Modern dBase prog.

[catgate]

I think I asked a similar question some months ago, but there have been a number of new faces since then, so now may be a good time to re-ask.

I have used Ashton-Tate dBase IV for many years now, and I find it very good for many things. It is possible to write little programmes to make it do as one wants it to do and it does not insist you "do it my way". However, one of its little foibles is its printing out. There are getting to be fewer printers that seem to be compatible with its output.

Fortunately most of my use of it does not need printing but it does sometimes leave me having to do a workround.

My question is this, does anyone know of a similar database programme that is as easy to use as dBase and which is "modern"? Most people look aghast when I ask and say something like " Oh, I use Excel". But Excel is like the sledge hammer for cracking the nut.

[Scarecrow Man]

The Microsoft Office Professional Suite comes with Access. It's what I use on a daily bases, but it's also very expensive.

Also, OpenOffice.org has a built in database utility, and is freeware.

[catgate]

Yes, I have looked at these but in both cases they seem to lack the funcionality of dBase. With dBase it is possible to manipulate and/or calculate selected data in specified fields and create other files from this data by writing a simple programme. Whereas from what I have seen of the two above it is necessary to transfer data from the "database" into a spread sheet in order to do any manipulation/calculation/sorting.

Of course I may be speaking from the depth of my usual ignorance on these things. :)

[r4may]

Have not used Dbase for years but from what I remember :-

If you normally use Dbase Scripts to manipulate your data and views you can do the same with SQL scripts in Access which is a relationa database. You can also create queries, views etc using the wizard and selecting what you wish to see or manipulate. This is generally easier than creating the Dbase scripts.

Excel is basicaly a spreadsheet.

Hope this helps.

[catgate]

Since reading

you can do the same with SQL scripts in Access which is a relationa database

I have had a poke about again with Access and been informed, by it, that I needed M$ SQL Server. So having a version of an M$ SQL Server on my Office CD I loaded it, and then went back into Access to poke about a little more. The only sense I could make of it seemed to be that Access was expecting me to connect with another computer somewhere. I uninstalled it and threw a tantrum. I think I may creep into a corner and sulk.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

... The only sense I could make of it seemed to be that Access was expecting me to connect with another computer somewhere. ...

SQL Servers can be anywhere on a network, and clients can connect to any SQL Server they want (and have permission) to. This can of course be the SQL Server on your local machine, so just specify your local machine.

[scuzzman]

MySQL

[catgate]

SQL Servers can be anywhere on a network, and clients can connect to any SQL Server they want (and have permission) to. This can of course be the SQL Server on your local machine, so just specify your local machine.

I am a simple chap at heart, and find all this extremely confusing. Why is it that M$ should find it necessary to throw all this complecation into a date prosessing system when AshtonTate could get all their dBase system into a 536K package (incl. Assist and Help). It seems to display a very profligate waste of resources coupled with undue complexity!!

However, I shall have another go at my SQL server installation and hope I do not go all Luddite in the process, and smash everything up in a fit of pique.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

SQL Server is a distributed relational database server. As I wrote earlier, you don't have to use the distributed portion - just connect to your local SQL Server.

My question for you is

1. Do you really need an SQL database for what you need to achieve; wouldn't stand-alone Access be sufficient for you? (Since I do not know dBase, I don't know the answer)
   
2. How about the latest version of dBase itself; does it still have the printer problem?
   

[catgate]

The reason I find dBase so attractive is that a simple little prog. will allow the transfer of data from one data file to another and carry out calculations whilst doing it. It will open, close and delete files from within the prog. and, although insignificant by today's standards, will allow up to seven open at the same time. It can also print some or all of the data whilst the programme is running.

The following is a simple little thing that I used a good number of years ago for comparing the price of vitamin C tablets. If you are in any way familiar with dBase it is easy to follow what is going on.

