someon: not usually so quiet in here Query By Example are you a Delphi user? No actually, I use it fairly regularly in my existing ERP (BMC/Remedy ARS) It's kinda handy (eg. to find all transactions on a date, you enter the date in the field; leaving the time off... Any transactions starting with that date get returned) dsmith (~dsmith@oh-strongsvillecadent1-1d-165.clvhoh.adelphia.net) left irc: "later.." dsmith (urzupsmug0@oh-strongsvillecadent1-1d-165.clvhoh.adelphia.net) joined #gnuenterprise. im not sure exactly your definition of query by example Example form has a date/time field which is tracking the time that the transaction occurs... to QBE, you just enter part of the date, and submit your query. eg: 2003-05 would give you all transactions for May, 2003 perhaps i should explain what we do have currently we do what we call 'in-line' queries so you have a form with first name last name city on it if i click 'prepare query' button then type Fred in first name field and click 'execute query' it returns only records with Fred as the first name if were to do F% You get Fred and Frank right we also have 'sloppy query' modes so you wouldnt need to type the % we plan on making 'filter' widgets which i forsee as having QBE type wizard to narrow down record sets What I have experienced as "Query-By-Example" sounds similar to the 'Sloppy Query' mode also i could see the in-line query methodolgy getting more robust so power users could do some neat tricks i.e. a smarter sloppyquery mode Though... QBE can also be used like "10:15" meaning show me the transactions from 10:15 AM today right we _dont_ currently do that but i could see us making query modes like sloppy that are more 'intelligent' Dates are where I use it most, but also tend to use it in the 'in-line' and 'sloppy' modes i suggest you download GNU Enterprise and play a bit likely it wont replace your ERP today but it might give you some idea where we are at and better yet let you give us lots of valuable feedback on where we are falling short :) I downloaded the Windows version (yeah, yeah...) but couldn't get it to talk to either my MySQL DB nor an ODBC based connection to a MSSQL server hmmmm btami would be the man to talk to i dont know what 0.5.0 installs by default in way of db drivers on windows did you make sure your connections.conf was setup ok? and database up and running? Grins... problem is: Downloaded at work... No IRC at work. Slow, unreliable connection at home (where I can get on IRC) Action: derek can solve no irc at work for you DB Server runs the Remedy Action Request System... So I **KNOW** it's up and running... otherwise the pager would be going off I read the IRC logs by web at work http://www.gnuenterprise.org/cgi-bin/irc-proxy/irc.cgi that url will give you realtime irc from any machine that browse webpages i.e. it is magic and avoids nasty firewalls ;) Action: derek is curious if you have an existing ERP (that you appear to be fond of) and are using MSSQL (and MS clients)... which leads me to believe it's a M$ shop Won't take them long.... They are pretty good at locking down our firewalls why are you researching GNU Enterprise They are even blocking http requests with "MP3" in the name someon: for them to stop that at the firewall they would have to basically block the gnuenterprise.org domain on port 80 Remedy's ARS is cost-prohibitive for me to be able to do what I want with it... (Ballpark cost US$1000 / seat) not that they couldn't but i suspect if you use sparingly there will little reason for them to pursue you ;) Action: derek will play devil's advocate if you own the software already and the infrastructure sub_pop_culture (~link@129.210.184.56) left irc: "Client exiting" is there no fear that switching in and of its self will be expensive? i.e. while $1000 a seat is ghastly the implementation costs and rollouts are generally the largest cost of implementation many of those would have to be 're occurred' in switching a package We've been working on the implementation for about 3 years.... btw: im about as staunch free software loyalist as it gets so im very excited to see the interest i'm just throwing the critics arguments before you to see why you seem to be breakign the mold ;) As it's all mostly historical data, it wouldn't be too bad to migrate. as it might help us in our marketing strategies to understand the thought processes of those willing to diverge from the norm Also, in order to maintain current support, we have to stay with the current version of the software.... the forms from which we have customised. ouch SO... When a new version comes out, we have to either re-invest in customising and figuring out what they are doing / what has changed, or stay off of current version. is thier support contract 'mandated' as part of support as well As it is, we are a minor and a micro version behind. i.e. i suppose