Data Based Advisor articles from May 1994

Data Based Advisor archives from May 1994

The challenge for women in the computer industry. (Developer Issues)
May 1, 1994... For those women who choose application development as a career, there can be many frustrations in striving to move up in the corporate ladder. A recent study by the College of Wooster in Ohio confirms that the more technologically intense...

Object-based testing for Windows applications. (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... SQA TeamTest 2.5 is an easily extensible tool that streamlines team-based testing of Windows applications. Any development team that's serious about testing should evaluate SQA TeamTest 2.5. SQA TeamTest 2.5, produced by Software Quality...

The ultimate Visual Basic extension. (SpyWorks-VB 2.0) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... UPDATE Desaware's unassuming description of SpyWorks-VB 2.0, "Extension and Debugging Tools for Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows," belies the underlying power of this collection of programs and custom controls. SpyWorks expands the...

Video flexibility is ImagIn's key. (Imagine Software Solutions' ImagIn) (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... NEW Imagine Software Solution's ImagIn (short for Image Integrator) is a one-stop-shop graphics center for any software application to which you want to add graphics. ImagIn lets you display and print grpahic files in a variety of...

BandIT: a linkable report writing toolkit for CA-Clipper. (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... NEW So you're a CA-Clipper developer, and you want a reporting tool that produces quality output for flexible report organization, contains contemporary RDD support, includes a simple report writing language, as well as a robust...

Jazz up your FoxPro demos. (Software Review) (Test Drives) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... If you develop FoxPro products and distribute them to the public, consider creating an active working model that presents your product's best face to potential customers. If you design inhouse applications for novice users, a guided tutorial...

Cool product discovery. (Hardware Review) (Shiva NetModem/E) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... Have you ever found yourself driven crazy by ringing telephones, blaring fax machines, and the cacaphony of the usual office hubbub, and wished you could rent a cabin miles from nowhere so you could work without all the interruption? For that...

Visual Basic add-ons for corporate developers. (Cover Story)
May 1, 1994... Constructing easy to use, mission-critical, corporate applications in Visual Basic is easier than it looks, with the right tools. During the past several years, dozens of innovative add-ons have been introduced for Visual Basic (VB). At the...

Team up for virtual development. (Team Development)(includes related articles on tips, task tracking log)
May 1, 1994... Building a software development team is a complex undertaking. It's especially difficult when the people involved work in different places and at different times. With modern telecommuting tools, a "virtual development team" is no longer rare....

Coaching the successful development team. (programming project management) (includes related article on laws of project management) (Team Development)
May 1, 1994... "How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?" goes a phrase in the song, Maria, from "The Sound of Music." This could be rephrased for team development as "How do you get a highly-motivated programmer to work as a team player?" Many developers...

Hot ticket for XBase developers. (At Press Time) (Brief Article)
May 1, 1994... Borland, Computer Associates, and Microsoft will co-sponsor the Xbase Forum, a 50-seat theater-style exhibit spotlighting the companies' products, third-party developments, and technical tips, at DB/EXPO 94 in San Francisco, May 24-26. ...

Merger results in client/server powerhouse. (UNIFACE merges with Compuware) (At Press Time) (Brief Article)
May 1, 1994... The merger of Uniface, makers of the UNIFACE client/server development environment, with mainframe software giant Compuware points to a continuing trend toward consolidation in the client/server tools market and a desire among vendors to build...

ASKing for more time. (Oracle, Sybase, Informix lead database market; ASK Group Inc. has cash-flow problems) (At Press Time) (Brief Article)
May 1, 1994... Oracle, Sybase, and Informix have emerged as the front runners in the database server market, enjoying unprecedented growth and financial success. Meanwhile, The ASK Group Inc., the Santa Clara-based maker of the Ingres database server, is...

SBT has new vision. (moving to client/server products with VisionPoint 8.0) (At Press Time)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... SBT, the leader in the customizable accounting software market, is making the transition to client/server. Developers may still want customizable software, but the movement is toward packaged applications designed for the client/server...

IBM integrates mainframe apps with Windows. (IMS Client Server) (At Press Time)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... The IBM IMS Client Server for Windows links development tools capable of calling a DLL--such as Borland C++, Gupta SQLWindows, Microsoft Visual Basic, and Powersoft PowerBuilder--with mainframe IMS applications. "IMS Client Server for Windows...

Mergers and acquisitions. (Editor on the Go) (Editorial)
May 1, 1994... Springtime is when new things emerge. This spring brought announcements that change the landscape of the computer industry, affecting us all. Novell + WordPerfect The largest event was the announcement that WordPerfect is becoming...

