Hi Gary,

Can you explain what the POSitive Commerce System is and how it works?  I'm interested to understand how it will benefit me.
 Sterling

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Q. What can I do with Clarion Report Writer?

A.  Clarion Report Writer is written by Soft Velocity, the publisher of Clarion For Windows, the development language that POSitive For Windows is written in. 

 Report Writer gives you native access (ie no ODBC Driver required) to your TPS data files - Actually there are numerous formats supported, but PFW uses TPS files. 

Basically if the data is stored in PFW you can access it with the report Writer.  You can do columnar reports, free form reports,  define groups, join multiple data tables, perform math functions, Query or filter data, define date ranges and so on.  

One common question is, " Can I edit a standard report in PFW with Report Writer? The answer is , "No, standard reports are not written in Report Writer, thus not editable".

 Is Report Writer Easy to use?  Yes, and No.   Report writing requires a knowledge and understanding of some essential database rules, concepts, lingo, jargon, and so on.  Yet the Clarion Report Writer will allow you to write some very useful reports with minimal skills.

Once you write a report you can make it available in the PFW Report Center, or you can share it with other users, maybe sell them to other users, or become a report writing consultant.  One thing is for certain, the Clarion Report Writer software is $299, and that's the price of even the most basic of all custom reports - if you can even get a programmer to take the time to write the report.  Literally the software pays for itself in as little as one report.

Here is the first 13 pages of the Report Writer manual - essentially the Table of Contents, and the Introduction.  Hopefully it helps you to decide if it's worth the minimal investment to write your own reports  ReportWriterSampler.pdf

Clarion Report Writer is $299 and can be ordered from Point Of Sale Max - call 877-676-9445 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q.  Can you tell me about the ODBC Driver for use with POSitive Software?

 A.  The easiest way to understand and explain the Clarion ODBC driver is that it is a "programming language translator" - much like an interpreter of human language. It essentially translates Clarion TPS files so Microsoft Access (and others) can understand the file.

With ODBC which stands for  "Outside Data Base Connectivity you will allow a program like MS Access or even MS Excel, or any other ODBC compliant product to read data from the POSitive TPS files.

In the PFW:reports folder is a series of files - you should look  closest at the PDF PFW2003.PDF.  It will tell you what data is kept and where.  I have a copy of it here for your convenience.  PFW2003.PDF

You can then use that knowledge to open for example the customer data table and the invoice history table in MS Access, and then in MS Access create a third table that combines the data from the 2 PFW files, and then output that information to a table or report.

Another common use for ODBC is for users who already know or own Crystal Reports, a popular reporting tool. It is in the class of "other ODBC compliant software" I referred to above.

The ODBC driver really does nothing by itself. It is simply a bridge from one database language or tool to another.

POSitive on one hand does and on the other does not support the read/write driver. Specifically, you can't create a customer (for example) in an Access database, then push it over to the POSitive customer table without destroying your PFW data file in the process. You could however open your PFW table in Access, and update the address field. To update you would need to have installed the read write version of PFW. I have long recommended users install the read only version, but have since changed my mind - as long as they understand they can't create records external of POSitive.

I'll post a follow up article on the Clarion Report Writer. You may be looking for the report writer rather than the ODBC driver.

Here'as a link to the PDF file that shows you how to configure and install the ODBC driver.  The screen shot is of Clarion ODBC Driver version 4.0 (current version is 5.0) but they are essentially the same.  ODBC.pdf  

Hope this helps.



Gary Swart

Point Of Sale Max

The driver is $199.  To purchase the driver call 877-676-9445 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

FAQ:

Q:  If I sell POSitive for Windows now, is it a free upgrade to the SQL release?

A: Yes! In fact, this is the least expensive way for your new customers to acquire the

            SQL release.

Q:  If I sell POSitive for Windows now, can my end-user participate in the Preview

            program?

A:  Yes, IF they sign up for annual support.

Q:  Can the Preview release be run in a "live" store situation?

A:  No, the first few Preview releases should NOT be run in a live situation.  They should

            be used for evaluation and testing only.

Q:  How many releases can we expect during the Preview program?

A:  Hard to say, but I would expect a new release every 3 or 4 days (possible few

            more if required).

Q:  Will my end-users have direct access to the programmers?

A:  Yes, via a special section on the forums.  End-users can report bugs and submit

            suggestions to improve the final release.

Q:  You keep promising SQL release, how do I know this will not be delayed?

A:  Our original goal was to provide a full release by June 1^st.  After evaluating

            The current data structure, we realized this is a good opportunity to improve the

            overall capabilities and reliability of POSitive.  By going to a Preview program

            rather than directly to a release, we put the product in the hands of our end users

            sooner, we can get feedback quickly, and the end result will be a better product.

            The first Preview will be released on schedule, and we will work hard to complete

            the beta process within two months.  However, realize that the two months may

            increase if we do not feel the product is ready for release.

Q:  Will the older version of POSitive for Windows still be available for sale?

A:  We have had many requests to keep the older releases available.  The Basic Version

            Will definitely be available, and we are considering lowering the price on the

            other versions after SQL is releases.  No decision has been made on this yet, and

            We welcome your input.  Be aware, no further development will take place on

            PFW4.3 (except for occasional bug fixes).