Alpha Anywhere Runtime License
- Runtime
- Runtime+
- Netmailer for Runtime
- ReportMailer for Runtime
- Distributing Runtime Applications - Licensing Issues
- How to Distribute a Runtime Application
- Installing a Runtime Application on a User's Computer
- Starting the Alpha Anywhere Runtime
- Command Line Options
- -TITLE=<title>
- -SPLASH=
- -ICON=
- -NOSPLASH
- -COMMAND=
- -INCLUDE=
- Runtime Title bar with a custom icon and title
- Runtime Title bar with standard icon and title
- Examples
- How to Make a Shortcut
Description
The Alpha Anywhere Runtime allows other users to run your Alpha Anywhere applications, but not to modify them (with certain exceptions). The following Runtime products are available.
Runtime
No user modifications allowed.
Runtime+
Allows modification of Reports, Letters, and Labels
Netmailer for Runtime
Has the same features as the Netmailer standard edition, but can be distributed with an Alpha Anywhere Runtime application.
Netmailer is sold as an add-in to Alpha Anywhere. Contact sales at Alpha Software for more information.ReportMailer for Runtime
Has the same features as ReportMailer , but allows for unlimited distribution with an Alpha Anywhere Runtime Application. Not available for V5 Runtime
The Alpha Anywhere Runtime is ideal for commercial developers who would like to sell applications that they have developed in Alpha Anywhere. It is also ideal for corporate developers who have developed an application that they would like to deploy to many users within their organization. Runtime users cannot make any modifications to your application, or add new objects to the application. For example, Runtime users cannot:
Edit layouts (such as forms or reports)
Create new layouts
Edit table structures
Edit field rules
Define or delete indexes
Create new tables or sets
Edit scripts
Create new scripts
In addition, Runtime applications cannot use the ODBC Import Genie, or ODBC_IMPORT_TABLE() function. You can design your application so that the fact that the application is written in Alpha Anywhere is largely hidden from your customers or users. For example you can:
Specify your own splash screen image to display when the Runtime loads
Turn off the splash screen completely when the Runtime loads
Specify your own icon to display on the Runtime Title bar, and on the Task bar
Specify your own title for the Title bar and Task bar, rather than the standard "Alpha Anywhere" title.
Customize all menus and toolbars.
Distributing Runtime Applications - Licensing Issues
The number of users who can use your application concurrently on any network is based on the type of Runtime that you purchased. The people to whom you distribute the Alpha Anywhere Runtime may not, in turn, distribute any copies of the Alpha Anywhere Runtime. For example, if you purchased an "Unlimited 10-User Runtime", then a maximum of 10 users can use your application concurrently on any particular network. If you purchased an Unlimited User Runtime, then there are no limitations on the number of concurrent users of your application.
How to Distribute a Runtime Application
In order to distribute an application to another user, you must distribute a copy of your own application files, and a copy of the Alpha Anywhere Runtime. You retain the copyright on your application files. Alpha Software retains the copyright on the Alpha Anywhere Runtime files. You are free to make copies of the Alpha Anywhere Runtime Installation Program (setup.exe) to distribute to your users. You can burn your own CDs with these files.
You will have to create another installation program to install your application files. These files are the files with the following extensions:
- Extension
- Description
- ADB
Alpha Anywhere Database
- ALB
Data Dictionary for Database
- ALM
Data Dictionary for Database (memo file)
- ALX
Data Dictionary for Database (index file)
- CDX
Index file for a table
- DBF
Table
- DDD
Data Dictionary for a table
- DDM
Data Dictionary for a table (memo file)
- DDX
Data Dictionary for a table (index file)
- FPT
Memo file for a table
- SEM
Set (memo files)
- SET
Set
- SEX
Set (index file)
It is recommended that when you develop your application, you place all of the files that belong to that application in a single folder. Then you can be sure that as long as you install all of the files from this folder on your users' machines, you will have included all of the necessary application files.
To create an installation program for your application you must use a 3rd party program such as InstallShield or Wise Install Maker.
Installing a Runtime Application on a User's Computer
You should install the Alpha Anywhere Runtime on each user's local machine. DO NOT INSTALL A SINGLE COPY OF THE RUNTIME ON A SERVER FOR USERS TO SHARE FROM THEIR DESKTOPS. Doing so could result in serious performance degradation.
If your application is designed to be run in a network environment, you should consider taking advantage of Alpha Anywhere's Network Optimization feature. You should install a master copy of your application on a shared folder on the network, and you should also install shadow copies of your application (created using Alpha Anywhere's Network Optimize command) on each user's local machine.
Remember:
Each client workstation must have read/write privileges to the database folder on the "server".
Each user must have read/write privileges to the registry on their workstation (i.e. as a Power User or Administrator).
Starting the Alpha Anywhere Runtime
To start the Alpha Anywhere Runtime, you can use the following command:
alpha5 <.adb file> -TITLE=<title> -ICON-<icon> -SPLASH=<splash> -NOSPLASH -INCLUDE=<file>
Command Line Options
-TITLE=<title>
Change the displayed title for the main Alpha Anywhere window.
-TITLE="Customers"
-SPLASH=<bitmap>
Change the splash screen bitmap that displays when the Alpha Anywhere Runtime loads.
-SPLASH=clock.bmp
-ICON=<icon>
Change the icon that displays on the Alpha Anywhere Runtime title bar.
-ICON=logo.ico
-NOSPLASH
Do not display a splash screen when the Alpha Anywhere Runtime loads.
-NOSPLASH
-COMMAND=<Xbasic>
Runs the specified Xbasic commands after the Alpha Anywhere Runtime starts.
-INCLUDE=<file>
When you have more command line options than can fit on one line, you can create an ASCII file with the command line options in the file. Put one option per line. Use this option to specify the name of the ascii file.
-INCLUDE=start.txt
The following example shows how the Alpha Anywhere Runtime Title bar can be changed:
The following example shows how the Windows Task bar can be customized to show your own icon for the Alpha Anywhere Runtime:
Task bar showing Runtime with a custom icon and title
Task bar showing Runtime with standard icon and title
Examples
The following command starts the Alpha Anywhere Runtime, loads a database (an .adb file) called "Orders" that is stored in the "c:\Orders" folder, changes the title of the Alpha Anywhere Runtime title bar to "Orders", uses a bitmap called "NewAgeSolutions.bmp" for the splash screen, and uses an icon called "orders.ico" for the icon on the Title bar and the Task bar:
C:\a5runtime\alpha5.exe "c:\orders\orders.adb" -title="Orders" -splash="NewAgeSolutions.bmp" -icon="orders.ico"
The following command starts the Alpha Anywhere Runtime, loads a database called orders, and opens a file called "start.txt" which contains a list of command line options:
C:\a5runtime\alpha5.exe "c:\orders\orders.adb" -include=start.txt
Start.txt is an ASCII file that might contain the following text:
-title="Orders" -splash="NewAgeSolutions.bmp" -icon="orders.ico"
The following command starts the Alpha Anywhere Runtime, loads a database called orders, and defines, then sets a global variables:
C:\a5runtime\alpha5.exe "c:\orders\orders.adb" -COMMAND="DIM GLOBAL VPath as C; VPath = \"myfile.adb\""
How to Make a Shortcut
After starting Alpha Anywhere from the Control Panel, select Tools > Create Shortcut... .
See Also