Re: HTML DB users?

I have more than one-month experience with HTMLDB, version 1.5000.33 on Sun Solaris 9 10G DB. I got occasional errors with HD but generally it's stable enough for production. Performace may be a little slow compared to other scripts like PHP.

more Replies inline.
"Mark C. Stock" <mcstockX_at_Xenquery .com> wrote in message news:ibqdnfIQSMk-aNfcRVn-jw_at_comcast.com...

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| "Mark C. Stock" <mcstockX_at_Xenquery .com> wrote in message
| news:YvadnZOxVfNDKdjcRVn-hQ_at_comcast.com...
| > not much discussion about HTML DB recently
| >
| > anybody out there attempting to use it for anything at all?
| >
| > ++ mcs
| >
| >
|

Thanks, Sean.

In my initial review of generated forms, I found a lot of deficiencies... I'm sure some of them are simply a matter of working with the product longer, and some is probably a matter of product maturity.

Would you care to comment on these. I don't think I'm being too picky, if this is supposed to be an declarative 'as easy as Access' app builder, I would expect it would handle this kind of stuff. Also, I'd be interested if you wouldn't mind itemizing what you feel are its strengths.   a.. No default LOVs for FKs
>> NO, you have to add by your self, it's easy to do.
[Quoted]   b.. No checks for data changes before allowing navigation
>> NO, I suppose you have to add Javascript , have no experience so far
[Quoted]   c.. Database errors displayed on separate screen -- link to return to edit page is not very apparent
>>On the same screen, with Debug option, it's super. Edit page is very apparent( a menu below)
[Quoted]   d.. Pop-up calendar does not highlight current date or currently selected date
>> it highlights only current month

[Quoted]   e.. No option to display PK values in generated forms? >>Sure yes, Just like Oracle Forms, you can choose to display or hide it. [Quoted]   f.. No client-side validation -- no readily apparent JavaScript support?
>> YES, Lots of Javascript support, search HD forum for "Javascript",

     I have not done a lot but sure works [Quoted]   g.. Inconsistent functionality of 'CREATE' buttons -- sometimes means NEW, sometimes means SAVE
>> mostly OK, only see a couple out of 100s
[Quoted]   h.. No option to refresh edit page after checksum error (checksum error is really, really ugly)
>>don't know this one.
[Quoted]   i.. Generated forms for each of multiple tables all created with the same name (Update,Insert,Report,Success)
>> no such problem for me.

[Quoted]   j.. User-defined validations are at page level, not shared among pages >>Yes.
[Quoted]   k.. Data picker format is inflexible (does not analyze user input and do intelligent conversion)
>>YES, but you can use Javscript or database trigger to get around this [Quoted]   l.. Uses full page refreshes instead of frames or DHTML
>> Yes, the worst part is always pull data anew from DB each time you
navigate there.
[Quoted]   m.. No apparent settings for simple client-side validations like INPUT item maximum length (should at least default to VARCHAR2 length) >>NO, you have to do by your self.
[Quoted]   n.. Buttons scroll of page (no frames or DHTML to keep buttons visible) >>No
[Quoted]   o.. Mouse-centric (most users don't have 3 hands) >>Yes
[Quoted]   p.. No search capabilities in the online help >>NO
[Quoted]   q.. 'Apply Changes' behavior is inconsistent -- sometimes closes page, sometimes not
>> Happens if you have too many fields for customization, but generally
works.
Thanks!

>>>for simple web applications which don't reqire huge customization, HD is the best.
you probably can build a small site within days and other programmers may need weeks.

Best part: lots of DB support (like you can use stored procedure), very effective wizards
  ( for forms, reports AND Graphs).
Worst part: customization is harder, like Graph you can't customize it to use alternative color,
you can only choose either one color or RAMDON colors (frustrated me but Seigo from
HD team said will have stacked BAR next release. see Forum).

Overall I'll give it a A( or A+), you can't use it build something like Amazon.com,
but for 90% websites which do not require huge customization, you can save 90% time.
The development tools (wizards stuff) generally works, of course , sometimes failure
still happens( I have a table with 60 something fields, the customization of column
always returns a "Value error"----the varchar is not defined long enough).

You may also post you question on HD forum, the HD team are generally very responsive.

sean

++ mcs Received on Mon Sep 20 2004 - 15:01:05 CEST