Migrating Existing Workspaces to DataFlex 2021

DataFlex 2021 introduces the capability of using Unicode data in your DataFlex applications as well as compiling applications in 64 and 32-bit.

For DataFlex developers using prior revisions of DataFlex (19.1 and lower), follow the basic steps below to prepare both your DataFlex application and database environment to work in DataFlex 2021.

Preparing the Application Environment

After successfully installing DataFlex 2021 Studio, you need to prepare each workspace (including libraries) to work in the new environment. That can be accomplished within the Studio through the following actions:

1. Migrate the workspace

• Run the Studio Workspace Migration Wizard to migrate the workspace to DataFlex 2021
• At the end of the migration, review the message displayed. If the workspace contains any SQL tables set to use OEM character format, a list of those tables is displayed

2. Compile applications in the migrated workspace to validate that migration was successful

• Try to compile in both 32 and 64-bit to see if any adjustments will be necessary in order to support both architectures
• The default setting for Suppress Compiler Warnings is ON for migrated workspaces, so these initial compilations will allow you to concentrate on error conditions that you need to focus on first

3. Compile applications in the migrated workspace with warnings fully ON

• This is not a required action to take but it is highly recommended that you use this feature to help you identify needed adjustments to legacy code
• To see all the warnings returned by the compiler, make sure to un-select the Suppress Compiler Warnings option in Project Properties

• Review warnings to address them and plan a code clean-up

The list of actions above will get your application code ready for use with DataFlex 2021. The next step is to get the database used in the migrated workspace up to par as well.

Preparing the Database Environment

Once the applications are migrated to DataFlex 2021, it is time to review the databases used in the workspace to enable them for optimal use.

1. OEM Databases

• DataFlex native databases will still be supported and nothing needs to be done to those files
• SQL databases using tables set to use OEM character format will need to have those tables converted to ANSI (see OEM to ANSI Conversion Wizard)

2. DataFlex SQL drivers

• The DataFlex SQL drivers are available for 32 and 64-bit architectures, and need the database client drivers of the matching architecture
• The DataFlex Studio needs 64-bit database client drivers and DSN.
• If using DSN and compiling applications in 32-bit, make sure to have a 32 and 64-bit version of the DSN (64-bit will be used by the Studio during development) and that the DSN name is replicated for both 32 and 64-bit versions of the DSN
• Make sure to have the correct architecture (32 or 64-bit) of database clients installed and available for the applications

3. Existing SQL Databases

• Existing databases will need to be converted to Unicode-capable databases

If your DataFlex application will be sharing databases with applications hosted in earlier revisions, a few things must be done to maintain data integrity while accessing data through the two environments:

1. Unicode data may not be stored in the databases
2. DataFlex 2021 applications must be compiled for 32-bit
3. Applications from earlier DataFlex revisions must use the 6.3 versions of the DataFlex SQL drivers (latest build recommended)
4. The 32-bit version of database client drivers must be used
5. If DSNs are used, a 32-bit DSN must be created for all DataFlex environments and the DataFlex 2021 Studio needs a 64-bit version of the same DSN (used during development)

See Also

What's New in DataFlex 2021