Thank you Robert M & jep for your answers to my Sundial Systems post.
Is there anyone here who works with dbExpert or knows it fairly well? I'm trying to establish a non-techie(me)techie relationship here so I have someone to call on when I need help.
Also, I'm wondering if there is somebody or group here who could possibly take over development of a solid, simple, easy to use OS/2/eCS database and upgrade it as needed.
Thanks
Dennis
Well, I've created some applications with DBExpert, but I'm no expert..........
Raiko
I'm not sure we need experts, even though they are nice to have and if there are some out there, I hope they let us know. If enough of us keep in contact, we just may be able to help the others solve dbExpert problems and in the process learn more about it ourselves. I'm trying to figure REXX out even though my poor old addled brain doesn't want to work that way.
Dennis
Hi Dennis,
A great resource to have when learning REXX is Rexx Tips and Tricks which can be found here:
http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/dev/rexx/rxtt36.zip
In addition, personally, I prefer using the CREXX.INF file for all non-object based reference (such as looking up SysFileTree() ).
Another great resource is a new REXXUTIL reference written by Alex Taylor which includes the changes to REXXUTIL made for WSeB. It can be found here:
http://www.cs-club.org/~alex/os2/toolkits/rexxutil/index.html
(without it, you wont have any problems, the old REXXUTIL and docs are backwards compatible with the new one... you just wont be aware of some new functions added, and new parameters for some existing ones).
The things to keep in mind with REXX are the way it uses stems, global variables, the Interpret and Value statements and functions (both decently explained in CREXX and RXTT36).
You'll find it is really very very powerful once you truly dig in... dont let anything in REXX daunt you. It's simpler than it seems once you get the hang of it. And of course, feel free to PM me (or post in the forums) any particular questions you may have.
-Robert
I can't say that I know DBExpert very well, though I created some useful reports and printouts with it... mainly because I wasn't able to do work in it the way I'm used to from DrDialog, Classic rexx in OS/2-eCS and Dynamic Windows. Was impressed by the printed documentation and GUI part of DBExpert, e.g. the Report builder and view/print capabilities.
Rexx is about the easiest, most flexible and powerful language out there, paired with database access and a GUI + report builder it should be very useful to many users. Let's hope that they can find a way to get the source code and update it, perhaps to allow non-specialized drivers too, as I suspect people would like to try PostGres and MySQL.
Rexx Tips & Tricks that is included with eComStation 2.0 help alot, as it contain hands on examples and references to libraries etc. that otherwise would be mumbo-jumbo to the average "developer".
mvh / MfG / WKR
//Jan-Erik
Me:
am testing Postgres 8.2.5 Beta for OS/2-eComStation
work as a software tester at a company that use databases for basically everything and has in 1.5 years there learnt quite alot about databases and related tools. Created a dump and rebuild tool to help customers the other day, has been working on another Dynamic Windows + RexxSQL tool to maintain a list of developers responsible for each part of the large app. for some time now... etc.
has begun work on a translation tool, but need help by people that can try out different ideas and put it together into something useful. DBExpert would be neat, but can't communicate that well with the rest of the (OS) system.
RobertM & jep thanks for your replies about REXX. I will be looking up most of the terminology RobertM mentioned. As a very non-technical person, I don't recognize such things as WSeb, stems, global variables, etc. I will download both files he mentioned.
JEP, thanks for directing me to REXX Tips & Tricks. Is it on the 2nd disk that came with eCS?
Thanks again
Dennis
RobertM
Where do I find CREXX.INF? I am unable to locate it in my eCS 1.2R installation.
Dennis
Quote from: Dennis on 2007.10.17, 18:50:11
RobertM
Where do I find CREXX.INF? I am unable to locate it in my eCS 1.2R installation.
Dennis
Then dont worry, you are using it. The REXX Help systems come in two flavors. OREXX and CREXX (for ObjectRexx and ClassicRexx)... whichever one you are using is renamed rexx.inf
Here's a neat 3-part 1999 article series, "Designing an Address Database Using DBExpert," at OS/2 SCOUG with tons of pictures to build an application around multiple tables...