its $100/seat er $1000/seat plus some percentage of that fee annually for support say $200/seat 15% so yeah, about $200 / year.. only the first year is mandatory thats gracious after the first year what do they do no free upgrade w/o purchase of support for the seat? Action: derek is always curious about licensing They will let you sway in the wind.... Action: derek knows this has jack to do with your evaluation of GNU Enterprise The support contract allows you to stay current on they client tools and the server tools for "no additional cost" We are an unusual shop... High usage of M$ any reason for that But at the same time, about 1/2 of our IT Support team is big on Open Source (read as-We can get the source, if we want it, but the product is not necessarily free) i.e. were you m$ before and just stayed that way? Yeah, consultants that were hired before the Techs and set it all up on M$... GNU Enterprise could be helpful in that regard But now we have a fair number of "irreplaceable" apps that only run on M$Win. as much as we loathe the redmond machine we know supporting their platform is important to encourage people to do some transitions to freedom :) Nods... Exactly. we have this sucker^H^H^H^H^H^H^H hero named btami that is doing GREAT things with win32 for us nearly has a native win32 driver and has really improved the installs on windows Nods, I've been able to get his win32 forms client installed and running, but I seem to have issues with my config.... I think that in additon to the install.exe, I have to have python installed as well for development of forms should not have to but i am not expert there i would say if you do development, have experience and will be using a lot it would be well worth have cvs and all the dependencies installed so you can build own installs and do development/patch work if necessary its just a lot more 'effort' to evaluate I'm no coder :( ah you should be able to develop forms on a machine w/o having python installed i.e. the win binaries should be installing it Yeah, like I said... forms seems to run correctly - I get the welcome form and its triggers correctly... but can't connect to a DB. Action: derek suspects its one of three things (i will list in order of likelihood) 1. connections.conf is setup incorrectly or not being pointed to properly by the installer. 2. the driver you are trying to use was not included to install by the installer. 3. there is some problem with your database not accepting connections a. invalid permissions b. not listening on tcp/ip ports c. firewall/routing issues Connections.conf was modified using connections.gfd Action: derek has never used connections.gfd Same ODBC connection is accessable in OpenOffice.org 1.0 i always edit by hand so there could be problems with that (not sure) I've looked at it, and it "looks" ok. Action: derek is thinking odbc driver (for forms) is not installed in binary (mxODBC) or whatever is used though it used to be could be... btami would have to answer that Though I can't connect native to MySQL either... sorry... don't have access to PostgeSQL do you recall either the 'errors' you got or the location of the connections.conf file Action: derek has no windows box here to test :( No errors... Thought I should get the Debug-on version. i can try at work tommorrow for you out of box er tomorrow connections.conf is in $INSTALLDIR$/etc/connections.conf D'oh! s/$INSTALLDIR$/$INSTALLDIR wt_ (foobar@cpe-066-061-064-130.midsouth.rr.com) joined #gnuenterprise. anyone here? nope we all left Yup... Actually a good conversation going on :P someon: a really good conversation includes lots of trout slappings tonight has been far to civil Action: derek is beginning to feel im in some alternate GNU Enterprise universe ah Action: derek beckons for jcater, chillywilly, Vee2d2 and the other troublemakers around here I am trying to connect to a postgresql db Action: someon is surprised... talk is actually about GNUe! it 's not working it comes up with a user/pass box when I select the connection in designer Action: derek fishes around.... pulls out a fresh box of krispy kremes, sets on the proverbial irc table and opens the box... slowly backing away developer bait? but alas, stderr says unable to connect to dbname wt_: can we step back 4 paces? 