------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNN NNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNN NNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNN NNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN NNNNNN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Boston Computer News Network July/August 1994 A Service of the Boston Computer Society, USA Vol.1, No.5 Sponsored by the Foxpro SIG Foxpro Version ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0. Introduction. 1. August 10th User Group Meeting: "Foxpro as Client & Server" 2. August 11th BCS FoxPro for Windows Training 3. Microsoft MVP Awards 4. *DEVELOPER POLL* DEVPATH: 'Jumping Ship' Made Easy! 5. Just Click Your Heels and Say `There's No Place Like Home'... 6. "The Message" Got it? 7. More Secret Screens 8. Software Copyright and Publishing Restrictions 9. Score One for Our Side 10. Dick Bard Speaks 11. BCNN Statement of Ownership, Copyright, and Responsibility. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0. Introduction. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: David Rose [73164,2263] Summertime, a time of barbecues and vacations, beaches and swimming. A time to take life a little easier in anticipation of the autumn. We here at BCNN all hope that you are enjoying yours. Unfortunately, some of us seem to take life a little seriously, or at least our careers. This issue is full of food for thought, and while some of it may seem a little heavy for a summertime palate, we hope that you will enjoy what we have presented here. And while you are enjoying your summertime, we hope that you will remember us in your fall plans: we want you to speak up! More snippets! More stories! More of everything that has made the BCNN Foxpro newsletter something to write about, such as suggestions for how to make our newsletter a more effective exchange of information. Special thanks go this month to our own editor: Ted Roche, for suggesting the table of contents that you see. (And congratulations to him for securing a Microsoft MVP Award, way to go Ted!) And now, on with the show ... 1. August 10th User Group Meeting: "FoxPro as Client & Server". ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Arnold Bilansky [71533,1031] (617)522-3700 x374 Meeting: August 10, 1994, 7:00 p.m. Place: Microsoft Office, 9 Hillside Avenue, Waltham, MA USA. Menachem Bazian CPA of Flash Creative Mgt. presents "FoxPro as the Client and Server in a Client/Server Model." 2. August 11th BCS FoxPro for Windows Training. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Arnold Bilansky [71533,1031] Meeting: August 11, 1994, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Place: Microsoft Office, 9 Hillside Avenue, Waltham, MA USA. Cost: $85. Send to BCS FoxPro/Bazian Training, 101 First Ave., Waltham MA 02154, or call 617 290-5700 Menachem Bazian CPA of Flash Creative Mgt. presents a full-day lecture- style FoxPro for Windows training seminar. This session concentrates on topics which should remain relevant in the next FP version and introduces some concepts which will appear in the future, such as object orientation, and calling OCX's. 3. Microsoft MVP Awards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Download: FOXFORUM Library 1: MVPBIO.RTF Microsoft announces the Annual and Third Quarter Microsoft Support Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Awards for CompuServe forum members. This award of excellence recognizes outstanding contributions of technical expertise to the Microsoft forums. Each recipient of the award has been nominated by a Microsoft Section Leader for their work in the forums during the past year. The Annual award winners are previous MVP's who receive free connect time in selected forums, free MS product, MS items, and additional technical information. The Quarterly winners receive 90 days of free connect time, MS items, and are eligible for future quarterly and annual awards. Everyone benefits when experts share their knowledge and experience and we want to recognize the MVP winners for their past and future contributions to the lively technical dialogues on Microsoft products on our CompuServe forums. A profile of all the MVPs can be found in MVPBIO.RTF available in Library 1 - Index and Info. The file will be updated with the new winners in the near future. MICROSOFT FOX FORUM MVP's ANNUAL MVP'S Lisa Slater 71333,2565 Tamar Granor 73227,3303 Jim Booth 72130,2570 Calvin Hsia 72251,1725 QUARTERLY MVP's Nancy Jacobsen 72230,2664 Mike Beane 71175,3160 Brad Schulz 76640,152 George Sexton 73237,1665 Ted Roche 76400,2503 4. *DEVELOPER POLL* DEVPATH: 'Jumping Ship' Made Easy! