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  1. #1
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    Default RELEASE! The Database Update Framework is released today.

    Today, we are proudly releasing the Database Update Framework.

    Watch a short animated video about the release here.

    What is it?

    It is a code based framework for making automated database updates at client sites. The framework consists of a series of classes, a function library and two tool programs. The function library has messages that makes it easy to update databases for both the DataFlex Embedded and SQL databases. When a new version of your software is started at client site the database update starts automatically and all other users are locked out from using the program while the update is in progress. A series of checks are done prior starting the database update to ensure that nobody else is using it. All activities are automatically logged.

    There is another short (1 minute 30 secs) animation about the framework here

    View a professional introduction video made by Data Access Europe here

    Or read the online version of the help here

    You can download the framework here. It installs a library and a help file that integrates with the Studio Help system. It also installs two utility programs to the Studio's Tools menu.

    The framework is available absolutely free of charge in the hope that we together can make it even better by adding new functions and make it grow for all sorts of database update needs, even though it is quite comprehensive as is with about 80 various functions. It is compatible with with all existing database drivers including Mertech's but excluding the Pervasive driver as it isn't SQL compliant (sorry).

    Enjoy!
    Last edited by Nils G. Svedmyr; 21-Jul-2017 at 05:22 AM.
    Nils Svedmyr
    RDC Tools International
    www.rdctools.com

    "The problem with internet quotes is that you don't know if they are true."
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  2. #2
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    Default UPDATE PUBLISHED: The Database Update Framework is released.

    An update for the framework has been published - Version 1.0.0.18.
    The updated installer can be downloaded here.

    Remember: When installing a newer version of the framework the old version needs to be uninstalled first. However, it is quite easy to do. Just start the newer version of the installer program and select "Uninstall". Then run the installer program again and this time run through the installer as normal.

    Bug Description:
    When e.g. testing the framework with DF 19 and the Order Entry Sample application, the framework got a bit confused because there is a cConnect object declared inside the cApplication object. This lead the framework believe it was dealing with an SQL database - which obviously was wrong. In fact also in a few other situations like this the framework could get it wrong. This has now been fixed with version 1.0.0.18. (Reported by Sam Neuner)
    Nils Svedmyr
    RDC Tools International
    www.rdctools.com

    "The problem with internet quotes is that you don't know if they are true."
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  3. #3

    Default Re: UPDATE PUBLISHED: The Database Update Framework is released.

    Cool!

  4. #4
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    Default Version 1.0.0.19 available! The Database Update Framework.

    To All;

    An update has been published for the Database Update Framework.

    Version 1.0.0.19 can be downloaded here.

    Here's what's new:

    Version: 1.0.0.19 Date: 2017-07-26

    - A parameter bug in SqlColumnAdd and SqlColumnAddByTableName was fixed. All parameters after the third should be optional to pass. However, the function code was wrong and has been corrected.
    Reported by Nils Svedmyr

    - A bug was discovered when converting between framework defined data types and DataFlex data types. In short; there are replacement data constants to be used with the framework when dealing with an SQL back-end. See the help chapter “DataFlex Replacement Data Types” for a full explanation. These framework datatypes has the same integer number as the standard DataFlex data types, but with the value -1500 deducted. This is to distinguish them from specialized SQL driver data type constants (there were duplicates). However, the framework conversion logic had it slightly wrong which made the data type conversion to fail. Note: The recommended way to use e.g. the SqlColumnAdd function is to pass one of the specialized data constants. What that constant is depends on the driver used, the database back-end type and the exact column type that is targeted.
    Reported by Nils Svedmyr

