Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!midway!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!hacgate!ashtate!dbase!daves
From: daves@dbase.A-T.COM (Dave Schnepper)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Is there a spreadsheet/database combo program?
Keywords: spread sheet, database, linked, lotus, dbase
Message-ID: <783@dbase.A-T.COM>
Date: 26 Oct 90 18:12:32 GMT
References: <15552@netcom.UUCP>
Lines: 63

ergo@netcom.UUCP (Isaac Rabinovitch) writes:

>The Framework "database" is really just a special kind of spreadsheet.
>It's easier to define some kinds of calculations, and there's a
>dBase-style entry mode, but otherwise it does nothing your usual
>spreadsheet won't do.  In particular, your "database" has to all fit
>into memory at once.

The Framework database *is* very similar to a spreadsheet, and many spreadsheet
operations can be performed on it.  However, unlike a SS, it can be filtered.
Also, FW's database can link with dBASE files, and either bring in only 
the subset of records of interest or can process each record sequentially 
in the database for calculation, mailmerge, etc.

>Lotus Symphony is probably similar.  I think all the "integrated
>applications" that were so big a few years ago are pretty worthless.
>Without some kind of multitasking support (pretty good in Borland's
>Sidekick Plus; poor or nonexistant in all the others) and support for
>third-party add-ins (promised by Borland, but never delivered; simply
>not possible in all the others), you're stuck with a big, slow program
>that does everything poorly.

Framework has had support for 3-rd party addin's since version Framework
II 1.0.  While I agree that Framework's SS is not as fast as Lotus, and
its Database can't have as many records as dBASE, and its graphics
are not as good as Draw Applause, and its tcom doesn't emulate as many
terminals as Mirror, and its word processing doesn't have any many bells
as Multimate, and its outliner doesn't the fancy outline processing
features of More/Thinktank; I have to disagree that Framework does any
of these operations *poorly*.  And, Framework's greatest strength is
that it does ALL of these operations, and links them together.

Recall the original poster's request - "I want to link my SS with my
Database".  To do that with Framework you cursor-point from the SS cell
you're modifing, to the database that cell operates upon.  A simple operation.
I've seen NO other response on the network that even gave that person
a solution.

Framework's strength is it's ability to organize and work with multiple
types of data sets.   

Framework's weakness is that the above ability means it is not optimized
for working with any one type of dataset.

>Perhaps one could kludge together some kind of connection under
>windows or desqview, using macros.  

Why kludge?  You means Windows/DesqView *aren't* the strongly integrated
environments that enable multiple applications to work together (like
in Framework?)  (smile).

While I have now realized this posting is close to a "commercial use"
of UseNet, I get hot under the coller when people compare Framework
to stand-alone programs.  I've used Framework daily for over 6 years,
and don't think I would be nearly as efficient using any other 
environment.

Dave Schnepper
Ashton-Tate Northern California Development Center
Framework Development team
Los Gatos, CA

daves@ashtate / daves@dbase