Board index » delphi » Yet another MIDAS licensing question

2004-02-13 08:09:52 AM
delphi82
I've got (hopefully) a quick MIDAS licensing question. I posted it in
the .datasnap group yesterday, and Craig Stuntz replied that he thought
it *may* be ok, but wasn't 100% sure. He did say that "..the Delphi 7 license
has been clarified to explicitly allow this use, even when CDS format
is used". I am reposting here in the hopes that John K or Anders O may
happen by, and be able to clarify (saves bugging them via e-mail).
I am developing an application, using Delphi 5 Enterprise (upgrading to
D7 is not an option, BTW), which allows a user to enter data which I am
intending to store in .cds file by using the TClientDataset component.
At any time the user can export a subset of this data to a text file,
which will be read by another Delphi 5 executable on another computer.
This exporting/importing logic will be my own, and the export file will
probably be transferred via floppy disk (it will definitely not use
MIDAS functionality for the data transfer).
This is what D5's License.txt has to say :
'This version of the software may include redistributable
files identified as "ClientDataset Redistributables" for
creating multi-tier application programs. Installation and
use of the ClientDataset Redistributables for supporting
data sharing among two or more computers requires purchase
of a MIDAS Deployment License, available separately from
Inprise; please refer to the on-line documentation,
including DEPLOY.TXT, for contact information. "Data
sharing" refers to any use of the ClientDataset
Redistributables for supporting the transmission by any
means of data from one computer to another for use by
ClientDataset Redistributables installed on another
computer.'
I *am* sharing data between two Delphi programs, but I am *not* using
MIDAS technology at both ends, nor is MIDAS used for the data
transmission. The TClientDataset is simply used as an in-memory table,
and to persist the data to/from the hard-drive on one PC. The actual
data transferred will be in a .txt file which I will generate manually
by iterating through the records in the TClientDataset.
I think I should be ok to do this without incurring any MIDAS/Datasnap
licensing costs, as the actual transmission of data between the two PCs
doesn't use the ClientDataset redistributables.
Does my interpretation of the D5 MIDAS license sound correct? And if
this isn't the best place to ask, where should I go to seek
clarification?
 

David Clegg writes:
1) Didn't you purchase an upgrade to D7? If so, you've got a
consolidated license, and the Delphi 7 license should give you free reign.
2) Use kbmMemTable for your in-memory / persisted to disk table,
and avoid the licensing boondoggle all together. kbmMemTable is
free, fast, and a joy to use. I know it is YAC (yet another
component), but I have never regretted dumping TClientDataSet, it
builds right into the .exe, nothing extra to deploy, and you're not
using any functionality from TClientDataSet anyway.
-Brion
 

"David Clegg" <XXXX@XXXXX.COM>writes
putting together a presentation for my boss last month, and as a joke I
handed him a 5.25" floppy. He didn't seem to think it was that funny.
Per your question, the license does not specify what technology you might
use to move a CDS between PCs it only says that if you use ClientDataset
redistributables on the two ends then you are required to have a license.
The basis of the Midas/Datasnap license requirement is moving the data
between 2 machines that are both using the ClientDataset redistributables.
If you have a clientdataset on two machines move a CDS between the two
machines, even by foot or string and two paper cups, a license is required
(which you can get just by upgrading to Delphi 7 or Delphi 8 - isn't that easy! <g>).
However, it appears that you are using the clientdataset as a local store,
which does not require an additional deployment license. This is because
your datasharing is done completely independent of the clientdataset on the
2nd PC and of the CDS format. I *think* I understood that you are exporting
the data out of the CDS into your own .txt format and transfering it in the
txt format that is your own to the 2nd PC. So as I read your explanation you
shouldn't require a license.
However part 2 - *if* you are re-importing the data that is in your
transferred txt file on the 2nd PC back into a CDS then back into a
ClientDataset then you've gone into a grey area that would, I believe,
require a Midas/Datasnap license - at least in the spirit of the D5 license
anyway.
I'm not a lawyer, but that is both how I understand the license, and what
our intent was. Fortunately to simplify things we eliminated the requirement
for an additional deployment license altogether starting with Delphi 7 which
makes the Delphi 7 or Delphi 8 upgrade a no brainer if you're using Midas at all.
Hope that made sense for you and was more help than hinderance.
Best,
Michael

Michael Swindell (Borland) writes:
and directly update a database table. No CDS or MIDAS interaction
involved whatsoever.
However, as I understand it, this would mean that the local .cds file
could *not* be viewed on another PC, as this would break the license.
This isn't a requirement at present, but y'all know how demanding
customers can be :-)
I'd *love* to upgrade to Delphi 7 (the improved Datasnap license alone
justifies the upgrade for me), but this is not the direction our
company is taking for future development. Being the only Delphi guy
here too, I have no-one else to help me in my quest to convince my
Manager of "All things Righteous and Just" :-(
Thanks for the input anyway, Michael. ISTM that it may be safer to
investigate other techniques to achieve what I want. I initially was
thinking of using a CDS primarily so I could provide some fancy
in-memory filtering and sorting of data. I am sure there are many other
ways to skin this particular cat (no offence meant to cat lovers, BTW)
 

David Clegg writes:
kbmMemTable has been great for me. Very fast, more flexible than
TclientDataset. There is no downside I have found.
 

clientdataset, then you need a redist license or D7/D8.
the CDS on another PC you will need a redist license then. Until then you're
fine using the CDS for local filtering and sorting.
Cheers,
Michael
 

Michael Swindell (Borland) writes:
"Sorry Boss, I would love to implement that feature, but our current D5
license doesn't allow it. Simply get me a Delphi 7 upgrade and I will do it."
:-)
 

your app still with D5 using datasnap, just having Delphi 8 would change the terms
of your licence?
I can see if you had Delphi 7 (for Win32) how it might do this, but the Delphi 8 case
sounds a bit like saying ok, you bought C# builder which doesnt have
datasnap anyway, now your licence for datasnap automagically changed . . .
Lauchlan M
 

Jos?González D'Amico writes:
is one component in a set of interacting components and can do a lot more in
other situations.
--
Wayne Niddery - Logic Fundamentals, Inc. (www.logicfundamentals.com)
RADBooks: www.logicfundamentals.com/RADBooks.html
"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can
stand by itself." - Thomas Jefferson
 

Lauchlan M writes:
 

Wayne Niddery [TeamB] writes:
That means kbmMemTable does not have a TDataSetProvider, that is right?
--
Jos?
 

version is faster.
Lauchlan M
 

Brion L. Webster writes:
I do understand this component is not plugable in DataSnap. I asked if
kbmMemTable has an associated TDataSetProvider-like component because
I'm looking for a DataSnap equivalent component suite.
I'm sure now that kbmMemTable is not a DataSnap replacement.
--
Jos?
 

Lauchlan M writes:
--
Jos?
 

"Jos?González D'Amico" writes:
many cases you can accomplish the same things in both, just in different
manners. There is also a remoting version available to get remote servers
working too, but this is not available in a freeware version. If you want to
know more I suggest you ask in the thirdparty-tools.general group as I have seen
Kim answer questions there.
Jeff Overcash (TeamB)
(Please do not email me directly unless asked. Thank You)
If there is somebody up there could they throw me down a line. Just a
little helping hand just a little understanding. Just some answers to the
questions that surround me now. If there's somebody up there could
they throw me down a line. (Fish)