Charlie,

That's quite a laundry list of questions you posted!

As for answers, my own are below.


Sean

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Charlie [mailto:charliekerscher@...]
> Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 5:20 PM
> To: Ib-Support
> Subject: [ib-support] Help for a newbie
>
> Hi all,
> Ain't learning curves wonderful. I'm relatively new to Delphi and
> completely new to Interbase. I'm totally confused about Firebird and
> Interbase, should I use tools like IBOjects, which Database
> Administration tool should I use, etc? Here are my questions:
> 1) When I downloaded Firebird and installed it I didn't see a 'Server
> Manager' like the install with Interbase 6 has. Is there one? How do
> you setup Firebird for a local server and a remote server, how do you
> set Firebird up with an IB Console and Server Manager, etc:?

<sean>
With the introduction of Interbase 6.0 (and from that Firebird)
the functionality of Server Manager (and WISQL for that matter) was
incorporated into IBConsole. That having been said, due to some issues
with initial versions of IBConsole which made it practically useless,
Interbase 6.0 shipped with Server Manager to provide the necessary
functionality.

Accordingly, IBConsole provides all the necessary functions and
is installed as part of the Firebird 0.9-4 release.

The server installation/setup (both local and remote) must be
done from the servers themselves (using an Administrator level
priviledges). Once installed, most everything about a server can be
managed remotely using IBConsole.
</sean>

> 2) Should I be using Firebird or Interbase 6? Looks like from the mail
> lists that folks are working hard on Firebird. Who knows what 'B' is
> doing

<sean>
What is 'B' doing?

Honestly, that a question that a lot of people would like an
answer to. Unfortunately, Borland has not made any real announcements
on product direction or upcoming releases.

Firebird vs Interbase 6?

As you have assessed the Firebird project has been much more
active and responsive to bugs and porting to new platforms. The project
is now beginning to turn it's attention to adding new features.
Accordingly, my own answer would be Firebird.

</sean>

> 3) Which of the following do I need:
> IBExpert,
> Marathon,
> InterBase Workbench,
> QuickDesk,
> IB-WISQL,
> IB Console,
> ?????????, or
> none

<sean>
Personally I use IBExpert, but your choice of the 'right' choice
is a bit of a "religious" issue. Try them and and make your own choice.

</sean>

> 4) IBOjects seems to be the only set of components for Interbase; or
> is that they are the best set of components? Since I'm used to Delphi
> and Paradox which has many components available; I'm not sure what to
> do? Please help.

<sean>
With due respect to Jason, the is also the Interbase Express
(IBX) components which are available with the Delphi Pro and Enterprise
products.

Please be aware that Kylix (Delphi for Linux) will use an
entirely new object model for the support of databases, with will
propably have inplications for Delphi 6.0 so your choice might end up
being a short-term decision.
</sean>

> 5) How in the world do you modify the "structure" of a table of an
> Interbase gdb? With the Database Desktop I could modify a paradox
> table, e.g. change the field name or the type of field. How is that
> done with interbase? Can that be done with any of the tools listed in
> 3) above? I've tried to edit a field with several of them but to no
> avail.

<sean>
I've been able to do this using IBExpert. Your ability to do
this, may be restricted by table relationship rules which might be
require you to do the change indirectly, create a new column, copy the
data from the old column to the new column and then drop the old column.

In general, however, your ability to change the structure of the
tables will be much more restrictive than you are used to with Paradox.
This is due to simple SQL tables/entity rules.
</sean>

> 6) For a couple of weeks I have been subscribed to several mail lists
> (IB-Support, IBObjects, IB-Delphi, IBDI, Interbaseworkbench,
> IB-Priorities, IB-Support and a bunch of Delphi lists - for many
> months) and have been trying to get a grasp of what's going on.
> Regardless of the Borland/et ali problem and the QuickDesk and IB
> Expert problem; I simply want to go through the learning curve as
> painlessly and quickly as I can. I'm not into re-invention, many of
> you have already discovered what really works and what really helps
> getting a product to the client. Please let me know and please turn me
> on to the best help channels.

<sean>
There is no one source for all Interbase questions, each of the
lists you mention are entirely appropriate for their specific tasks. If
your questions is about database/Interbase design, how to or support
problems, then this list is the place to start.
</sean>

> 7) I've gotten Getting Started with IBObjects and I'm working myself
> through it.
> 8) What's going to happen when Jason Wharton decides that he wants to
> kick back and just enjoy the wife and children?
> 9) What's in it for the Ann's/husband, the Helen's, the Jason's and
> you other folks who are working on Firebird, etc?
>
> Thanks to all of you who so willingly share your expertise with all
> the rest of us.
>
> Charlie
>
> PS Thank you Jason and Helen for you previous responses.
>
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>
>