Data Based Advisor articles from June 1993

Data Based Advisor archives from June 1993

Powersoft announces PowerBuilder 3.0. (Powersoft Corp.'s program development software) (At Press Time)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Powersoft of Burlington, Mass. drew more than 900 attendees to its April international users conference in San Diego, CA. where the company announced version 3.0 of PowerBuilder and two new client/server tools. Seems PowerBuilder 3.0, which...

May the best developer win! (the Droege Developers Competition) (At Press Time) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1993... By now, you've probably heard about the Droege Developers Competition (see DBA, February 1993). The competition coordinators, Droege Computing Services of Durham, NC, are already planning this year's event, scheduled for November 6-7. ...

Office politics heat up. (Borland International Inc.'s Borland Office for Windows) (At Press Time)(Brief Article ) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... By the time you read this, you'll be able to purchase Borland Office for Windows, a software bundle that includes WordPerfect 5.2 for Windows, Borland Paradox for Windows 1.0, and Quattro Pro for Windows 1.0 for $595. The office bundle,...

Borland on the rebound. (Borland International Inc. bounces back) (Editor on the Go) (Editorial)
June 1, 1993... "I'm so low it's an uphill climb to the bottom!" So goes one of my favorite R&B song titles. Some people would have coupled this phrase with the state of Borland last year. Those people need to take another look. While rumors of...

Feedback. (Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 1993... Until recently, FoxPro developers were able to protect their source code using FoxPro's encryption option when compiling or by compiling the code into a stand-alone EXE. This is no longer the case since Off-World Technology Ltd. released...

Corrections. (to the March 1993 and April 1993 issues) (Correction Notice)
June 1, 1993... Although the Actor 4.0 demo disk mentioned in Karen Watterson's Test Drives sidebar, "Comic Books and Classics," was still available as the March issue went to press, Darren Ellis, a reader who tried to obtain it, discovered that Symantec no...

Access all areas - ClearAccess. (ClearAccess Corp.'s ClearAccess version 1.1 relational database management system query software package) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1993... ClearAccess Corp says that its data access tool, ClearAcess 1.1, is a "window into corporate data." I say that it's one of the better kept secrets in relational database management systems (RDBMS) query software in general and Windows software...

wbsLIB provides Paradox coding shortcuts. (Weston Brothers Software Inc.'s Paradox development software package) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1993... Prior to Paradox 4.0, the long-standing stability of the Paradox feature set allowed developers to produce generic tools and routines that they could re-use from one system to the next. Application development paradigms evolved too, allowing...

Clipper on Strike! (Software Centric's Strike! utility for accessing SQL data from CA-Clipper version 5.x) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Software Centric released Strike!, a CA-Clipper 5.x utility for accessing SQL data. The Strike! SQL Core API has 30 general functions for connecting to local and remote DBMSs, submitting dynamic SQL commands and retrieving resulting data. The...

Reporting from Agility/VB. (Apex Software Corp.'s Agility/VB Visual Basic database manager now includes the Crystal Reports Windows report writer from Crystal Services Inc.) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Agility/VB, the Visual Basic database manager from Apex Software Corp., now includes Crystal Reports, a Windows report writer from Crystal Services, Inc. Crystal Reports creates reports, form letters and mailing labels, and offers database and...

AppGen for Paradox 4. (Enabling Systems' UserBase application generator for Borland International Inc.'s Paradox 4 database management system) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Enabling Systems released UserBase, an application generator for Paradox 4. UserBase uses a table-driven interface and reusable code libraries for creating Paradox 4 applications. Its event library checks and updates tables structures....

SQL-Programmer 1.0 - a must have for SQL Server programmers. (Sylvain Faust Inc.'s set of database administrator utility programs) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1993... Most back-end database server vendors include their set of database administrator (DBA) tools and utilities with their packages and don't go out of their way to tell you about third-party tools that are also available. Frankly, once you've...

