On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:49, you wrote: > Can anyone suggest a programming tool that is reasonably easy to > understand and preferably cheap...like free.... <snip> > Any suggestions please??
Python. It is powerful, easy to learn and use, well supported, and free. For your database, you can connect Python to pretty much any database engine backend (except dBASE, because that is not a database engine). I suggest you convert your database schema to a 'proper' database such as Postgres and use Python for the fiddly bits. If you are not ready for a new database engine just yet, you could take a look at PyxBase, which is a Python module for reading (not writing) dBASE data files. Remember, for your future Googling of this topic, "xBase" is the generic term for dBase, FoxPro and Clipper-style database work. For the user interface: "curses" is a text-based user interface system. It will look like Clipper running under DOS, very Old Skool; If you prefer a spiffy GUI then Python supports wxWidgets (via wxPython) to allow you to construct a tasteful GUI that is also cross-platform (Linux/Mac/Windows); or, as Jim suggests, write a web based front end, then it is usable cross-platform, cross-world. I suggest you walk before you run and dabble with Python, Ruby or something else, until you get comfortable with that, then apply it to your problem. A good book for learning Python is 'Dive into Python', by Mark Pilgrim. There is a copy in the Library, or you can download the book for free from the web (it is completely legal, and encouraged). Print it if you like, or read it on-screen. I also recommend 'Learning Python' by Mark Lutz and David Ascher. HTH Andrew
