Hi George

Thanks for responding.

At 01:27 am 31/01/2004, you wrote:

>I have a lot of little databases that need to be kept up to date. Doing
>it by hand is a really bad idea.

Agreed, that was precisely the reason I had posted this.

>I store all of the SQL data definition code in text files,

What utility do you use? I have successfully tried creating the script
using Marathon. I also tried creating the script using command line tools
by www.sqlly.com but the script it generated was not compatible with
Database Comparer by Clever Components. Do you know of any other command
line tools for creation and comparison of scripts? I am still in the
research phase of converting to FireBird, so how much I can automate is my
priority.

>one text
>file per table, and these statements are added with a version number.
>Each database has a version table that keeps track of the version.
>When the database is attached to by the client, the versions are
>compared, and if necessary the newer commands are run, after which the
>database version number is updated.

using a utility? or using API?

>The text files are compiled as a resource, and this resource is
>included in the exe. Wherever the app goes, the database can be
>updated.

This is (similarly) what I do for VFP databases. As I program in VFP I can
check for modified structure and converting the existing data to the newer
structures all automatically. Even the distribution version (using
GenDBCx) of the VFP databases is automated. So all I had to do was create
a distribution version, generate an exe, compile the setup and as soon as
the app is run for the first time after installation/reinstallation the
database is created/updated and the data converted. Now coming in the
FireBird realm this ease I am missing.

>The only thing I haven't managed with straight SQL is creating a new
>user (help?), but I could do that with Delphi if I needed to.

There is a FireBird API for VFP on the UniversalThread.com downloads
section, if that helps. I haven't been able to research it in depth.

>It works great, and has been the backbone of my app for more than two
>years.

Thanks for your insight.




Regards
Bhavbhuti Nathwani
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