C&R's fax solution. (Cracchiolo & Feder Inc.'s RightFAX version 2.0 facsimile software gains an optical character recognition module and PostScript engine) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Cracchiolo & Feder shipped an optical character recognition (OCR) module and PostScript engine for RightFAX 2.0, their fax software. The OCR module allows routing of faxes via multiple aliases assigned to network users. When a fax is received,...

On Top debuts app software. (On Top Systems' di-ogix version 2.0 text-based application development software) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... On Top Systems released diogix 2.0 (formerly 1 forALL 1.1), text-based application development software that combines spreadsheet, database management and report writing functions in one package. It features a debugger, demo generator, and...

FireSign simplifies file transfers. (Firesign Computer Co.'s Outbound version 3.0 terminate-and-stay-resident file transfer utility program) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Firesign Computer Co. released Outboard 3.0, a TSR for performing unattended file transfer from PCs to mainframes. Outbound takes advantage of "structured fields," a feature of IBM 3270s that permits more bytes to be sent in a single...

ParaStat updated for Paradox 4. (Financial Modeling Specialists Inc.'s statistical software program now works with Borland International Inc.'s Paradox 4 database management system) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Financial Modeling Specialists (FMS), Inc., updated their statistics program, ParaStat, to work with Paradox 4. ParaStat can now analyze up to 50 fields simultaneously, supports Paradox 4's standard mode interface, and, according to FMS, is...

dBEST Toolbox has tools for what you're building. (version 5.0 of HALLoGRAM Software Inc.'s source code libraries for Xbase database management system programming) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1993... Once you've nailed down the specifications for an Xbase application with your client, your next task is, of course, to develop those specs into a working application. dBEST Toolbox Version 5.0 can give you a leg up in that development. ...

IQ does Windows. (IQ Software Corp.'s Intelligent Query for Windows report writer and query tool) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... IQ Software Corp. released Intelligent Query (IQ) for Windows, a Windows report writer and query tool that features tool bars, hypertext help, and support for dynamic link libraries (DLLs). IQ for Windows uses a data dictionary based scheme...

IMAGIN puts Xbase in graphic mode. (Imagine Software Solutions' IMAGIN Xbase utility program lets text-mode applications run in graphics mode) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Imagine Software Solutions released IMAGIN, an Xbase utility that enables text-mode applications to run in graphics mode. Imagine says that IMAGIN can emulate the text screen and cursor for all resolutions, and has a suspend feature for...

DataFlex supports OS/2. (Data Access Corp.'s database management system for OS/2) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Data Access Corp. shipped DataFlex, their database management system, for OS/2. Key features include an event-driven user interface with mouse support, an object-oriented 4GL, application generators, and tools and utilities for building...

Port Xbase apps to UNIX. (Workgroup Solutions' Flagship version 4.0 converts DOS Xbase applications to Unix) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Workgroup Solutions shipped Flagship 4.0, a utility for converting DOS Xbase applications to UNIX. The company says that Flagship can convert CA-Clipper Summer '87 and 5.01, dBASE III PLUS, and Fox-BASE+ programs to work with more than 50 UNIX...

dBASE compiler from Max Software. (Max Software Consultants Inc.'s Object Skipjack object-oriented application development software package for dBASE and Pascal) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Max Software Consultants, Inc., shipped Object Skipjack, an object-oriented application development framework for dBASE and Pascal. Object Skipjack has more than 40 objects and 700 methods for developing and compiling multi-user,...

4D support from adINFINITUM. (adINFINITUM Development's objX software package for developing 4th Dimension applications) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... adINFINITUM Development shipped objX, a system for developing and maintaining 4th Dimension (4D) applications. Within a 4D application, objX can document field, variable, procedure, and script information for all objects. The objX outliner...