1. what version of designer/common 2. what postgres driver 3. what version of postgres 4. client os and server os (if different) designer in the unofficial debian archive sid? version 0.5.0 oh unofficial not sid ok 0.5.0 which postgres driver? btw, why does the modal about dialog not stay on top of the app I was able to cover it with the app even though the app doen't respond provider = psycopg probably depends on your window manager and the toolkit you are using on GNU Enterprise (wx, gtk2, qt, etc) kde derek: bah Action: derek troutslaps chillywilly (ah normality restored) here is my connections.conf [tutorial] comment = blah What? the box of KK is not enough to draw out chillywilly? Action: chillywilly smacks derek w/ a halibut provider=psycopg host = localhost someon: wtf? dbname=gnue wt_ if you have no allegiance to psycopg, i suggest moving to popy for now (as psycopg appears to be not liking timestamps), but we can do that after we get you working wt_ do you have database in postgres call gnue? from command line what happens if you do psql -h localhost GNU Enterprise yes even created a zipcode table in it I can look at the tables within the designer Action: Vee2d2 watches derek's xchat fsck his example ok Vee2d2: yeah i noticed that Action: derek blushes morning, btw. =) btw, popy appears to be crappier than psycopg someon: note two out of three came for the donuts... though the most likely candidate still hasn't derek: good call! so wt_ what is the error you get exactly then i thought this was when browsing a form okay check this out what's up with all these new people? started gnue-designer select file->connect to->tutorial I am trying to connect to a postgresql db , was initial problem scope, but if you see tables you are connecting :) enter user and pass stdout reports "Unable to connect to tutorial" err s/stdout/stderr/ you can also specify the username and password for the db in the connections.conf file if the login dialog annoys you oh how? username=dfjslkfj password=fjdsfjkls ? something like that no no @%$#%@$# but wait that's my password but, I dont think it will help with your current problem. =) if you can't connect how are you seeing the tables in designer? it doesn't tools -> schema navigator I recall having an issue, because the user didnt have a password set, is there a password set for the user? doh select the connection for tutorial im seeing the 'unable to connect' but i appear connected i have trust set as this is all local setup I am all local is there a way to use unix sockets instead of localhost? yeah i think so so I can get rid of the extra crap in my postgres pg_hba.conf file been a while since i dorked with it i think its all connections.conf parameters I have never heard that expression dorked what is this the frickin postgres support channel? Action: derek slaps chillywilly with a rattlesnake no...howto use gnue with postgres that's what this is all about figures we should move to locales when it comes to slapping each other with animals Action: derek suspects Vee2d2 will be weilding armadillos or something fancy Action: chillywilly smacks derek with a badger Action: Vee2d2 ponders too late lost your turn so...how do i actually do anything if I am actually connected? Action: Vee2d2 reaches and slaps chillywilly with a fire ant havoc_lt (~havoc@CPE-65-31-171-97.wi.rr.com) joined #gnuenterprise. heya havoc try to do a wizard bah Vee2d2: I can get a hold of some of those Action: derek goes to grab these debs so i can beat on them properly Vee2d2: wouldn't it be more pertinent to stick them down someone's pants or something? Vee2d2: fireants today killed a 3 month old here in phoenix (er buckeye) they suck.. was asleep in her crib and they attacked her legs (About 150 of them) and stopped her breathing how do you get them in your house? don't youse guys use some insect spray? or whatnot I try to avoid chemicals hahahahahahahahaha dsmith (urzupsmug0@oh-strongsvillecadent1-1d-165.clvhoh.adelphia.net) left irc: "later.." hahahaha Action: derek suspects chillywilly has never dealt with fire ants btami (~tamas@ip102-205.ktv.tiszanet.hu) joined #gnuenterprise. morning those bastards WONT die derek: I have visited NC and have dealt with them derek: two words: "Flame Thrower" havoc_lt: that will only 'move' them i.e. you can kill 'some' of them but unless you eradicate the nest they will come back in fields here its kerosene down the hole and a match but thats not practical near the house The mere existence of the flame-thrower implies that somewhere, sometime, someone said 'You see that person over there? I'd really like to light them on fire, but I can't quite reach' good point that's a George Carlin quote, BTW so so lick me Action: derek suspects it was invented by three stoned guys sitting on diifferent couches the schema viewers show my tables with I tell it to show only views one forgot to pass the lighter with th ebong and though... woudl be cooll if i could light that from over here wt_ im upgrading to that version of deb boo derek: try again to see wwhat brokeness lies within btami: I was told you were the guuy to talk to about GNUe on Win32... jbailey debs are the latest, right? derek: are you sure that were fireants? lupo__: no im not they have to actually 'test' them someon: ? the have quarantined(er trapped) the ants that did the attacking and will know shortly btami: did you bundle odbc and/or mysql drivers with the win32 binaries? for 0.5.0 