Part 1 => http://www.scoug.com/OS24U/1999/SCOUG904.2.SUNSIG.HTML (http://www.scoug.com/OS24U/1999/SCOUG904.2.SUNSIG.HTML)
Part 2 => http://www.scoug.com/OS24U/1999/scoug905.2.sunsig.html (http://www.scoug.com/OS24U/1999/scoug905.2.sunsig.html)
Part 3 => http://www.scoug.com/OS24U/1999/SCOUG906.2.SUNSIG.HTML (http://www.scoug.com/OS24U/1999/SCOUG906.2.SUNSIG.HTML)
Quote from: Dennis on 2007.10.17, 15:30:37
RobertM & jep thanks for your replies about REXX. I will be looking up most of the terminology RobertM mentioned. As a very non-technical person, I don't recognize such things as WSeb, stems, global variables, etc. I will download both files he mentioned.
JEP, thanks for directing me to REXX Tips & Tricks. Is it on the 2nd disk that came with eCS?
Thanks again
Dennis
Not quite, just follow the link RobertM gave you ( http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/dev/rexx/rxtt36.zip ) and you should be fine. You'll get it by default in the upcoming release of eComStation version 2.0
You must be using quite alot of rexx features in DBExpert, so you may just have to learn what all these things we suggest really mean, probably something you've tried but don't have a word for.
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Stems
You'd normally place your data in a variable, lets call it "my_val" and the next in another variable "my_second_val", after that "my_third_val" etc. but then it's quite difficult to access data quickly looping through them and that's where stems are handy.
Think of a large cupboard with several drawers, you place a value in each drawer and number the drawer from 1 to the number of values/drawers you want. Give the cupboard a name such as "my_variable". Drawer 0 (Zero) contain a number that tell you how many drawers are occupied by values. You can look and modify these values by specifying their name in the form "my_variable.1", "my_variable.2", "my_variable.3" and so on, until the number after the dot equal the number found in drawer 0 ( "my_variable.0" ).
Global variables
Can be accessed anywhere in your code so you don't need to pass everything as parameters to functions.
It's often better to divide a rexx script into smaller pieces that solve a specific task, rather than writing a large script that solve everything at once. A function ( can be compared to a macro in DBExpert ) look something like this in rexx:
functionname: PROCEDURE EXPOSE my_global_variable
/* PROCEDURE mean that the caller can't see or use variables "inside" this function, they're all local to the function, while EXPOSE followed by variable name are global and can be altered and seen outside and inside. */
local_param = ARG(1) /* local_param = 'Mumbo-Jumbo' but this local param aint visible outside this user defined function */
i = 0 /* local variable */
my_global_variable = 'GLOBAL'
if ARG(1) = '' then do /* This is the actual code that supposed to do something useful */
my_global_variable = 'EMPTY'
i = 1
end
Return i
and your code would use it such as:
...
my_global_variable = 'Test'
say my_global_variable local_param /* Output: Test LOCAL_PARAM */
return_value = functionname( 'Mumbo-Jumbo' ) /* call our own function */
say return_value my_global_variable local_param /* Output: 0 GLOBAL LOCAL_PARAM */
/* Note: the variable local_param end up as LOCAL_PARAM as we haven't added useful data to it ( only locally in the function )... */
=====8<---------
If you would like to create rexx applications that run in so called PM-mode (Program Manager) with GUI (Graphical User Interface) instead of plain command-line then I suggest you'll try DrDialog from http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=drdialog&pushbutton=Search
mvh / MfG / WKR
//Jan-Erik
And there you have a wonderful first tutorial from "jep"!
Here are some things that will also make stuff easier (in most cases - more difficult in a few).
REXX uses non-typed variables. You also do not define a variable's size.
What that means is let's say I want to assign a first name to a variable... I simply do this:
FirstName="Robert"
Done. I didnt need to tell REXX it was a string, nor did I have to tell REXX the variable was going to occupy 6 bytes.
Now, what's the relevance, you ask? The relevance is this. When you are creating your database fields in dbExpert, you DO define them as a certain datatype and length... but in REXX, none of that matters when working with the data.
That has some disadvantages and some advantages.