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Les Squires bcnn@world.std.com [73020,3435] Follow-up: 2 Reminders will Follow. Reply DEVPATH-NO to Eliminate. BCNN is making a commitment to developers who are changing their development environments. We're looking those who would like to add new development environments into their professional portfolios. Developers who have made the decision. Who're on the move to something else. Who have perhaps already started scaling the learning curve. Developers who would like some assistance in making the shift. Example. For the past year or so you've been a Fox developer, but for some compelling reason you are looking at VB, or Access, or Oracle, or SQL Windows, or dBASE for Windows, or PowerBuilder, C++, or your company has just standardized on Lotus Notes. Where do you turn for professional support? Most resources for professional development are bound to specific vendors' products, not necessarily to developers interests. I've never heard of GO LEFT-ACCESS-WENTTO-ORACLE Forums or Newsgroups! There are VERY FEW public places where developers can discuss their moving about, their experimentation, their ability to make money, their successes and failures. SET PATH=\DBFW;\SQLW;\ORACLE;\CLIPPER Pick a product. Any product. A combination of products. Any vendor. Any selection of vendors. Add it to your path. You set the Order. What if you knew that anytime you wanted to migrate to a new environment you could link up with others who are committed to the same thing? Ask your questions and be taken seriously. Learn together. Pool solutions. Design 'Old Way-New Way' conversion charts. Share monthly tips and tricks. You'd be happy to contribute a paragraph or two every few months, if only somebody would make it all happen. Are you interested? BCNN is committed to making vendor-independent professional development happen. Directions. 1. Pick a product. Any product. Any vendor. 2. Reply DEVPATH-YES to register your interest. 3. Indicate your interests: NEW PATH __<>_____________________ Your City ________________________ State ________________________ Country __________________ 4. Write a paragraph giving reasons for your direction (optional). Include your experiences (if any) with the new product. Make a case for rolling out a special interest group to serve your interests. 5. Send in names of other developers who would join the discussion. BCNN will publish the list of 'paths'. BCNN will seriously consider establishing a BCNN-style communication device for the top ten interests. Consideration will be heavily influenced by your enthusiasm and commitment. 5. Just Click Your Heels and Say 'There's No Place Like Home'... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Reply To: Ted Roche [76400,2503] There's nothing worse than defining all sorts of neat macros, paths and environments for development and having them fail to be there when you need it. I hate it when I hit F2 and 'SET' appears in the middle of a line of code, rather than the date and time at the end of the line, as I described my F2 macro in an earlier BCNN. To keep track of whether I have reset my system to its development mode, I've modified the FoxPro/DOS startup logo somewhat. When the colorful background screen you'll see is active, I have some confidence my macros are re-defined and paths reset. If I'm in an extended video mode, the function also moves the logo to the topmost portion of the screen. I'm passing on the code here to show off two neat and under- utilized commands: @ ... FILL and SCROLL. Both these commands work best in character-mode environments, and the effect can be startling. Try it out and tell me what you think! * ColrDemo.PRG - display colorful Startup Logo, * center in top of screen if > 25 lines * * Copyright 1994, Ted Roche, Computer Resource * private lcColors, lnCount, lnScrRow if _DOS && looks really bad in Windows! =sys(2017) && Display the startup splash screen * Define the colors, in a string for space considerations lcColors = "R ,GR ,R+ ,GR+,G+ ,G ,BG+,BG ,B+ ,RB+,RB ," + ; "W+ ,N+ ,N ,W+ ,W ,N+ ,N " lnScrRow = INT(SROWS()/2)-7 && Calculate the location of the logo for lnCount = 0 to 16 && loop through the lines @ lnScrRow + lnCount, 0 fill to ; lnScrRow + lnCount, 79 color ; (substr(lcColors, lnCount*4+1,3) + "/B") next if srows() > 25 && SET DISP TO EGA43/VGA50 to see... scroll 0,0,lnScrRow + 16,scols()-1,lnScrRow -7 endif endif return 6. "The Message" Got it? ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Arnold Bilansky [71533,1031] BCS FoxPro SIG From: Arnold Bilansky <71533.1031@compuserve.com> Sb: The Message To: Lisa Brummel [MSFT] 73363,713 Over a month ago I offered to print in our BCNN/FoxPro newsletter the positive comments made by Billg about Fox at Comdex. Apparently you were unable to obtain a transcript. I would like to offer you the opportunity to submit for publication a clear statement of 1) FP's near and long-term positioning 2) Access's near and long-term positioning 3) Clarification of where messages regarding the two products have been confused. Sender: Scott Fallon To: Arnold Bilansky <71533.1031@compuserve.