ODBC pricing and usage...

[John Esak]

Okay, I don't know this stuff, and want some advice.

I currently own two ODBC licenses. Using only one at Nexus. May put the
other there also for use with UPS Worldship... not sure. However, now I need
an ODBC version at my home/office for use with Karen's MYSQL database that
runs her website. I (she once I'm done writing the program for her to access
her stuff and transfer data back and forth to her legacy filePro program)
will be needing to access the web from her main machine (in the kitchen),
her laptop (the media room downstairs), and her office/storage (the garage).
This s 3 machines that will need to run the new program. This means I need 3
copies of ODBC filePro, right? Well, actually 4 because I would like to
write her programs for her from my machine (my office).  So, this is a big
purchase to do the same thing essentially from one "place". In the paradigm
I'm used to and understand, I would just have four terminals or terminal
emulators running (even simultaneously) into the filePro program wherever it
is located ant that would be that. A filePro license of 5 users would serve
me fine. However, since this is now needing to be separate physical PC's
each running ODBC filePro... do I really need 4 separate copies of ODBC
filePro?  Is there some way to buy just one ODBC filePro with a five user
license and get this job done? (Working the program from 5 separate PC's?).
If not, by running a single user filePro on each PC, will I be running into
locking issues, since different PC's would be pointing to the same data...
or is this the same as 4 different PC's on a standard non-ODBC  5 user
license pointing to the same data. I guess what I'm asking is, if I buy a 5
user license for ODBC, would this allow me to put filePro on each of the 5
PC's in my house, and then have all 5 PC's access the same key/data in a
single filePro file?

I *know* the answer already, since you have to give the Hard Disk volume
label for each installation to the license manager to get the ODBC
installed... the scheme is obviously impossible. SO, the question above
becomes clearer as: Can I buy a single-user version of ODBC for each of the
4 machines and have them all work simultaneously into one filePro/key
(locking, etc.), or would I be forced to buy 4 5-user versions.  I realize
this is a naive question... but I'm thinking that the locking scheme is all
only O/S dependant, so it wouldn't care what program comes along and locks
the file. From its point of view it could be 5 separate 1-user rclerks.
Right???

Is there any way to make the expense of running one and only one program
from several different machines in one and only one location, cheaper. I
want to support FP Tech, but I know the license manager has been under
discussion a lot in the alpha test area. I just want to post this here,
though and keep the possibly philosophical discussions here. The alpha list
is getting closer and closer to a beta version that doesn't have any bugs
left, so I don't want to tie it up with this probably very dumb question.

I'm sure all business have the same or similar situation. What do you all
do?

Damn, if Unix isn't so much easier and saner than all this.

John

--
John Esak
(570) 384-2444

Author of:
The filePro Survivor Series
Complete Video Training For filePro On CD
See samples at: www.valar.com