Re: Comments needed on Computer Aides

On Aug 13, 1997 at 6:22:30 PM, Kevin Walker <sage@millcomm.com> wrote:

> After spending some time talking with KR of Geo-Hex, it appears that I

> might be helping to fill the Macintosh gap with regards to the
computer 
> aides Geo-Hex is planning on releasing.  Nothing is set in stone, some

> research is needed first.  The intent is to provide aides to both the 
> Win32 an Mac platforms (and maybe others, who knows). 
>  
> As I thought people might want to put their two cents in, I thought I 
> open this up for discussion on the list. 
>  
> One little problem is, that I'm heading out of town on a trip half way

> across the US, but should still be able to email every day or two. 
>  
> What I'm interested in is, that is if anyone wishes to share their 
> thoughts and desires - What would you all like to see as far as
computer 
> aides go? What should they do?  What things you would find most
helpful if
> they were automated? 

 I think I may have sent this to the list once before, regarding a
different 
topic, but if I were doing this project, I would seriously explore doing
such 
utilities in Cliri's FileMaker Pro relational database if possible. 
It's 
fast, easy to use, and cross-platform (databases created on Mac will run
on 
Windows and vice versa).  With the Claris Solutions Development Kit you
can 
attach a runtime engine to the database to create standalone apps.  (You
have 
to do a separate one for each plaform, although the database is the same
-- 
big deal.) 

FMP also gives you the ability to print out information in a variety of 
formats and, perhaps most importantly for us, you can export a record
(i.e., a 
design) as text, which can then be emailed to others and then imported
into 
their copy of the database.  You get lookups, pulldown menus,
checkboxes, 
text, graphics, etc. -- basically, anything that Excel can do, FMP can
do, and 
you don't need the app to do it.

The main app is $200, with the membership in the Claris Solutions
Alliance and 
the Solutions Development Kit adding another $700-1000 more.  This
sounds like 
a lot of money, but it's cheaper than most development environments, and
the 
CSA/SDK agreement includes unlimited distribution rights to the runtime 
engine.  In other words, this is a one-time cost.

[For the record, I have been known to answer the question "What is your 
favorite computer game?" with "Filemaker Pro."]

-- Chris Weuve	 [My opinions, not my employer's.]
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System information
HOME:
PB 5300, 40 megs RAM, with external 13 inch monitor
Toshiba Portege 486, 150 meg HD, 8 megs (?)
Compaq Prolinea 486, I forget RAM and HD size
External CD-ROM

I also have two Macs and two Pentium boxes (WinNT and Win95) at work,
but I 
would prefer something that runs on a Mac.