How long is Paradox going to Live?

[sloinc]

Sloinc(technical user)

For the past year I have been developing a multiuser application in Paradox 10 for a manufacturing environment that does everything but accounting (25 workstations). Now I have it up and running. When I started I did not know how anything about Paradox, but choose it because Paradox would not require a large capital investment other than my time.

I have found that Corel does not have programming guides for Paradox 10. Mike Prestwood is repurchasing Paradox 9 Power Programming books for resale. There are few people that know programming in ObjectPal.

Now, I have spent a year and do not know if the application I have developed is any good because I have never seen another Paradox application, nor know how to get one. And what is worse, I am not comfortable that Corel is going to support this product going forward.

Two questions. One, is there any one knows how I can obtain an application with code just to review. Second, is Paradox a good horse to ride going foward(is there going to be support).

 

[footpad]

sloinc,

There are many examples of Paradox code available at my site (

http://techtricks.com),

http://thedbcommunity.com,

and several other places on the net (see my Paradox Resource pages).

There are also sample applications available from Corel's FTP site, though you'll have to root through their pub/Paradox files to locate them. Nevertheless, there's a lot of good information in there.

As far as the future goes, well, that's an open question, especially given the current questions regarding Corel, Vector, and related discussions. It's hard to say. On the one hand, people are still using Paradox applications written ten years ago.

On the other, nearly every development project teaches you something about your data and how it should be processed. If you document your application well, as well as teh design decisions you make while creating it, you should be in a position to maintain or covert it as needed.

Also, people have said that Paradox is dead for many, many years now. Yet, people are still using--and learning it. I think the important thing is that the Paradox community has banded together in spite of the rough times and kept going. That means that regardless of how well (or poorly) Corel (or whoever) treats the product moving forward, there is an experienced--and helpful--support network available.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance

 

[cobweb]

Hi:

I don't know about Paradox being a good horse to follow...but I for one am hanging in there! I get a lot of grief about how I should use Access ('cos everybody else does) but keep coming back to Paradox simply because Access lets me down when I try to use it. I am an expert in neither application but can work things through in Paradox much better (with no little help from Footpad and Kliot, to mention just 2!)and, although a bit tortuous and very rigorous, it does hold up.
My favourite method, by the way, is to use Paradox with a Lotus Approach front end for reporting. You need to have Paradox 4 tables for this to work, and a primary key, and work a bit with record locking, but the combination of Paradox power and Approach friendliness and cross tabs is a great and inexpensive reporting option.
Long live Paradox..and Approach!

 

[Kliot]

slonic,

Paradox is still the best product out there in it's class. It's generally preferred by developers because of it's robust programming language and networking ability.

I do have serious concerns about it's future and if I was going to start learning and programming an application today I would have serious questions about using it. Paradox is fully developed program and even if Corel never upgrades it, it will continue to be viable for many years to come. As technology changes in the future I am worried it will be left behind, but with that said there are still people out there using 10 year old applications running on Early versions of Paradox for dos. Many of us, myself included will continue to use Paradox for years to come and continue to support the Paradox community.

Perrin

 

[mtanney]

The book named Paradox 4.0 Programmers Guide
PAL by EXAMPLE can provide many great examples of Paradox
source code.

The basic structure of PAL is the same for Object PAL
all the way up the ladder to Paradox 8.0.

Also try the Coral Web site for source code examples.

 

[Kliot]

mtanney,

You just brought back found memories, that was my first Paradox book and what a great book it was. I remember when it first came out you could actually call Alan or Jim at home and they'd send you an autographed copy.

In 95 Jim went solo and published "Paradox for Windows Programmers Guide: Objectpal by Example (Borland Press Series)" I never bought this one so I can't vouch for what's in it but it may be a better way to go for Slonic. I noticed it's still available at addall.com

Perrin

 

[footpad]

Hm. I'm not sure I'd say that the basic structure of PAL is the same for ObjectPAL. While there are similarities, many specific techniques are very different.

For example, instead of using WAIT RECORD to give the user a change to edit the data (in Paradox/DOS), you create a form as a dialog box in Paradox for Windows, display it, wait() and then do whatever else is necessary.

Also, where the DOS product limited the types of relationships you could create in forms and reports, the Windows product is far more flexible and allows for many more real-world scenarios with less prepratory processing.

