I'm just an accountant - not a high powered programmer but several years ago I got started in Paradox for DOS when I was Accounting Manager for Florida's 2nd largest real estate firm and developed some nice menu-driven applications that were not only easy to construct but very practical. I was stunned at the productivity of Paradox for DOS.
Enter Access - I discovered later that Access is supposedly the way to go and bought it. Either I took a wrong turn and not knowingly am now living on the 3rd rock from the sun or maybe I have just suddenly after working in accounting for over 30 years (15 as a Controller) become dumb but it seems that simple things that took me 15 minutes in Paradox are now taking days to figure out in Access. Example - I took one of my Paradox reports and I am trying to duplicate it in Access - I am simply trying to add the values of two fields together ( easy in Paradox), I am not trying to program the trajectory of an ICBM or trying to solve the Federal budget problem - just trying to add the values of 2 fields together folks!!! and with a 600 page Access 2nd party manual can't seem to do it. This entire report took about an hour or less to construct in Paradox and I have been working off and on for 2 days in Access with no results.
Just looking at the Access manuals I don't see where it is even possible to construct the user-friendly drop-down menu applications that were so easy in Paradox. Question - Have I just gotten too old to think ( I'm 59 now) or was my Access manual written by someone who wears a long white coat and green Tennis shoes and spends too much time discussing topics with his cat?
Question - Is Paradox for Windows this difficult and confusing?
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Just to add to RT's two cents. I like Paradox for Windows better than Access myself. I think Paradox is easier to use and more powerful. However, I do know Paradox very very well and I don't know Access that well. I know you can get just about the same stuff done with both though.
My advice is whatever you choose to do, stay with Access or try Paradox, be patient with yourself. Both are a paradigm shift from Paradox for DOS. You might just be suffering because you KNOW how to do stuff in Paradox for DOS and now you have to RELEARN how to do those things in Access. Relearning is always harder. The good news is that after you learn Access (or better yet Paradox), you'll know both better than you know Paradox for DOS now.
It's kind of like learning a second language (of the speaking type). Once you learn say French, you'll know English better.
------------------ Michael A. Prestwood Author, Corel Paradox 9 Power Programming: The Official Guide
President & CEO Prestwood Software & Consulting 7525 Auburn Blvd., #8 Citrus Heights, CA 95610
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Go mad and lash out yer loot and get Pardox9 and then use can use the Access manuals as winter fuel. At the end of the day what 'it' (whatever 'it' is) is comes down to is can you use the program to do what you want it to do without it driving you bonkers? Must go now, my Access bonfire is going out... rt
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As one who has gone through pretty much the same thing as you WW, i will agree with Mike. I also started in Paradox for DOS and switched to Paradox for WIndows. The learning curve was rather steep at first, because as Mike says, you are dealing with a whole different paridigm.
when I swtiched from Paradox WIndows to access, i again had a bit of a learning curve but I have found that you can do as much in Access as Paradox, although as I have stated on another board here, I still like Paradox better and I agree it is more powerful.
The only advice I can give you is be patient and keep trying. And when you are stuck, this is the right place to come for answers.
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As both a paradox and access programer I can agree with most that has been posted. I do feel that the programs are so powerfull that only the most advanced programmers and programs will streach their limits. The primary question is which do you gain the most productivity? Remember this is a productivity tool and you should not allow the learning of multiple tools to take away from your real job. Is there a driving need to migrate to Access? Did you figure out how to accomplish your task, ie Field1 + Field2 = Field3?
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