Feedback. (Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 1994... The Venezuelan contingent says... Regarding your October Editor on the Go, I do agree with Charles Wang! If we don't focus on making technology work for our businesses, then technology serves no useful purpose. As a matter of fact I...

New UNIX versions of dBASE. (News) (Brief Article)
May 1, 1994... New UNIX versions of dBASE are available for SunSoft Solaris, Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) UNIX, Novell UnixWare, and other UNIX-based operating systems. The products are fully compatible with existing versions of dBASE, and include latest...

New SQL Server version. (Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT 4.21) (News)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... An updated version of the Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT incorporates programmable electronic mail extensions for integrating transaction-based applications into a corporate-wide messaging architecture. Broadens support for...

Productivity tool does version control. (SRMS Complete Professional 1.04) (News)(Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... SRMS Complete Professional 1.04 is a workstation programming tool that integrates engineering, documentation, research, make, and version control functions. Driven by a single source engineering database and has interactive query facilities,...

File management for mobile users. (PC DOCS OPEN 2.0) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... PC DOCS OPEN Version 2.0 lets notebook computer users check out documents and their profiles for remote editing; gives access to Profile searching and full-text searching. New feature, Universal Application Control, tracks files and documents...

Help-authoring tool. (ExpoTech Corp. H.A.T. Version 2.0) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... H.A.T. Version 2.0 is a development system for help files designed for Windows, DOS, OS/2, and the Macintosh; it uses Gurus to write professional help systems. H.A.T. may be used at any time during the programming project. Also include is an...

Automated conversion tool. (TLIB Version Control 5.01) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... TLIB Version Control 5.01 adds automated conversion of old archives from PVCS or MKS RCS to TLIB format, and has new project-oriented mode. When converting archives, all versions are converted (including branch versions), all version numbers...

New version of R:BASE. (R:BASE 4.5 Plus!) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... R:BASE 4.5 Plus! is an enhanced version of Microrim's 32-bit, relational database management system. Has more than 50 new features and enhancements to perform complex data management tasks without programming. Some enhancements are: dynamic...

Query and charting tool for R:BASE. (Powergraph) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Powergraph is a Windows-based query and charting tool for Microrim's R:BASE database management system. Allows users to create standard and statistical queries by using a mouse, accessing information without programming. Data can be selected...

New DBMS libraries. (Sequiter Software CodeBase 5.1) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Version 5.1 of CodeBase, CodeBase++, CodeBasic and CodePascal now include CodeControls and CodeReporter, a new Windows interface designer and developer's report writer. CodeReporter 2.0 includes an Instant Report Wizard, drag and drop object...

SilverFox lets apps communicate. (SilverWare Inc. SilverFox Library SPCS 4.0 for Windows) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... SilverFox Library SPCS 4.00 for Windows lets applications take control of standard communication ports or Multi COM I/O adapters that are Microsoft Windows compatible. Features include: ZMODEM, XMODEM, 1K-XMODEM, YMODEM, YMODEM Batch,...

New label printer. (CoStar LabelWriter SE) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... LabelWriter SE is a desktop printer that includes built-in fonts and bar codes, and doesn't require special software. Features eight built-in fonts and six barcode symbologies, and prints about two inches per second on thermal paper or labels....

Create GUI DOS Xbase apps. (Schooner 2.0) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Schooner Version 2.00 is a GUI application development system that lets users create GUI DOS Xbase applications. "Instant Run" environment allows users to run code with no compile and link process. Includes graphic and GUI functions to...

PC-based CASE tool. (Tableau Systems Inc. Tableau Relational Modeler) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Tableau Relational Modeler is a PC-based CASE tool for relational database design. Lets designer graphically model real-world business rules as dependencies between fields (attributes). Designers can view schema, juxtapose parent/dependent...

Client/server testing software. (Automated Test Facility 3.0) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Automated Test Facility (ATF) Version 3.0 tests client/server applications written under Windows and OS/2. Features central point of control and can test multiple workstations interacting simultaneously for concurrent requests and lockout if...

Anti-virus products. (FireBreak 3.4, Armour 3.4) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... FireBreak 3.40 provides real-time monitoring of file activity of users connected to a server, and performs on-demand scanning of server. If users try to copy, rename, or run an infected file on the server, infection is detected and files are...

Report writing for AS/400. (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... ShowCase VISTA Pro is a report writing tool for the AS/400 that lets end-users build reports using graphical SQL interface to the AS/400. Report formatting capabilities include multiple control breaks, suppression of repetitive fields,...

SQL Server object manager. (Bigtec SQL Object) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Bigtec SQL Object is an object manager for Microsoft/Sybase SQL Server that runs in the Windows environment. Helps users implement their physical database designs to develop and manage SQL Server objects, such as tables, indexes, stored...

