Installing DataFlex
These posts about DataFlex will follow a set of videos I have posted on youtube.com. So if you want to watch ahead, then feel free to do so. I'm also going to start with episode 20. Because that where I actually install DataFlex. I never thought of doing that prior, because I wanted to show what it can do. But here I might as well start from scratch.
Download
You can download DataFlex at http://www.dataaccess.eu, select Download and then the latest version of DataFlex. Then you enter your mail and your on your way. DataFlex is free for personal use, so you can play around with the full version of the product as much as you like.
Install
DataFlex need admin rights on your computer in order to install some keys in your register. If you plan on writing web or touch applications you need to configure IIS och your computer. The installation provide you with a webapp check that will help you verify that you have configured it correctly.
IIS configuration
First of all you need to go to the Control panel in Windows and run "Programs and functions". From there you run "Activate or deactivate Windows-functions" then you activate IIS, IIS ASP Classic and IIS 6 Metabase Compability. Then you start IIS, expand the icon with your computer name on it and select "Program pools". In the view that opens you select the "DefaultAppPool" then you click "Advanced settings" on the right. Now you can make sure that the "Activate 32-bit program" is set to true. Run the WebAppCheck again and verify that everything has turned green. If you do as me and run IIS on another port than 80, then do not worry. Your applications will work as long as you switch to that port. And you can configure the Studio to do that for you later. But the WebAppChecker only checks on port 80 because that is the default port. If you do not manage to configure correctly you will be provided with instructions on how to do this as you proceed with the installation.
Select Language
The main reason to select language is to make sure that your data is indexed properly. If you use å, ä, ö, ø, æ, ü or any other non standard letter in your language, it will cause problems if you use the wrong collating sequence. So select the one that you will use for your data.
File Associations
Just select all if you do not use any of the file endings with other applications. If you know that you use some of them with other applications you may leave the unchecked, to make sure that the associations remain with your other application, if you prefer that.
Register License
You get this option while installing, but you can add license later by going to the same folder where DataFlex is installed and find Register.exe, usually something like "C:Program Files (x86)DataFlex 18.2BinRegister.exe".
Play around
Congratulations, you made it. DataFlex comes preinstalled with a list of demo applications and I encourage you to take a look at some of them and look at the code. They are excellent reference material if you want to see how things are done. If you want help with something you just press F1. Hope you will enjoy building applications in DataFlex.
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