GUI Front Ends - the discussion

[Richard Hane]

----- Original Message ----
From: GCC Consulting <gccconsulting at comcast.net>
To: Richard Hane <yoresoft at sbcglobal.net>; filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
Cc: Rick Hane <rhane at deluxestitcher.com>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 11:02:34 AM
Subject: RE: GUI Front Ends - the discussion


 
From: filepro-list-bounces+gccconsulting=comcast.net at lists.celestial.com [mailto:filepro-list-bounces+gccconsulting=comcast.net at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf Of Richard Hane
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 11:29 AM
To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
Cc: Rick Hane
Subject: GUI Front Ends - the discussion
 
I would like to start this as a discussion thread. A couple of ground rules. 1. No one is right and no one is wrong; we are all just voicing our opinions. 2. Although my O/S of choice is Windows this certainly can include *nix systems.  Please let's not turn this in to a discussion of operating systems.
 
I have a couple of large projects coming up and have to make some decisions.  These are the same decisions I think many on this list either have made or will be making in the near future.  These new applications will require a "GUI-like" front end for input, updates and searches.  Some MAY involve use over the web. However, that is not an immediate requirement. Most important I want all processing to be handled by filePro. We are currently using fpODBC 1.0.13 on 16 workstations under Windows 2003.
 
The question to be answered: What to use to create the GUI front end?
1. Do we use another database program like MySQL, Miscrosft SQL Server, Access, Oracle, etc.? If so, which one and why?
2. Or rather do we use a browser on an intranet initially and maybe port to the web later?
3. If we use the browser what do we use; FPCGI, fpWeb, One Gate, etc?
4. Or is fpGUI a possibility?  What ever happened to fpGUI?  I own one of the first copies but you never hear anyone discussing it.
 
We are not concerned with output at this time as we have decided to use (and we own) Print Wizard. Nice program Bob.
 
OK, so there is our delema.  Which way to go.  We really don't want to start down one path and the later turn around and reinvent the wheel.
 
I look forward to the thoughts of all you wise and noble users of the fp.
 
Thank you in Advance,
Rick Hane,
Controller
Deluxe Stitcher Company Inc
www.deluxestitcher.com 
773-777-6500
 
 
Rick,
 
If GUI like is adequate for you needs, then fpgui would probably be a solution.  Just remember that this solution id “GUI Like” in putting the app in a window, adding mouse controls, etc.  However your window size is restricted.
 
*** Rich, this would be a major problem. One of the problems that wust be solved is the 80 character limitation.  One of these new apps will need to generate several gant charts.  I have toyed with the idea of pulling out my old copy of fpGraph but even there the size is a limitation. ***

Also, I have been told by fp support, that the app runs on the server with the front end running on the workstation.  This would require with odbc and gui a fairly beefy server.
 
*** Server is no problem.  We are running a quad core IBM with Raid 1 & Raid 5 with plenty of memory and storage. ***

Although you can run your present application with no or few modifications the run the basic fpgui, I would suggest the developer kit to make full use of what is available.  You are going to run into the license manager when running fpgui.  Although one of the nice things is you have a more granular control of who access the application.
 
The other “advantage” is you can have both the gui and non gui versions running.
 
Ok so much for fp’s gui product.  Going be based does not necessarily mean going internet, it may mean intranet.  There are a number of tools out there which would allow you to accomplish this.  I am sure that other will chime in with suggestions.
 
By the way, you should be able to download a demo version of the latest version of fpgui from the fptech web-site.  Not sure if the developer’s tool kit is available this way. 
 
*** Has there been any newer versions that the first one released?  I own a copy of that ***
 
Richard Kreiss
GCC Consulting
rkreiss at gccconsulting.net

Thank yoy
Rick Hane
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