Windows database design tool. (Asymetrix InfoModeler) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Asymetrix InfoModeler lets developers communicate with end-users using English facts and examples. Works with FoxPro 2.5 for Windows, Access 1.0 or 1.1, Paradox 1.0 for Windows, Oracle7, and Microsoft/Sybase SQL Server 4.2 Support for other...

Life cycle management for client/server. (CA-PAN/LCM) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... CA-PAN/LCM automates life cycle management of applications across disparate client/server environments like Windows 3.1, OS/2.1, HP-UX, AIX, SCO-UNIX, and SCO-UNIX Open Desktop under Motif. Provides necessary life cycle management functions...

Data compression toolkit for Windows. (Inner Media DynaZIP Data Compression Toolkit for Microsoft Windows) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... DynaZIP Data Compression Toolkit for Microsoft Windows lets developers incorporate the ability to read, test, create, modify, and write standard ZIP files into their applications, without having to shell to a DOS session. DLLs are royalty-free...

Automatic Windows help files. (Performance Software MasterHelp) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... MasterHelp takes text formatted with Word for Windows and creates a Windows Help file, including all hypertext jumps. Can also create Microsoft's Multimedia Viewer files. Gives control over design and appearance of on-line Help file by using...

32-bit ODBC drivers. (PDX xBASE from Quark Research Corp.) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... PDQ xBASE is a SQL query engine that accesses Xbase data files. Using 32-bit implementation, product executes queries up to 100 times faster than other ODBC drivers on databases as large as 2G. The drivers use bitmap indexed optimization,...

Template accounting. (Common Cents Software Common Cents Accounting for Visual Xbase) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Common Cents Accounting (VX) for Visual Xbase has a CAD-like interface where each screen of the accounting system can be manipulated with a mouse to meet particular needs. After screen is configured, programmer hits generate button and source...

Common access. (SQL Objects C++ from OBJECTS++ Software Corp.) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... SQL Objects C++ is a C++ database access library that gives developers a common access method to SQL and non-SQL databases. Supports ODBC, IDAPI, abstract SQL classes, and direct database driver access. Supports SQLBase, Watcom SQL, ASCII...

Graphics Server SDK 2.5. (Pinnacle Publishing Inc.) (Brief Article) (Product Announcement)
May 1, 1994... Graphics Server SDK 2.5 is a dynamic link library for adding graphing and charting capabilities to Microsoft Windows applications development products. Features Windows NT support and OLE automation. Comes with 32-bit version of the Graphics...

Data exchange - spreadsheets and databases. (Software Techniques) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... Spreadsheets are spreadsheets and databases are databases, and never the twain shall meet. Even among many MIS professionals today, this has been a prevailing notion, but Windows makes this notion obsolete. Two Windows data-exchange...

University links PCs to mainframe. (Northern Arizona University)
May 1, 1994... Related article: EDA/SQL, $2,000 to $118,00 PC/FOCUS, $99 to $798 Information Builders, Inc. 1250 Broadway New York, NY 10001-3782 800-969-4636, (212) 736-4433 Fax (212) 967-6406 At Northern Arizona University (NAU), a school with 16,000...

EISToolkit gives decision support, data warehouse to Xerox. (case study)
May 1, 1994... Related article: EISToolkit, $1,995 to $7,995 MicroStrategy, Inc. One Christine Centre Wilmington, DE 19801 800-927-1868 (302) 427-8800 Fax (302) 427-8810 When Xerox Corp. underwent a global structural reorganization early in 1992 to...

Chasing an international Xbase standard. (includes directory, related article on making of an international standard)
May 1, 1994... Two recurring criticisms of computer standards are that they take too long to complete, and that they're in danger of being irrelevant by the time they're certified and published. While these criticisms can be leveled against the ANSI Xbase...

Clipper gets a client/server connection. (Extended Systems Advantage Xbase Server 1.0) (Software Review) (includes related articles on client/server advantage, RDD advantage) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... Advantage Xbase Server 1.0, $249; 250-user license, $5,495 Extended Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 4937, 5777 N Meeker Ave. Boise, ID 83704 800-235-7576, (208) 322-7575 Fax (208) 377-1906 CA-Clipper needs a client/server architecture to remain...

Use your ODBC driver in Visual Basic. (Client/Server Advisor)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... Perhaps the most notable feature of Microsoft's Visual Basic 3.0 is the addition of a robust set of features for database access. Included among these features is the ability to access remote and disparate databases while using a single, common...

