By Dale Farris, Secretary
Golden Triangle PC Club
September 2002

Program Overview

With Alpha Five v. 5, Alpha Software, Inc., releases the latest and best version of this super relational database that continues to turn heads and gain attention, even from the most sophisticated programmers skilled in using Visual Basic and Access, Microsoft’s relational database program. For all the long life of this super program, users have continued to marvel at its ease of use and more intuitive approach to developing and managing databases than is available in other programs, especially Access.

While Alpha Five is certainly not the database for sophisticated e-commerce businesses (neither is Microsoft Access), nevertheless Alpha Five definitely does have relevant use in most small to medium sized businesses, especially where workstation users need a database program to help manage data inside their particular department.

Alpha Five v. 5 has tons of super features that are significant and highly useful for users. With Alpha Five 5 you can create a powerful database in minutes. The program intuitively walks you through every step of creating the database, whether it’s from scratch or with one of the over 40 pre-built applications and templates that come with the program. You can also easily modify these applications and templates to suit your own needs.

Alpha Five Version 5 is the most feature-filled database and application development tool ever released by Alpha Software in its 20+ year history. With Version 5 you will be able to track, report and manage any information related to your business or organization -- be it about people, projects, images, equipment or facilities. Version 5 introduces fundamental innovations to database software and adds a huge number of new capabilities that will appeal to users of all skill levels.

For End Users

A virtually limitless supply of carefully and logically thought out Genies make Version 5 of Alpha Five extremely easy to use. Version 5's revolutionary and innovative application scripting capability allows you to finally take control of your information and makes you self-sufficient in terms of being able to build sophisticated, customized, and highly automated applications and solutions for your particular business or organization.

You will find Alpha Five Version 5 is designed to provide you with enormous power and flexibility in manipulating and reporting data, without requiring that you acquire extensive programming skills. The built in Field Rules, Visual Report Writer, fully integrated e-mail, backup, integration with MS Office, security and data manipulation tools make Version 5 a true breakthrough in delivering power in "kid gloves."

For Developers

Alpha Five Version 5, with its built in languages Xbasic and Xdialog, was designed to maximize the productivity of professional developers. Based on the thousands of hours of testing that have been performed on Alpha Five, it would not be unreasonable to expect that you will be able to build highly customized solutions for your clients in a fraction of the time taken with other tools such as MS Access and Visual Basic. Think about it in terms of a real example. Estimated time taken to complete a custom application with a tool such as MS Access/Visual Basic--100 hours. Estimated time taken to complete the same application with Alpha Five--20 hours.

The major advances in Xbasic, along with the introduction of Xdialog (a high-level way of quickly building dialog boxes), the new multi-pane, color-coded Script Editor, the introduction of completely customizable menus and toolbars, an integrated debugger, auto-complete logic, and a smart Function Finder all work together to ensure that Version 5 will legitimately be a significant tool for programmers and consultants who demand a database application building tool that will allow them to produce professional, class applications in a fraction of the time taken with competing products.

Action Scripting, while designed to add next-generation ease-of-use to Alpha Five Version 5, also serves as an extremely attractive option for developers, since it automatically writes completely editable, highly-structured, and fully-commented Xbasic code, with the ability to switch from the menu system of Action Scripting to the Xbasic Code Editor. Additionally, OLE automation and support for Active X controls provide for totally extensible applications.

In short, Alpha Five is the first database designed to appeal to both end users and developers, without compromising ease-of-use or power.

Key Improvements for End Users

Action Scripting has been added, which automates over 200 different actions.

The Script Genie represents an extremely significant addition to Alpha Five. It allows you to create highly customized, fully-automated applications in an entirely menu and prompt-driven fashion. No knowledge of Xbasic, Alpha Five's programming language, is required to use the Script Genie.

Alpha Five now has powerful, fully-integrated e-mail capabilities. The e-mail capabilities can take advantage of either the users' existing e-mail client, or the built-in Alpha Five e-mail client. Users can now send and receive e-mail directly within Alpha Five, as well as e-mail reports and merge data from tables into e-mail messages.

Improved ease-of-use and flexibility with many new Genies.

A Quick Export to MS Excel has been added.

Automated mail merge with MS Word is included.

