[SOLVED] Paradox, anyone using this writting an app or know?

[1HuntnMan]

Hello All, I'm new to Lazarus but not pascal. In my younger years programmed a lot of apps for small to medium sized companies. Started out with Clipper, then moved to Delphi 5 and then Delphi 7. When I quit Clipper and moved to Delphi I also started designing these small business system using a Paradox database which was supported back then by Borland's Delphi.  Just curious, I saw a screen shot of Lazarus on a website that had the Paradox component but it's not in my Lazarus install. Since I'm new to Lazarus and writing a single user system, not more than 3 people using it at the same time I foresee, I don't see the need to start out with SQLite or Firebird because I don't have any experience with either and would have to go thru a learning curve. I've started developing with TDbf but have all these Delphi apps that were designed with Paradox databases.
Thanks,
Donald aka 1HuntnMan

[Handoko]

I tried Lazarus + Paradox long ago. It was working good, I had no complaint about it. But it seemed to me TDBF was better maintained so I abandoned Paradox and used TDBF. I now learning and using Firebird.

If you can use TDBF, learning Firebird or other SQL-based databases isn't hard. The main reason I abandoned TDBF is a potential license issue, read more here:
https://forum.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php/topic,60100.msg448769.html#msg448769

To enable LazParadox in your Lazarus:
Lazarus main menu > Package > Install/Uninstal Packages > on the right panel, search for: lazparadox 0.0 > Instal selection > Save and rebuild IDE > wait until the Lazarus restart

To install TParadoxDataset in your Lazarus:
Lazarus main menu > Package > Online Package Manager > search for: TParadoxDataset > Click the checkbox > Install > follow the instruction until finished

[wp]

To enable LazParadox in your Lazarus:
Lazarus main menu > Package > Install/Uninstal Packages > on the right panel, search for: lazparadox 0.0 > Instal selection > Save and rebuild IDE > wait until the Lazarus restart

Be prepared for problems: the paradox package coming with Lazarus requires the pxlib.dll accessible by the IDE, and this dll - AFAIK - exists only for 32 bit. If these conditions are not met your IDE will not start any more!

To install TParadoxDataset in your Lazarus:
Lazarus main menu > Package > Online Package Manager > search for: TParadoxDataset > Click the checkbox > Install > follow the instruction until finished

That's better, but only for reading...

[Handoko]

Be prepared for problems: the paradox package coming with Lazarus requires the pxlib.dll accessible by the IDE, and this dll - AFAIK - exists only for 32 bit.

As I said long ago. That was when I was using WinXP, which means 32-bit.

[korba812]

If you are not planning to convert a Paradox database to something more widely supported then my advice is to stay with Delphi. Delphi supports Paradox through BDE, so you can use SQL and QBE queries. The pxlib library provides only basic access to the database files, provides only basic index support and does not support SQL queries.

[TNesler]

Would it make more sense to convert your Paradox files to DBase Files?  Is DBase supported better in Lazarus/FPC?  I ask because I too am starting to use Lazarus from Dephi and have existing programs I want to convert.

[cdbc]

Hi
If you're gonna convert, then go the extra mile and convert to SQLite3 right away, makes much more sense 
Then you'll be in "Sql-Country" and the step towards multi-user sql-engines is much smaller 
Regards Benny

[Thaddy]

There is Paradox support as mentioned, but it is merely to convert to other, more better supported and SQL capable formats. The same goes for DBF support. There is, pretty good, support for both formats, to be able to convert it to something more modern.
I still have to use Paradox and DBF format, but only to convert to a more modern format. Don't use both formats for new development. EVER!
(Hurts me a bit because I wrote some Paradox and DBF compatible engines back in the days, but both formats have passed their sell-by date)

[egsuh]

If SQL feature is not necessary, I think TSQLiteDataSet or something will provide similar functionalities with BDE-paradox. Doesn't it? So, moving to SQLite is recommended, I think.

[MarkMLl]

Don't use both formats for new development. EVER!

Thaddy, in the interest of getting an unambiguous point over to OP, do you mean

"Don't ever use Paradox, and don't ever use DBF!"

or

"Don't try to use both at the same time!".

My own opinion is that both are true, and frankly I'd lean towards the first- stronger- interpretation.

MarkMLl

[Thaddy]

What I mean is don't ever use Paradox or dbf format (any dbf format) for new projects and use the Paradox or DBF support from Freepascal to port your applications to a better supported and current format. So don't use legacy. There is one  exception: maintenance of an older application may be an acceptabele reason.
My advice for newer formats would be either Progress or MariaDb/MySql for complex multi-user programs or Sqlite for single user. (Don't use firestarter or whatever it is called)

[MarkMLl]

Thanks for that, I agree. In particular, I've seen people trying (with various degrees of success) to use Paradox multi-user for decades: bad idea. /Very/ bad idea, allowing for the ready availability of proper client-server databases from the early 00s onwards.

I think you mean Firebird, but the name does appear to vary a bit. The major problem I had with that when I looked (admittedly, some years ago) was documentation: essential information spread over too many manuals and errata. OTOH, with the exception of e.g. role creation its syntax was usefully compatible with PostgreSQL: fairly easy to write a program which could use either.

MarkMLl

p.s. What's "progress"?

[Zvoni]

p.s. What's "progress"?

No idea if it's just a Typo of Thaddy (maybe he meant PostGres), but "Progress" actually is a RDBMS
https://www.progress.com/openedge

[Thaddy]

https://www.postgresql.org/
One of the most used and capable open source  SQL database

[MarkMLl]

https://www.postgresql.org/
One of the most used and capable open source  SQL database

Yes, and which I've been using for 20+ years.

I though that was probably what you meant, but particularly when a relative newcomer is asking for advice I think it behooves everybody to try to be unambiguous.

MarkMLl