• Welcome to OS2World OLD-STATIC-BACKUP Forum.
 

News:

This is an old OS2World backup forum for reference only. IT IS READ ONLY!!!

If you need help with OS/2 - eComStation visit http://www.os2world.com/forum

Main Menu

DBExpert

Started by Dennis, 2008.01.06, 00:55:40

Previous topic - Next topic

Dennis

Now that Sundial Systems appears to be gone, and since I haven't heard from ANY DBExpert users in quite awhile, I'm thinking I should find another database to work with. Is there anything out there that will  accept the tables, forms, etc. from DBExpert? I need to look at something fairly easy to work with that still has support. Unfortunately, I have spent about 10 years building, using, and refining applications in DBExpert kind of by the hunt & peck method--if it works, leave it alone until I can figure out how to refine it. For a non-programmer, non-techie like me, DBExpert has been a godsend since it is so easy to work with and figure out. It is with great sadness :'( that I have decided I need to look for something else.


Terry

I recently picked up DBExpert v2.0.9 on eBay, and will join my other OS/2 databases:  DB2, Lotus Approach, and VX-Rexx.

Dennis

Terry--
What do you do with your  OS/2 databases?

Terry

Right now, nothing other than basic data collection.  My initial relational database learning curve came from Alpha Four (for DOS) and Lotus Approach, and; relational database coordination is currently done at the reporting level.

For example, most database reporting on eCS is through a Win 3.1 program, ReportSmith, which I learned about six years ago from Douglas Clark's, "ODBC on OS/2" series in OS/2 eZine.  Due to these articles, VX-Rexx was also obtained, as ODBC-access is limited to just a few OS/2-native programs (like IBM VisualAge Smalltalk or VX-Rexx), as per the ideas gleaned from these superb articles.

DBExpert was recently eBay-secured to perhaps find an easier way to front-end to SQL & DBF data.

On a financial services professional level, Act! v10 (2008), has just been purchased (with a fortunate one-time 65% Staples discount) to communicate in our group where Act! shall serve as the common ground, in our specific WinXP/Vista, by-necessity windows-centric occupational world.  I have already picked up some database organizational insights to incorporate into the OS/2 databases.

My immediate priority is to put together a SOHO Network, where part of the challenge is getting everything to first talk to each other.  The SOHO will be expanded to SQL/ODBC databases as well.  eComStation 2.0 GA will act as the preferred workstation in this SOHO Network.

Dennis

Back to my question (refined):
  What table format does DBExpert use?
  What OS/2 or eCS database software is out there that is compatible?
     Is it relatively current?
     Is it relatively easy to use?(remember, I'm a non-techie...)
        Can someone who doesn't know diddly about databases (or programming, systems analysis, etc.) use it                like one can DBExpert (which is fairly easy to comprehend)?
     Would it also use DBExpert forms & reports or would I have to design new?
     How much will I have to pay for the new software and training?
   Is DBExpert totally dead now that Sundial is gone?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Dennis
     

PAUL555


Hi Dennis , 

    Even if Sundial systems is down , if you have used the DBExpert software for ten years ,you must be quite knowledgeble about this software. Why do you want to move to another software when DBExpert runs fine on Ecomstation ? 

Regards

Paul

Dennis

Paul--
I really don't want to change away from DBExpert. The problem becomes who do I ask when I get stuck while trying to refine, add to, or write an application?  It doesn't seem like there are too many people here who have either used or are knowledgeable in DBExpert. I would love to find several people who have worked with DBExpert for years and create a group who may be able to answer each other's questions.

Dennis

Dennis

Quote from: PAUL555 on 2008.01.12, 15:28:48

Hi Dennis , 

    Even if Sundial systems is down , if you have used the DBExpert software for ten years ,you must be quite knowledgeble about this software. Why do you want to move to another software when DBExpert runs fine on Ecomstation ? 


Yes, Paul, I have used dbExpert for 10 years, but I still have problems figuring out how to use various functions both separately and in combination with other functions. I also still have problems getting multi-table queries to rrun, using functions/strings/statements, etc. within queries, and using REXX and/or OS/2 strings/functions, etc. My poor old mind just doesn't seem to get it. I've even tried to learn REXX and found it very confusing.

Dennis

RobertM

#8
Quote from: Dennis on 2008.03.24, 16:09:15
Quote from: PAUL555 on 2008.01.12, 15:28:48

Hi Dennis , 

    Even if Sundial systems is down , if you have used the DBExpert software for ten years ,you must be quite knowledgeble about this software. Why do you want to move to another software when DBExpert runs fine on Ecomstation ? 


