Data Based Advisor articles from February 1993

Data Based Advisor archives from February 1993

Dataline.
February 1, 1993... SCOTTS VALLEY, CA -- By now you've probably become well-versed in the corporate machinations of Borland International, which, in the course of one week, bought expertise and technology from WordTech Systems and laid off roughly 15 percent of...

A wild and crazy start to '93. (company news) (Editor on the Go) (Editorial)
February 1, 1993... What happened in December? Did they put something in the water, or what? I refer to big news involving Borland, Microsoft, Novell and IBM. (See this month's Dataline for details on the Borland events.) As 1993 unfolds, many of us will be...

Feedback. (Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 1993... Put OOP in its Place In "Feedback" (DBA, August 1992), Jim Arnold sounds a realistic note. Of course, there are two sides and OOP is a valid and necessary concept. In a large development environment, OOP could be the answer. However,...

Plastic Software - a good case for CA-Clipper. (Atlas Software Pty. Ltd.'s application development environment for CA-Clipper 5.01 program development software) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... * Plastic Software Atlas Software Pty. Ltd. 81 Edward St. Perth, Western Australia 6000 (011) (61) 9-227-8100 Fax (011) (61) 9-227-8896 You're probably familiar with computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools, tools that can...

On SQL Watch duty. (PACE Systems Inc.'s SQL Watch structured query language-based server performance monitor) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
February 1, 1993... PACE Systems, Inc. announced SQL Watch, a Windows-based performance monitor for Microsoft and Sybase SQL Servers. SQL Watch allows system administrators to monitor critical SQL Server resources from a single screen in real-time, including...

Browse smarter. (SmartCode Programming's BroPLUS 2.3 search software) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
February 1, 1993... SmartCode Programming released BroPLUS 2.3, an Xbase browse utility and file manager. BroPLUS, which allows you to design browse screens, features pull-down menus, hot keys for access to most menu options, context-sensitive help, a copy/paste...

GENSYS supports third parties. (Rytech's template for Template Garden Software's UI2) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
February 1, 1993... GENSYS 2.5, a U12 template from Rytech, now features integrated support for several third-party tools including, R&R Report Writer, Pinnacle Publishing's NetLib, dLESKO's FUNCky II, Grumpfish, Inc.'s GrumpFish, SuccessWare's Six Driver, Desktop...

R-Express Pro - an AppGen for R:BASE developers. (Grebar Systems Inc.'s program development software) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... * Re-Express Pro Grebar Systems Inc. P.O. Box 2926 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4B5 Canada 204-942-3301 R-Express pro, from Grebar Systems, Inc., is an automated development tool for creating R:BASE 3.x/4.x and Personal R:BASE...

EnforceBase enforces data integrity. (Extended Systems Inc.'s data integrity program for Xbase files) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... * EnforceBase Extended Systems, Inc. 6123 North Meeker Ave. Boise, ID 83704 208-322-7575 Fax 208-377-1906 Competent Xbase developers have to maintain data integrity from within their programs--they also know that in any Xbase system,...

Barcode printing library for Xbase. (Software Concepts Inc.'s CodeBar 3.2 program development software) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
February 1, 1993... Software Concepts, Inc., released CodeBar 3.2, a barcode and PostNet barcode printing library for Clipper Summer '87 and 5.01and FoxPro 2.0. CodeBar prints regular Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5, and U.S.P.S. POSTNET and 62-bit Deliver Point...

InterBase international. (Borland International Inc.'s InterBase 3.3 relational database server) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
February 1, 1993... Borland International Inc. released InterBase 3.3, the relational database server. Borland also shipped Paradox SQL Link for InterBase, which uses SQL to provide access from Paradox 4.0 to data residing on the InterBase Server. InterBase...

