BDE 5.01 and Clipper
Robert Claffie
I've got the BDE 5.01 with Delphi 4. Can it handle Clipper? I can see
info about BDE 5.11 and BDE 3.0 but I can't seem to find anything about
5.0. It appears that the Client/server version of the BDE does Clipper
which I don't think we have, but I can't seem to find anything to
conclusively confirm or deny this.
Anybody know?
rob :)
--
Robert Claffie Jr.
Programmer/Analyst
Benefit Concepts, Inc.
10 Risho Ave.
East Providence, RI 02914
(401) 438-7100
Don Siders
"Robert Claffie" <rcla...@benefitconceptsinc.com> wrote in message
news:39528B73...@benefitconceptsinc.com...
> Howdy!
>
> I've got the BDE 5.01 with Delphi 4. Can it handle Clipper?
BDE supports FoxPro and dBase file and index formats. You can confirm this
by looking in BDE Administrator -> Configuration-> Drivers -> Native.
Don
Robert Claffie
>>Can it handle Clipper?
>BDE supports FoxPro and dBase file and index formats. You can confirm
this
>by looking in BDE Administrator -> Configuration-> Drivers -> Native.
OK, this doesn't really answer my question. Since your answer did not
address Clipper, I still don't know if the BDE can really handle it.
Yes, I know that the BDE can handle FoxPro and dBase. Now what about
Clipper? Is it being ignored because it's not handled or just because
people keep forgetting to mention it?
Stephen Bertram
program like AXS.
Don Siders
> address Clipper, I still don't know if the BDE can really handle it.
> Yes, I know that the BDE can handle FoxPro and dBase. Now what about
> Clipper?
Clipper is/was an XBase programming language that used various flavors of
the DBF file format (and other file formats too). It has/had RDD drivers to
support various flavors of the DBF file format (and other file formats too).
There is not a simple "Yes" or "No" answer to your question, Robert.
Can BDE use the database files created by a Clipper application? Maybe.
Clipper could create and update files in dBase and FoxPro format, if those
were the RDDs being used. In this case, the answer is "Yes". If the RDD in
use was SuccessWare or another file format that "extends" the DBF file
format, then the answer is "No".
Can BDE use the indexes created by a Clipper application? See the previous
answer.
Even if the answer is "Yes", recreate the indexes with a BDE-based
application. You will not be able to use Clipper UDFs in index expressions
either.
> Is it being ignored because it's not handled or just because people keep
> forgetting to mention it?
Neither. We don't have enough information to answer the question with a
"Yes" or a "No" answer, just a "Maybe" <g>.
Do you know which RDD was used to create the files and indexes? Have you
tried accessing them from a BDE application?
HTH...
Don
Bill Artemik
the BDE can handle the .DBF file just fine. It's the index where you
run into problems.
For full support of this stuff, look at Apollo (providing you're not
doing anything too strenuous. Apollo suppors some SQL but it's not too
strong and needs maturing.) But Apollo does support .NTX files and
lets you use <gag> Clipper syntax in your accessing of data. Their
table and query components are TDataset descentants so they work
natively with Delphi controls.
If you don't have to support clipper code in your program why stick
with Clipper tables? Other alternatives include converting the tables
to a better format (like dBase V or VII) which Delphi can support
natively (indexes and all) or just go to an inexpensive SQL server
like Advantage or InterBase 6.0 (soon to be released as Open Source -
www.interbase.com)
Of course, if you're stuck with this data format look for outside
components. Halcyon is another alternative but I'm not too familiar
with this product.
HTH...
On Thu, 22 Jun 2000 14:56:04 -0700, Robert Claffie
<rcla...@benefitconceptsinc.com> wrote:
>Howdy!
>
>I've got the BDE 5.01 with Delphi 4. Can it handle Clipper? I can see
>info about BDE 5.11 and BDE 3.0 but I can't seem to find anything about
>5.0. It appears that the Client/server version of the BDE does Clipper
>which I don't think we have, but I can't seem to find anything to
>conclusively confirm or deny this.
>
>Anybody know?
>
>rob :)
Bill Artemik
Programmer / Analyst
Droste Consultants, Inc.
bi...@droste1.com
"The TWO rules for success in life are:
1. NEVER tell them everything you know."
Robert Claffie
>There is not a simple "Yes" or "No" answer to your question, Robert.
That's what it looks like, but you've given me WAY more info than
Borland did. May I ask where you got your information from?
>Do you know which RDD was used to create the files and indexes?
Oh, I'm not the Clipper person so I wouldn't know. But I will pass this
tidbit on.
Thank you!
Don Siders
In a previous life, I was the "Clipper guy". When we moved to Delphi, I
spent a lot of time porting our DBF-based applications to Delphi+MS SQL
Server. So I guess you would say that my information came from the "school
of hard knocks".
Regards,
Don
Robert Claffie
> So I guess you would say that my information came from the "school
>of hard knocks".
Gotcha. The land of "Trial and Error" or somesuch. Thanks again!