I'm currently working on a project that was scheduled to use OpenBase. Two main issues came up which have forced us to use another platform temporarily at least.
Both problems are with the ODBC drivers from the OpenBase web site. They are supplied by OpenLink, a company out of the U.K. The first problem appears to be calling a search of a character type field. Any search using the ODBC drivers will display only the first 13 characters. I've tried using both a Tango TAF search action and the SQL Query window to eliminate Tango from the equation. When the same field is returned using the OpenBase Manager (which uses JDBC), it returns the proper data. Both OpenLink and OpenBase have confirmed that there is a bug but there is no word on when a resolution will be available. Adding to my lack of confidence is that they waited for a new version of OpenBase to be released then asked me to test with this new version. Unfortunately the new version was server only, not client so there was nothing new to test. Also I sent a trace log to them 3 weeks ago that they 'lost'. I resent the log file to them but their online support tracking system sent me another message stating that they were waiting for it. I realize that you get what you pay for but this doesn't give me confidence in a product that either I or the client would eventually have to pay for. The second issue is harder to track down. It appears that the 'free' database hosting is limited to either 1 or 2 or 3 connections due to licensing restrictions. It was frustrating that nobody at OpenBase could provide the exact number which raised an eyebrow with regards to their level of expertise. Adding to this is that on one WebSTAR/Tango server, this problem causes the WebSTAR application to crash. This problem is still being investigated but even if the crashing problem is resolved, there is still the issue of the limit on the number of connections. The answer from OpenBase was to have the client pay for additional ODBC licenses but there is confusion on the cost. One other problem that I just remembered is the odd way in which OpenBase handles date, time, and timestamp fields. You cannot use a builder to create an insert, nor can you just drag one of these fields in and add the value (i.e. an <@ARG>) into your TAF. You must turn off quoting, and manually add <@SQ> to the beginning and end of the value (i.e. <@ARG startdate> becomes <@SQ><@ARG startdate><@SQ>). This wasn't a show-stopper but it does increase the time to program. Having said all of this the product does give a low-cost (i.e. free) entry level and is tied in with WebObjects. I believe that if the ODBC issues can be resolved without added cost then the product would be worth looking at, especially with the idea of the database costs being scaled to the size of the database. However by the time these problems are resolved we will probably have a new version of Tango running under OS X which will allow us to use a much wider selection of database engines. Hope this helps, Steve Smith Skadt Information Solutions Office: (519) 624-4388 GTA: (416) 606-3885 Fax: (519) 624-3353 Cell: (416) 606-3885 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.skadt.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Dan Urlich Sent: May 3, 2002 2:46 AM To: Multiple recipients of list witango-talk Subject: RE: Witango-Talk: OS X version of V5 Server for Filemaker Pro Hi Steve, At 08:33 -0400 02.05.2002, Steve Smith wrote: >There are no drivers available for mySQL for Mac OS 9.x. > >This has become a very troublesome situation, the lack of drivers for the OS >9.x platform for many of the newer opensource database engines including >mySQL. The fact that WiTango does not perform well (if at all) under OS X >just adds to the frustrations. > >Are you looking for something to use to get yourself up to speed or are you >looking for a tool to allow you to put something into production right away. >If you're looking for a learning tool, I'd suggest using Butler which came >with Tango 2000. If you're looking for a production database server, you >could use Butler (although it is not as robust as mySQL, Oracle, MS SQL >Server, etc.) but it is a) free, b) easy to use, c) has been used by many of >us on the list so help is available. I looking to get up to speed in SQL (in my last job there was always an SQL jockey around to help me with the thorny stuff) and also a way not to have to recode any new stuff I do, until I can switch my server over to OS X. I forgot about Butler - I started with that and Tango 1.6? but my old boss made me switch to Filemaker so he could screw up the databases! My present boss is pretty much the same :-[ >The only other option that I'm aware of in your price range would be >OpenBase who provides a 'free' hosting environment provided you have less >than 2 Gb of data. They start charging when you go over that level. The >shortcomings are that there are a couple of issues with the OpenLink drivers >which OpenLink are reviewing right now. These can be potential show >stoppers. Primebase might be another option but I'm not familiar with this >tool. OpenBase sounds cool. The 2 GB limit shouldn't be a problem. What are those show stoppers? I am think about just using it for a school Alumni site at the moment - probably less than 1000 addresses, log-on information, etc. cheers, Dan >I'd be happy to discuss this further with you off the list. > >Hope this helps, > >Steve Smith > >Skadt Information Solutions >Office: (519) 624-4388 >GTA: (416) 606-3885 >Fax: (519) 624-3353 >Cell: (416) 606-3885 >Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Web: http://www.skadt.com > ________________________________________________________________________ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text/US ASCII email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe witango-talk in the message body