- DISADVANTAGE: You NEED to make sure the data is the correct length (not too long) and the correct data type before you dump it from REXX back to the database (dont worry, REXX has functions that you can use to handle that)
- ADVANTAGE: You can use strings or parts of them in math functions (for instance, lets say you have a UserID field in the database where it starts with a U for regular users, or an A for administrators... You can have a string in REXX that is "U0001" and tell REXX to take the last 4, add 1, and put the first character (the "U") back in front...)
It also makes it easier for date math and web cgi handling (doesnt matter what the user inputs via the web... just check the data before inserting into the database).
There are also a lot of calls that will work directly with the OS, as well as a lot of add-on libraries to add tons of extra functionality...
Check out RXTT36... there is a lot of sample code in it... it should get you started.
-R
I have written some VERY complex applications using dbExpert and I would be willing to answer questions if you have some.
David
I would be interested in the database maintanance and development. I maintain and service databases for many clients in my professional consulting business. Please tell me more if you are interested...
Hello all dbexpert users,
I have done many things with dbexpert and my company's backoffice and financial issues are completely covered.
But since i also have an online store now ,things are not yet as i would like to.
Main issue: how can you connect to a online mysql database from within an offline DBexpert ?
Not possible at the moment ,but perhaps there is a way around it.
I was thinking of using rexxsql ,from rexx it is then possible to access the mysql database ,and even from within DBexpert.
But my problem is then : how to convert the generated arrays to a usable dbase record(s)
It requeres more knowledge of rexx that i currently am capable of.
Perhaps someone has an idear ?
Peter
Peter
You say your company's financial issues are covered. Did you put together an accounting program using dbExpert? If so, what features does it have? I have thought for years that a good financial/accounting app could be developed with dbExpert, but I don't have the accounting or programming knowledge needed to build the app.
Dennis
Yep ,i have all that i need for the financial handling of my company's issues.
However it is only usable by me since it is not a real accounting solution.
And not flexable to set up, only what i need is in it .
And altough i started building this 7 years ago ,it still needs touching up and finding bugs.But for me it is perfect ,it does even control my ISDN phone or phone headset and dials the number when i want it to.
Not to mention the 8 printers in all varieties ,including a "slipprinter" for those shipment slips.
Unfortunately there is not yet a solution for the special printers which i want to use but cannot ,due to the missing driver.
Hopefully the manufactures will make a cups driver in the future. (but is is off topic)
Now the question remains , what will happen to DBexpert now ? ,i have a feeling that there are not many users.
And switching to another application ? - i hope not ,7 years of work lost.and have to start over again.
besides it will remain working ,even with future ecomstations (unless they go the MS way)
Peter
I think there are alot of DBExpert users out there...but some of the road blocks discussed here make it less useful and that may be the cause why there's not that much talk about it.
I use RexxSQL alot at work (though not OS/2-eCS) and have begun to write in eComstation as well, but have had problems to find a user friendly database server, but finally settled with Postgres by Paul Smedley. I've created a small installation script for it to get it up and running in verison 8.1.14 Beta 2, quite handy if I may say so.
I use rexx and RexxSQL to help customers dump the database and rebuild it in another CodePage for example, or when they want slim the DB down when it gets full of deleted data and/or to defragmented on disk.
You can do alot with RexxSQL quite easily, you just have to get familiar with some (3-4) basic functions to get going.
RexxSQL & DBExpert? I don't think so, mainly because of the problem that you can't call other custom functions/macros and share variables etc., a real pain in the...
======8<---------
Anyone else beside me that would interested to pay money to get updates (source code)?
Anyone that know how to approach Sundial and Mrs. Flint to ask their/her opinion and find a good solution?
=============
Mvh / WKR / MfG
//Jan-Erik
I have been using dbExpert for over 10 years and over that 10+ years have developed an app for my trucking business that is very simple to use but very complex behind the scenes. I have invested so much time in developing this app that to change it to anything else--unless there's something that will import all my macros, queries, etc.--would be an extreme hassle and take way too much time. I have always felt that, if I had the knowledge & expertise in accounting, an excellent accounting app similar to Quickbooks could also be developed as part of my customer service app. With properly written macros & queries and properly designed forms, dbExpert could keep track of receivables, payables, taxes, commissions, print checks and tax forms, etc. However, since I am totally clueless about accounting and tax rules in the US, about the only thing I could do is design some forms--once the tables were designed and in place.
