Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!lll-winken!uunet!munnari!bruce!monu1!vaxc!obb130t
From: obb130t@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Dataflex
Message-ID: <3278@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>
Date: 3 Apr 89 01:05:27 GMT
Organization: Blood Bank, Melbourne
Lines: 37

Now that I know that you can hear me...

For those who didn't already know, Dataflex is a multi-user database 
management system for microcomputers and minicomputers running DOS, Unix or 
VMS.  It has few relational features, and is based largely on ISAM/B-tree
tables.  It supports links between files which are generally hierarchical.  

It provides a reasonable 3rd/4th generation language for application 
development.  In particular, it is very easy to  produce sophisticated 
data entry and reporting programs which run very well on quite small computers.

The main competitor is Clipper/FoxBase but not dBase.  It is generally much
easier to produce working programs in Dataflex than either of the others,
although the language lacks some of the 3rd generation features such as
string functions.  It provides excellent support for large databases.  The
largest I know is 500,000 records which is VERY large on a microcomputer scale.
It is very reliable in supporting multi-user applications on small metworks
and Unix boxes.

Dataflex is the second biggest selling database product in Australia, and
probably more widely used for application development than the dBase family.

FYI: I am the Vice-president of the Melbourne Dataflex User's Group 
Incorporated (wow!) and author of a competitor for Dataflex currently in beta
testing.

The big question at the moment is: whither 3.0?  Has anyone heard any
recent news from Miami?  Did anyone go to the conference?  We're all doing
the mushroom bit 'round here.

-- 
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~ David M. Bennett                              obb130t@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au ~
~ Demileigh Consulting, 22 Tourello Ave, East Hawthorn          61 3 882 7599 ~
~ Victorian Red Cross Blood Bank, Balston St, South Melbourne   61 3 616 0353 ~
~ Good judgement comes from experience.  Experience comes from bad judgement. ~
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