Getting Started with dBASE - Moving to Visual dBase

Author

Moving to Visual dBase

RonB

2006-11-11, 7:12 pm

Hi,

Ten years ago I worked for a printer that also does bulk mailing. While there, I used dBASE IV to create, convert and manipulate mailing list databases. Shortly before I left, the company bought Visual dBase 5.5, but I never really used it. I returned two
weeks ago, to the same job and they are still using dBase 5.7 and/or dBASE IV 2.0. I've got a couple, perhaps three or four, questions:

1) We want to rebuild the mailing computer (currently running Windows 2000) but the Visual dBase floppy disks are bad (two of them). I personally own a Visual dBase 5.5 CD, but I would like to be able to update it to 5.7. Is the update file still availabl
e and, if so, is it possible to get a link?

2) The company owns copy of both Visual 7 Professional and a Visual dBase 7 Premium -- but there has been some (so far unspecified to me) problems using these programs with our bulk mailing software. As an experiment I loaded Visual dBase 7 and have some
problems with fonts. If the problems with the bulk mailing software are minor we will probably want to use this software -- or even upgrade it. But I read that there once was (or is) a free 7.1 patch. Is that still available and, if so, is it possible to
get a link?

3) I have loaded databases into Visual dBase 7 and am disappointed at the large size of the font in tables. I can't find how to make it smaller. Is this related to the update patch?

Since I want to write simple programs to save time, and the company will be going to Vista shortly, it would probably be wise to get a 32 bit version of dBase working. Thanks for any advice. I realize Visual dBase 7 is getting old -- but it is newer than
5.5 or DOS.

Again, thanks.
RonB

Gerald Lightsey

2006-11-12, 12:12 am

On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:08:48 -0500, in the dbase.getting-started group,
RonB said...
> Since I want to write simple programs to save time, and the company
> will be going to Vista shortly, it would probably be wise to get a
> 32 bit version of dBase working. Thanks for any advice. I realize
> Visual dBase 7 is getting old -- but it is newer than 5.5 or DOS.

There are no easy answers to this.

1. If you programmed in dBASE IV before this is probably the easiest way
to get back into the swim.

2. The early version of Visual dBASE 7 your company has surfaces far too
many bugs to use as a starting point to learn Windows programming when
later versions are so much better.

You could probably obtain an update for 16 bit Visual dBASE 5.5 to 5.7
through using the "Contact Us" link at www.dbase.com. It would be more
bug free than VdB 7. However its approach to Windows programming is
limited to cursor in a Work Area similar to dBASE IV whereas 32 bit
dBASE ALSO provides data objects as foundation to Windows forms-driven
applications. It really doesn't make sense for you to spend all the
time progressing form dBASE IV DOS through 16 bit VdB 5.x and finally to
32 bit data objects like the rest of us did from about 1995 to present.

So I suggest you get back to dBASE through dBASE IV and once you are in
your comfort level again get the company to purchase a current version
of dBASE PLUS. The CD for PLUS, by the way, should also include dBASE 5
DOS which was the 32 bit successor to dBASE IV and the best version ever
for DOS.

Good Luck.

Gerald

RonB

2006-11-12, 12:12 am

Gerald Lightsey Wrote:

> So I suggest you get back to dBASE through dBASE IV and once you are in
> your comfort level again get the company to purchase a current version
> of dBASE PLUS. The CD for PLUS, by the way, should also include dBASE 5
> DOS which was the 32 bit successor to dBASE IV and the best version ever
> for DOS.

Thanks.

I personally own dBASE 5 for DOS -- and like it. Our programming needs are very limited -- just scripts to automate redundant operations. I would rather use dBASE 5 for DOS for this -- or, since Visual dBASE 5.7 (with Sessions turned off) basically works
like dBASE 5 for DOS, I'm happy using that also. My worry is how well either of these programs will work in XP and then Vista (not that the Mail Computer can't stay on Windows 2000 if it has to). We also plan to "rebuild" the mailing computer and would l
ike to move back up to 5.7 when done. Somewhere on floppy disk I have the 5.7 update files -- if I can't find the 5.7 update on the Internet I'll just have to try to dig those up.

BTW, are you saying that Visual dBase 7.0 *and* 7.1 are basically worthless?

Thanks again,

RonB

Marilyn Price

2006-11-12, 7:13 pm

In article <cG$DytgBHHA.880@news-server>, rblizz@myway.com says...
>
> I personally own dBASE 5 for DOS -- and like it. ....
> My worry is how well either of these programs will
> work in XP and then Vista
>

dBase 5.0 for DOS works perfectly well on XP. I have several clients
that can't (or won't) upgrade their dBase programs, yet their computers
run XP.

--
Marilyn Price
M. P. Data

RonB

2006-11-12, 7:13 pm

Marilyn Price Wrote:

> dBase 5.0 for DOS works perfectly well on XP. I have several clients
> that can't (or won't) upgrade their dBase programs, yet their computers
> run XP.

That's good news. Thanks. Now if I can convince my boss that DOS windows are *not* always bad. He likes Visual dBase 5.7 and has been giving me "grief" about using dBase IV. But the way I use Visual dBase 5.7 it might as well be dBase 5 for DOS anyhow. N
ow that I relearned that I can turn Sessions off, it's okay.

Again thanks. I'm glad to hear that dBase 5 for DOS works in XP. For some reason I thought it would have trouble.

