My experience with Alpha Software began in the late 1980's. I had a friend who was in the real-estate business and, after talking with him for a while about his business, I knew their had to be a way to utilize a computer for the matching of properties to potential customers. I wasn't aware of any program in use locally so I stumbled across Alpha Software v2.x (how I don't remember, as I couldn't go to Google and do a search back then). The practicality and power of a database just made so much sense in my mind, that it became my favorite computer program. I would catch myself thinking of some task and the possible ways it could be made more efficient if placed in a database. I later had the privilege to work with a remarkable lady on multiple solutions, Mrs. Sherry Martin of Computers Without Fear. Sherry has really provided the encouragement and training which has been so instrumental to me in establishing stable database solution designs.
Having tried other programs in the beginning like Clarion and Superbase, neither could match the ease of use and kindness to the beginning user like Alpha Four.
Luckily for all of us, the fine folks at Alpha Software have polished a fine product to a gem of a productivity tool. I purchased an early release of Alpha 5 but I couldn't or wouldn't spend the time to get to know Xbasic to enable the results I could get with Alpha Four. So I have been reluctant to reconsider Alpha 5 ever since, until now. Having spent some respectable time with Alpha Five (pre 4.5), the preview of Beta 5 is totally incredible! I have been a fan of Filemaker Pro for quite some time and still enjoy the product, but it seems to have "workaround" methods of scripting to perform fairly simple tasks that Alpha does directly and obviously. In comparison, Alpha has always kept the data files separate from form designs, layouts, etc. which makes for a more efficient solution update.
JUST ADD IMAGINATION: Veteran users will not be able to hold back the "grins" when they see the new features/enhancements. As for the newcomers to Alpha, they will be amazed by the abilities and possibilities that Alpha Five v5 will empower them with. The features in version 5 will allow the non-programmer to quickly and easily create applications ready for use immediately, saving the user and/or company down time as well as programmer fees. While evaluating the beta release, and having worked with Alpha Five v4.0, I would go looking for some old hurdles for me, only to find them completely revamped and ingeniously improved. There are literally improvements on almost every mouse click; too many to mention. This product will shake the foundation of MS Access and FileMaker Pro, period! So long to the awkward development process of Access and the "purchase this plug-in" answer to tasks for FileMaker Pro.
Well done Alpha Software, Inc., and may you be rewarded for such an enabling product.
George Corder, MCSE