Make way for PathWay Access. (The Wollongong Group's PathWay Access 2.1 Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol application group) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
February 1, 1993... The Wollongong Group released PathWay Access 2.1, a suite of TC/IP applications that enable DOS, Windows or Macintosh applications to access and share network resources on a wide range of computers, including VMS, Unix, MVS, and VM systems....

Viewing graphics is simple with WestLake Imager. (20/20 Software's image processing software) (includes related article on WestLake Imager's support for dBase, FoxPro and R:BASE) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... * WestLake Imager 20/20 Software 8196 S.W. Hall Blvd., Suite 200 Beaverton, OR 97005 503-520-0504, fax 503-520-9118 You shouldn't have to be taken to task when you want to view graphic images in an application. WestLake Imager, from...

9K - version control made easy. (Forte Software Tools Ltd.'s version-control software) (Software Review) (Test Drives ) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... * Forte Software Tools Ltd. Hudson House Walford Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 5SB United Kingdom (011) (44) 989-767656 Smart programmers use version-control software; it makes a lot of sense to keep track of what direction a software...

Rightsizing can help your business. (Client/Server Advisor)
February 1, 1993... During the '80s, many companies accumulated millions of dollars worth of computer systems, each designed for a different purpose. These days more and more companies are rightsizing--taking a hard look at their computing assets and comparing...

Bill Gates and Dave Fulton talk OOP. (interview with Microsoft Chmn and CEO Bill Gates and database architect Dave Fulton on object oriented programming) (includes related article on Borland International CEO Philippe Kahn's view of OOP) (Interview)
February 1, 1993... The following conversation recently took place with Microsoft's Chairman and CEO, Bill Gates, Database Architect Dave Fulton, and DBA Editors John Hawkins and Dian Schaffhauser. DBA: Borland [International] gets a lot of mileage out of...

Multimedia, Microsoft, and Borland spark Comdex. (Comdex/Fall 1992)
February 1, 1993... LAS VEGAS -- Dueling vendors Microsoft and Borland dominated the opening day of the Interface Group's Comdex /Fall '92. As reported in last month's "Dataline," Borland pushed its data access scheme, IDAPI (which stands for Integrated Database...

10 tips for training new users. (database training) (Database Report)
February 1, 1993... Have you ever found yourself in the unexpected role of trainer? Whether teaching users to work with an application you've written, or providing training for a software package, the thought of designing a training course and managing a classroom...

The guide to database training. (includes related articles on seminars, on computer-based training, on audio tapes, on books with disks and on vendor-supplied training) (Database Report) (Buyers Guide)
February 1, 1993... Where oh where does today's database developer get cost-effective training in a short period of time, for their level of experience, in the necessary environments? Sound like too much to ask? Not to worry! Today the options for database...

Learn SQL now. (Structured Query Language primer) (includes related article on American National Standards Institute SQL) (Client/Server Advisor) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... Structured Query Language (SQL) was designed to work with database engines to provide fast data retrieval, built in data integrity, and security checks (something that requires many hours of coding in Xbase languages). Because there's a SQL...

Client/server catch-up. (Database World & Client/Server World trade show and conference, 1992) (Client/Server Advisor)
February 1, 1993... CHICAGO -- A Shakespeare line from quoted by Lotus' Sr. V.P. John Landry summed up well the sense of urgency shown by attendees at Digital Consulting, Inc.'s December dual show, Database World & Client/Server World. "When the sea was calm all...

Tap the wizardry of Access. (usage of Microsoft Corp.'s Access database management system's Report Wizard and Form Wizard)
February 1, 1993... End users typically lack the knowledge required to improve the interface they work with every day. Likewise, if the reports supplied with an application don't fit their needs, they often have to resort to cut and paste. Microsoft Access can...

Beam me over: Microsoft's new FoxPro 2.5 for DOS and Windows. (database management system) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... FoxPro 2.5 for Windows is an exciting Windows database product. I really like product updates that offer me complete compatibility with older versions, while providing flawless integration into the new operating environment. As an added bonus,...

