An introduction to the Paradox environment opens this book. It provides an excellent summary of what Paradox 4.0 is and looks like.

Part 2 focuses on creating and modifying a database file. Working with the enhanced editor, entering data, restructuring database files, sorting, and indexing are presented. Concise guidelines on designing a database file scheme, and on all four possible types of relations between two such schemes, are provided.

Part 3 is devoted to retrieving and presenting information stored in databases. It discusses queries, forms, reports, and graphs at length.

Part 4 is dedicated to programming and to building up user applications. You will learn Paradox Application Language (PAL) script basics; how to let the enclosed “Application Workshop” assist you in creating menus, objects, and their associated actions; and how to test, run, modify, and document your applications. A useful summary of PAL functions and commands, both by name and by category, is included.

Part 5 deals with the Paradox tools menu (query speedup, data export/import, getting supplementary information, and more) and with networking issues when connecting to the Paradox SQL link. The book ends with some essential appendices on installing and customizing the product on your PC or LAN, an ASCII character table, a command index, a general index, and a useful command reference card.

This clearly written book features a solid architectural structure, many examples, and accurate, concise information on nearly every aspect of Paradox 4.0. It is an excellent, time-saving, complete reference, meant for every kind of user. It will not let you throw away the Paradox manuals, but you should put it on top of them, as a valuable companion guide to this software.

The book suffers, however, from an inevitable failure of any such bible: being addressed to every user. It could be judged both too thick and complicated by the beginner, and too superficial by the advanced user. For example, it lacks answers for some unexpected runtime conditions and warnings on LAN programming in PAL. Generally, the book does not appear to derive from long experience using Paradox 4.0 for fairly complex real applications, but rather from Borland’s documentation combined with some limited evaluation testing.