What is Clipper?

[happyb]

Hi,

I have a quick question... what exactly is Clipper?

I was shown a database driven program very quickly and when I asked what database is used for this DOS based program, I was told that it was 'Clipper'. Now, I have read on the internet and it says that Clipper is a programming language, is this true?... if so, what does it use for the database that this program is based on? (hope that wasn't too vague!)

Reason for asking is that I may be converting this Clipper/Database program into a web based interface using something like CGI. Does anyone know if there is an ODBC available that can be used in a CGI script if this Clipper is a database?

Thanks,

HappyB

 

[GriffMG]

Hello HappyB

Clipper is a programming language as you have found out from the web. The principal database that it works with is derived from the dBase design pioneered by Ashton-Tate in the 1980s. I think there are ODBC drivers for it, google throws up a few, but I have no idea as to cost.

You might be able to read the tables using the VFP ODBC which comes on most windows installations.

HTH
Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Michael42]

Clipper is also a programming religion!.

It is one of the most effective application development tools ever created...no exageration. Because of this you will continue to run across Clipper apps for some time to come.

Though most of the die hards have moved to other languages because of several factors starting around the time MS Windows began to gaining popularity.

It is survived by products like xBase++, FiveWin, Harbour etc.

Hope this was helpful,

Michael Michael

 

[GriffMG]

Actually, I think Michael may be right!

Although with the diminishing number of surviving programmers it may by now be a cult, rather than a religion!

How long before someone claims to have cloned a clipper developer... will he/she turn out to be a thow-back only good for VB coding... Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[RHankinsJr]

happyb, as for your quest for a web driven program, you may want to check out Alaska-Software.com

If you have any knowledge of Clipper this is a great choice for you. With the WAA addon you can create Web Enabled Apps. Now some people think that Alaska XBase++ is just a crutch for clipper programmers, but they are wrong. In Europe, it is one of the quickest growing languages and it is very powerful. You can create dos box applications or full gui applications very quickly. It is kind of like it is the love child of clipper and VB. Yet, it can do what other languages like C++, C#, delphi.... can do in a fraction of the time. If you are a die hard programmer like I am, you will be pleased to know that you can link in your C++, C#, ASM, Fortran and other code into your program with a little modification here and there.

There are several people who I know first hand who have used the WAA from Alaska to web enable there dos applications and they have had great luck.


This is not an ad for alaska, rather just a programmer helping another programmer with his/her question. Richard L. Hankins Jr.
Senior Programmer
Auction Services, Inc.