Oracle views and Foxpro 1

[cobweb]

Hi there:
I use Paradox, Access, Approach etc to read Oracle tables and views;I have heard about VFP and have just got my hands on an old copy of VFP3 with a view to buying the latest version.
However, I get an error when I try to read an Oracle view. Tables are fine so ODBC is ticking over nicely.
Is anybody else aware of this;is it fixed in later versions and can anybody help persuade me that VFP is as good/better than any other desktop database at reading Oracle and mSSQL for creating apps based on these SQL RDBMS'?
This from somebody who knows very little programming!

Thanks in anticipation!

 

[KDavie]

cobweb,

I too am fairly new to VFP (I've been using it for about a year now), and although I am far from being an expert, I may be able to answer some of your questions.

First, I've never used VFP3, but am sure VFP has come a long ways since those days. Currently, M$ is working on VFP9. There is a beta version available for download at:

VFP Beta Download

Although it is beta, you will probably get a better idea of where VFP is today as opposed to the v3 days.

I have found VFP to be a very robust platform. It is capable of doing virtually anything you can dream up. I would definatley consider VFP a step up from MS Access or anything similar. Although it may seem a little daunting to try and learn, once you get a grasp on the basic concepts the rest will follow.

One other thing to consider is that M$ has not updated the ODBC drivers since version 6. So certain things like autoincrementing integers can not be taken advantage of through VFP. However, if you are only using it as a front end you should be fine.

Hope this helps.

-Kevin

 

[KDavie]

So certain things like autoincrementing integers can not be taken advantage of through VFP

What I meant to say was AI-Integers can not be taken advantage of through ODBC in VFP9

-Kevin

 

[Mike Lewis]

Cobweb,

In general, VFP can handle Oracle views without any difficulty. If you could let us know what error you are seeing, we might be able to suggest a solution.

I'd also strongly recommend that you upgrade to a more recent version of VFP. Ver 3.0 was very much a first attempt, and had a lot of bugs and weaknesses.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[cobweb]

Thanks, Mike.
You seem to enter a lot of threads; can I ask you if (as a fellow Brit!), like the last response, you would advocate me looking into VFP as a Paradox/Access alternative? Is it just speed or is it also cleverer?
Anyway the message is
"connectivity error Oracle ODBC ORA-00904 invalid column name."
I think I get the same problem with Excel (but not 123)and since it is an Oracle error it is probably just me.. so apologies now!

Thanks

 

[Mike Lewis]

Cobweb,

you would advocate me looking into VFP as a Paradox/Access alternative?

It's impossible to answer that without knowing more about your requirements. I can only say that VFP is hugely more capable than either Paradox or Access. The trade-off is that it is more difficult to learn, but once you have crossed that bridge, you will find that it is a vastly superior development tool.


"connectivity error Oracle ODBC ORA-00904 invalid column name."

Forgive me if this is stating the obvious, but is it possible that you specified the wrong field name? (Or the right field in the wrong table?)

Mike



Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com

 

[cobweb]

Thanks, Mike.
I interrogate and build apps derived from accounting and manufacturing data in Oracle and MSSQL databases .
I know Paradox/Access/Approach but am keen to learn if anything else can improve the way we do things....
THe oracle view was a select query written in Notepad and stored in Oracle. I tend not to name resulting columns.. (so "select from X" instead of "select from x as y");probably that.
Paradox does not worry about it though.
Anyway I am convinced..I will buy it. So I am afraid you may hear more from me later!

Thanks again

 

[Mike Lewis]

Cobweb,

I will buy it. So I am afraid you may hear more from me later!

Good to hear. Welcome to the VFP community. Be sure to come back here when you have questions.

Mike



Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

My Visual Foxpro web site:

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

My Crystal Reports web site:

http://www.ml-crystal.com