LAN database server software: ready for prime time? (advantages and disadvantages of NetWare Loadable Modules for local-area networks) (Client/Server Advisor)
February 1, 1993... There is considerable excitement in the LAN database server field, and much of it seems to stem from the letters "NLM." NLM stands for NetWare Loadable Module. This refers to software written to run directly on the kernel of Novell's 32-bit...

The racers: this competition pits developers and tools against each other for the greater glory of database management. (Developers Competition)
February 1, 1993... DURHAM, NC -- The race starts a few minutes late. There's no warming up, no referee in sight, no flag dropping to signal competitors on their course to victory and certain fame. But there are reasons to need a referee later in the...

Develop and display your help messages in dBASE IV. (Borland International Inc.'s database management system) (Column) (dBase Developer) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... This is the last of the series on Help development. When we're finished with this month's article, we will have a complete help development system for dBASE IV. Showing help Last month, we finished the help development portion of...

Chain of events. (WAIT command in Borland International Inc.'s Paradox 4.0 program development software) (Column) (Paradox Programmer) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... I've been teaching Paradox 4.0 PAL classes for several months, and I've discovered something odd. Whenever I teach version 4.0's powerful new WAIT command, my students' eyes glaze over and by break time, they look perplexed. Although the WAIT...

Declarative and procedural referential integrity: why you need both. (Column) (Client/Server Advisor: Client/Server Developer) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... There have been many debates between developers who favor declarative referential integrity and developers who favor procedural referential integrity. In many cases, these debates arose because relational database vendors didn't support both...

Visual Basic 2.0: a new beginning. (Microsoft Corp.'s Microsoft Visual Basic database management system) (Column) (Software Review) (Basic for Windows) (Evaluation)
February 1, 1993... Lothar the Caveman came back from the hunt elated that the gods had provided for him and his family. The hunt was a success, and they would eat well for days. As Lothar unloaded his pack and seated himself before the fire, it occurred to him...

Using FoxPro's API: improving performance. (Microsoft Corp.'s FoxPro database management system's Application Program Interface) (Column) (C/C++ Developer) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... Last time, we looked at a minimal C program and the steps required to compile, link, and attach the resulting library file to a FoxPro application. This month we look at using the Application Programming Interface (API) to improve performance...

MEMOEDIT() revisited. (function in Computer Associates Inc.'s Clipper program development software) (Column) (Clipper Basics) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... Each Xbase dialect has its unique methods of handling memo fields and Clipper 5 is no exception. One particular function in Clipper, MEMOEDIT(), is the focal point of memo use. For programmers used to the Summer '87 release, the mechanisms...

Working with BLObs in Paradox 4.0. (Binary Large Objects in Borland International Inc.'s database management system) (Column) (Paradox Basics) (Tutorial)
February 1, 1993... Paradox 4.0 tables have the ability to store a variety of data types, including graphics, word processing documents, sound, and even video, by using something called a Binary Large Object (BLOb). Let's take a look at how Paradox stores these...

Say what you mean. (on-line communication) (DB Connections) (Column)
February 1, 1993... Sometimes, we forget our manners. For example, you call someone a moron in public and hopefully, that person won't be insulted (at least not too badly) if he sees that elfish glint in your eye. But if you do the same thing on-line in our forum,...

Calendar of events. (conferences and expositions for database professionals) (Brief Article)
February 1, 1993... Downsizing Expo--Focus on downsizing from mainframes to PC LANs, distributed processing, case studies, and groupware. February 16-18, Chicago, IL. Contact Digital Consulting, 508-470-3870. FoxPro Satellite Video Conference--Eight hours,...

Database confidential. (database industry rumors) (Column)
February 1, 1993... Who's next? Could Microsoft be in serious discussion to buy Recital's technology--or even Recital itself? Makes sense to this reporter. As you recall, Recital's that $12 million-plus MA-based company that pops out versions of Xbase for every...