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jul 94 17:11:49 PDT Subject: Your message to Lisa Brummel Arnold: Lisa Brummel forwarded to me your message about publishing some information about FoxPro in the BCS newsletter. You referenced excerpting what Bill Gates said about FoxPro at Comdex. This would be an excellent jumping-off point. Here is the relevant part of his speech: "Microsoft is participating in this investment in tools with several of its products. Access with the version 2.0 that came out, with the event capability, with FoxPro, that's the dBase product we have that has the very fastest engine around, and we are putting things like the events into that as well. And then, of course, C with Visual C ++, and Visual Basic. More and more you'll see us share the elements of these tools so that the forms design, the query design, the database design is common, and then you simply pick the language, whether it is Fox or C or Visual Basic that you want, and work within a common framework. So even within a single project, you can mix and match the different tools." These statements by Bill are wholly accurate - Access is our newest database release offering events and objects that help set the stage for the types of common tools you will see in our combined future offering. FoxPro is our xbase product offering that upholds our commitment to cross platform development and xbase developer productivity. You will see the next version of FoxPro contributing to the shared family just as you see Access doing that today. The long term future for both Access and FoxPro is essentially the same: we will be producing common components and the only difference would be which language you pick. In that world the xbase language as embodied in FoxPro is key - FoxPro, therefore, is a key component of our long term strategy. In the short term, both Access and FoxPro teams are working on new versions of their respective products but ship dates for next versions have not been announced. -Scott Fallon, Product Manager (scottfal@microsoft.com) From: Arnold Bilansky To: Scott Fallon Subject: Your message to Lisa Brummel Date: Wednesday, July 13, 1994 12:04AM Thanks for responding Scott, but I am unsettled by your answer. Permit me to restate the question based upon your response. If a developer is about to begin a project which does not require cross-platform support and has no prior investment in xBase code, is there any compelling reason to consider FoxPro over Access or vice versa? How would this decision be affected if the project were to begin 1) Today; 2) Eight months from today; 3) Two years from today. From: Scott Fallon Date: Wed, 13 Jul 94 09:56:58 PDT Arnold: Excellent questions, but I'm puzzled as to why you'd be unsettled as to this state of affairs. Perhaps I can clarify by answering your questions directly and that will help to "re-settle" you - if not please do not hesitate to come back to me. If a developer were to begin a project today that was not cross- platform and had no investment in xbase code (either via dBASE DOS apps that need to be migrated to Windows, for example, or wanting to use the xbase language because it is what he/she knows), then the answer as to why they'd use FoxPro or Access may differ depending on whether it is today or two years from now. Two years (or so) from now the answer is easy: It doesn't matter. All you have to choose is your language, everything is the same between FoxPro and Access at that point. If you want to use xbase as your language, then use FoxPro; if not use Access (VBA at that point). Beyond that, it really doesn't matter which you choose (certainly there may be things you can do with VBA more easily than FoxPro due to VBA being in Excel, etc.). For today the answer is a little more difficult given that choosing FoxPro or Access still gives you some very different things (many things are the same, of course, though - ODBC support, same long term future). In the context you've put this, wherein there are no cross platform or xbase code investment issues, the answer would boil down likely to type of application. FoxPro would be your choice where its still large performance advantage is required and you'd go with Access for other types of applications, especially ones that include heavy end user ad hoc or customization work. That's why I'm a little puzzled that you are unsettled - this is fundamentally the answer we've always given: FoxPro is for xbase users and for cross platform or high performance situations while Access is for people without xbase code investments or who need a tool that can span a wide range of users. Both products share a unified and long term future. I don't see why this reflects negatively on FoxPro or Access. -Scott 7. More Secret Screens. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Arnold Bilansky [71533,1031] Here are a couple of more secret screens: In Word for Windows 6, code-named T3 ("Terminator 3" )... 1) Create a new blank document] 2) Type T3! 3) Select the whole document and bold it. 4) Select Autoformat from the Format men. 5) Select OK 6) Select About Microsoft Word from the Help menu. 7) Click on the WinWord icon. Be sure to watch for the last name on the list! In dBASE for Windows beta... 1) Select About dBASE for Windows from the help menu. 2) Press Alt-F Since this may not make it into the final shipping product , I'll describe the result. The "OK" button begins to raise revealing a familiar fox head. When the button reaches the top of the screen, it turns into a guillotine and drops, slicing the fox head. 8. Software Copyright and Publishing Restrictions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Gene Landy [72366.2456@compuserve.com] 617-742-4200 (Excepted and edited from June BCS IBM PC Report) A developer asked me a to assess the legal force of the "Software and Publishing Restrictions" stated