Version 5 includes a robust security framework including passwords for individual users and groups along with permissions and table encryption.

An integrated backup and restore capability has been added which also allows you to take “snapshots” of your database at various points in time.

You can now zip tables, data sets and entire databases from within Alpha Five, and even e-mail them.

Reports can now be saved in Acrobat PDF, Rich Text (RTF), HTML, or plain text (TXT) formats.

An Audit Trail feature is now included, which keeps track of changes made to a record and when the changes were made.

Spell Check has been added throughout the program.

Searching, Filtering and Querying have undergone major enhancements, resulting in easier and more powerful ways to locate data.

Forms can now have Smart Fields that, when you click on them, open a pop-up calculator, a calendar, your e-mail client, or your web browser.

The Help system has undergone major improvements making Alpha Five easier to use.

Network optimization has been enhanced.

Key Improvements for Developers

There have been dramatic improvements in the development environment, including an Xdialog Genie, a vastly enhanced, multi-pane Script Editor with auto-complete logic, color coding, auto-complete expressions, bubble help and many other features.

The capability to view the underlying XBasic code that is generated by Action Scripting, with the ability to switch from Action Scripting to the Code Editor, has been added.

Version 5 incorporates Xdialog, a superset of Xbasic, that allows you to create modal and modeless dialog boxes.

Hundreds of new methods, properties and functions have been added.

Add-ins provide the ability to add new features to Alpha Five.

There is now an Integrated Help Editor for creating application help.

The Xbasic debugger is now built directly into Alpha Five and executes considerably faster.

Profiling is now available to analyze how much time each line in a script is taking to execute.

OLE Automation and Active X support has been added to give Alpha Five virtually unlimited levels of extensibility.

Major improvements have been made to the Expression Builder, including auto-complete technology to help with syntax.

Intelligent Function Finder to locate functions easily

Other improvements include customized fonts, color-coding, expression libraries, better navigation, bubble help, and displaying of sample values

Alpha 5 v. 5 Features

Easy, Powerful Data Management

Alpha Five Version 5 is easier to use than previous versions, and is much more user-friendly than MS Access. A virtually limitless supply of carefully and logically thought out Genies provide enormous power and flexibility for manipulating and reporting on data, without requiring programming skills.

Built-in Field Rules, visual Report Writer, e-mail, backup, integration with MS Office, security and data manipulation tools make Version 5 a true breakthrough.

Easily Import and Export Data
Genies help you export data
Control the appearance of your data
Edit the look and feel of your applications
Customizable Menus
Precision control over Help Formats, Email Settings, Fonts
Browse, Analyze and Manipulate Data and Images
Advanced Database Security
Integrated Backup and Restore
Developing Applications in Alpha Five is Quicker and Easier than MS Access
Action Script: Power Without Programming
Action Scripting is one of the most exciting new features of Version 5. Action Scripting allows non-programmers to build custom applications as if you were a programmer.
Record Actions
Dialog Box Actions
E-Mail Actions
Fields Action Scripts
Find Action Scripting
Index and Miscellaneous Action Scripting
Control Scripts that you have developed
Manage Variables and Object Properties
Switch Between Action Scripting and XBasic
A5V5 Development Environment
Advanced Script Editor
Intelligent Function Finder
Integrated Debugger, Profiler, and Add-Ins
Global Search and Replace of Scripts and Functions
Expression Builder
Xdialog
Build Prompt-Driven User Interfaces
Smart Fields
Tab Controls
Control Column Headings and Set Up Navigation Controls
Display Tree Controls, Keypad Controls and Image List Controls
Precise Control Over Layout, Images and Text
Integrated E-mail
E-Mail and Export Data in a Variety of Formats
Create a Summary Database Using Genies
Convert Operations to Xbasic
Query Data
Intuitive Indexes Help You Find the Data You Need
Quick Sort and Filter
Run Find and Replace Operations Throughout Your Database
One-Click Integration with Word and Excel
New Form Designer
Design Genies Generate Forms Quickly and Easily
Smart Fields and a Variety of Control Types
Field Customization
Precise Control Over Buttons
Zoom to Records from Embedded Browsers
Create Event-Driven Forms with List Boxes, Combo Boxes and Radio Buttons
Run Scripts Directly from Forms and Browsers
Navigation and Object Exploration Tools
Report Writer
Full OLE Automation and Active X Support
Unique Field Rules and Data Dictionary for Rapid, Error-Free Data Entry
Advanced Network Optimization Enhances Network Performance
Spell Check and Audit Trails
Advanced Help Systems for Applications and for Documenting Your Applications
One-Click Field Statistics
Flexible use of Graphics

