[comp.databases] Any Clarion users out there?

doug@psy.uwa.oz.au (Doug Robb) (03/29/91)

 I am in the process of choosing a database for a student
record/marking system I plan to develop on AT's. We network
our pc's using SUN's pcnfs, the servers being sun sparc stations
and dec micro vaxe's. I plan to have an nfs mounted disk available
to the pc's to store tha database files. I have used and am aware
of the capabilities of dbase 3,4, paradox, clipper and rbase.
Being a fluent C programmer my main gripe is the
lack of grunt in the programming language's of the above.

My questions:
1. According to the Clarion adverts it has the
"robust characteristics of a true programming language"

Anyone got any comments? How true is this?

2.
And also I would like to hear from anyone doing file/record
locking on a pcnfs network. I did try this with clipper and
couldnt get it to work and wondered if you really needed a
network operating system like novell etc.

3. anyone know any clarion newgroups/users groups ftp
	sites etc

regards doug@psy.uwa.oz.au

roth@pdntg1.paradyne.com (Mike Rothman) (04/01/91)

In article <1991Mar29.051553.4208@uniwa.uwa.oz> doug@psy.uwa.oz.au (Doug Robb) writes:
>
> I am in the process of choosing a database for a student
>record/marking system I plan to develop on AT's. We network
>our pc's using SUN's pcnfs, the servers being sun sparc stations
>and dec micro vaxe's. I plan to have an nfs mounted disk available
>to the pc's to store tha database files. I have used and am aware
>of the capabilities of dbase 3,4, paradox, clipper and rbase.
>Being a fluent C programmer my main gripe is the
>lack of grunt in the programming language's of the above.
>
>My questions:
>1. According to the Clarion adverts it has the
>"robust characteristics of a true programming language"
>
>Anyone got any comments? How true is this?

Well, I am an avid fan of Clarion, it is extrememly powerful in its capabilities
and functions.  (PC-Week rated it highest in power and highest in ease of use.)

Another thing is that you can use L.E.Ms (Language Extension Modules) which 
allow you to create your own program and have the package access it and use it.
I highly recommend it to everyone and anyone.

I have found for moderately complex database structures, clarion is SO easy to 
use it creates 90% of the code for you through their own menu driven environment

Another nice thing for the person who creates Executables to SELL, the program
creates its OWN DOCUMENTED SOURCE CODE (NOTE: Nice for when it comes time to
copyright it.)

I am thoroughly pleased and would recommend the Clarion Professional Developer
to anyone who is seriously interested in creating Database related software
applications.  And for the person who just wants to create some programs for
possible home or office use, I suggest the Clarion Personal Developer.

Note:  The site this is coming from is NOT Clarion Software.....an impartial
       recommendation.

cook@jomby.cs.wisc.edu (James Cook) (04/03/91)

In article <1991Mar29.051553.4208@uniwa.uwa.oz> doug@psy.uwa.oz.au (Doug Robb) writes:
>
> I am in the process of choosing a database for a student
>record/marking system I plan to develop on AT's. We network
>our pc's using SUN's pcnfs, the servers being sun sparc stations
>and dec micro vaxe's. I plan to have an nfs mounted disk available
>to the pc's to store tha database files. I have used and am aware
>of the capabilities of dbase 3,4, paradox, clipper and rbase.
>Being a fluent C programmer my main gripe is the
>lack of grunt in the programming language's of the above.
>
>My questions:
>1. According to the Clarion adverts it has the
>"robust characteristics of a true programming language"
>
>Anyone got any comments? How true is this?
>
>2.
>And also I would like to hear from anyone doing file/record
>locking on a pcnfs network. I did try this with clipper and
>couldnt get it to work and wondered if you really needed a
>network operating system like novell etc.
>
>3. anyone know any clarion newgroups/users groups ftp
>	sites etc
>
>regards doug@psy.uwa.oz.au

I would definitely recommend CLARION.  It has an excellent language for
creating user applications with built in support for databases, screens and 
reports.   Highly rated by PC Magazine.  It comes with Report Writer which is
a super package in which you can create about any report you can think of 
without any programming.  Don't know about PCNFS...   As long as it supports
NETBIOS calls, I think it should work, but the fact that clipper did not work
makes me a little suspect.   Don't know of any newsgroups, but there are
several BBS systems in the U.S.A. which support clarion.  If you go with the
Clarion System, I would strongly suggest you subscribe to the Clarion Tech
Journal.  Also, you can always create your own "access method" to PCNFS files
by writing it in C.   The CLARION language can be extended by writing C programsand they are added to the language just like other clarion code.  This facility
is called L.E.M. (Language Extension Module).  GO WITH CLARION!!!