Database Performance and Complexity in Visual DataFlex

• Main Author: Johansson, Håkan
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för informationsteknologi 2009
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-103112

This report is meant to be used when choosing a third-party database management system in combination with Visual DataFlex. The database managers that are included in this test are Microsoft SQL Server, Pervasive.SQL, Oracle and Embedded Database. It will cover the pros and cons with each tested database manager when using applications created with Visual DataFlex. It will also cover the fault-tolerance when using clustering, the backup possibilities with minimal downtime and the complexity of installing and configuring the database manager. Visual DataFlex is a framework for developing database applications aimed atWindows or web platforms. The framework is owned and developed by Data Access Worldwide, Inc. Visual DataFlex provides a database manager called Embedded Database which is not suitable to be used in a multi-client environment. Therefore, in multi-client environments, a third party database management system is normally used. Visual DataFlex is primarily used in smaller and midsized environments. Database administrators are normally not wanted in these environments and therefore it is important that the third-party database management system is easy to set up and configure. For database independency, Visual DataFlex uses connectivity kits which are anabstraction layer between the internal interface in Visual DataFlex and the clientsoftware of the database manager in use. Through the connectivity kit, the most popular database management system can be used and database managers that are not supported directly by a connectivity kit can still be used via an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver. There are currently seven connectivity kits developed by Data Access, Inc and five developed by Mertech Data Systems, Inc.