danda@sj.ate.slb.com (Jeff Danda) (02/25/91)
I am confused. I was looking at the Clarion Developers edition at my local software store and it mentioned that it is capable of generating .exe's The box did not say anything about Clarion being a dbase compiler like Clipper. Is Clarion a compiler? How does it compare to Clipper? I am looking to write medical/dental billing applications without having to use run-time modules. any opinions of either Clarion or Clipper would be appreciated. Jeff.
todd@toolz.uucp (Todd Merriman) (02/27/91)
danda@sj.ate.slb.com (Jeff Danda) writes: >I am confused. I was looking at the Clarion Developers edition at my local >software store and it mentioned that it is capable of generating .exe's > The box did not say anything about Clarion being a dbase compiler like >Clipper. Is Clarion a compiler? Yes. The Developer's edition includes a compiler for their language and an application generator that spits out their language. Warning, Warning. The documentation is about 5% of what you need to use the Software (they like to sell support and after-market add-ons like training). I don't know anything about Clipper. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Todd Merriman - Software Toolz, Inc. * Maintainer of the * * 8030 Pooles Mill Dr., Ball Ground, GA 30107-9610 * Software * * ...emory.edu!toolz.uucp!todd * Entrepreneur's * * V-mail (800) 869-3878, (404) 889-8264 * mailing list * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
tomr@dbase.A-T.COM (Tom Rombouts) (02/28/91)
In article <1991Feb24.231455.2956@sj.ate.slb.com> danda@sj.ate.slb.com (Jeff Danda) writes: > > >I am confused. I was looking at the Clarion Developers edition at my local >software store and it mentioned that it is capable of generating .exe's > The box did not say anything about Clarion being a dbase compiler like >Clipper. Is Clarion a compiler? How does it compare to Clipper? I am >looking to write medical/dental billing applications without having to use >run-time modules. Clarion can operate using either ".PRO" files, which are analagous to dBASE IV .DBO or FoxPro .FXP tokenized (or pseudo-compiled) files, or else can optionally make .EXE's that are even bigger than Clipper's. :-) The Clarion language is very well thought out, but it is certainly a niche product with not nearly the widespread popularity as the combination of dBASE, FoxPro and Clipper. As such, there are far, far fewer add on services such as source libraries, books, BBS systems, etc. Also, I would suspect Clarion coding skills would be less commonly wanted should you wish to consider being an in-house developer in the future. Compared to Clipper, besides its totally different 4GL-type language, Clarion also features a complete application designer and code generator analagous to those included with dBASE IV or FoxPro. If you wish to use something like this with Clipper, you would need to purchase it separately. UI2, Stage or Scrimmage are some of the more popular products in this category. btw, although vaporware won't help you now, both Ashton-Tate and Fox Software have announced intentions to deliver .EXE producing products in the near future. Hope this helps. Tom Rombouts Torrance 'Tater tomr@ashtate.A-T.com V:(213)538-7108
russell@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz (Russell J Fulton;ccc032u) (02/28/91)
todd@toolz.uucp (Todd Merriman) writes: >Yes. The Developer's edition includes a compiler for their language >and an application generator that spits out their language. >Warning, Warning. The documentation is about 5% of what you need >to use the Software (they like to sell support and after-market >add-ons like training). I think thats a bit misleading to say the least. I had a play with clarion with only the Introductory guide as documentation and got on OK. I have friends who us it alot (They have all the documentation!) and I have not heard any complaints. Clarion certainly don't run any courses here :-)! Russell -- Russell Fulton, Computer Center, University of Auckland, New Zealand. <rj_fulton@aukuni.ac.nz>