MS Access alternative

[DTecMeister]

I've thought of developing something like an access form replacement using PB. What are your thoughts on this?
Would it be useful to you?

I personally would like to completely dump MS and use Linux, but I have a few huge database projects using MSAccess as the front-end. I have to solely support those tools so I wish I hadn't used Access now, but there is nothing out there that provides the quick development cycle available in Access.

As an alternate, I was thinking that a converter may be good enough. Something that will convert all my MSAccess forms into some other technology forms with the same look/feel. Conversion to native forms and/or SWT would be excellent.

The code conversion would be a good add-on.

Any knowledgeable thoughts would be nice.

[Noble Bell]

Sounds interesting. Have you ever looked at Alpha Five?

I would be interested in seeing something like an Access Forms converter. Are you planning on just converting the actual GUI form or trying to convert the code as well?

[the.weavster]

I wish I hadn't used Access now.

I know that feeling, if an Access app has to be used on a network it's a complete nightmare.

As an alternate, I was thinking that a converter may be good enough.

I believe there is a converter to VB (if that's any better). There is also a converter from VB to REALbasic, but what you'd end up with after involving two converters...

ComponentOne do a converter and an ActiveX control for MS Access reports. The converter turns the Access reports into an *.xml template which the ActiveX control can read and populate with data (and export in all sorts of formats including *.pdf). This works really well but is pretty expensive.

If you're contemplating Alpha 5 don't forget to look at the cost of the run-time and I understand it's not as feature rich as Access.

If you're going to start afresh Clarion might be worth a look.

[DTecMeister]

I found info on Alpha Five. It sounds interesting, but it's proprietary making it not so good for an access replacement.

At first I want to just get the forms exported. The code is much harder since it would require a parser/scanner and more.

I would hope to provide the hooks that can be linked to code of the user's choice. (still deciding the details).

For what I need, I'd be happy to get the forms exported into an intermediate format then a generator that can take that format and generate the code and files necessary for one or several target format (SWT probably to start).

Sorry you didn't hear from me sooner.

[DTecMeister]

Clarion is nice, but still doesn't seem to provide all that Access forms can offer.

[jmatienza]

I found info on Alpha Five. It sounds interesting, but it's proprietary making it not so good for an access replacement.

What do you mean by proprietary? With the Alpha Five runtime, you can distribute applications royalty-free.

I recommend you try out their 30-day trial download and take a look at user testimonials and topics in the Alpha Five Message Board.

[GeoTrail]

Wow, a living advertisement? hehehe

[jmatienza]

Hi! Sorry about that. I'm a new Alpha Five user, and I've been very impressed with it. But enough said about that. I found the PureBasic website by chance, and it brought back high school memories of Basic programming on a Commodore-64. I thought I was pretty good then, but that was some 20 years ago and I haven't programmed a thing since. I'd like to develop a database application for health care. But I want to relearn general Basic programming too.

[Kale]

Hi! Sorry about that. I'm a new Alpha Five user, and I've been very impressed with it. But enough said about that. I found the PureBasic website by chance, and it brought back high school memories of Basic programming on a Commodore-64. I thought I was pretty good then, but that was some 20 years ago and I haven't programmed a thing since. I'd like to develop a database application for health care. But I want to relearn general Basic programming too.

If you need a good guide, click my banner.

[blueznl]

i'm not as good as kale (i think, never read his book, and he hasn't send me one, hint, hint ) but the link below may help a little...

[Michael Vogel]

@blueznl - if you'll export your survival guide into pdf format, it will help (not only) newbies also when they are not online

[jmatienza]

Hello, all. Thank you for your warm welcome. I've downloaded blueznl's survival guide in html. It's very informative and easy to read. I've also seen Kale's website and the sample pages. Excellent, too. Only not free.

[joske]

DTecMeister,
maybe you can jump in the development of Open Office Base.

[robleong]

I'd like to develop a database application for health care.

Welcome.

Why don't you just use Access for your database? It's pretty good by itself, and much easier than programming something from scratch.

[jmatienza]

Hello, Robleong.

Well, yes, I wasn't planning on using PureBasic for that. But I find Access too difficult for me. I'm trying Alpha Five, where it seems a lot more tasks can be accomplished using wizard-like "genies", without coding.