RonB

Gerald Lightsey

2006-11-13, 12:12 am

On Sat, 11 Nov 2006 22:34:23 -0500, in the dbase.getting-started group,
RonB said...
> I personally own dBASE 5 for DOS -- and like it. Our programming
> needs are very limited -- just scripts to automate redundant
> operations. I would rather use dBASE 5 for DOS for this -- or,
> since Visual dBASE 5.7 (with Sessions turned off) basically works
> like dBASE 5 for DOS, I'm happy using that also. My worry is how
> well either of these programs will work in XP and then Vista (not
> that the Mail Computer can't stay on Windows 2000 if it has to).
> We also plan to "rebuild" the mailing computer and would like to
> move back up to 5.7 when done. Somewhere on floppy disk I have the
> 5.7 update files -- if I can't find the 5.7 update on the Internet
> I'll just have to try to dig those up.
>
> BTW, are you saying that Visual dBase 7.0 *and* 7.1 are basically
> worthless?

The primary value of dBASE for Windows over DOS versions is for
developing FORMS-based applications. If you have never developed
formes-based applications you will have some problem even understanding
what I am talking about. If you just want to run COMMAND-based programs
all of the versions from dBASE IV DOS, dBASE 5 DOS, VdB 5.x, and the 32
bit Windows versions starting with VdB 7.0 through the latest dBASE PLUS
2.6x will be roughly equal. I can't remember the specific bugs that
might affect command programs in any one version but I believe the bugs
that existed in any one of them were far more likely to be in the forms
area than in command programs.

VdB5.x, being a 16 bit Windows program has had difficulty even starting
in some Windows XP environments. I could not get it to start at all
during a couple of years with XP until Microsoft released one of the
major service packs. Who knows how it will perform in Windows Vista?
For command programs you will probably find dBASE 5 DOS to be the
fastest and most reliable version you have and MIGHT be faster than
anything AVAILABLE. For example a couple of years ago when I was
working with very large Real Estate files for a major city I found that
dBASE 5 DOS would perform indexing on the very large files in minutes
that required hours in the 32 Bit versions and that VdB 5.7x would not
even load.

If you want to experiment with the different versions I suggest that you
keep the table level at 4 and use a Language Driver that is compatible
between all the versions, (e.g. dBASE ENU cp437). Keep in mind that
dBASE DOS IV and dBASE 5 DOS have their own built-in data engines. VdB
5.x and the 32 bit Windows versions each rely on a DIFFERENT version of
the Borland Database Engine with which you will need to become familiar.
I AM NOT SAYING VdB 7.0 and VdB 7.1 are worthless for command programs.
I don't know. I wasn't running command programs when I used these
versions I was trying to move VdB 5.x Windows Forms programs on them and
they would fall over, (i.e GPF), under the slightest stress.

1. You have been away from dBASE for a considerable period.
2. When you left you were running command programs as I understand it.
3. You indicate you essentially need to start where you left off.

If this matched MY immediate goals/needs, knowing what I know, I would
get started by using dBASE 5 DOS right now. Then once I had my feet
firmly on the ground again I would start analyzing whether there exists
a need to develop Windows FORMS-based applications either for my own use
or to deploy them for other users within the Company. If so I would get
my hands on a current version of dBASE PLUS in order to give myself the
best chance to develop those forms-based applications without being
weighted/slowed down by the capability/performance of my development
tool. Once I started down this path I would stay close to these News
Groups for all the help I could obtain to get up to speed on Windows
forms-based programming. You are much more likely to get good help with
your questions if you are working with versions most of your peers are
using rather than something they moved beyond years ago.

Don't misunderstand. I use PLUS all the time and enjoy the Windows IDE
interface in it much more than working in DOS. I also develop forms-
based applications in it. But I have had 11-12 years to get used to
forms-based object-oriented programming. If I was going back to things
I did in dBASE DOS up to about 1995 and did not have the experience I
have gained over the last 11-12 years and wanted to come out of the
chute running I would go back to what I know works and what I understand
well. THEN I would explore my other options and I WOULDN'T depend upon
Windows forms-based object-oriented tools that were as much as 12 years
old except for a little testing/experimentation.

Gerald

RonB

2006-11-13, 5:17 am

Gerald Lightsey Wrote:

> Don't misunderstand. I use PLUS all the time and enjoy the Windows IDE
> interface in it much more than working in DOS. I also develop forms-
> based applications in it. But I have had 11-12 years to get used to
> forms-based object-oriented programming. If I was going back to things
> I did in dBASE DOS up to about 1995 and did not have the experience I
> have gained over the last 11-12 years and wanted to come out of the
> chute running I would go back to what I know works and what I understand
> well. THEN I would explore my other options and I WOULDN'T depend upon
> Windows forms-based object-oriented tools that were as much as 12 years
> old except for a little testing/experimentation.

Thanks for taking the time to respond so completely. I've saved your response for future reference. For now the best course, it seems, is to basically do what I'm doing. Honestly, if these older programs will continue to run on the platforms we have (and
will have) I don't see much reason to change. Our dBASE "programs" (if they can be called that) are simple command line scripts.

BTW, I did experiment a little with forms (in the early 16 bit Windows versions of Delphi, Paradox and dBASE) -- but we really never had much use for it. On a difficulty scale of 0-100, I'd say our programs are somewhere around 2 or 3. But this could chan
ge in the future. I have ideas for programs I would like to see...someday.

Again, thanks.

RonB

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