A little background... We have a client, a Public Works Agency that has been using out largest R:Base application for well over 20 years. A few month ago, the section that is involved with the application got a new supervisor who decided that he wants to use a different application and he is issuing a RFP. The current R:Base application has all the features they need and the end users are extremely satisfied, not only with the software and performance, but with the service we have provided and do not want to change systems or vendor. They have not been asked and are very unhappy. There is a lot of politics involved in the decision, which apparently was not cleared with the higher-ups and was done solely in conjunction with their MIS department, which only wants MS SQL compatible application... not that they provide any database support for it in the first place. Their MIS has a hard time keeping up their network up and frequently I have to tell them what to do; as soon as employees becomes proficient, they leave for greener pastures and the ones left are fairly incompetent.
I know of no other application out there has our capabilities, so it is very likely that the RFP will require an MS SQL database as a way to keep us out. They are absolutely adamant that they do not want to use Oterro for ODBC connectivity. The bulk of the application is the front end, forms (200+) and reports (200+), views (100+) and programs, as the database structure itself (140 tables, 2700+ columns) is relatively easy to duplicate. I am thinking about using a full R:Base front end to manage an SQL express database and my questions are: Is anyone using R:Base as a front end to a MS SQL Express database? What issues have you encountered using a R:Base front end? Did you find any performance issues? Any suggestions, recommendations? Is there a utility that would convert the database structure? I really like the R:Base development environment and I would like to keep it. If this is not feasible, chances are that I will drop new database development all together and simply support the current clients we have. Any advice or insight you can provide will be greatly appreciated. If you prefer, you can e-mail me directly. Javier, Javier Valencia, PE O: 913-829-0888 H: 913-397-9605 C: 913-915-3137
