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November 3,
2006
Issue 104
Contents
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Downes-Martino Systems launches property management web app |
Savvy application developers know
that to stay competitive in today's fast-changing business
solutions landscape, you must leverage both the latest
technologies and RAD methodologies to bring new software
products to the market if you hope to have any success.
In November, Ronald Downes and Dr. Edward Martino will do
just that as they release their Visual DataFlex powered
Mobile Property Manager (MPM)
web application to a potential market of 10 million
subscribers, currently a broad generic market with only a
handful of web application providers and no dominant
player.
"Two years ago Ronald and I set out to develop a true thin
client, web-based property management system that is
robust, efficient and functions on a par with Windows
desktop systems," says Dr. Martino, vice president and COO
of the Salem, Missouri based Downes-Martino Systems, Inc.
"Our look and feel is functional and a bit retro. We are
focused on usability and efficiency, not on ‘cute’
graphics. MPM graphics are minimal and its pages are both
lean and easy to read."
Between them, Mr. Downes and Dr. Martino have built over
25 applications since 1981 using Data Access Worldwide's
application development tools. For building and deploying
the MPM application, the team again relied upon
Visual DataFlex and VDF's
Web Application Server to
do the job, along with the integration of several ASP and
JavaScript components and
Pervasive.SQL for the
backend DBMS. The result is a true thin client application
that will run on any operating system — all that's
required is an Internet connection.
"DAW tools helped greatly in making MPM possible," says
Dr. Martino. "Microsoft.Net was reviewed and rejected due
to a combination of its bloated client requirements and
poor efficiency issues. .Net also has a complex and
cumbersome database connectivity model."
Visual DataFlex's RAD feature set and Data Dictionary
Object technology are key reasons why VDF was chosen as
the framework to build the MPM system upon. VDF's Web
Application Server provides the foundation for the
development of a "truly robust" thin client application,
which is now in it's third prototype and features a
"unique and intuitive framed user interface that we call
EigenTech™," he says. "Our framed interface with its
consistent placement of navigation and function buttons
helps the user remain focused and improves productivity."
With Visual DataFlex, "database connectivity is very fast
and efficient and enables easy incorporation of business
rules. This fully functional development environment with
a well-defined Object Oriented Programming structure
integrates with the ability to create the application so
that the critical components are secured on the server and
not vulnerable to either casual hacking or reverse
engineering."
Mr. Downes says that the Visual DataFlex OOP framework is
reliable and when combined with the database connectivity,
it allows developers to concentrate on the user interface
aspects of system design. Choice of database for the
backend was given considerable thought during the design
phase of the project.
"Database connections in the ASP environment are one of
the greatest challenges in developing web client
applications," he says, and for this reason, Pervasive.SQL
was chosen as the DBMS for the backend of the web
application.
"The Pervasive.SQL connectivity was an essential element
for us in developing MPM," says Dr. Martino. "Pervasive
SQL is fast, stable, and requires minimal maintenance
making it ideal for a high volume backend DBMS."
Visit
www.MobilePropertyManager.com.
Learn more about
Visual DataFlex.
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Check out
the new Electos 3! |
Electos 3
Beta 1 has just been released as part of the Visual
DataFlex 12 RC 1 build, giving new and existing Electos
users the opportunity to test-drive the many new features
this release offers, including:
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New User
Interface — The User interface for both the Electos Studio and
the Electos Site Manager have been redesigned. This is reflected
in both the graphical aspect as in new functionality. The new
User interface supports drag-and-drop, multiple select and modal
dialogs which will make maintaining and creating content a lot
easier and quicker.
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Multiple
browser support — The new Electos Studio is designed with the
use of multiple browsers in mind. Both Firefox and Internet
Explorer web browsers are now fully supported.
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"Document"
concept removed — The concept of "documents" as opposed to
"pages" is no longer used in Electos 3, reducing complexity and
making it more intuitive for both VDF developers and their end
users to use Electos.
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File Manager
for your website directory — With Electos Studio 3 it is now
possible to access all the files in your Electos AppHTML
directory. Now you can remove and rename files and folders,
upload new files and view or change the content of your files
without needing a separate HTML editing program or web server
access.
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Webshop module
— Electos' new Webshop module allows you to create and manage
products and enables website visitors to place online orders.
The Webshop is fully customizable to your specific needs. On top
of that, importing products and exporting orders is supported,
as well!
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Reporting
module — Electos' new Reporting module allows you to create
basic reports on your website content. You can create your own
reports, define which columns you wish to see, and specify
filters to give you the best possible overview on your content.
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File
Restriction — Electos already supports Page Restriction, and
Electos 3 expands on this to support File Restriction. Uploaded
files are stored outside the web-shared directory and are only
accessible to visitors with the right credentials.
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Create Menu
Links — Electos now supports the creation of links in your
website menu which do not point to a page or any other Electos
content, making it possible to add links to other websites or
local web applications which can be managed from the Electos
Studio.
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Embedded Pages
— A new document structure item type named 'Iframe' is now
included. When editing a page with an Iframe element the user
can specify the URL that should be shown. The website will print
the URL embedded within the Electos website. This feature will
allow you to easily embed your own web application within an
Electos website.
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Customizable
Website Directory Locations — The Electos Site Manager can be
used to specify the exact location of a website's root
directory, its AppHTML directory, its Data directory and/or its
ContentFiles directory, making it possible to create the
directory structure you require while still being able to use
all of Electos' features.
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Customizable
Date Format — It is now possible to set the date format per
website or per user.
