Hi,

Can a Paradox/BDE run across a WAN network, or across the Internet? Or does that
require a different database. If it does need a different database, what would
be the easiest to convert from Paradox?

Thanks.

Will wrote:

It depends on what you mean by run. The performance will be abominable
because desktop databases generate a lot of network traffic.

The best solution for running a database application across the
Internet is Windows Terminal services. If you are writing a new app
consider a multi-tier app. If you need to convert your existing Paradox
app the best choice I am aware of is Advantage Dabase Server. I have
tested it across the Internet and it is usable as long as you do not
retrieve large volumes of data.

Bill Todd [TeamB] wrote:

With Windows Terminal Services, does Paradox function? I've not used Terminal
Services before, so I have no idea exactly how it functions.

It is an existing application, and fairly large (about 200 forms). The customer
said that they want to run three stores from a central server.

Try running the app from a remote location using Remote Desktop. Remote
Desktop is Terminal Services restricted to a single user. That will let
you test the app and the performance.

Terminal services is essentially multi-user Windows. When you set up a
Terminal Server multiple users (up to the number of licenses you have)
can connect remotely to the server and run programs on it. The programs
actually run on the server. The only thing that is remoted is the
screen. You do not even need a PC at the remote location. You can use a
dumb terminal. IIRC the licensing is about $80 per concurrent user. You
can get more info on Microsoft's Web site. The nice thing about
Terminal Services is that the users can run any app that is installed
on the server whether it is your database app, Word, Excel or anything
else. All the software installation, maintenance, backups etc are done
centrally on the server so administration is much easier.

Bill Todd [TeamB] wrote:

How do you set up Remote Desktop?

Will wrote:

Several years ago I had a major system running in Paradox on a LAN. My
client insisted that it would work over the WAN i said it wouldn't. To
settle the argument we ran a test.

We got all the users out of the system, then we brought up a record in
the office - 3 seconds. We then got a remote user to do exactly the
same, telling us when she hit enter and when the record came up on the
screen - 90 seconds. "Run" wasn't the work for it! While it did work,
the speed made it totally unusable.

I "won" that one with the result that the client agreed to go
Client/Server and as that necessitated a rewrite, I got to move it to
Delphi.

... Joe
Member of the UK Developers Group

Bill Todd [TeamB] wrote:

Will.. sorry to jump in so late, and Bill has covered just about everything
important, but..

first and foremost.. as Joe said, be prepared for unacceptable performance,
depending on context, because any desktop database (paradox, dbase, access,
etc) creates a ton of I/O that just isn't intended for remote operation.. I
must access my primary system in DC via VPN constantly, and it is a royal
PITA.. even simple stuff is tricky, beause you have a keystroke lag that
keeps you from ordinary "type-ahead" action.. you have to wait for every
keystroke to take, to make sure you didn't make a typo, etc..

actually, the *exact* error would help, because there are several possible
reasons.. is this app running multi-user anyhow, and the error is just
happening remotely?

finally, you can find great paradox-specific help at
www.thedbcommunity.com.. or go to my Links page for a direct lik to those
newsgroups..

--
Steven Green - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA

Printing should not be a problem. If the bar code scanner connects to
the keyboard input it should work too. If not you will need to talkt to
someone who knows more about Terminal Services than I do. You should be
able to get better answers to these questions on the appropriate
Microsoft newsgroup.