🚀 go-pugleaf

Joseph Gilmour wrote:

> First sorry for the cross post. I just didn't know exactly where to post
> this query.
>
> I have an application written in MS Access (97) and SQL Server back end,
> there are a lot of modules and VB code not just a bunch of auto
> generated forms.  It is a POS, inventory management and reporting
> suite.  I would like to migrate across to a language that lets me run it
> on its own without the need for MS Access and then able to compile (i.e.
> Delphi/Kylix) or run straight (i.e. Java or Web based) on Windows or
> Linux.
>
> The options I've considered are:
>
>    * Java - Gives me true cross platform functionality but performance
>      wont be that good on some of the older computers.  Pentium 166 32M
>      is the slowest.
>    * Delphi/Kylix - Should give me very fast applications and good ease
>      of programming.  Seems to handle the data side very well (in Delphi
>      at least I haven't tried Kylix yet as there is no trial download).
>    * Web based using client side and server side scripts - This would
>      make the changes the easiest to update across the network but I am
>      then still relying on other software. For some reason I just can't
>      seem to trust either IE or Netscape to stay consistent.  Also I
>      feel I might lose some speed in this case.
>
> My questions are:
>
> What would I lose in ease of programming?  MS Access has been very easy
> for me to add complex reports and data manipulation routines.
>
> I have tried the Delphi download and it handles database connections
> well so I could make my application.  Would Kylix work as well and do
> the commercial IDE/RAD tools for Java do the same?  I've tried JBuilder
> foundation but of course there is no dataexpress etc.
>
> Do Java applications work well left running 24/7?  When I've left a Java
> application running on my machine overnight it seems to take forever to
> get going again in the morning.
>
> Does Java support direct printing to serial and parallel ports?  We use
> old dot matrix printers for receipts and some reports (hey they're
> really cheap) and the cash drawers are opened by sending a short string
> to the port they're connected to.
>
> The reporting tools in MS Access are very good.  Am I likely to be able
> to create complex reports using Java or Delphi/Kylix as easily?  E.g.
> the End of Day till report lists totals collected returned, account
> sales and any till withdrawals and who made them.  In MS Access this is
> not a hard report to generate although it does use a few pages of code
> in addition to the Access field source queries.
>
> I hope this all makes sense.
>
> Any help is appreciated.
>
> TIA
>
> Joe Gilmour
> Melbourne Australia