Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!milano!uudell!bigtex!texsun!csccat!egsner!jassys!tony
From: tony@jassys.UUCP (Tony Holden)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: filePro
Summary: more filepro
Keywords: filepro
Message-ID: <4@jassys.UUCP>
Date: 23 Aug 90 02:30:48 GMT
References: <2@jassys.UUCP> <1990Aug20.151639.7359@pmafire.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: HSC CO., Ft. Worth, Tx.
Lines: 59

In article <1990Aug20.151639.7359@pmafire.UUCP>, rickf@pmafire.UUCP (rick furniss) writes:
> 
> It is a relational/flat model both, but must be setup for
> relations as with all DBs.  The relational model setup is a pain to keep
> coded correctly and complex tables are slow, but you can get done with 
  ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^
  It's a flat file model that has a language that will let you open other 
tables.   If it's relational then BASIC is also.


> 
> Other benifits: Runs across all platforms, MESdos,Unix, Xenix, HPux, VMS.
>                 Machines from a PC to the CRAY including HP, DEC.

I don't think they have the Cray version running yet (1/2 :-)).

>                 Networking versions.
Only DOS networking, not Unix.

>   Other than disk space ,why would you want variable lenght records ???

Disk space.  The more you use your "relational" programing skills the
slower filepro gets, opening & closings those other tables does slow things
down.  If I could have VLR then I could have a 800 char text field in the same
table as all of my other order info.  But the way things are now if I save that
record with nothing in that 800 char field then I will save out 800 blank
characters.  Yuckie Pooh.  So now I have to save it out in another table and try
to catch it when someone is trying to delete it's parent record.  Or run a
maintenance program at night that trys to pairs all of the records up.  I'm
not saying that it can't be done (I have to do it), I'm saying that it's dirty
and that Small Computer Co. can do better.

A bit of history here for others.  filePro16 and 16+ are put out by Small
Computer Co.  This program has it's roots in the Tandy programs called Profile,
which ran on the TRS-80 machines.  When Tandy came out with Xenix on the Model
16, Small came out with an upgraded version of Profile that was called Profile
16.  Tandy may still sell it today for all I know.  Small Computer Co pissed
Tandy off by charging a jacked up price for Profile 16.  Tandy thereby stopped
pushing Profile 16 as a favorite program.  Small then had to come out into the
real world and compete with everyone else.  They haven't had the resources
to catch up to everyone else in the market.  They mainly live off of people
out learned Profile and Profile 16.  If you remember a few years ago Profile 16
was voted most popular in Unix ??????.  At that time Tandy had the most 
Xenix/Unix sites in the US(world?).


Yea I use filepro.  Even made a living on at one time, may again.  But that
doesn't mean I like it.


> 
> Standard disclaimer
> 
> Rick Furniss


-- 
Tony Holden
tony@jassys