What Software Dbase plus? 1

[Bigglesaircraft]

Hi,
I used to write a lot of compiles programs using Dbase4 and DOS in the 90s and now need to start again. I need to write programs to add data to a database and then select data from that database and enter it onto a printed format. Can anyone advise me what the simplest and cheapest is available these days.

 

[vacunita]

Microsoft Access, if you have Office chances are you already have Access.

Other than that I'd guess MYSQL and PHP would be the next best thing.

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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

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[raygg]

If you want a REAL database you can download a free copy of oracle express and a free copy of sql developer from oracle.com. I think the license restricts you to non-commercial use but you get most of the Oracle db features.

 

[edfair]

I would consider trying dbase some more. In DOSBOX if that is required.

Some consider me a Luddite since I still use Q&A, primarily in DOS, but I've used it in XP and 7, although I've written my own printer stuff.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[MasterRacker]

The simplest for sure would probably be Access. If you wanted to take a step up you could use the free Oracle options mentioned or use SQL Server Express in combo with Visual Studio Express.

There are a number of other free databases available as well. It depends on your environment, future plans for the DB, etc.

Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[edfair]

One additional choice: Sesame

You can find it via google search. This is the product of a bunch of Q&A specialists who understand the simple way of doing databases and upgraded the concept to current platforms.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[JockMullin]

If you want to continue in the xBase mode with legacy files and code, a good choice today is xHarbout. It is completely compatible with legacy DBF databases and can even compile (most) legacy dBase IV or Clipper code with minimal conversion, creates true 32 bit Windows executables and is amazingly fast.

Also a wealth of xBase extensions and enhancements including GUI support, true database access via ODBC, client/server, report writers etc. There is a commercial ($) distro at

http://www.xharbour.com

which wraps a GUI development package around the xHarbour base compiler, or the open source (free) xHarbour stuff is at

http://www.xharbour.org.

Versions are available for both Windows and Linux. The xHarbour compiler generates C code which is then compiled using a C compiler for the object platform. In Windows the free Borland bcc compiler works well.

There is a forum on this site (forum288) which says CA-Clipper but has a fair amount of xHarbour traffic though has languished of late as folks have moved on to other platforms, of which Visual Foxpro is quite popular. The forum for that is forum184 and it is quite active.

Jock

 

[Bigglesaircraft]

Hi All,
Thanks for the many suggestions, I think it will take a little time to sink in and do some reaearch. My problem is that I have only had experiance with Dbase IV language and I really required a compiler with the software, I do not know if I am a little long in the tooth to try to learn another complicated system. I suppose my ideal would be to purchase Dbase but it is so expensive and as I wish to use it for a Charity it would be too expensive. I am still open to any suggestions so please keep them coming, back to work now and check out all the suggestions. Thanks again.

 

[kjv1611]

Just to add to the list of already suggested options, there's SQLite. I've seen some pretty nice stuff developed with it. It's fast, small, etc, and best I can tell, it's very flexible.

But if you're doing it for a charity, and do happen to have a copy of MS Office, MS Access is easy to do a basic setup in. So long as you understand the basics of database design, you should do well enough. It gets hairy/tricky only when you go beyond the most basic items/tools. Also, it's really easy to build user-friendly forms for the folks to use.

 

[vacunita]

...and I really required a compiler with the software..

Any particular reason you need a compiler?

I mean if you are looking to create apps that connect to the Db, Access will let you do that. It uses Visual Basic to operate the front ends, but it really should not be to hard to learn. and it seems to be the closest to Dbase you'll find.





----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Behind the Web, Tips and Tricks for Web Development.

http://behindtheweb.blogspot.com/