Cognos helps users dip into the enterprise. (Impromptu 2.0c, PowerPlay) (Software Review) (Client/Server Advisor: Software Review) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... Impromptu 2.0c, $595, Administrator Edition; $495, Enterprise Edition PowerPlay 3.0, $695, end-user version without Transformer; $795, Administrator Edition Cognos, Inc. 67 South Bedford St. Burlington, MA 01803-5164 800-426-4667, (617)...

Create a replication server with Windows NT. (Column) (Client/Server Advisor: Client/Server Developer)(includes related article on schematic) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... The relational database market is hot right now. Competition is fierce, resulting in new features and new vendors. While a constantly changing market can cause some confusion for buyers, ultimately it means better products for those buyers....

Using drag and drop in your PowerBuilder applications. (Client/Server Advisor: PowerBuilder Pro)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... Drag-and-drop capability is expected in Windows applications, so it makes sense to include this basic GUI paradigm in your PowerBuilder applications. There are a number of ways to implement drag and drop, so take the examples in this article...

The latest rev: SQLWindows 4.1. (Software Review) (Client/Server Advisor: Inside SQLWindows) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... When I reviewed SQLWindows 4.0 (DATA BASED ADVISOR, July 1993), I marveled at the number and scope of the new features, lamented the exclusion of parent window classes that contained child items and explained how Gupta is trying to make...

World Cup soccer gains Momentum. (interview with Angelo Alogfu of World Cup USA) (Client/Server Advisor: Client/Server On-Line) (Interview)
May 1, 1994... DBA: You characterize World Cup USA as a "virtual corporation." Can you explain what a virtual organization is? How is it different from a normal organization? Alaoglu: First, the World Cup is a company that will grow from infancy to a...

Importing data into Lotus Notes. (Client/Server Advisor: Systems Integration Tips)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... You would think importing data into Lotus Notes would be easy. The product is at rev. 3.1, so it's not a new kid on the block. However, importing data into Notes is no easy task. Notes only imports data in the following formats: 1-2-3...

Marketing a consultancy: how experts do it. (Developer Report)
May 1, 1994... You've hung out your sign as a consultant, and you're prospecting for clients. In no time at all, you'll learn that selling consultancy services is harder than you imagine. The truth is that computer consultancy and marketing simply don't...

Is it a field? (includes related article on TRUE/FALSE versus numeric returns) (dBASE Developer)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... This month we'll continue with another lesson in working smarter rather than working harder. Last month we talked about two different ways to push dates off the weekend. One was sophisticated, but more difficult to understand, and slower to...

Detect and manage errors in Clipper programs. (Hardcore Clipper)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... In this article, I'll discuss a couple of aspects of error handling. First, I'll show you the programming constructs CA-Clipper provides that allow you to manage errors. Then I'll show a technique you can use to proactively detect programming...

FoxPro Connectivity Kit lets apps speak SQL. (Structured Query Language) (FoxPro Developer)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... Related Article: Connectivity Kit for FoxPro 2.5 for Windows, $295 Microsoft Corp. One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399 800-426-9400, (206) 882-8080 Fax (206) 883-8101 While much of the application development industry has turned to...

Streamline your ObjectPAL applications. (Paradox Basics)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... You can improve the readability of your code through the use of consistent, logical code writing conventions. In this month's column, I describe a number of techniques you can use to make your Paradox projects more understandable and easier to...

Are you a certified VB Professional? (includes related article on VB Tip of the Month) (Visual Basic Expert)(Column ) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... When I was fifteen, the most important test in the world was the Illinois Driver's License Exam. If I passed the written exam, I would get a Learner's Permit, which meant that I would be able to enroll in Driver's Ed. Even better, I would get...

Custom control of the month: Weimar's WSHelp balloon control. (Software Review) (Visual Basic Expert) (Evaluation)
May 1, 1994... Weimar's WSHelp Balloon Control Weimar's Balloon Control provides VB developers with a dynamic popup help system for any or all controls on a form. This is done via a custom event which monitors the mouse cursor passing over controls and...

Basic in new places. (use of BASIC as macro language) (Windows Developer)(Column) (Tutorial)
May 1, 1994... Every application is someone's idea for how to do something. WordPerfect decided to make F3 the key for help, and you must use a template to open a new document in Word for Windows and AmiPro. Users will hit a wall eventually as they become...

Calendar of events.
May 1, 1994... FoxUser Group Workshop--Two-day workshop hosted by Southeastern Virginia Fox User Group. Sessions will be on Visual Basic, Access, and FoxPro. Events include a trade show and an address by Microsoft on "The Future of Microsoft Database...

Database confidential. (Column)
May 1, 1994... Buzzy never thought he'd think this but it's getting too easy to stay connected these days. Now you can stay connected to your Ethernet network via radio frequency. Solectek Corp. announced AIRLAN/Parallel, a battery-powered RF Ethernet...