USE VITC.DBF

DO WHILE .NOT. EOF()

REPLACE ALL PPM WITH (PPP*100/(MG*NUM))

REPLACE ALL PPT WITH (PPP/NUM)

ENDDO

COPY TO SPARE2 FIELDS MATL,SUPP,NUM,MG,PPM,PPT

USE SPARE2

SORT TO SPARE ON PPT

USE SPARE

DO WHILE .NOT. EOF()

REPLACE ALL PPT WITH PPT*100

ENDDO

REPORT FORM PILLS TO FILE BERT

CLOSE ALL

ERASE BERT.TXT

ERASE SPARE.DBF

ERASE SPARE2.DBF

An additional joy is that besides being completely under ones own control it is very economical with disc space. That can not be said of Access/Excel.

As to why I need SQL I am not sure, other than that appears to be the only way Access is prepared to talk to me. Even if/when it does I have a feeling that it may be speaking "Martian" to a Yorkshire Luddite.

I tried to find out what the latest edition of dBase was, but it seemed as though Ashton Tate went defunct about the time Windows appeared (M$ again ?).

[r4may]

The reason I find dBase so attractive is that a simple little prog. will allow the transfer of data from one data file to another and carry out calculations whilst doing it. It will open, close and delete files from within the prog. and, although insignificant by today's standards, will allow up to seven open at the same time. It can also print some or all of the data whilst the programme is running.

The following is a simple little thing that I used a good number of years ago for comparing the price of vitamin C tablets. If you are in any way familiar with dBase it is easy to follow what is going on.

USE VITC.DBF

DO WHILE .NOT. EOF()

REPLACE ALL PPM WITH (PPP*100/(MG*NUM))

REPLACE ALL PPT WITH (PPP/NUM)

ENDDO

COPY TO SPARE2 FIELDS MATL,SUPP,NUM,MG,PPM,PPT

USE SPARE2

SORT TO SPARE ON PPT

USE SPARE

DO WHILE .NOT. EOF()

REPLACE ALL PPT WITH PPT*100

ENDDO

REPORT FORM PILLS TO FILE BERT

CLOSE ALL

ERASE BERT.TXT

ERASE SPARE.DBF

ERASE SPARE2.DBF

An additional joy is that besides being completely under ones own control it is very economical with disc space. That can not be said of Access/Excel.

As to why I need SQL I am not sure, other than that appears to be the only way Access is prepared to talk to me. Even if/when it does I have a feeling that it may be speaking "Martian" to a Yorkshire Luddite.

I tried to find out what the latest edition of dBase was, but it seemed as though Ashton Tate went defunct about the time Windows appeared (M$ again ?).

SQL can be used in a simlar way, but it may be possible to do the same thing using a macro, but I cannot be sure as I have never use dthem on access/Excel

[catgate]

SQL can be used in a simlar way, but it may be possible to do the same thing using a macro, but I cannot be sure as I have never use dthem on access/Excel

Where would I find the SQL language syntax. Is it included in the Help files I assume would accompany the installation of the SQL Server on my Office disk?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

...

I tried to find out what the latest edition of dBase was, but it seemed as though Ashton Tate went defunct about the time Windows appeared (M$ again ?).

I don't know if this is the same dBase: http://www.dbase.com/ ?

Where would I find the SQL language syntax. Is it included in the Help files I assume would accompany the installation of the SQL Server on my Office disk?

SQL Server has a very extensive Help section that includes a very detailed SQL syntax.

There are also hundreds of websites that introduce SQL syntax, but each database system has some slight differences. And as you may have expected, the SQL Server's syntax has more slight differences than others...

[catgate]

I don't know if this is the same dBase: http://www.dbase.com/  ?

It is the successor (once removed I believe) to the original Ashton Tate. Borland apparently bought out/took over AT and then sold out to the current lot. From what I can make out, having looked at that site a couple of times in the past, the current offering is a modern complex and expensive bloatware, doing a Gates, by trying to be all things to all people.

I can continue to use Ashton Tate's dBase and simply "print to file" rather than "print to printer". But this necessitates a second operation of printing out an ASCI *.txt file using a word processor prog.