Electos 3 Beta 1
is only available as part of the Visual DataFlex Release Candidate
download — please see the next story about the release of Visual
DataFlex 12 RC 1 for more information about how to download
Electos 3.
Learn more about
Electos for web content
management.
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Visual
DataFlex 12 "Project Horizon" Release Candidate 1 available;
Now includes Electos 3 Beta! |
We are
pleased to announce the availability of the Release
Candidate 1 build of Visual DataFlex 12 "Project Horizon",
which now includes the newest revision of our Electos web
content management software.
We encourage developers to download and test these latest
builds with your applications and report your results back
to us in order to help us release the highest quality
software possible.
To participate in
the Visual DataFlex 12 Project Horizon Beta test program:
Learn more about
Visual DataFlex.
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Pervasive.SQL V8 End-of-Support |
End-of-Support for Pervasive.SQL V8 is quickly
approaching! The End-of-Support date is December 31,
2006.
What does this mean to me?
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No Complimentary
Support is offered.
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Pervasive Software
phone support is
available for a premium charge, however, no fixes or
resolutions are guaranteed.
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No support is
available via the Web.
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On
July 1, 2006,
Pervasive Software discontinued
sales of Pervasive.SQL V8.
Click here for further
information.
Contact Us today to upgrade to
the latest version of Pervasive PSQL V9 for DataFlex and continue
to enjoy industry-leading performance from your database solution.
To view the Pervasive.SQL Product Life Cycle,
click here.
For further information on Pervasive.PSQL V9 for DataFlex,
click here.
To order
Pervasive.PSQL V9 for DataFlex
click here.
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Developer Resources |
Data
Access Worldwide publishes numerous
Technical
Knowledge Base articles and
White
Papers that provide developers with key information
about techniques, fixes and strategies related to building
and deploying DataFlex applications.
Latest Technical Knowledge Base Articles
Visual DataFlex 11:
2254-INFO: Number struct members get converted to Decimal by Clent
Web Service Class generator
Visual DataFlex
(General):
2253-ERROR: "Command not found
FLEX$INIT" when compiling new Visual DataFlex program
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Events & Training
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Northeast
DataFlex Consortium,
meeting, Portsmouth, NH,
November 4
|
The Northeast DataFlex
Consortium (NEDC) will hold it's next brunch meeting on
Saturday, November 4th, in Portsmouth, NH. The agenda
includes using revision control software along with "a
couple of tech goodies" such as a new Crystal XI
technique for standardizing reports. All Visual DataFlex
Developers in the Northeast area - whether just visiting
or currently in business in the area – are cordially
invited to attend. For more information, contact
Peter Donovan.
Visit the NEDC at
www.NEDataFlex.com. |
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DataFlex Developers Day, Frankfurt, Germany, November 14 |
The summer of 2006 is
without a doubt the hottest summer ever, and Data Access
Europe and Data Project want to make sure it is going to
be a very hot autumn in Germany as well!
DataFlex Developer’s Day is scheduled for November 14th
in Frankfurt, Germany, and is geared for
Visual DataFlex developers
(and DataFlex developers as well) who are interested in
learning more about how they can benefit from this
powerful software development tool for building Windows,
Web and Web Services applications.
DataFlex Developer’s Day on the 14th of November in
Frankfurt will be very Visual DataFlex 12 centric, and
includes Data Access Worldwide CTO John Tuohy as keynote
speaker.
But that's not all - also on the DataFlex Developer's
Day agenda are demonstrations of the latest revisions of
Electos and Dynamic AI, both slated for release this
fall, and a presentation on AJAX for Visual DataFlex
(each visitor at DataFlex Developer’s Day will go home
with a special AJAX for Visual DataFlex Kit!).
For more information and to register for DataFlex
Developer’s Day on the 14th of November in Frankfurt,
Germany, contact
Info@DataAccess.nl.
Visit
Data Project GmbH.
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SCANDUC, Copenhagen, Denmark, November 16-17 |
The Scandinavia DataFlex
Users Conference (SCANDUC) will be held in Copenhagen,
Denmark on November 16-17.
SCANDUC 2006 will
feature Data Access Worldwide's CTO John Tuohy
presenting on Visual DataFlex 12, and also leading the
post-conference VDF 12 training on Saturday, November
18th.
Stay tuned to
www.scanduc.com for
further details as they are announced. Note there will
be a special dinner the evening of the 16th, and the
event will be held at the brand new
Adina 4-star apartment
hotel.
SCANDUC 2006 is being coordinated by Ccontact
Charlotte Grønvold of
Front - IT ApS,
a Data Access Europe Channel Partner. |
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January 25-27, 2007 |
Save the Date! DISD set for January 25-27, 2007
The DataFlex International Software Developers (DISD)
Conference has been scheduled to return to Carson City,
Nevada on January 25-27 2007. Stay tuned to e-News for
more information as it becomes available. |
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May 16-18, 2007 |
Synergy 2007 - Maimi Beach Resort & Spa - May 16-18,
2007 |
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May 2008 |
The next European
DataFlex User's Conference (EDUC) has been set to be
held in Moscow, Russia, in May, 2008 (the exact dates
will be announced as soon as they are confirmed).
EDUC 2008 organizer Sergey Natarov says, "EDUC is the
best opportunity for the European DataFlex developer
community to get the in-depth information they need to
excel at building and deploying business solutions
powered by Visual DataFlex. We are looking forward to
meeting our friends and colleagues in Moscow in the
spring of 2008!"
Mark your calendar today and make plans to visit Moscow
and attend EDUC in May 2008.
Visit the
EDUC 2008 website for
the latest information at
www.educ2008.ru. |
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Links and Subscription Information |
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