A faster Four. (Alpha Software Corp.'s Alpha Four version 2.1 relational database management system) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... Alpha Software Corp. has shipped Alpha Four 2.1, a faster version of its end user "relational" database management system. According to Alpha, operations in the latest version are exponentially faster than in 2.0. For example, Copy, Export,...

DL makes tracks. (DL Systems Inc.'s DB-LOG terminate-and-stay-resident transaction tracking and audit trail utility program) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
June 1, 1993... DL Systems, Inc., released DB-LOG, a TSR-based transaction tracking and audit trail utility. DB-LOG's audit trail file contains a pre-image and post-image of every record changed in all monitored databases, and is capable of making rollback...

Standard site licensing will keep some packaged software out of my hands. (Opinions) (Column)
June 1, 1993... I'm involved--like many of you--in supporting a large nation-wide computing environment. My responsibilities include evaluating, recommending, and licensing software for workstations, usually attached to a local area network. In the frenzy of...

Site licensing provides a cost-effective solution. (Opinions) (Column)
June 1, 1993... Software companies sell millions of software packages annually, for the simple reason that their software works, it's guaranteed, and the products are available instantly. Most organizations regularly purchase PC software for a wide...

The latest on Windows database managers. (includes a related article on the next generation of Windows database management systems) (Cover Story) (Buyers Guide)
June 1, 1993... Fueled by price wars and friendly interfaces, Windows DBMSs are taking the market by storm. If you and your organization can afford the hardware needed to migrate to Windows, there are compelling reasons to do so. Windows has humanized...

Document your application! (six code documentation software packages are compared)(includes a related article on the basics of application documentation) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1993... Code documentors create technical documentation for a program. Unlike user documentation, technical documentation shows how a program is built, gives an overview of the structure and data files, and may contain other system statistics....

Xbase standard moves on. (Xbase Report) (Column)
June 1, 1993... Microsoft has submitted its entire set of Fox command reference manuals to X3 (the organization that acredits ANSI technical committees) for use by X3J19, the group trying to hammer out an ANSI standard for the Xbase language. The manuals,...

An intro to FoxPro add-ons. (add-on programs for Microsoft's FoxPro database management system)
June 1, 1993... For developers who've embraced Fox Software databases over the last eight years, the rewards have been bountiful. Fox survived the threat of the ominous goliath, Ashton-Tate, and even after being swallowed by the leviathan Microsoft emerged...

Developer's guide to FoxPro add-on tools. (add-on software for the FoxPro database management system) (Directory)
June 1, 1993... 20/20 Software 8196 S.W. Hall Blvd., Suite 200 Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 520-0504 Fax (503) 520-9118 WestLake Imager for FoxPro Incorporates pictures into FoxPro 2.x databases. Supports PCX, TIFF, PIC, and CGM graphics. Price:...

Choosing the right software: Indiana University Center on Philanthropy. (the center's assistant director, Lois Sherman, describes her search for a database management system; developers respond to her situation)
June 1, 1993... Indiana University Center on Philanthropy If Lois Sherman of the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy in Indianapolis could sum up her extensive search for the right database software in one phrase, it might be "frustrating." Or maybe...

Uniface provides quick look into shipping system. (Encompass Corp.'s Global Trade Management System inventory tracking system) (Client/Server Advisor)
June 1, 1993... When Encompass Corp., a software development firm in Cary, North Carolina, went looking for a means of providing its manufacturing customers with a realtime view of their global inventory assets, it needed a versatile application development...

Superbase at the Antisubmarine Warfare Training Center. (the Naval Logistics Center Detachment at the Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Training Center's use of Software Publishing Corp.'s Superbase database management system)(includes a related article on Superbase version 2.0) (Client/Server Advisor)
June 1, 1993... If you think you've had problems selecting a Windows-based database management system for your firm, you might feel better after reading about the experiences of the Naval Logistics Center Detachment personnel at the Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare...