Developing Applications is Quicker and Easier in Alpha Five than in MS Access

Alpha Five version 5 allows you to develop applications easily and rapidly, whether you are a non programmer or programmer. There are many capabilities and design approaches in Alpha Five that are responsible for major ease of use and application development speed advantages over MS Access.

In particular, Alpha Five has many more genies than MS Access and these genies are available throughout Alpha Five to ensure that you will be guided through every step in Alpha Five. Alpha Five’s unique point and click Field Rules ensure that data can be entered quickly and accurately. In Access virtually all these rules would have to be manually coded. Additionally Alpha Five’s revolutionary Action Scripting makes complicated and time consuming coding a thing of the past for an enormous range of database tasks.

In particular with Application Scripting you select from a series of menus as opposed to writing tedious and intricate code.

Another example of why Alpha Five is so much more productive than MS Access can be found in the use of Field Rules. Field Rules Genies in Alpha Five provide for a huge array of choices relating to how data is entered, looked up, and checked for errors in Alpha Five. Accomplishing a similar task in MS Access would take significant time, because it would require line by line programming and would require a high degree of coding skill.

Alpha Five v. 5 Add-Ons

A5Doc - The Documentor for Alpha Five
A5Doc is a documentation and research utility for your database. It works on the meta data in your database, e.g. structures, forms, scripts, etc. Functions range from printing documentation to searching and editing Alpha Five objects. This utility will save you a tremendous amount of time by quickly showing you all the places where scripts have been saved in any database. If you defined a calculated field, but can’t remember if it was in a field rule, in a form definition, or defined as a part of the table structure, A5Doc will find it. You can also see every place that field is used! Want to know if an index definition is still being used? A5Doc has the answer.

A5Doc is automatically installed with Alpha Five, and a trial period can be started when you run this preloaded copy. To run A5Doc, right click in the white space of the Alpha Five control panel and select Addins, A5Doc. All A5Doc features are available during the trial period, so you can see all the reporting and analysis capabilities using your own databases. Purchase a registration key to extend your use past the trial period.

Version 5 Contact Management Template
The Contact Manager makes it easy to store all your contacts, as well as their appointments, reminders and related files. Powerful, yet simple to operate and customize, the Contact Manager provides the ability to import contacts from Microsoft Outlook and export contacts to Microsoft Excel.

Reporting provided in this template includes Activity Summary Report, Contact Activity Report, Reminders Report, Contact Listing Report, and Contact Mailing Labels, or customize to create your own. The Contact Manager Template includes Action Scripting and Xbasic Code, is easily modifiable, and includes documentation in MS-Word format.

Version 5 Order Entry Template
The Order Entry Template allows product-based businesses to store and process their customers, orders, invoices, payments, and inventory. The system includes a full Accounts Receivable system and many informative reports for running your business. Powerful yet simple to operate and customize, the Order Entry Template is a must have for any business that sells products.

Store basic information about your customer including terms, email and Internet address. Buttons to print a customer's statement, email a customer, and displaying all a customer's orders are included in this screen. The template allows entering freight charges and sales tax as well as line item discounting. You can print your invoice or send it as a Adobe Acrobat PDF email attachment.

A simple inventory module which subtracts product quantities as they are sold is included. Simple to modify to the needs of your company, it includes unit price, in stock, on order, and minimum quantity fields. Reporting provided in this template includes Order Report, Invoice Report, Payment Report, Accounts Receivable Aging Detail, Accounts Receivable Aging Summary, Customer Statements, or customize to create your own. This Alpha Five Version 5 Add-on includes Action Scripting and Xbasic Code, is easily modifiable and includes documentation in MS-Word format.

Version 5 Time & Billing Template
The Time & Billing Template allows service-based businesses, such as consultants, lawyers and accountants, to track and process their time-related billing information. The system includes a full Accounts Receivable system and many informative reports for running your business. Powerful yet simple to operate and customize, the Time & Billing Template is a must have for any business that bills customers based on time.

