Gee, Wiz (or GEE WIZ !!!),
On Wed, 1 Jan 2003 13:53:24 -0600 "Glenn Gilbreath Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > I think though that some of us may be missing the point > entirely of WHY Arachne was developed in the first place > back in 1996...xChaos had in mind a complete "Internet Suite" > for rather obsolete DOS computers. Some would argue that Arachne - like DOS or the dinosaur - must grow and adapt, or die. It matters not why Arachne was developed. If it doesn't meet the continuing needs of some users, then they will move on. At some point, there are no more users (and no more updates). That's probably why there is no Arachne code written for the Commodore 64. > Arachne WAS NOT > intended as a front end for any database program, nor as > a shell for DOS...though with some work it can be used as > such. And air conditioning wasn't intended as a cooling device for vehicles. So what? Here in the Arizona desert, most people are happy that somebody pushed the envelope. We're also happy for electrical starters, power steering, and power brakes. We've even replaced our tube radios with newer devices that use electronic components. > For users to somehow imply that Arachne is inferior > because it doesn't interface well with XML docs, or some DB2 > or FoxPro database is sort of silly, IMNSHO. A search of past email reveals ZERO use of the word INFERIOR. But, maybe I deleted those emails. At any rate, I don't recall anyone suggesting that Arachne was inferior. Not extended in the directions some might find useful, but never inferior. My favorite adjective happens to be GREAT. I'm hoping for greatER. > What you can > do is write a simple BATCH program to launch your database > software, copy that to your Arachne\OOPS directory then rename > it to something like DATABASE.OOK, and your set...if desired you > can even assign an icon inside WWWMAN.CFG. There, that wasn't > so freackin' hard now was it? Except that it doesn't work like that. Shelling out to a program is just that - shelling OUT. The user must still maneuver through the outside program's interface. If a DBMS looked and operated exactly like an HTML form, then there would be no problem. But none of them do. My desire is to see a DBMS interface that operates from an HTML form. When someone is taught how to use Arachne and HTML, they would simultaneously be able to use a database. I work mostly with people who are not familiar with electronic equipment. Lesson One is the on-off switch. Teaching two separate (and fundamentally different) program interfaces is counter productive to quick developmental progress. Such a HTML-DBMS Arachne interface would open up a lot of opportunities for all Arachne users. I've received several emails (off list) from Arachnoids using CD-ROMs as a data server, although the data is pre-formatted in TXT or HTM files. DB files would be even more flexible, allowing comparisons, and-or, if-then, and a bunch of other handy commands. > Finally, a tip about EEK and OOK files...Read the docs folks! Plain > as day, Apparently not, if "folks" (plural) keep asking. Rumor has it that EEK was originally a verbal exclamation from an early Arachne user, who was trying to figure out the file scheme and structure. By the way, if the instructions were in a database format, they would have been quickly located and consolidated. Hence, fewer questions to the list. > OK, enough for todays lessons...Happy New Year! Ditto. Bob - ________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit www.juno.com