I agree that many older Paradox for Windows books contain much that is useful for the current version of the product. However, I'd use care applying DOS techniques to the Windows product. There are far too many capabilities in the Windows product to limit oneself to those only available to the DOS product.

Your mileage may vary, of course...

-- Lance

 

[ExCorel]

Have you visited

http://www.prestwood.com/forums/paradox/books/official/files

?There is a file there (official.zip) containing a load of sample forms which contain pretty much everything you need to get started. They're really very good.

Don't worry about there not being a guide for Pdox 10. All 32-bit versions of Paradox are virtually identical in relation to ObjectPAL. They're all based on version 7 and the only difference is that they add on a few new methods with each version - write something in 10 and you can pretty much guarantee it'll run in 7.

HTH

Darragh Quinn

 

[footpad]

Darragh,

Virtually identical? Yes, in the basics, however, there are a number of subtleties in each version. For example, Paradox 8 required certain code for managing printers that's not necessary in v10 SP3 and so on.

One should always feel free to borrow the work of others, but it's helpful to carefully test that the same approaches are still appropriate in the later version.

For example, string lists can greatly reduce the amount fo code needed to generate menus or implement keyboard shortcuts, yet there are few articles that explore string lists in detail.

Just a thought...

-- Lance

 

[davidyliu]

Hi,all,
how can I get a trail version for paradox 10?

thank you very much.

 

[footpad]

davidyliu,

Unfortunately, Corel has not elected to provide a trial version of Paradox. However, you may be able to obtain an OEM version of WPO 2002/Professional at greatly reduced rates through EBay or other online auctions.

Keep in mind that OEM versions aren't complete editions. They frequently do not come with upgrade rights or with all the extras of the full retail edition.

Still, I notice that there are several auctions on Ebay offering WPO 2002 Pro for fairly cheap prices. As of this writing, the cheapest appears to be $10.50/US. (Of course, it may be higher by the time you read this.)

Note: Be sure to search Titles and Descriptions; otherwise, you may not see the hits that are available.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance

 

[jlockley]

Google "Corel Paradox 10 Cheap" Also google "Corel Paradox10 OEM" Then build a new computer to put it in. Or buy it with a new drive or something, which makes it legal.

Even if Corel gives up Paradox, unless there is a sea change in OS, it's as much or more than most people will ever need in a desktop or small network db application. As long as people use it, it's not dead.

I am always surprised at how many people don't know what a database is and how much they can offer small businesses. (I assume that big businesses have it together). If any of the software providers had put the PR into their db applications that went into their word processing suites or their superfluous graphics and internet programs, they would be more commonly used. Too bad, but I figure I am one of the few in my industry who didn't either run out and buy some $20,000 pre formated database which didn't meet my needs or who doesn't still run on a cocktail of Act! and Outlook, so it's my gain.\\By the way, you lot have been terrific.

 

[footpad]

jlockley,

A warning about OEM versions. Apparently, not all OEM versions are created equally. I have heard a rumor that OEM versions from one vendor are, in fact, the full version slipped into an OEM CD cover.

Personally, I would assume that all OEM versions are the stripped down versions that Corel claims they are and be pleasantly surprised if you managed to lay your hands on one that isn't stripped down.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance

 

[Kliot]

Lance,

Any idea what would be missing from a stripped down OEM version, strictly speaking of Paradox that is. Who cares about the rest of the crap on the disk. I have a couple of OEM disks and they seem to have the full version of Paradox.

Perrin

 

[Lewy]

My OEM copy of WPO 2002 has some of the experts missing, or rather the icons are there but they do not work. Plus of course no manuals......but hey! isn't this what this forum is all about....givers gain - you help me and I'll help you.

Regards,

Lewy

 

[footpad]

Perrin,

>> What's missing from stripped down OEM versions?

Here's as close to a definitive answer as I can find:

http://www.thedbcommunity.com/news/interactive/123.htm

Lewy,

>> The icons are there, but they do not work

You might want to see if you have an EXPERTS directory below your main WPO/Paradox folder. If so, then you should be able to get the Experts working by making sure you have a PdxExperts public alias defined. Make sure it points to that directory.

I don't know if this will make a difference or not, as I don't have an OEM version to test with. But, I know that there's more than one reason why Experts don't work.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance