Why You Should Stick with DBF or Access Databases for Now

[Otto]

Hello friends,


It's still uncertain which technology will ultimately prevail

In the current landscape of database technologies, there is a fierce competition between SQL and NoSQL,
with trends indicating that data storage, including images, is becoming more integrated, and file systems are increasingly
functioning as databases.

Why small businesses should stick to proven DBF or Access databases for now

Switching from a desktop version to a web version is a major task. While modern
database technologies offer many advantages, there are good reasons why small
businesses should stick with proven DBF or Access databases for now.

Cost efficiency

An immediate switch to a new database technology can incur high costs. These
include training costs, migration costs, and potential error costs during the
transition. Maintaining the existing database infrastructure minimizes these
costs and allows for more efficient use of existing resources.

Familiarity and expertise

Your team is already familiar with the current database technology. This expertise
reduces the need for extensive training and allows focus on the essential aspects of
the web transition without delving into the complexity of new databases.

Flexibility and simplicity

DBF and Access databases offer high flexibility in data changes. Tables can be
easily exchanged by copying, and data editing directly on a USB stick is possible.
Features like record locks ensure data integrity during simultaneous accesses. This
flexibility and simplicity are particularly beneficial for small businesses.

Stability and reliability

The proven DBF or Access database has shown to be stable and reliable. This stability
minimizes the risk of data loss and system failures that can occur during a complete
technology switch.

Easy maintenance

Managing and maintaining DBF and Access databases is often less resource-intensive
than modern databases. This reduces administrative effort and allows focus on the
core business.

Easy Transition

Much like with RDD, you can easily switch to a different technology at any time, providing
the flexibility to adapt as your business grows and evolves without being locked into a
single solution.

Conclusion

For small businesses, maintaining the existing DBF or Access database during the
transition to a web application offers many economic and practical advantages. The
cost efficiency, familiarity with the technology, flexibility in data changes, stability,
and ease of use make this solution particularly attractive. This approach allows for a
gradual and controlled transformation, laying the foundation for a successful long-term
modernization of the IT infrastructure.

Best regards,
Otto

[George]

Hi otto,
In my opinion, Advantage Database Server (ADS) stands out as one of the best databases ever developed for business software. Its remarkable capabilities and performance are indisputable. Unfortunately, despite its strengths, the companies that acquired ADS decided to withdraw it from the market, resulting in a significant loss for our database community.
Even today, ADS's power and efficiency allow it to compete directly with the best current SQL databases. Its robust feature set, reliability, image management, and ease of use are superb.

Regards,

George

[Rick Lipkin]

To All

I am a Sql Server kind of person .. Sql Server and Ms Access use the same ADO code ( for the most part ) and it is easy to accommodate both connections in a single application .. I like MS Sql Server for Corporate data storage and MS Access for ( more ) portable apps for small business .. Very easy to code for and in todays world of hacks .. I can easily encrypt any table especially MS Access where it can be easily stolen and the database password can be cracked ..




Rick Lipkin

[Otto]

Hello Rick, hello George,

Thank you. Here it is about web applications, and since we are so excited about our Xbrowse, we want to achieve the same performance on the web.

When you want to perform an incremental search on the web, you constantly need to send requests to the server and receive the newly filtered data.

For example, I have conducted tests and can read 100 records in 20 ms. If I do the same with SQL, just establishing the connection to the server already takes 200 ms or more. This means it no longer runs smoothly in the table, which is the local Xbrowse.

Test the example I posted.

https://www.modharbour.club/speedtests/kundentbl.html
more here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=44607

Best regards,
Otto

[Jack]

Rick

Could you share how you encript and decript .
What about the lenght of fields in databases, should we reserve more space for a encripted fields ?

Thanks
Philippe

[Rick Lipkin]

Phillipe

Here is the code to encrypt\de-encrypt character fields .. and YES you will have to add one additional space for each character field you encrypt

Code: Select all  Expand view  RUN

//------------------------

Func ENCRYPT( TO_DO )

LOCAL PADBACK := LEN(TO_DO), DONE := " ", QAZ
TO_DO := ALLTRIM(TO_DO)

FOR QAZ = LEN(TO_DO) TO 1 STEP -1
    DONE := DONE + CHR(ASC(SUBSTR(TO_DO, QAZ, 1)) + 104)
NEXT

RETURN(FILL_OUT(DONE, PADBACK))

//--------------------

Func DENCRYPT( TO_DO )

LOCAL PADBACK := LEN(TO_DO), DONE := " ", QAZ

TO_DO := ALLTRIM(TO_DO)
FOR QAZ = LEN(TO_DO) TO 1 STEP -1
    DONE := DONE + CHR(ASC(SUBSTR(TO_DO, QAZ, 1)) - 104)
NEXT

RETURN(FILL_OUT(DONE, PADBACK))

//----------------------

Func FILL_OUT( FILL_A, FILL_B )

IF PCOUNT() = 1
   FILL_B := 80
ELSE
   IF TYPE("FILL_B") = "C"
      FILL_B := val(Fill_B) //VAL(B)
   ENDIF
   FILL_B := IIF(FILL_B <= 1, 80, FILL_B)
ENDIF
IF FILL_B <= LEN(FILL_A)
   RETURN(FILL_A)
ENDIF

RETURN(FILL_A + SPACE(FILL_B - LEN(FILL_A)))



 

Rick Lipkin