January 6, 1997

Application development tool

Potent but easy development with Power Objects 2.0

By Maggie Biggs

Obviously, Oracle has provided native support for Oracle databases with Power Objects, but Version 2.0 also includes ODBC support. I tried both the native and ODBC support under a Windows NT environment and found that both were quite easy to work with, largely due to the built-in Database Session Manager. This allowed me to directly and simply manipulate tables, indexes, and views. In addition, Power Objects 2.0 has built-in transaction and integrity control.

Once I created my tables, I easily pulled them into a form in the Power Objects Designer, creating a connection to my database. With the provided data-aware controls, I quickly gave users an application that could manipulate data in multiple tables, with little coding effort on my part.

Using Power Objects and some DB2 tables, I was able to create a simple application in less than an hour with only minimal coding. And for those times when you do need to code, Power Objects provides a Basic-like language and editor. Visual Basic users will find the syntax and properties window familiar territory.

The integrated development environment also supports ActiveX, OLE Automation, and DLL calls under Windows. Power Objects supplies 18 controls, and it supports embedded graphics and forms in addition to query by form. I found the development environment easy to work with.

The design vs. execution modules are especially flexible. For example, they allow a developer to create an application under NT, and then they provide the application execution to users running a browser on a machine running Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or even on a Macintosh. To enable a Power Objects application for use under a browser, I merely installed the plug-in in my browser and added a line on my Web page.

Oracle has also added a few other nice touches to Power Objects. Oracle Lite -- a lightweight database that consumes less than 1MB of memory during usage -- gives remote users access to applications. Further, Version 2.0 includes Seagate's Crystal Reports Pro Version 5.0. This version of Crystal Reports works well whether you're running it on a Windows 3.1 client or running the application through a browser.

With the multitude of database application development tools available, it is often difficult to choose the most appropriate one for a particular environment. Because of its open and integrated database support, easy-to-use graphical development environment, support for Web-based application usage, and powerful reporting capabilities, Power Objects is a tool well worth considering.

Maggie Biggs is a technology analyst in the InfoWorld Test Center. Send her e-mail at maggie_biggs@infoworld.com.

Power Objects 2.0 sports new features

Native support for both Oracle7 Personal and Server as well as Oracle Lite

Support for any ODBC-compliant database (e.g., Informix, DB2, SQL Server)

Integrated database management tools

Bidirectional replication support

Integrated development environment supports ActiveX, OLE automation, and DLLs

New Oracle Basic Code Editor

Crystal Reports Pro 5.0 included

Web application support through browser plug-in, Oracle PowerBrowser ActiveX control, and Crystal Reports output to HTML

THE BOTTOM LINE: EXCELLENT

Power Objects 2.0

With Release 2.0 of Power Objects, Oracle combines integrated database management for Oracle and ODBC, a drag-and-drop graphical development environment, and Web support, giving users the ability to rapidly develop robust applications for either client/server or Web-based environments.

Pros: Oracle and ODBC support; integrated database management tools; ActiveX support; new Basic-like code editor and language; Web browser plug-in capability.

Cons: None significant.

Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores, Calif.; (800) 633-0586, (415) 506-7000; fax: (415) 506-7200; http://www.oracle.com/products/tools/power_objects/.

Price: $295, Professional Edition; $1,495, Client/Server Edition.

Platforms: Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 or later; Macintosh and Power Macintosh 7.1.1, 7.1.2, and 7.5.3 and later.

Copyright © 1997 by InfoWorld Publishing Company