visual foxpro devcon 98 course dev-15a/b vfp in action case study/demonstration brian jones dpra,...
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Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Course DEV-15A/B
VFP in ActionVFP in Action
Case Study/DemonstrationCase Study/Demonstration
Brian JonesBrian Jones
DPRA, Inc.DPRA, Inc.
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Who Am I
Brian JonesBrian Jones Director, Information SystemsDirector, Information Systems DPRA, Inc.DPRA, Inc. Oak Ridge, TennesseeOak Ridge, Tennessee [email protected] or [email protected] or
[email protected]@ornl.gov
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Background
DoD creates United States DoD creates United States Transportation CommandTransportation Command manager for all DoD transportationmanager for all DoD transportation develop transportation plans for U.S. develop transportation plans for U.S.
National Defense PlansNational Defense Plans all modes of transportation: air, land, and all modes of transportation: air, land, and
seasea
WargameWargame evaluate command & control proceduresevaluate command & control procedures test transportation analysis softwaretest transportation analysis software
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Findings
Software systems too complexSoftware systems too complex Models too aggregateModels too aggregate Run by technicians v. plannersRun by technicians v. planners Not responsive to real-time Not responsive to real-time
changeschanges
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Paradigm Shift
From:From: FORTRAN, Ada, LISPFORTRAN, Ada, LISP mainframesmainframes UNIX workstations/serversUNIX workstations/servers cumbersome (operated by technicians)cumbersome (operated by technicians) expensiveexpensive
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Paradigm Shift
To:To: PC platformPC platform mainstream app. development mainstream app. development
languageslanguages GUIsGUIs designed for planners (human designed for planners (human
factors, reduced complexity)factors, reduced complexity) bring transportation analysis into bring transportation analysis into
the desktop metaphorthe desktop metaphor
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
JFASTJoint Flow and Analysis System for Transportation
Began in late 1989Began in late 1989 First prototype in three monthsFirst prototype in three months First real-world: Desert Shield First real-world: Desert Shield
(1990)(1990) Development cost cut by approx. Development cost cut by approx.
ten timesten times
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Input
Requirements data--items to move: Requirements data--items to move: people, trucks, supplies… 1-2M people, trucks, supplies… 1-2M recordsrecords
Assets: Aircraft, ships, and portsAssets: Aircraft, ships, and ports Assets characteristics over timeAssets characteristics over time Highway, rail, sea, and air network Highway, rail, sea, and air network
data data
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Output
Schedules and delivery datesSchedules and delivery dates Asset utilization profilesAsset utilization profiles Reports/GraphsReports/Graphs AnimationsAnimations Briefing slidesBriefing slides Approx. 200M output data per Approx. 200M output data per
analysisanalysis
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Tools UsedEvolving Solution
1989--FoxBase, QuickBASIC, C, 1989--FoxBase, QuickBASIC, C, FORTRAN (DOS)FORTRAN (DOS)
FoxPro, C, FORTRAN (DOS)FoxPro, C, FORTRAN (DOS) FPW, C, VB (Windows/WFW)FPW, C, VB (Windows/WFW) Present: Present: VFP, C++, C, J++ VFP, C++, C, J++
(WindowsNT)(WindowsNT)
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Why VFP?
Data-centric language/development Data-centric language/development environment environment (probably most important)(probably most important)
Local and remote dataLocal and remote data Manage large amounts of dataManage large amounts of data DBCs and free tables allow for DBCs and free tables allow for
extremely flexible designsextremely flexible designs Excellent RAD toolExcellent RAD tool
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Why VFP?
PerformancePerformance PerformancePerformance PerformancePerformance
Visual FoxPro DevCon 98
Demo