dCLIP Review

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as well as a fully interactive debugging utility and a query manager. There are several other utilities supplied with the software to assist the programmer in developing his code, without the need to exit and access other applications, but we don’t have the space to cover all of these features at this time. They are: a 100-line command stack, allowing you to move through commands and reissue them; trace, allowing you to write the contents of memvars and your source code to a trace file during execution; pop-up tables for INKEY() values, CHR() value and color strings, and an ASCII table; and import, allowing you to move data between databases of different data structures.

Some nitty-gritty about the hardware requirements of dClip:

For best performance and productivity it is recommended that a computer with at least a 80286 microprocessor chip be available with a hard disk storing 40mb or more and a minimum disk access time of 28ms. Random access memory (RAM) should be at least 640k, along with 384k extended memory for utilization as a RAM disk. A color monitor would also be helpful as it produces a more efficient working medium.

The user’s manual accompanying the dClip system is very thorough. It includes a well thought out index and table of contents which allow easy cross referencing. I found the reference guide a pleasure to read. It was informative, straight to the point and avoided those annoying vague references, often found in

software documentation, which result in thoughts of physical violence while attempting to decipher the author’s meaning. (I’ve destroyed more manuals that way.) Speaking of damage, dClip costs $249.95, including the reference manuals, the dClip development and runtime systems. If you want to distribute an application utilizing the dClip runtime system, there is a one time licensing fee of an additional $150.00, allowing unlimited distribution rights in conjunction with any of your own applications.

So what do you think? Hopefully, you’re impressed. As a professional programmer, I’ve found dClip a needed tooL Sure, we can do all those things I’ve talked about without dClip, but why should we? The program allows more power, with less work, while providing maximum output. With that closing statement, I end my discussion and await the results of YOUR evaluation of this product. Let me know what you think!

Robert 3. Kantor is the founder of RJ Software Limited, based in Dayton, Ohio. This company provides software consultations, custom programming, and end-user hardware/software solutions for its clients.

Mr. Kantor may be reached through: RJ

Software Limited, WBPO Box 351, Dayton,

Ohio 45409-0351, or through Compuserve:

72060,262

SAA WORLD

Conference &

Exposition

Digital Consulting, Inc. is sponsering the Systems Application Architecture (SAA) Conference and Exposition on September 25 and 26 at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton and Towers, 5711 W. Century Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Free passes are available to DLaP members. If you don’t receive one in the mail, look for some at the September meeting.

DCI promises over 40 vendors giving one-on-one demonstrations of SAA compatible software plus free technical workshops.

Workshop topics for Tuesday include “SAA & Systems Management,” “Developments and Trends in Enterprise Systems,” and “The Four Components of

SSA.”

Wednesday’s topics are “Framework for Information Systems Architecture,” “IBM’s Office Vision,” “SAA & Systems Management,” “A Buyers Guide to SAA Tools and Applications,” and “SAA Practicum: Application Development in the DOS! Windows Environment.”

As a service to user groups, DCI sponsers user group meetings at the exposition. DLaP will be holding a bonus meeting there on Wednesday, September 26 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This session will feature John Kinney discussing the use of application generator STAGE to design a CUA compliant interface.

The Newsletter of the Dbase Language Professional Developers Group, September 1990

Page 7