From NewsServer: discuss.softvelocity.com
News Group: comp.lang.clarion

> As a _transitional_ step between TPS and SQL though it may provide a

crucial link though. It's certainly no worse than TPS when specifically
discussing the logging feature.<

No question about it. It's an SQL database. It has all of the features of
the better pay-for databases.

> we're talking specifically the missing log-file right? Or are there other

issues as well?<

1. If the server sits with no activity for a long time period, I need to
"wake it up" using something like IBExpert, or shutting it down and
restarting it with Guardian. I don't know if everyone is having this issue,
but I cannot answer your question honestly without mentioning this.

2. Something else that I haven't proven is that it actually can have
indexes that have are mixed order.
E.G. PK ASC, Date DESC.:
Firebird syntax:
CREATE UNIQUE DESCENDING INDEX IDH_DATE_INSP_DESC ON INSPDHST (PART_NO,
INSP_DATE, INSP_TIME);
Standard syntax:
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IDH_DATE_INSP_DESC ON admin.INSPDHST ( PART_NO,
INSP_DATE DESC, INSP_TIME DESC);
After creation of the index, whether by script or in IBExpert, all indices
show ascending, except the ones with descending elements have an odd
negative number associated with them. Generally speaking it is dates and
times that require descending components. We both know that there are ways
around this problem from our DAT days. But you also know, it is ugly, and
not cool for non-Clarion reporting tools.

>Taking a step back for the moment (remembering that none of the flat file

systems I'm aware of have logging<

We pretty much agree I think on the remainder of your comments. Above that
I think that if you need to get closer to mission critical by setting
something on a timer up to suck out the database to take care of the
"Oopsie" situations, but it won't be free. Most mission critical projects
have money in them to do so, or they aren't worth doing.

>My main question here revolves around my personal need to select a "free"

db for my TNA application.<

I'm not a Firebird expert, but personally I think that I would like to see
provable resolution to my second comment answered before I ported and app to
it. Because I cannot even audit it to see what it is in IBExpert, and don't
have a superior tool at the moment, I can neither verify that it is possible
nor that if it looks like it is possible that it actually works. Experience
has taught me that when things aren't apparent, there is usually a reason
for it, and to not assume that it will work like I'm expecting, or hoping
that it will. I want to be wrong about these things as badly as you do
because I have definite plans in the extreamely near future to replace TPS
with Firebird for a commercial product. My deployment plans for the next
ASA project won't be a factor until the end of August. Thus I certainly
have no incentive to throw water on the Firebird enthusiasm that I didn't
think would explode from sharing a couple weeks of research.

Thanks,
Jack T

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