Dunkin' Donuts does it with Magic. (Dunkin' Donuts' use of Magic Software Enterprises' Magic program development software) (Client/Server Advisor)
June 1, 1993... Franchise operators face a dilemma. They need sophisticated in-store systems to capture day-to-day sales and inventory data, but the systems they install must be simple so non-computer-literate franchise owners will be able to administer them....

Building FoxPro for Windows apps for SQL Server. (includes a related article on Microsoft's Connectivity Kit) (Client/Server Advisor) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... This article provides a how-to guide to using FoxPro for Windows as a front end to SQLServer. First we'll explore how to link FoxPro to SQL Server and how to access SQL Server data from FoxPro. We'll then discuss splitting queries between the...

Simplify SQL transaction logs and backups. (Structured Query Language) (Client/Server Advisor) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... As I got on an airplane the other day and listened to the flight attendant review the safety instructions, I was reminded of the transaction logging and recovery mechanisms of client/server databases: "We're concerned about your comfort, but...

Debunking the myths of client/server. (Client/Server Advisor: Memo to Management) (Column)
June 1, 1993... I wish I had a dollar for every glowing word I've read about downsizing from a mainframe environment to PC LANs a la client/server. If that were the case, I'd be richer than Bill Gates. That's not to say that I haven't written or spoken a few...

Put your database on a CD-ROM. (Client/Server Advisor) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... The recordable CD-ROM speeds along at 300K a second, copying my database data. Special ISO 9660 directories are created, and the data is transferred onto the organic layer of the CD-ROM with a high-power laser. I finally have everything...

dBASE IV version 2.0: enhanced with speed. (Borland International Inc.'s database management system) (Software Review) (dBASE Developer) (Evaluation)
June 1, 1993... As I write this article, dBASE IV Version 2.0 is hot off the presses. I worked with the product while it was in beta and watched it grow from a slight improvement into a product worth using for serious applications. I have two points of view...

ObjectPAL - taking the first step. (Paradox for Windows' programming language)(includes a related article on tips for using ObjectPAL) (Paradox Programmer) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... Paradox for Windows introduces a new programming language, ObjectPAL, which is ideally suited to the demands of an event-driven, object-based Windows world. ObjectPAL draws from a wide range of existing programming languages, such as C++...

Move your FoxPro apps to Windows now! (FoxPro Developer) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... Until recently, you may have looked at Windows the same way I did: as a great platform for my word processor. Since the extended version of FoxPro 2.0 didn't work under Windows, I tended to fire up Windows only when I needed to write something...

dBASE IV tune-up tips. (Performance Tips) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... It's time to rev up and fine tune those dBASE applications. Often, it's the simple, common-sense things that can turn a slow application into a slick performer. dBASE Tip 1--Manage Memory from DOS DBHEAP is a DOS environment...

Building a better TBrowse. (Clipper Basics ) (Tutorial)
June 1, 1993... CA-Clipper's TBrowse is a very powerful vehicle for browsing data. Let's look at how to improve performance, customize a browse by accessing TBrowse and TBColumn instance variables, use TBrowse method functions, and browse arrays and text...

The Windows way thru CompuServe. (Windows-based auto-navigation programs for accessing CompuServe) (DB Connections) (Brief Article)
June 1, 1993... If you're a Windows pro and a CompuServe member, you've probably heard of some of the Windows based auto-navigation programs for accessing CompuServe. CompuServe-developed WINCIM, for example, provides a user-friendly Windows interface, but it...

Calendar of events.
June 1, 1993... Toronto FoxPro Developers' Conference--North America's best known database developers will meet for seminars, workshops, and panel discussions. Co-sponsors include Microsoft Canada, Data Based Advisor, and FoxPro Advisor. A trade show at the...

Database Confidential. (humor) (Column)
June 1, 1993... While Buzz chases down an avocado sandwich with a Jolt Cola at Microsoft's cafeteria, a T.V. monitor behind me drones on about the virtues of recycling. Is this a bizarre TV commercial during an episode of The Young and the Restless? Nope, it's...