Yes, Paul, I have used dbExpert for 10 years, but I still have problems figuring out how to use various functions both separately and in combination with other functions. I also still have problems getting multi-table queries to rrun, using functions/strings/statements, etc. within queries, and using REXX and/or OS/2 strings/functions, etc. My poor old mind just doesn't seem to get it. I've even tried to learn REXX and found it very confusing.

Dennis

The easiest way to learn REXX is to find some useful REXX utilities, hope they are commented, and play with them. Look up anything you dont understand, and then learn the difference in calling conventions (which the REXX manual that comes with OS/2 somewhat explains). That's how I started, and I REXX entire web based databases that handle hundreds of thousands of records, do various reports, accept web based data entry and more. (Sadly, as a side note, I ran into Igor Pool's excellent RxWeb package after I had it written - and realized I just reinvented the wheel).



As an example, I use a more function based calling method:

SomeReturnCode=MyFunction(Variable1,Variable2)

Which runs MyFunction with those 2 variables, and returns the results directly to SomeReturnCode...




But I could do (which is often the default notation in REXX docs):

Call MyFunction Variable1, Variable2

and then read the return code from rc



I like the first method better - and it will always work with any function call that returns anything. (but either work)



Regardless, REXX isnt as daunting as it may first seem... my entire program, including 30 or so reports, handling of 9 tables (databases in the DBExpert/dBase world), over 30 web based entry and edit forms, etc... is only about 6,000 lines (much of which is redundant till the next big revision when I consolidate things).

As for DBExpert... I used to have it, never got to play with it, and sadly couldnt help you unless I had a copy. If it runs REXX code, it should be easy to do the date functions and data retrieval related to those dates - either by writing a little REXX date code, or grabbing rxdate21 from Hobbes (which can tell you when any Sunday falls in a certain week, or tell you that 3/24/2008 is a Monday, or add and subtract dates to tell you how many days elapsed, and a lot more).

The only problem I have had with certain things in handlng dates, is that they do not sort them properly (not a problem with "newer" databases), but out of habit, because of that, I got in the habit of putting dates (like today's for instance) into the database as 20080314 - that way their characters were always in sorted order. If DBExpert does not have a date field (that is indexable in the correct order), then part of your difficulties may lie there (as mentioned in another thread you recently posted in). If that is the case, then formatting your dates as YYYYMMDD and saving them that way (and your times in military time, trailing zeros and all - such as 01:00:30) would allow your program to do very easy queries:

Select from MyDB when DB_Date>="20080301"

Not valid code, but an idea of what I mean... basically, if DBExpert does not allow a sortable/properly indexed date field, then things like this happen in a sorted data set:

01/03/2008
01/05/2007    <--- wrong place because it is in alphanumeric order
02/01/2008

Start with some simple (pre written) REXX scripts, play with them, then pick up Rexx Tips and Tricks (latest version from Hobbes) and check it out. Note that some of the stuff in RT&T require add-on DLLs... most are on Hobbes.

Otherwise, if I ever run into a copy of DBExpert, and the time, I will see what I can pick up on it...

-Robert



|
|
Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
Star Trek New Voyages
|
|


Robert Deed

Since the owners passing, what has happened to Sundial?  I know that his widow wanted to find someone to maintain the software, has that happened? 

It would have seemed that if the intent was to keep the software around (not worry about making money from it) that it would have made sense to put the source on hobbes or donate it to netlabs.

Sander

#10
Quote from: Robert Deed on 2008.03.28, 21:23:21
Since the owners passing, what has happened to Sundial?  I know that his widow wanted to find someone to maintain the software, has that happened? 

It would have seemed that if the intent was to keep the software around (not worry about making money from it) that it would have made sense to put the source on hobbes or donate it to netlabs.

After only recently losing her husband, I seriously doubt that donating source code is her priority at this time, or anytime in the near future, if at all.

Robert Deed

I agree.

However, at the time of his loss she had commented that she wanted the software (her husbands legacy if you well) to continue. 

However, I do believe what may come of this is another paid developer picking up the product where it left off.

Quote from: Sander on 2008.03.29, 08:44:15
Quote from: Robert Deed on 2008.03.28, 21:23:21
Since the owners passing, what has happened to Sundial?  I know that his widow wanted to find someone to maintain the software, has that happened? 

It would have seemed that if the intent was to keep the software around (not worry about making money from it) that it would have made sense to put the source on hobbes or donate it to netlabs.

After only recently losing her husband, I seriously doubt that donating source code is her priority at this time, or anytime in the near future, if at all.

PAUL555


How about CA-Realizer 2.0 for Os/2 as a replacement for DBexpert 2.09 ?