Conference turris::fortran

You are correct - there is no network kit available for Digital Visual Fortran
and there won't be.

DVF contains royalty-bearing pieces of software that are required for correct
execution.  Therefore you have to buy the kit and pay the royalty to get DVF.

/Stan

   But please consider putting the compiler bits on the network.

   I'm willing to pay real money for your stuff, but I'd at least like
   my bug fixes for free ;-)

   It's the least you can do for your uncle...

   -- John Faricelli

Dear {Uncle} John,

If we can get you a bug fix on the net for some piece of DVF that we own, we
will.  The big problem is making sure we don't break the released bits when we
do a fix.

/Stan

Don't expect to sell products that the field can not learn and
demonstrate.  Especially since I don't exactly think microsoft
pushes fortran too much.

Most royalty-bearing product agreements Digital has put together
have traditionally included clauses to allow internal use of
products for training and or demonstration.

Products in this catagory include CICS for D.U., NetView, Object/DB,
LSF, all come to mind, but I know there are even more than this.

It's true that Digital has entered into many royalty bearing agreements that are
royalty free for internal use of software.  Our agreement for this technology
with Microsoft is structured in a similar way.

Unfortunately, as a company we have learned from experience that many internal
demo copies of our software have somehow shown up at customer sites and are
never returned to Digital.  True this is an honesty problem, but the fact
remains it's a very real problem.

For the time being we have made the business decision to minimize any possible
risk of an unplanned royalty audit to Digital, whom we are ultimately
responsible to for protecting legally.

At the same time we are very sensitive to the need for releasing demonstration
software to the field.  This need is also shared by our primary resellers.  I am
taking the action to work this issue with the appropriate individuals within the
business organization to resolve this problem. 

Unfortunately, I don't have a solution to it today.

Kathy Appellof
DIGITAL Visual Fortran
Product Management Manager

   When Microsoft introduced Powerstation Fortran 4.0, it sent out
   *free* CDROM's with the compiler enabled for 6 months.
   After a call to Microsoft, I got a CDROM at my door in a couple of days.

   Something similar could be done for demo software.
   MS only included the compiler/linker (no documentation, boo hiss);
   we'd want to include the development stuff also.

   Just a thought.

   -- John Faricelli

>               -< Why not include time bomb for demo software? >-

Better yet, insert a bomb in the RTL as well. That way everything compiled
by the demo compiler will expire with the compiler. 

Actually, its worth a note that you can find all kinds of MS documentation
on their web site.  It would be great if we could place the VF documentation
on our web site.  Better yet, Microsofts web site, as they clearly have
more traffic.

It would also be useful and good for buisiness to get such a time-bombed of
VF included on MS Beta distribution service, and even included on the dev
subscrition services.  This sort of thing inevitably trickles through that
customer base to those that really want FORTRAN.

As for time-bombing demo versions - I would prefer some mechanism to generate
a key - internally, via the intranet - to enable the sw for a fixed period of
time - say 90 days.  Thus it would be of limited use to customers without a 
license.

contractually, how do we handle product evaluations?  Do we require the 
customer to buy the product to evaluate it?  (Cripe, I pull all kinds of
eval software and beta-kits off the MS web site, and get corporate evaluation
program CD's with all sorts of products.  If we can't do the same with VF,
then how are we going to sell it?)

    It makes no sense for Digital's documentation to be on Microsoft's
    web site.
    
    What MS Fortran documentation do you see on MS' web site?  We're
    building our own site and I'm open to any and all suggestions for what
    to put there.
    
    					Steve

   Now that you've got the basics on the VF web site, consider:

   1) A virtual walkthrough of compiling/debugging a small application
      using screenshots of the windows created by VF (the MS Powerstation
      Fortran CDROM had this)

   2) (consider) A free time-bombed download of VF for demos/evaluation.
      I know some people have all the time in the world and will keep
      downloading the kit to avoid paying for it (universities come to mind).
      So this one is tricky. I don't know how your distribution channels
      might like it. But then MS send out a ton of free eval CDROM's, so...

   -- John Faricelli

Internal use Visual Fortran kits can be ordered from the SSB by completing the
attached form mailing to one of the listed accounts.

Note that your cost center will be charged the cost of manufacturing plus
shipping.  Engineering does not make a profit on the cost of internal kits.  The
cost of manufacturing the Visual Fortran kit is currently $21.30.

Kathy Appellof
Visual Fortran Product Manager

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Software Supply Business (SSB)
Internal Software Order Form

Mail this completed order form to one of the following addresses:

(VMSmail):  WMOIS::SDCISO
(Exchange):  [email protected]
(Teamlinks):  SDCISO @NQO
(All-In-1):  SDCISO @NQO


U.S. SOFTWARE SUPPLY BUSINESS
                      NASHUA  NH
      603-884-4446 OPT #2 OR DTN: 264-4446 OPT #2

           PLEASE FILE A COPY FOR FUTURE USE

REQUESTOR
---------

BADGE #:  
REQUESTOR:  
COST CENTER:  
DTN/EXT:  
EMAIL:  


AUTHORIZE
---------
(CHARGE TO)                                         
    
BADGE #:  
NAME:  
COST CENTER:

DO YOU HAVE YOUR COST CENTER MANAGER'S APPROVAL? Yes


SHIP TO
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ALL ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED BESTWAY SURFACE UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED


+-------------+-------+------------------------------------+--------+
|Model Number |Version|             Description            |Quantity|
+-------------+-------+------------------------------------+--------+

    The part number you should use (unless Kathy corrects me) is
    QB-5LCAA-SA.
    
    				Steve

I just got a call from Cindy of the Software Supply Business group,
she said that there is no QB-5LCAA-SA p/n in the system.

Could you please post the correct p/n?

    I just looked up QB-5LCAA-SA in VTX PRICE and it does seem to be the
    correct part number.
    
 TM                       U.S. Price List
 digital                SOFTWARE Prices as of: 14-APR-1997
  
                   QB-5LCAA-SA  Vis Frtn SD MUL LIC/CDRM PKG

         Digital Visual Fortran               Microsoft Developer Studio
         Standard Edition                     IDE
         Includes                             Software Product Descr: xx.xx
         Digital Fortran Compiler

    I got a telephone message this morning from "Cindy from the Software
    Supply Business in Nashua."  The message:  they can't fill my order for
    Digital Visual Fortran because QB-5LCAA-SA is not a valid part number.

Seems to be a lot of this going around.  We'll check to see what the problem
is.  I don't suppose this Cindy has a last name or phone number?

				Steve

The SSB folks say that this is because the product hasn't "submitted" yet.
It should be orderable after tomorrow.

					Steve