yes someon: is running them but cant connect to odbc or mysql database btami: Can't seem to connect with either... Oh well.. must be my error he thinks his connections.conf is right btami: what about postgresql drivers? but he cant paste it right now so can neither confirm or deny that Solenopsis invicta; well that's it. They are indeed dangerous. wt_: it's boundled too (postgresql, mysql, sap-db, firebird, odbc) I'm using the simple [section] /n provider=mysql /n host=192.168.103.12 /n port=3306 btami: sweet they suck, lupo. =) btami: i have started to try to do some stuff with postgres and gnue I am just playing for now though I guess I have to dig deeper... so....how do I actually use a datasource to display info on a form? wt_ it appears designer debs are dorked best i can tell designer wizards do NOT work Action: derek is going to try cvs real quick been a while, suppose the update is gonna take a few minutes guess I'll wait for updated debs then Action: derek runs tot get a drink these kinda don't work ...at all wt_ in the past the deb stuff has mostly been 'placement' issues i normally test and iron out with jeff apparently .png's are in the wrong places but i haavent had chance to look at the 0.5.0 stuff yet wt_: on win32 you can use pgsql or psycopg as provider in connection.conf reinhard (~reinhard@M1259P028.adsl.highway.telekom.at) joined #gnuenterprise. corrercct that is the first give away that no one has tested this to me :) oh...you have to install python on windows, eh? eh, pypgsql wt_ nope well yes and no the install shouldnt make you have python but rather installs python for you (as a dll) Action: derek notes im speaking out butt as i ahvent seen the new install yet what is a "Block" (at the top of the designer window? but im reckoning it doesnt prerequire anything a form control basically you have datasources a form control? ok to control (group data) and you have blocks to control (group widgets) that might be a bad definition of it i try to forget blocks exist a lot oh as they used to be used a lot in place of datasource for navigation stuff and it drove me mad so now I can somehow magically tie this block to, say, a combobox? but i think that is less the case now let me give small example you have a datasource called foo you can now set the datasource of the block bar equal to foo i think blocks are for navigating between different datasources now any widget you place within the foo block er bar block will have the bar datasource okay I got it so that you can modularize where widgets draw thier data from it used to really bother me as we pretty much only used to data stuff with it and so it seemed redundant of datasource but now we do much more with it in regards to layout okay I have a combo box that actually pulls its content from my data rock on Are there plans for a table field? That interacts with the current form entry? combo boxes are good examples of where the combo widget uses the blocks data source BUT the contents of the combobox come from another datasource and so in the widget you reference that datasource directly datasource defines the 'table' you are looking at table="item_category"/> for example derek: Thanks... answered the question when i said block did layout that is bad explanation a case where it does a little more than data is doing a 'grid' for example would make and field in this block be repeated 10 times so instead of name _______ how do I make the combo box draw from a block instead of directly from the datasource? which would be rows = "1" you would get name -------- [01:35] Last message repeated 7 time(s). [01:35] Last message repeated 1 time(s). you are speaking gfd xml to a total newbie here -------- Action: someon is a Newb too. you want the combo to draw from the datasource okay so what is the block for then? i.e. the contents of the combo should come directly from a datasource it is also tied to my datasource fk_key="id" fk_source="dtsItemCategory" max_length="34"/> is an example of a lookup er combobox the block it is in points to datasourceX so the value that gets saved will be they should seriously be called combo boxes datasourceX.parent not drop down entries the contents that get displayed in that box are dtsItemCategory.description (storing dtsItemCategory.id in datasoruceX.parent) a bit confusing at first glance but in designer its fairly straight forward we need webex type capabilities if i were to offer a VNC based training class would people be interested? I would... =-) I would im putting together courseware (or planned to) hahaha in my free time and............... SEGFAULT in Designer I must sleep now ciao peopl but would rather do some classes and get others maybe doing courseware bye wt wt_ i will bug jbailey on fixing the debs night thanks laters wt_ (foobar@cpe-066-061-064-130.midsouth.rr.com) left #gnuenterprise. whew cvs looks ok