Heard it through the Bit-vine - Notes and News about the products you use

by Tom Hebenstreit, Review Editor

Published 1998-07-01    Printer-friendly version

Whew! We're finally back up, and by golly, it feels pretty good!

And speaking of back up... (what a smooth segue!)

What do you mean - oops!?!

If you haven't already heard about it, I strongly suggest you get yourself over to J&S Software's web site and check out the latest beta of their newest product: "In Back". Shoot, even you if have heard about it and haven't done anything about it, go check it out!

What is it? Well, because they've done such a good job, I'll let them explain (ok, ok, plus I'm feeling lazy):

What is In Back?

"In Back" is a high performance tool designed to help computer users safeguard their precious files during the course of day-to-day work. Although many people do a daily backup of their files (at least they are supposed to), it is quite possible for something to happen during the day which could ruin hours and hours worth of work. Tragedies such as program crashes, human error, hardware failure, bad luck, and others can render your hard work useless. Before "In Back" you would have had to restore from the last full backup in order to recover. "In Back" provides the computer user with a way to save their more important files in a quick and easy way.

When something is quick and easy, a person is much more likely to take the time to do it.

Using a "Project System" in which you tell specifically which files belong to your project, all of those files can be quickly and safely backed up as frequently as desired. Any time that you are about do something to your work that means lots of changes or that could potentially "break" something, all you have to do is press a button and your work will be saved to that point in time. In addition, every time that you back up, a new backup file is created. You don't have to worry about accidentally overwriting your last "good' backup. When the number of backups for that project hits the max limit (that you specify), the oldest backup files are deleted from the disk.

Seems like one of those "Now, why didn't I think of that" products, and its been gathering up some rave testimonials already. So, unless you've NEVER lost a bit of data, I suggest you look into it and make up your own mind. (And no, I'm not getting paid, etc., by J&S for mentioning this!)

Thinking pervasively?

David Blundell from down under was kind enough to tip us off to bit of Pervasive news: A white paper entitled "Competitive Positioning of Pervasive.SQL" is now available at <http://www.pervasive.com/products/sql/compete.html>.

This paper discuses how Pervasive.SQL compares to other database engines including:

- IBM's DB2 Universal Database

- Microsoft SQL Server

- Oracle8

- Sybase SQL Anywhere

- Microsoft JET Engine (Access)

If you have been thinking of using Pervasive, you might want to check it out.

Other news

Here are some tidbits and announcements gleaned from the TopSpeed forum and elsewhere over the last couple of weeks. If you see any products here which you would like to see scheduled for a full review in Clarion Online, let us know!

• TopSpeed released the Gold version of the C4B patch. There is one difference between the version released on 5/17 (a small regression was fixed). Call TopSpeed sales at 1-800-354-5444 to get a CD, or download the final patch from http://www.topspeed.com
• TopSpeed released a patch to the Oracle driver in early July, which they said fixed one more instance where the Oracle driver was using NLSSORT too often causing slow performance. Both 32 and 16-bit versions were posted. Check the TopSpeed CompuServe forum, or get it at http://www.topspeed.com.
• Software-by-Ragazzi has released updated versions of its Template and Toolkit package. Some of the updates and new features were even added in response to the Clarion Online May issue review of the Toolkit (way to go, Kevin!). Visit http://www.Software-By-Ragazzi.com for full details and downloads.
• Linder Software is about to go into beta on a ZIP compatible version of their LSPack compression product. If you'd like details, or to help with the beta, contact Friedrich Linder at ceo@lindersoftware.com.
• Creative PC Solutions released an update to their popular CPCS Reporting Tools. The new version is 4.09. They have also added CWIC compatibility now. For more info or to download, visit either of these sites: http://www.members.home.net/lteames or http://www.psn.net/~cpcs.
• Greg Berthume announced a price reduction in his PowerRun templates: from $19 to $13. At this price, who can afford NOT to have it? For more info or to download a demo, go to http://members.aol.com/Gberthume.
• At long last, I finally get to announce that, yes, Dave Harms has once again updated his Unofficial CW OOP Page! Read all about virtual methods, what they are, how they work, why you can't do without them, and how you've already been using them in ABC. Don't try to pronounce it, just do yourself a favor and go there: http://www.incunabula.com/cwoop/volume3/abcinternals3.htm
• Bryce of Computer Requirements Co., Ltd, announced a product called TplInfo, which helps to map legacy embeds to their new ABC, and more. For more info, visit: www.cix.co.uk/~bryce/compreq

Can't beat that price...

One of the really nice things about using Clarion is the overall generosity of the user community. (Go ahead, all of you give yourselves a pat on the back!) Often, this manifests itself in truly useful templates or tools, which the authors have made available to the rest of us for that most favorite of prices: FREE! Each month, this column features a handy free template or tool that you might want to add to your bag of Clarion tricks.

Note: If you decide to download and try out any free items mentioned here, please remember that you get what you pay for - don't expect support from the author like you would from a commercial product. While most of them are generous to a fault (as witnessed by their giving away the template), they are NOT obligated in any way, shape or form to you because you want to use the template. Be nice to them!

This month's jewel (or tool) is:

The Boxsoft Public Domain Templates 4.06

New templates from Mike Hanson (of Super templates fame) include:

• MemoryReport Extension (formerly a procedure template)
• Map Include File generator for the exported procedures in your DLL APPs
• Active/Inactive field Toggler Control Template for your Browses
• Conditional formats for Browses
• Restore children after cancelled update

Version 4.xx supports Clarion 4 using the ABC templates.

You can download these free templates from http://www.boxsoftdevelopment.com. The download file is about 113k, and is self-contained install program.

Like any template, don't forget to register them after installation.

Next month: Who knows? You'll just have to come back and find out!

About the Bit-vine

Each month, this column will provide you with the latest in Clarion news, tips, rumors, freebies and basically anything else that seems interesting about the going's on in the Clarion world.

So, who determines what's most interesting? YOU DO!!

Are you a vendor? Let me know about new releases, updates, betas, product plans or anything else you think Clarion Online readers might want to know about.

Are you a user (and who isn't)? Drop me a line about any cool nuggets of information you come across, free templates or examples worth sharing, or anything else that other readers might find useful.

What do you get for contributing? Well, you'll see your name up in lights (phosphor, to be accurate) here in the Bit-vine credits. For especially useful bits, you may even win an autographed GIF of an official Clarion Online shirt or other similarly valuable prize. Come on, how can you resist?

Let me hear from you! The magic address isTomH@ClarionOnline.com

The disclaimer

Everything in this column is the sole opinion of me, the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of this magazine, its publisher, or even of myself (hey, I can change my mind, too!). Don't bet the farm on anything you read here: consider it a starting point for your own inquiries and research. The point here is that this column is intended to both enlighten and entertain, and that in the fast-moving world of software development this month's truth (or product release date) is often next month's "oops, did I say that...?".

'Nuff said!

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Clarion Magazine ISSN 1718-9942