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VDF Sig
What did you miss?
See our round up of the presentations, opposite.
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A busy Autumn for us culminated in a successful joint - with Data Access Europe - introductory Training day followed by a one day Seminar covering the just released Visual DataFlex 12.1, Dynamic AI, and a new product, Data Slave.
This replaced the usual October VDF Sig meeting, and we were very happy to welcome a number of new faces resulting from the Personal Visual DataFlex download campaign that had been running through the summer.
The introductory training was particularly well subscribed, and we will be repeating this in early 2008. The date for this is till to be decided, but if interested, e-mail us any time - enquiries@asckey.com |
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For full details, see the VDF Sig web site. The following is a summary of the topics, with direct links to the detailed pages there.
Held in Luton and not Pidley, and on a Thursday, not a Saturday, the Autumn 2007 Sig meeting was subsumed into the Visual DataFlex Seminar organised jointly between Data Access Europe and the UK channel partners. A number of newcomers to the VDF scene were welcome, deriving from the VDF Personal edition initiative of the last few months.
Our next VDF Sig meeting will be on Tuesday April 8th. Again, see the VDF Sig web site for the latest details.
Eddy Kleinjan, Data Access Europe started with an update on the now released VDF v12.1, details here . The improved developer productivity possible was particularly striking. Also, see our Visual DataFlex website page detailing the full details of the VDF 12.2 release.
Chris Hibbert. Ascley Data Services Ltd, then presented the new revision of Electos, version 3.1, now available in release candidate form. The new search engine meta data provisions, and the web shop facilities were particularly highlighted. In particular, the newly created and  web shop is worth a look - both to see what can be done, and because it is an intriguing site anyway!
 Nick Nikijuluw, Data Access Europe, presented the latest release of Dynamic AI, which has majored on an extensive re-work that makes for much easier use - again, a big productivity plus.
Martin Pincott, Asckey Data Services Ltd took the last session before lunch, showing how work shown at the last VDF Sig had now matured into an easy means of "Skinning" VDF applications, and emphasising the fact that your applications need to be both functional and good looking - and that it is now, with VDF 12.1, not difficult to do.
Mike Peat, Unicorn Interglobal, went into some of the advanced features of VDF, which are enabling developers to both tackle new application areas, and to use faster and more elegant techniques in their development process. A particularly eye opening comparison of times for access to data using SQLfilters was of particular note.
 Ian Manning, Baycastle Software, presented a new - to the VDF community - utility  " DataSlave" for data extraction, transformation and loading - ETL. This looked to be an excellent and indispensable item in any serious developer's toolkit, and a remarkably inexpensive one for what it does.
Eddy Kleinjan returned with an update on the AJAX Framework for VDF. We are rapidly arriving at the point where we can really build user friendly, interactive, web applications of a like that is not commonly seen on the Web
Lastly, Nick Nikijuluw from Data Access Europe ran through the now in place policy for lower cost Server Database connectivity where the no cost "Express" editions of these are to be used.
Winding up, and recognising that VDF Sig has been a Saturday fixture for some time, a show of hands indicated that the weekday option was worthy of consideration again next time.
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The Dynamic AI Personal Edition
 Dynamic AI has become much easier to use in the now released version 6, and it is now available in a "Personal" edition at no charge. Use this edition to become familiar with this powerful, web based reporting tool, then, when you have discovered just how valuable this is going to be to you in wider circles, talk to us and discover how Dynamic AI can bring real "Business Intelligence" to your, and your clients, business data.
Dynamic AI v 6 is easy to download, install and get up and running.
With the optional, included local web-server all you need to start creating reports, dashboards, forms, etc., is a Windows PC and a browser. Version 6 is now available in the final BETA version. If you are interested in running it on a trial basis, please contact us at Asckey Data Services Ltd - enquiries@asckey.com
Licensing Options
Dynamic AI has several Licencing options to meet needs from the Personal Edition above to full scale Enterprise configurations
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VDF 12.1 Licence Provisions - Update
Client Engine - runtime licences - V12.0 licence codes cover VDF 12.1 application runtime licences.
Connectivity Kits
The new V5 connectivity kits need new registration codes. Please be aware that if you create an installation for VDF12.1, then it is the v5 connectivity kit components that will be installed
Studio licenses - these need the specific VDF 12.1 code (which will then run previous versions)
Connectivity Enabled Licenses
As of 12.1, a single registration code can activate the Client Engine or Web Application Server and its version 5 Connectivity Kits. This only applies to VDF 12.1/Version 5 connectivity kit combinations, and will come into force as licenses get renewed/updated. If you would particularly like a single registration code for any existing runtime/connectivity kit combination, please request this. (This would imply that both licences are currently on renewal subscription or within 1st year of purchase.)
Express Server Connectivity
Where you are using one of the Express versions of the standard SQL databases, and the runtime licence count is five or less, the connectivity kit is available at no initial cost. The subsequent annual update subscription remains at the runtime plus connectivity cost. The Express servers are ideal for small business use, and this change is further encouragement to see these as the ideal standard for all Visual DataFlex applications.
Multiple Database Connectivity
Data Access Worldwide Connectivity Kits (Microsoft SQL, Pervasive SQL, IBM DB2 and ODBC) are now licensed as a complete set - no need to specify which driver you need; all four are included for the same, low price previously charged for only one Connectivity Kit
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VDF 12.1 Client Installations
VDF application developers will be pleased to discover that when you are creating a client installation for a VDF 12.1 based application the new VDFClient.cfg file that controls it now has this setting
Database Connectivity Kits:
CONNECTIVITY=Y
Set to "Y" the installation will include all the components that you need for all the connectivity kits - you don't have to do anything else. Other than register the licence of course. Do please note that you will need new registration codes for the connectivity kit as what will be installed by this means will of course be the Version 5 connectivity kit.
Registration then becomes a lot easier, because with the new "Connectivity Enabled" licence, the VDF runtime and all the connectivity kits are registered in one go. If updating an application, you will need to request this licence, telling us the Serial Numbers of the client runtime and the Connectivity kit that is in use with it.
This setting also is available
Visual DataFlex Client Evaluation Registration:
EVAL=N
Set that to "Y" and you have your application as an evaluation system that you can send out to anyone, time limited to 30 days.
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Lots of new faces in October, and lots of comments to the effect that not just Visual DataFlex, but all the products surrounding it often go way beyond what even regular users realised!
Look out for more VDF e-News detailing follow up events to this, with more initial One Day Training on both VDF and Dynamic AI definitely under consideration.
 e-News from Visual DataFlex in the UK is provided by Asckey Data Services Ltd. |
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November 2007
