990... The Right Stuff Does a new decade demand a new approach to business? According to the experts at COMDEX/Fall, yes. The PC platform has grown up, shoving minicomputers into obsolescence and threatening the future of mainframes. That's...

Window processes. (using Revelation's Window processor)(includes related article on using Collector windows to create a four-way interface to application programs)(Revelation Expert) (column)
February 1, 1990... Window Processes Continuing the journey chronicled so far in the Oct. 1988, July 1989, and Sept. 1989 issues, we're going to descend further, beyond CATALYST calls, into the murky world of window processes. This is one of the most obscure...

Bag of tricks. (books and disks from Microrim for the R:Base user) (R:Base Lab) (column)
February 1, 1990... Bag of Tricks Microrim produced two manuals: Power User's R:BASE, and Application Development to add to their Education Series. These are a byproduct of their seminar series. (Although you get them when you take the classes, you can now...

Utility:R:Macros. (Software Review) (collection of R:BASE macros) (evaluation)
February 1, 1990... UTILITY: R:MARCOS If you want to avoid "reinventing the proverbial wheel" in your pursuit of great R:BASE applications, R:Macros may have what you're looking for. R:Macros is a collection of more than 50 R:BASE command files and sample...

Subqueries, part 2. (Hands-on SQL) (column)
February 1, 1990... Subqueries, Part 2 This month I continue my discussion of subselects. You'll learn how to solve some complex database access requests using subqueries. Next month, I'll go off the deep end with some "existential-philosophical"-style...

Play it again, Sam. (keyboard macros for dBASE IV)(dBASE IV Primer) (column)
February 1, 1990... Play It Again, Sam This month I'll introduce you to a new feature in dBASE IV: keyboard or command macros. Using them can save an incredible amount of time and improve the accuracy of what's done with the program. A key board macro is a...

First look at the new Clipper. (Hardcore Clipper) (column)
February 1, 1990... First look at the New Clipper! The beta version of Clipper 5.0 shipped just before COMDEX. I don't expect we'll see a shrink-wrapped copy until early 1990, but I thought you'd like to take a look at what to expect. So this month I'll show...

Quick returns. (full-screen editing with FoxPro) (The Fox Files)(includes related article comparing sorting and indexing) (column)
February 1, 1990... Quick Returns Although I've received letters, phone calls, and Readers Exchange messages about many of the columns in this series, the column that generated the most feedback was titled "Super GETs." In that article, I describe a technique...

Database publishing. (part 1)
February 1, 1990... Database Publishing Desktop publishers don't typically manage databases. And most database pros we know avoid desktop publishing. What a shame--there are so many rewards for those who master "database publishing," the merging of these two...

ORACLE gets an "A" for effort. (used to build the Educational Testing Service's Generalized Low-Volume Processing System)
February 1, 1990... ORACLE Gets an "A" For Effort The Educational Testing Service (ETS) is known for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). (Most of us have had to suffer through it at one time or another.) But what most of us may not know is that they also...

FoxPro! (Software Review) (includes related article on FoxPro's memo fields, and a related article on changes to data files fromFoxBASE to FoxPro) (evaluation)
February 1, 1990... FoxPro! Wow! I wish it would run on my PC! When Fox Software previewed their unprecedented FoxBASE+/Mac 2.0 in early 1988, the reaction of PC users was predictable. FoxBASE+/Mac merged the data manipulating, application-building power of...

COMDEX: the greatest show on Earth. (includes related article on Microrim's Vanguard DBMS and a related article on a session debating the pros and cons of SQL)
February 1, 1990... COMDEX: The Greatest Show on Earth Maybe the best reason to go to COMDEX Fall is that it's in Las Vegas. Las Vegas has been called a Disneyland for adults, but that's not being fair to Disney. Disney theme parks try to stimulate your...

Getting under the hood of SQL Server, part 2.
February 1, 1990... Getting Under the Hood of SQL Server, Part 2 Last month we rolled up our sleeves and took our first tentative steps to installing SQL Server. Veteran LAN administrators probably wouldn't have run into all the problems I did, but I set out to...

The macro file format. (dBASE IV's macro recording)
February 1, 1990... The Marco File Format dBASE is fairly unique among programming languages because it uses standard file formats. Whether you're a dBASE programmer or an add-on developer, knowing the structures of these files comes in handy. Most are...

Finding fault. (Paradox error messages)
February 1, 1990... Finding Fault Paradox is a wonderful database product and I wouldn't think of using anything else for most projects. Even so, like other software products, Paradox still has a few quirks and problems that can sometimes drive you mad. In...

Is the microcomputer revolution over? (software development in the new decade)
February 1, 1990... Is The Microcomputer Revolution Over? I recently read that computer keyboards in this country outnumber workers with desktops. The market's approaching saturation, gang, and we're in for some major changes. Now that most people have a...

What's going on. (Editor's File) (column)
February 1, 1990... What's Going On When Sophco's David Lowrey gave me a beta test version of his FORCE compiler last summer, I had to chuckle. Sophco advertised Force III profusely back in 1987, then withdrew the product after design flaws "forced" the...

Feedback. (letter to the editor)
February 1, 1990... Feedback S.O.S. I recently developed a dictionary generator in FoxBASE+. It's aimed at translators and other people who need instant access to words. The problem is: My program doesn't fulfill all their needs because it can't pop up...

Talkback. (letter to the editor)
February 1, 1990... Talkback Homework Time Many thanks to Martin Schiff's references to Brief and dBrief in his article, "Getting Away from Work," in the December issue. We too believe "Brief in the best editor for dBASE programmers." There are a few...

Dataline.
February 1, 1990... Dataline Towering dFERNO CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO -- Rare is the week when we don't get a call from buzzwords international, Inc.'s head, Rich Comeau, wondering when we'll be covering his dBASE add-on products. Well, Rich, it's time to...

New products. (directory)
February 1, 1990... New Products ORACLE Server For OS/2 Oracle Corp. announced ORACLE Server for OS/2. According to the company, ORACLE Server is portable to over 80 operating systems, including OS/2, VINES, UNIX, VAX VMS, and MVS; supports LAN...