Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ns-mx!umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu
From: byock@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu (Bill Yock)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: Comparing 4th Dimension and Paradox
Message-ID: <4102@ns-mx.uiowa.edu>
Date: 23 Jan 91 19:24:07 GMT
References: <28098.279cafec@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Sender: news@ns-mx.uiowa.edu
Lines: 27

From article <28098.279cafec@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>, by lim@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu:
> hello everyone.
> 
> I have been using 4th Dimension by ACIUS for more than 3 years. (ie. I
> am familiar with it !)
> Right now, I am going to do a new project using Paradox (?)......
> Don't ask me why !!! my prof. want it in Paradox.
> 
> Is there a lot of difference between those two packages?
> What are the advantages/disadvantages between those two?
> Is Paradox easy to "learn" ?
> 
Yes, there are some big differences between the two.  Obviously, the biggest
difference is 4th Dimension is a Macintosh database and Paradox is an IBM PC
database.  I don't know a lot about 4th Dimension but Paradox really is easy
to use yet a powerful sophisticated database, hence the name.  Paradox is very
easy to learn given it's well developed menu system, spreadsheet like table
displays, Query By Example technique, and strong documentation.  It has a good
programming environment but you want to be very familiar with regular 
interactive Paradox before trying any programming.  Paradox can also now link
to SQL server databases as a front end.  I have heard that 4th Dimension has
no plans of supporting the SQL standard.  It has it's own unique language 
that they are trying to extend for client server configuration.   

--
Bill Yock, Weeg Computing Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
byock@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu