RE: Why not use VA/RPG -- MIDRANGE-L

Joe,

Re version control, this is something that must be done with client/server.
You are asking for trouble if you do not.  I have been doing CS from before
it was called CS and I to use the Data Area with current version on server
compared to the client's hard coded version.  And if the client can get it's
version from a common source, that is even better!

Then during startup, if the 2 do not match, tell the user and exit.

If you want to be fancy, you can tell the User "You are down level...would
you like to upgrade now?".  If they say no, then exit out.  But if they say
Yes, then download a self extracting, self executing winzip of your install
to the machine (via FTP, HTTP, or your own IP conversation) and then
spawn/shell out to it to start the install/upgrade.

We use a combination of WinZip and Install Shield to accomplish this.  Users
love it.  Network admin's love it even more.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com [mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On
Behalf Of boothm@earth.Goddard.edu
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2000 2:17 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: Why not use VA/RPG

Joe Teff <joeteff@earthlink.net>
Sent by: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
01/17/2000 08:10 AM
Please respond to MIDRANGE-L


        To:     MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
        cc:
        Subject:        Re: Why not use VA/RPG
>Here's what I learned real quick though. Do inquiry-only applications
>at first, or at most, simple data gathering programs. It is real easy
>to update/delete a lot of records in a real hurry.

Is there something in the language that caused this? I don't understand
your warning.

No, nothing in the language. I suspect it may not be a problem for you
where you have other non-green screen experiences.

>The other thing I learned is why client/server hasn't taken over the
>world. You really need to put a version number & date on every single
>thing you do. It is a pain in the butt.

Not sure I really understand. Why wouldn't you just put some kind of
current version checker in the program (load current version in a
dataarea on the AS/400 and check against a constant in the program).

 You know, I bet that would work.  A good idea.  Scott Johnson did
something like that I think. I tried it but couldn't figure out how to
upgrade to the next version all at once everywhere, on every PC.

>By the way, Meyers & Sutherland's book is a couple of years old.
>There's a whole boatload of additional stuff you'll love available now.

I'll have to look for this info on a web site. Thanks for tip.

Joe Teff


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