Building a web-based apps with Convea vs VFP

[Anthony Shipley]

While searching for other alternatives to build a web-based apps, I found
Convea (http://www.convea.com). Other than creating a family homepage with
Frontpage, I am really a newbie in web-based apps. Yet I'm really close to
get a web-based-apps project :-)

For one, they want your email address to see their demo. I think not!

Secondly "Can I buy other applications other than the ones that come packaged
with the current suite? Not right now, although several exciting new application
modules are in development." suggests it's for users not developers.

Did you check out the prices, Willianto :-)
Try FoxWeb instead.


anthony shipley
-
Military Intelligence..... still an oxymoron!

[Anthony Shipley]

Feedback anyone???

A bit more; make sure you can suppress its apparent tendency to open lots of
windows.


anthony shipley
-
Military Intelligence..... still an oxymoron!

[Claude Fox]

Do you want to use foxpro code? I thought that was the idea. ActiveVFP is
good since you're using the same technology as VFP web services. If you
learn one, you're learning the same technology as the other. AVFP is
completely free and open source. AVFP is extremely easy to use and has a
WebAppBuilder that creates your basic web app in one step and runs it. Nick
Causton of Associated Data just did a performance test and came up with
"approximately 290 hits per second, completely reliable"...

Hi all,
While searching for other alternatives to build a web-based apps, I found
Convea (http://www.convea.com). Other than creating a family homepage with
Frontpage, I am really a newbie in web-based apps. Yet I'm really close to
get a web-based-apps project :-)
Anyway, I'm hoping anyone here can give me some idea concerning Convea and
its comparison with VFP concerning web-based apps. Convea looks promising

to

me. I still don't know about the learning curve yet, only have a brief

look

on their web sites and I still don't really get a grip of how things can

be

done.
Feedback anyone???
Thanks in advance.
Willianto

[Willianto]

Hi Claude,

Post by Claude Fox
Do you want to use foxpro code? I thought that was the idea.

I am. I was just tempted to use a 'short-cut' ;-)

Post by Claude Fox
ActiveVFP is
good since you're using the same technology as VFP web services. If you
learn one, you're learning the same technology as the other. AVFP is
completely free and open source. AVFP is extremely easy to use and has a
WebAppBuilder that creates your basic web app in one step and runs it.

Nick

Post by Claude Fox
Causton of Associated Data just did a performance test and came up with
"approximately 290 hits per second, completely reliable"...

I've downloaded AVFP already, but still confused about where to start. I've
managed to run AVFP demo page (i.e. I run WebAppBuilder and the type
http://localhost/testavfp/default.asp and it runs), but that's the furthest
I could go. I open the .pjx from vfp and open main.prg but I don't get how
AVFP can work for me. I even confused how in the world I typed 'localhost'
and it knows where to find the testavfp folder. There must be somekind of
registration. But where???

Anyway, can you give me a hint where to start? If you cannot give me a link
to a tutorial, a nice 'hello world' will be fine.

TIA,
Willianto

Post by Claude Fox

Hi all,
While searching for other alternatives to build a web-based apps, I found
Convea (http://www.convea.com). Other than creating a family homepage with
Frontpage, I am really a newbie in web-based apps. Yet I'm really close to
get a web-based-apps project :-)
Anyway, I'm hoping anyone here can give me some idea concerning Convea and
its comparison with VFP concerning web-based apps. Convea looks promising

to

me. I still don't know about the learning curve yet, only have a brief

look

on their web sites and I still don't really get a grip of how things can

be

done.
Feedback anyone???
Thanks in advance.
Willianto

[Claude Fox]

The avfpdemo2 is supposed to be a 'hello world!' type of application. Also,
any base web app you create with WebAppBuilder is just the same type of web
app. You modify the code in the "Action" area to do whatever you want your
web app to do. Modify the HTML templates to include whatever variables you
want and to control the look and feel. Or do all the programming in the HTML
template. Web Services use the same mtdll technology, so, it would behoove
any VFP programmer to learn to create web apps with mtdlls. I honestly
don't think there is an easier way to create web apps with VFP than with
ActiveVFP and probably any of the VFP web tools are easier than something
like Cold Fusion, PHP, ASP scripting or ASP.NET programming with something
like VB.NET...

Post by Willianto
Hi Claude,

Post by Claude Fox
Do you want to use foxpro code? I thought that was the idea.

I am. I was just tempted to use a 'short-cut' ;-)

Post by Claude Fox
ActiveVFP is
good since you're using the same technology as VFP web services. If you
learn one, you're learning the same technology as the other. AVFP is
completely free and open source. AVFP is extremely easy to use and has a
WebAppBuilder that creates your basic web app in one step and runs it.

Nick

Post by Claude Fox
Causton of Associated Data just did a performance test and came up with
"approximately 290 hits per second, completely reliable"...

I've downloaded AVFP already, but still confused about where to start. I've
managed to run AVFP demo page (i.e. I run WebAppBuilder and the type
http://localhost/testavfp/default.asp and it runs), but that's the furthest
I could go. I open the .pjx from vfp and open main.prg but I don't get how
AVFP can work for me. I even confused how in the world I typed 'localhost'
and it knows where to find the testavfp folder. There must be somekind of
registration. But where???
Anyway, can you give me a hint where to start? If you cannot give me a link
to a tutorial, a nice 'hello world' will be fine.
TIA,
Willianto

Post by Claude Fox

Hi all,
While searching for other alternatives to build a web-based apps, I

found

Post by Claude Fox

Convea (http://www.convea.com). Other than creating a family homepage

with

Post by Claude Fox

Frontpage, I am really a newbie in web-based apps. Yet I'm really

close

Post by Willianto
to

Post by Claude Fox

get a web-based-apps project :-)
Anyway, I'm hoping anyone here can give me some idea concerning Convea

and

Post by Claude Fox

its comparison with VFP concerning web-based apps. Convea looks

promising

Post by Claude Fox
to

me. I still don't know about the learning curve yet, only have a brief

look

on their web sites and I still don't really get a grip of how things can

be

done.
Feedback anyone???
Thanks in advance.
Willianto

[Claude Fox]

For modification of HTML templates, I've only used MS FrontPage, although
any HTML editor can be used. Nothing special needs to be done. All VFP
variables go between <%= and %> and all VFP scripting goes between <% and
%>. The docs explain most of this. All of this can be used with ASP.NET
too, BTW...