inside a particular FoxPro book with an accompanying sample code diskette. It stated as follows: "The demo application or its component program files, or any software product incorporating any of these or modifications thereof, may not be sold as vertical market software, or as a commercial product of any sort, or used commercially, or distributed in any other form or way without prior written agreement with the author." This is a pretty severe restriction. What use is a disk filled with FoxPro code and routines, if you can't use it in applications that you want to sell or develop? Generally, a copyright is just what it sounds like: the legal right to control who can make copies of books or software. It also governs who can sell those copies or prepare works based on them. Normally, a person who buys a book or a commercial software package has a right under copyright law to use the product. The buyer is not allowed to make and sell copies (with some limited exceptions that aren't relevant here). To make copies or derivative works, you need permission, that is a license. However, and here the law gets fuzzy, the result is arguably different when you buy a disk included in a programming book. The ordinary developer's expectation at the time of the purchase of the book (based on industry practice, and on the prominent mention of the disk on the front cover of the book, is that s/he can use the disk's code and routines in commercial programs. The developer reasonably expects a non- exclusive license to use and distribute the code. Contract law, particularly in consumer transactions, generally seeks to enforce the reasonable expectations of the parties. Thus, I would conclude that under contract law, the programmer who buys the book should be treated as having a non-exclusive license to use the programs on the disk as s/he sees fit. Therefore the developer should be allowed to use the diskette code and routines to develop and sell commercial products. This argument is based on fuzzy concepts such as "the ordinary programmer's expectation" and "industry practice" which can disputed and are tricky (and expensive) to prove to judges and juries knowing nothing about software. So this conclusion is likely, but not certain. The author's "Restrictions" are by no means free from doubt, but there is a good argument that a restriction of this sort not revealed to the buyer at the time of sale is invalid. Generally speaking, the contract between the parties is completed at time of the sale. The problem with the author's restriction clause, also a general problem with software shrink wrap licenses, is that the retail sale of the book is over and done with before the customer is presented with the terms of the restriction, found only inside the book. After the sale is already made, it is probably too late to try to alter the terms of sale. (If the restriction were mentioned on the cover of the book, it would be much more likely to be enforced.) My conclusion is that the author's restriction ought to be invalid. This does not mean that you are sure to get that result from our legal system in which decisions are made by politically appointed judges of varying ability who (mostly) know little or nothing about software. There is a risk that the restriction would be enforced in court. The only final and authoritative answer would come from a very expensive and very uncertain litigation process. Litigation is usually brought when the stakes are high enough to justify the cost. If you do use code from the demo diskette, you will most likely get sued only if (a) you have made substantial sales from a product that incorporates the demo disk code and (b) you have enough net worth or continuing cash flow to be a good target. You also have to get caught, and the author has limited ability to find persons who have re-used his code. The (prudent) bottom line: if you ignore this restriction and use the author code in a lucrative program, you run some risk -- risk that you might be caught, might be sued and might lose (or be forced, the costs of litigation, to settle), even though, by my lights at least, you are probably within your rights to ignore the restriction. Disregarding a restriction of this sort (even if it is invalid) also might spook a potential investor or someone who wants to acquire the rights to your program or your company. Most lawyers (like Falstaff) believe that "discretion is the better part of valor," and therefore most would tell you to abide by the author's restriction for any substantial project that you are doing, just to be safe, even though the restriction probably should not be enforced. Gene K. Landy, a partner specializing in computer matters at the Boston law firm of Shapiro, Israel & Weiner, P.C., is author of "The Software Developer's and Marketer's Legal Companion" (Addison-Wesley 1993). He graduated from M.I.T. and Harvard Law School, and is a member of the Computer Law Association and the ABA's Intellectual Property Section. 9. Score One for Our Side. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ReplyTo: Arnold Bilansky [71533,1031] The Q1 '95 DevCast will originate from the San Diego Microsoft FoxPro Devcon site during the week of January 16, 1995. 