FoxPro                     database dbms IBM PC XT
A Fast DBMS with a Mac Feel
 
Microbytes Daily News Service
Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
It looks like a program for the Macintosh. But it runs in
character mode for maximum speed on the IBM PC. It's FoxPro, a
relational database management system that Fox says runs up to
15 times faster than dBASE III Plus in performing common mixed
database operations while letting you open up to 25 databases
at once. FoxPro's windowing environment includes pull-down
menus, scroll bars, zoomable windows, and support for color and
a mouse.
 
FoxPro 1.0 eliminates the basic limitations of string and memo
fields: string fields can store up to 64K bytes of characters
and memo fields can store an unlimited amount of data, Fox
reports. Memo fields can handle binary data such as a scanned
image or even sound information.
 
FoxPro's nonprocedural operations, combined with the Mac-like
interface, make it easy for a beginner to use the program, Fox
reports. A View window lets you define new databases and
relationships without full knowledge of the language syntax. An
object-oriented report writer lets you create a report in
columnar or free-form styles by drawing the desired report
layout. Labels can be created without programming in FoxPro.
The program also gives you on-screen preview of reports and
labels.
 
For programmers and developers, FoxPro provides source level
debugging facilities such as a trace window, debug window, and
breakpoints.
 
FoxPro runs on the IBM PC XT with 512K bytes of RAM. Fox says
the program is currently at the beta stage. Shrinkwrap is
scheduled to ship by the end of October; a LAN version is
scheduled to ship a month later, Fox says.
 
Price: $795; FoxPro LAN, $1095.
 
Contact: Fox Software, Inc., 134 W. South Boundary, Perrysburg,
OH 43551, (419) 874-0162.
 
                              --- David L. Andrews
 
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