Today was a busy day for Best. They issued two new downloads on their site. The new ProvideX ODBC Manual, and an update to v6 for Windows and WindX only that corrects a couple of major issues (version 6.00.0009) (Don't worry that when you try to download the file and it says it was dated back in March, it really is the new download on the site).

    I haven't reviewed the new ODBC manual yet, but it has been described as

This brand new document covers the following topics in detail:

• Installation & Activation Procedures
• Local & Client Configuration
• Server Configuration (Windows and UNIX/Linux)
• Table Definitions (Data Dictionary & INI file)
• SQL Syntax Table With Example SQL Statements

    The changes to ProvideX are in the new readme file (still named pvx600.txt) and are the following items

    1.152 - Corrected an issue where PRINT 'PICTURE'() to a *WINPRT* device, did not always output the picture. The issue is very dependant on the Printer Drivers in use, and the revision of the GDI layer in Windows. Not every OS or installation will suffer from this issue due to a mix of dependancies.

    2.5 - Correction for ERR=41 occuring, when doing file I/O across a WindX connection, with V6 WindX.

    2.6 - Allowed for a longer (45 second) delay, rather than a short (5 second) delay for incoming data, when in the middle of a packet transmission. Previously this would show as a CRC error, rather than a timing error. A high-latency or congested network, could see spurious CRC Errors on WindX clients.

    2.7 - Corrected an issue where WindX in Telnet mode, may not complete its connection to a server, when setting the Terminal Type, and the telnet server daemon asked 2 or more telnet questions requiring responses at the same time, when those questions happened to arrive together, and the terminal type question was not the first question.

    11.5 - Corrections to the ASCII Character mode interface

    11.6 - Modifications to the Buffer Management within the App Server Daemon to allow for faster buffer draining to the outlying workstations, as well it now avoids giving "preferential" treatment to any given instance of ProvideX on any one workstation.

    11.7 - Corrections in WindX for using SSL connections to a UNIX/Linux App Server.

    11.8 - Corrected a problem where the Allow Client to Set Start-In Directory was not being saved when configuring an Application.

    11.9 - Corrections to App Server / WindX where a V6 WindX would not display log-in screens.

This weeks business basic meetup in Toronto is on at the Naughty Foxes again. Wednesday @ 8pm. See you there! If you haven't come out to a meetup yet, why wait? If you have any questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them for you.

    I just came across a reference to ProvideX available on Builder.com. This is good to see, such a large and popular site like Builder.com having a listing for ProvideX (even if all it has is a short write-up and links to download the out of date version (they link to 5.14 instead of 6). Slowly and surely ProvideX is gaining popularity. You heard it here first.

    Just wanted to let you know that I'll be out of town (and country) on business this week so will not be able to response as quickly as usual to emails and phone calls. I appreciate the understanding in the matter. Happy Easter as well!