Post by Willianto
Hi Claude,
Thanks for your reply.

Post by Claude Fox
The avfpdemo2 is supposed to be a 'hello world!' type of application.

Also,

Post by Claude Fox
any base web app you create with WebAppBuilder is just the same type of

web

Post by Claude Fox
app. You modify the code in the "Action" area to do whatever you want

your

Post by Claude Fox
web app to do.

OK. I will start from modifying the "Action" area.

Post by Claude Fox
Modify the HTML templates to include whatever variables you
want and to control the look and feel. Or do all the programming in the

HTML

Post by Claude Fox
template.

Ok. Now, what if I want to create the HTML templates with MS Frontpage?

Are

Post by Willianto
there any setting that I should set beforehand?
TIA,
Willianto

[Willianto]

Hi Claude,

Post by Claude Fox
The docs explain most of this. All of this can be used with ASP.NET
too, BTW...

I assume what you meant the docs is a html document entitled ActiveVFP
Documentation that came with AVFP package. Do you have (or: can you point me
to a link where there is) more extensive documentation concerning AVFP?

TIA,
Willianto

[Claude Fox]

That's about it for now for the docs. Other sources of info include postings
on the UT and here and much info on Web Services apply
also like the MS Session Class, info about mtdlls, set up with IIS, etc.
For a basic primer on this technology, you might want to check out:
http://www.west-wind.com/presentations/aspobjects/ASPObjects.htm entitled
"Using VFP COM Objects with Active Server Pages"

Post by Willianto
Hi Claude,

Post by Claude Fox
The docs explain most of this. All of this can be used with ASP.NET
too, BTW...

I assume what you meant the docs is a html document entitled ActiveVFP
Documentation that came with AVFP package. Do you have (or: can you point me
to a link where there is) more extensive documentation concerning AVFP?
TIA,
Willianto

[Claude Fox]

You really don't have to understand it thoroughly to use it - just the ASP
objects (Request, Response, and Session) and the AVFP objects (the HTML
object primarily). I'm the primary author but, since it's Open Source,
there are contributions from others to make it a better product.

Post by Willianto
Hi Claude,
Thanks for the link. I download the white paper already. Looks like I got

a

Post by Willianto
steep learning curve in front of me :-)
I told my client about the pros and cons about web apps and he ended up
decided to use conventional apps. So, that means I have to postpone the
learning :(
Well, I got no choice. I am a self-employed-one-man-show software

developer

Post by Willianto
and I cannot afford not-to-be-paid to learn something ;-)
Anyway, I will surely remember AVFP (--- and you --- *you are* the author

of

Post by Willianto
AVFP, aren't you? I saw your name on the source code) as the first
alternative when I encounter with web-apps again.
Best Regards,
Willianto

Post by Claude Fox
That's about it for now for the docs. Other sources of info include

postings

Post by Claude Fox
on the UT and here and much info on Web Services apply
also like the MS Session Class, info about mtdlls, set up with IIS, etc.
http://www.west-wind.com/presentations/aspobjects/ASPObjects.htm entitled
"Using VFP COM Objects with Active Server Pages"

Post by Willianto
Hi Claude,

Post by Claude Fox
The docs explain most of this. All of this can be used with ASP.NET
too, BTW...

I assume what you meant the docs is a html document entitled ActiveVFP
Documentation that came with AVFP package. Do you have (or: can you

point

Post by Claude Fox
me

Post by Willianto
to a link where there is) more extensive documentation concerning AVFP?
TIA,
Willianto

[Willianto]

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for your quick reply :-)

Post by Anthony Shipley
For one, they want your email address to see their demo. I think not!

I gave them my 'usual' hotmail address <g> Must be tons of spam in there by
now!

Post by Anthony Shipley
Secondly "Can I buy other applications other than the ones that come packaged
with the current suite? Not right now, although several exciting new application
modules are in development." suggests it's for users not developers.

Yes Anthony. I've found that as well on their FAQ. Worst of all, they
haven't release any SDK yet. Looking from a lot of .ASP files in the core
files, looks like they develop the application using VB. Not a smooth way to
go then... (at least for me)

Post by Anthony Shipley
Did you check out the prices, Willianto :-)

It's open source.

Post by Anthony Shipley
Try FoxWeb instead.

I'm downloading foxweb now. I'm going to give it a try. Too bad. I was
hoping that I can have a 'fast-track' to web-based applications.

Oh, and btw, what about ColdFusion?

TIA,
Willianto

[Jochen Kirstaetter]

Hi Willianto,

Post by Willianto
I'm downloading foxweb now. I'm going to give it a try. Too bad. I was
hoping that I can have a 'fast-track' to web-based applications.

Maybe you should take a look at another VFP-based product to create
dynamic Web applications:

Active FoxPro Pages 3.0 - http://www.afpages.com
(English/German)

And there's a nice AFP framework available:

AFP Framework - http://www.afpzone.com
(English)

Additionally lot of code samples and answers to common problems on

AFP FAQ - http://www.afpfaq.de
(Englsih/German/Spanish)


Greetings, JoKi