10. Dick Bard Speaks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Reply To: David Rose [73164,2263] Speaker: Dick Bard Lauderdale Associates P. O. Box 16 Planetarium Station New York, NY 10024 I had the pleasure of speaking with Dick Bard before his presentation at Database & Client/Server World in Boston last June. Dick presented to the audience the application that he made famous in his book "Foxpro Event-Driven Programming" (Brady Books. ISBN: 1-56686-099-7, reviewed previously here in BCNN). During his presentation, Dick demonstrated how his application is more than just modeless, that it is actually context sensitive, providing a level of intelligence above what we can expect to be given "for free" by programming in Foxpro 3.0. Up until now, modeless programming has been an advanced topic in Foxpro application design. With the next Foxpro release, modeless programming has been promised to become "natural". Context sensitivity in a modeless environment brings in the next level of sophistication, where the order in which the user performs actions permits the application to make an educated guess as what the user would like to do next. In Dick's sample application, context sensitivity is provided when a new file is opened. The new file automatically relates itself, if possible, to the file that was previously opened. This way, the program suggests the natural associations that were designed between the data in the application. Dick has many plans for his message based application architecture. He reports that he has a beta version at a client site that is a data driven version of his application engine. A data driven application architecture is important, because it separates the bookkeeping of the event handler independent from any specific application. With it, Dick's methodology becomes more than an idea: it becomes a core set of subroutines that can be called, without any changes, from a finished application. Finally, Mr. Bard said that he plans to implement instancing of screen programs in his next version, due with Foxpro 3.0. In this way, he expects to use an essential part of object oriented design and a key part of what has been promised for Foxpro in the next release. I suspect that when Foxpro 3.0 comes out and we are being introduced to object oriented programming, that Dick Bard will be there already, helping us along the way. 11. BCNN Statement of Ownership, Copyright, and Responsibility. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The BCNN Newsletter is sponsored by the Foxpro User Group of the Boston Computer Society. BCNN is dedicated to keeping professional database developers (both consultants and corporate employees) informed about educational events, meetings, job openings, world events, notable articles, technical tips, new and 'must have' products, etc. As an electronic network BCNN is also a hub where developers can address world class issues with fellow developers around the world. Recipients agree to respond via Email to periodic polls of their directions, opinions, and needs. For those who do not have User Groups in their areas, BCNN is a vehicle for individuals to volunteer and contribute to something larger than themselves. Over 7,500 persons world-wide participate with CA-Clipper, Microsoft Access and FoxPro. The newsletter is distributed monthly by electronic mail via CompuServe, Internet, FidoNet, and other electronic gateways. It is free of charge to individual developers. Modest fees are charged to corporations for job placement and third-party announcements. Opinions expressed are solely expressed by the Foxpro User Group or the author found in the ReplyTo of the article. No warranties are made by the authors, editors, the Foxpro User Group or BCNN regarding the accuracy or applicability of the information provided in this newsletter, nor are the above named parties responsible for direct or incidental damages due to your use of this information. All materials are copyrighted by the BCS, unless otherwise indicated, and free for any user group to redistribute on their own BBS on the condition that a by-line referencing the BCS is included. Associate Editors: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- David Rose, Days (508)538-8064, Eves (617)935-6843. CIS:73164,2263 Internet:73164.2263@CompuServe.Com Arnold Bilansky Days (617)522-3700 x374 CIS:71533,1031 Internet:71533.1031@CompuServe.Com Ted Roche, CIS 76400,2503 Computer Resource, Contoocook, NH (603) 746-4017 Submissions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Send submissions to 73164,2263 with the subject 'BCNN Foxpro Submission'. Format your submissions similar to this letter. Distribution and Subscription Services. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Les Squires, Director, Xbase Language Group. bcnn@World.Std.Com or 73020,3435 Add Subscribers: Fox-Yes to bcnn@World.Std.Com. Delete Subscribers: Fox-No to bcnn@World.Std.Com. Back Issues: (to be announced...) Boston Computer Society, Inc. 101 First Avenue Suite 2 Waltham, MA 02154 617-290-5700 General Number 617-290-5700 Ext. 432 for up-to-date meeting information. BCNN Email Services donated by Word Jenny Inc. LSquires@WJI.Com (c) 1994 Boston Computer Society, Inc.