I just wish I could contact all the dbExpert users worldwide to set up a new newsgroup since the newsgroup servers at Sundial don't appear to be working. With that kind of contact availability, between us we probably could develop a powerful accounting app.
Would I pay for an upgrade to dbExpert? YOU BET!!! I keep trying to call Mrs. Flint at Sundial, but was only able to reach her once--the week after Randell left us. Haven't been able to get through since. Will keep trying, though.
Dennis
Hello Dennis,
it may be a very difficult time for her and the family now... so please be patient and let them do whatever they need to do for now.
Mvh / MfG / WKR
//Jan-Erik
Tried to write a mail here to you, but couldn't as your settings prevent it.
Hi, Jep!
Talked to Carla last week & she said the dbExpert newsgroups should be back up this week, which is good news.
I don't know what settings I need to change so I can get email thru/from this forum.
One of my hard drives crashed Friday and I haven't been able to get on anything until today.
Dennis
Hopefully someone can help with this one....
One of my .dbe files has become corrupted. dbExpert does not recognize it as a 'data file', so the app won't open. I don't have a good copy of the file anywhere else. Is there a way to solve this without having to recreate everything (the entire app). All the files for this app are still in place, but I don't know how to transfer them to a new .dbe file. The app that doesn't function right now is extremely critical. How do I make the .dbe file usable again???
Dennis
A possible cause to your problem may be that you have moved the files to another folder or renamed something...folder or file, as DBE seem to use absolute path references. You may want to try to see if that may be the case and take appropriate action. open the .dbe-file with e.exe and see if you can seee the path there somewhere, just don't save anything.
mvh / wkr / mfg
//Jan-Erik
Unfortunately, moving the .dbe file isn't the case. The file has always been in my fsalptp directory. The computer hung while I was in the app. I rebooted & the file was corrupted. All the files for the app are still available, but I'm not sure of how to create a new app & bring in all the files. Also, I'm afraid that corrupting the dbe file may have screwed up all my macros & forms. Is there a way to uncorrupt the file so I can get all my macros & forms back? Some of the macros would be very hard to rebuild. Is there a marker I could change using an editor? If I create a new dbe file, will attaching all the old files corrupt something else? Can I even bring the files into a new dbe(app name)? Can I create a new app, add all the files, and change the name back to the old app name?
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Dennis
OK, I helped myself. Found a 3-4 month old copy of the corrupted .dbe file. I copied--not moved--it to the directory where the corrupted file is. Voila! the app works! Made some modifications to the forms and copied the .dbe file to a floppy. I'm not sure how some of my macros are going to work as I haven't used them yet, but if there's a problem, it won't be hard to solve.
Peter--
Basically, I need a dbExpert-based accounting system that works for me. It needs to create invoices-which I can do with the information in my current Customer Service app. However, that's as far as I can go. I need to be able to track payments, bank account transactions, expenses, payables and be able to do an Income Statement(P & L) and Balance Sheet. Also need to track receivables aging.
I don't use most of the Quickbooks features--just the basics & maybe a bit more.
Dennis
Quote from: NNYITGuy on 2007.10.30, 09:25:45
I would be interested in the database maintanance and development. I maintain and service databases for many clients in my professional consulting business. Please tell me more if you are interested...
I have contact information for Carla at Sundial. If you are interested in continuing the development of DBExpert, send me an email at rcrmonte3@wi.rr.com.
Dennis
Hi Friends ,
Can anyone send me the Runtime version of DBExpert 2.0.9 . My problem is that I purchased the full package of DBExpert 2.0.9 in 2004 thru BMT Micro but I forgot to buy the Runtime version. Now with Sundial systems gone, I have no way of purchasing the runtime version. I have developed a small package in DbExpert and need to distribute to an end user. However I do not have the Runtime version. Can the Runtime version be created out of the full version of DBExpert 2.0.9 ? Is there anybody out there who can send me the ISO floopy image of the Runtime version of DBExpert 2.0.9 ( final Version ) ? I can pay for it or exchange with Vispro Rexxx Gold 3.0 for os/2 .
Regards
Paul