Customer Reviews

Avanquest Alpha Five 5.0

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Over the years this software has improved by leaps and bounds. It was one of the first user friendly Dbase systems out there with a fully functional relational structure for PCs even in the old DOS days, when it was called Alpha Four, which by the way, some people still use!

Why is it good? The answer is that it is well designed, in fact so well designed it can write its own code in the background. Novice users can create very flashy and effective front ends to their own data or create a client for most of the top SQL databases, and the like out there. For the heavy hitters and code junkies, there is a very potent version of basic (X-Basic). This tool is potent enough, that the developers use it for creating new components for Alpha Five especially for menu boxes and the like. There is also an Action Scripting facility that works rather like a macro pick list so that you can construct menus and a host of other facilities for your system and make it look very professional. The cute thing is that the scripting facility writes code behind the scenes that the wiz kids can adapt and improve. For people like me I stay with the scripting and venture very little into the code area. Though if you want to you can list the code and get a good idea what it does from the layout and comments in the script. Not many systems can do that!

One other, amongst many, thing is that there is a thriving online blog and message board facility for keeping up with the producers of the product and yes they do actually email you back. Problems can be aired on the message board and usually answers come in a hour to a day or so. Free of charge.

I have had emails and phone conversations with the guys who invented it. No I am not paid by them, I don't need to be. Yesterday I got, in the post, a DVD on Alpha Five v9 Total Training. If you venture to try this software the DVD will very rapidly get you up to speed.
Don't take my word for any of this, go to their web site at "Alphasoftware.com" and view the videos then download a trial version and see what you think. By the way there is excellent documentation and the like for users all noted for you on their web site.

Yes you can go ahead and buy it too.

Howard R Gray

I was introduced to this product by an acquaintance. He showed me how to use it briefly and i must say i was impressed.
So, when i had a need for a database, i decided to give it a try after much frustration with Access. It is more "user friendly" than Access, and lends more ability to customize for us newbies that lack indepth knowledge or limited knowledge at least.
The instruction manual that came with it is pretty easy to understand and follow as well.
I gave it four stars because i have not used it to it's full potential to date so have a limited understanding of it's entire program.