A REAL Filepro manual or just charge my ass and help me out with this memo exporting please

Wed Aug 16 10:35:39 PDT 2017

Top Post:

I don't know why everyone is bitching.  Most of the software one purchases
today comes with some sort of licensing scheme.  All  of the paid Anti-virus
programs and the various tool programs come with licensing and will not
function if the registration code or license code is not entered.

My Microsoft Action Pack comes with licensing and the user count available
with that software.  If it comes with a single user count, it only allows
for the software to be installed and registered on one computer.  If you try
to install it a second time, you will get an error message.

Keep in mind that the *nix version of filePro always had user restrictions,
the Windows version on the other hand did not.  One could purchase a 5 user
network version and have 250 users access it.  Or an employer (direct
purchase) could purchase a 20 user license and not have any issues as the
business grew and added more users without paying for additional licenses.

Yes, I wish there was an easier way to implement filePro's license manager.
However, I and my clients have not had issues with it.  The only issue is
when a session does not end properly and the license manager needs to be
stopped and restarted to release that session.  This happens mostly with
remote sessions.  

Also, at least with the Windows version, a batch file for adding the license
is supplied in case there is a problem installing the service at
installation time.  With a minor modification this batch file can also stop
and the restart the license service.  This could also most likely be
re-written using Windows PowerShell scripting.

If you are referring to the complaint about sessions vs. seats, that is
something else.  Intuits' QuickBooks also has a per session license.  

I have a client who used the Xenix version of filePro many years ago and was
familiar with that licensing.  When we moved to the Windows licensing, he
was not happy with the per session licensing as a number of his employees
opened multiple windows, including himself.  The trade-off was he did not
have to consider system command outputs as part of his user count.   After
analyzing his usage, he only had to purchase an extra 5 user runtime to
handle the additional sessions.

Although I am one person programming, I can have open 4 to 5 sessions on my
computer or 2 sessions on my laptop(tablet).  I therefore have a 5 user
license for my office and a 2 user license for my tablet.

What I find interesting is that those who have not upgraded are missing out
on all of the new features and functions that have been added since the
older version you are running.  fP Tech has made upgrading rather cost
effective with their subscription plan.  Keep in mind that they need to be
selling(have cash flow) to stay in business and their primary product has to
have new features and functions to keep up with client needs.  

Some of these features many would consider minor such as the ability to have
a scrolling screen field or the ability to apply a selection set to an
automatic index( making an auto index into an automatic demand index).  Some
major changes are the ability to encrypt a field and now a complete file.
Visually the new selectbox() function which is similar to a listbox() except
one can prompt the user to type in characters to get to the item wanted.
Also added, although not as easy as PrintWizard, is the ability to output
PDF files.  This breaks the dependency on PCL 3 and 5 compatible printers.

For use developers, this can be an added income source in converting
existing outputs to PDF.  I already did this for one client from and @key
which listed 3 letters which one could be selected.  It then asked printed
or PDF.  The print option the allowed for the selection of a printer.

I had wanted to allow the user to select one of two directories(folders) to
send the PDF but that was nixed.  It is dent to the user's "My Documents"
folder on their local machine.

Mark, You develop tools to be used to handle issues that the primary program
cannot handle or cannot or does not handle well.  You also have a licensing
mechanism to insure that your software is not pirated. 

Sans the license manager, isn't there new functionality that can be added to
an existing application that will entice your clients( developer or in-house
programmer) to want to upgrade?  They do offer a free 30 day license to test
the new version.  It is worth a look and the time spent.

I have been developing with filePro since it was owned by Small Computer
Company at 230 W 41st street.  I mention this as my offices were at 140 W
40th.  I started with Tandy's proFile and moved to FilePro 16 (Xenix) 1983.
I have been doing this for a lot of year now and am still learning.  I have
received much help for others on the list when I have had problems.
However, there is nothing like being able to "play" with new functionality
to see what it can or can't do.  One of the wish-list items was the ability
to size a browse window to fit the number of records selected,  This was
especially true when only 2 or four records were selected  when programmed
for 12.  I took up this challenge one day and found a way to accomplish
this.  I do use that programming when appropriate.  Ken Brody demonstrated a
way to make a memo window dynamic at a filePro conference.

Yes, filePro has shortcomings but how many programs can run software
developed on their early iterations?  I can run programs I wrote in versions
3,4, 4.1,4.5,4.8,5.0, etc.  that goes back to programs I wrote in the late
80's and 90's.  I have clients who are still running by textile brokerage
program in versions earlier then 5.0 and only call when they need a new
printer or need to move the program to a new computer.  The just don't have
problems.  If they do, it is usually just a matter of rebuilding the
automatic indexes.

Many years ago I had my primary application lifted by an employee who left a
client.

After that, I had to write programming that in effect locked that
application to my client's equipment.  The programming is similar for fP
Tech's licensing but without the user count.  I also added programming to
insure that I received any payments where a client owed me monthly.  No
payment, They could see and print out reports on what was already there but
could not add any new records.

The interesting thing about this was the fellow who stole my software had
hired a bookkeeper who had worked for another client and when they finally
had an issue called me do come in a fix it.  That was some 6 years after
pirating my program.  I politely explained to the bookkeeper that I wouldn't
be available except if they paid the current price of the software plus a
rental fee for 6 years of prior use by certified check.  An appointment
would be made after the check cleared my bank.  They of course never paid
and the program became useless to them.  By the way, this company is no
longer in business.

So, the question is, how much pirating of filePro has been reduced and how
much income have they gotten from this licensing model?  Everyone, keep in
mind the original owner's Small Computer Co. sued there largest outside
developer for thousands of dollars in lost revenue by that developer giving
away versions of filePro.  I don't remember the name of the company but I
think it was in Pennsylvania. Small Computer won that case.

Richard Kreiss

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Filepro-list [mailto:filepro-list-
> bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf Of Fairlight
via
> Filepro-list
> Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 9:01 AM
> To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: Re: A REAL Filepro manual or just charge my ass and help me out
with
> this memo exporting please
> 
> On Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 12:53:59PM +0000, Henry Melancon via Filepro-list
> thus spoke:
> > Do they not realize they are losing money because of the licensing????
> 
> Well, I see two possible options:
> 
> 1) They've only heard it from third party consultants/programmers rather
than
> direct customers (although I know Brian White has said it, and is an
employee of
> a direct customer), or
> 
> 2) They've heard it from customers, and simply don't care.  That's an
approach
> big companies like Adobe can afford to take, as people are always going to
want
> Adobe products.  I wasn't under the impression that fP-Tech was in that
league.
> 
> mark->
> --
> Audio panton, cogito singularis.
> _______________________________________________
> Filepro-list mailing list
> Filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Subscription Changes
> http://mailman.celestial.com/mailman/listinfo/filepro-list