    Improvements:
    - The ApiColumnAdd function was improved to take on two more parameter that makes it possible to initialize the new column with a value. This is in parallel with how the SQL counterpart function SqlColumnAdd works. In fact when doing this work it became obvious it might be a good idea to break out the functionality that updates the column value to its own function, as that can come in handy in other cases as well. The new function created is named ApiColumnUpdateValue. When creating this new functionality the old SqlColumnAdd function was split in two and the update logic was moved to the new function SqlColumnUpdateValue. You can read more about this in the on-line help.
    ​Suggested by Sam Neuner
    Last edited by Nils G. Svedmyr; 27-Jul-2017 at 08:30 AM. Reason: wording
    Nils Svedmyr
    RDC Tools International
    www.rdctools.com

    "The problem with internet quotes is that you don't know if they are true."
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  5. #5
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    Default Version 1.0.0.20 Published

    To All;

    An update has been published for the Database Update Framework.

    Version 1.0.0.20 can be downloaded here.

    A couple of bugs were discovered by Sam Neuner with the new ApiColumnUpdateValue function that was introduced with version 1.0.0.19 of the framework and they have now been corrected. Sorry about that! The previous version 1.0.019 unfortunately got published a bit too premature.
    Last edited by Nils G. Svedmyr; 28-Jul-2017 at 02:57 AM. Reason: spelling
    Nils Svedmyr
    RDC Tools International
    www.rdctools.com

    "The problem with internet quotes is that you don't know if they are true."
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  6. #6
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    Default Re: RELEASE! The Database Update Framework is released today.

    Hi Nils,
    I haven't looked at your contribution as yet but will do so one of these days.

    It would seem to me that one of the things that should be done prior to running such a process as the database update would be to shut down any webapps and Windows scheduled tasks that are running. I normally do that with a batch file, is there a way that the database update process can call my batch file before running and then the other one to start everything back up after? Maybe some kind of setup property?

    I took a look at the help for such a functionality and didn't see it but could have missed it.

    Just curious...
    Bob Worsley
    203-249-2633
    rlworsley at gmail.com

    Do or do not. There is no try. — Yoda

  7. #7
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    Default Re: RELEASE! The Database Update Framework is released today.

    You are right Bob. It should suspend running services and shut down webapp, but that is not the case at current. I'm not even sure on how to do that, but I'm very interested to know more or to receive help on how it could be achieved.

    However, there are two hook-events defined for the container cDbUpdateHandler object that could be used for the purpose. OnPreUpdate & OnPostUpdate and you could call batch files from there if you like. Not ideal perhaps, but that is the only option until a better solution has been developed.
    Nils Svedmyr
    RDC Tools International
    www.rdctools.com

    "The problem with internet quotes is that you don't know if they are true."
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  8. #8
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    Default Re: RELEASE! The Database Update Framework is released today.

    Maybe make a data table available that holds the batch file name(s) for calling at appropriate times. I'll post more on this...
    Bob Worsley
    203-249-2633
    rlworsley at gmail.com

    Do or do not. There is no try. — Yoda

  9. #9
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    Default Re: RELEASE! The Database Update Framework is released today.

    The one thing that I forgot when I wrote the earlier message is that any of these tasks must be done as an administrator. And while starting and stopping a service doesn't require a password, starting and stopping a Windows scheduled task does and if you do this at command line level and supply one, it's going to be there in plain English or whatever language.

    Given all of that I'm not sure how practical this would be.
    Bob Worsley
    203-249-2633
    rlworsley at gmail.com

    Do or do not. There is no try. — Yoda

  10. #10
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    Default Re: RELEASE! The Database Update Framework is released today.

    That certainly makes it more challenging. Although shelling out to another program that has "AsAdmin" in the manifest file the Windows dialog "Do you want to allow..." will still be shown, and it would need to be clicked before continuing. Something you would like to avoid with a WebApp (Aka pbSilent = True for the framework). Sort of a "Catch 22" as I don't think there's a way around it. Although I would love to be proven wrong!
    Nils Svedmyr
    RDC Tools International
    www.rdctools.com

    "The problem with internet quotes is that you don't know if they are true."
    Abraham Lincoln

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