This isn't really an issue, as much as it is a question.



I work remotely from the StrataFrame database. I have to open an VPN in order to have access to StrataFrame server. Most of the time, this works fine. However, there are just too many points of failure. I currently working on a piddly little test project to try something out. I don't even need any SF features, but because the server that hosts the SF database is currently wacked (some hardware issue), every single time I show the designer of a form, I have a 30sec to 1 min wait because the SF database can't be contacted. Because this database has to be contacted, there are about a million points of failure:



1. I have to have a network connection...lighting strikes have toasted this before (causing my ISP to go down)

2. VPN has to be up and running....I forget to start it all the time. Or its down.

3. Db server has to be up (and it isn't right now).



I could really do without all this excitement.



I seem to recall there were plans to move the meta data currently stored in the SF database to some other mechanism that could travel with the project. So, the questions are:



a) how would this work? XML file or something?

b) when? Now would be a great time for at least one of us!



Thanks for putting up with this rant and answering the questions...

Count me in

Edhy Rijo

We are going to change this in future releases for this very reason.  But you still have the issue of localization, DDT, etc. that will still be SQL based, so you would not be able to search for or add new localization keys which is generally not the issue.

This will be in an XML format most likely.  As for when, it will probably not happen until fall.  This is a pretty big change, but it is most definitely something that we will do.

As for working locally, just install a local copy of SQL Server Express and load the SF database on that local machine.  It will eliminate all of the timeouts.  You can create as many SF connections as you like to the SF database, so just create one for working local...this is what I do.

Thanks Trent. I did load a local copy of the SF database and that helped a lot. I'm currently investing heavily in a "faster than thought" coding mechanism, so when I get that working I'll let you know so we can speed up this development. My design is based on a classic:



http://zapatopi.net/afdb/



Originally, the design for for thought control, but that was just silly. I realized that the form factor was perfect for a thought based input mechanism for the computer. Then I realized that with a few simple Borg implants (http://www.startrek-voyager.info/j.html), I could have faster than thought input!