Reporting provided in this template include: Bill Report, Invoice Report, Payment Report, Accounts Receivable Aging Detail, Accounts Receivable Aging Summary, Customer Statements, Past Due Conditional Letter report, Customer Mailing Labels, or customize to create your own. This Alpha Five Version 5 Add-on includes Action Scripting and Xbasic Code, is easily modifiable and includes documentation in MS-Word format.

Alpha Five Runtime
If you have developed an Alpha Five application that you would like to sell, or that you would like to deploy to other users in your organization, the Alpha Five Runtime is for you. The Alpha Five Runtime allows non-Alpha Five users to run your Alpha Five applications. No need to worry, they cannot make any changes to your forms, scripts, reports, etc.

Zip Code Database
If you store names and addresses in your database, Alpha Five’s Zip Code Database will speed up data entry. Type in a five-digit zip code, and both the city and state are automatically filled in. You can even look up the zip code for a particular city.

System Requirements

200 MHz processor (300 MHz or higher recommended)
Windows 98 or higher
64MB RAM (96MB or higher recommended)
800 x 600 screen resolution
 
Targeted Customers

Any small to medium sized organization will want to give serious attention to Alpha Five v. 5, especially if these companies have not standardized on any alternative relational database. In larger, complex companies with significant e-commerce transactions, I suggest they stick with their Oracle or SQL Server approach. However, on the desktop with individual workstation users, Alpha Five 5 will still present value inside these companies.

Whenever small workgroups need to gather together information that can be better managed with a relational database, and do not necessarily need to link into their main e-commerce support processes, Alpha Five 5 presents super value to these teams as they work with the program to help them manage their data. If these work teams consist of employees that are relatively unsophisticated computer users, then I suggest Alpha Five 5 as the preferable relational database. The folks at Alpha Software, Inc. have diligently worked to make this program very easy to use, and it definitely will be appreciated by those less skilled with database applications and certainly those with no experience in programming.

Price

$   349 single license - download or packaged
$   849 3-user network pack - download or packaged
$1,249 12-user network pack - download or packaged
$   899 unlimited 10-user runtime
$1,099 unlimited 20-user runtime
$1,599 unlimited user runtime

$199.95 Alpha Five Accounting for Version 5

$49 A5v5Doc, The Documentor for AlphaFive
$49 Contact Manager Application
$49 Time and Billing Manager
$49 Order Entry Application
$99 Bundled Applications

About Alpha Software, Inc.

The mission of Alpha Software is to build cutting-edge database software that enables their customers to build breakthrough applications and solve database management problems rapidly and easily. With well over one million units of software sold, Alpha Software has been successful in making their customers significantly more productive than they would have been with competing products by providing them with easy and highly productive tools.

Alpha Software products are used across a wide range of installations, including corporate settings, government departments and small to medium sized business. Alpha Software products support customers as they achieve a complete, modifiable, and reliable solution to their database problems, and build their customized solutions quickly and easily.

Alpha Software products have also become the products of choice for a rapidly expanding consultant and developer force worldwide. Alpha Software products provide these customers with the capability to meet client needs in less time, while delivering a higher quality result.

The company’s award winning flagship product, Alpha Five, combines sophisticated database management and application building capabilities, all wrapped in an extremely straight-forward and intuitive user interface. Alpha Five has solved database problems for the smallest businesses, all the way through to government users and Fortune 100 companies.

Alpha Software believes that most database applications can be built without writing code. They also recognize that even people who know how to write programs would rather work with a menu-driven solution than write code. Their philosophy is that as the complexity of the problem increases, the software should have the sophistication to provide a natural, menu-driven solution to the problem.

In certain circumstances however, coding is appropriate and provides supreme flexibility. To this end, the Alpha Software Xbasic language has been designed to be an extremely powerful and versatile language for creating highly customized applications.

Contact Information

Richard Rabins, Chairman
Alpha Software, Inc.
83 Cambridge St.
Burlington, MA 01803-4483
781-229-4500
FAX 781-272-4876
richard@alphasoftware.com
info@alphasoftware.com
custserv@alphasoftware.com
www.alphasoftware.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.