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Dear Collegues,
this is my report on the European NEXPERT OBJECT Users Meeting held in Munich
on November 26th to 28th 1990. I had a chance to install NEXPERT V2.0 on a
DECstation 3100 and work with it for a day. I have used it to play a little
with the new EXECUTE-routines that allow to handle attributes with multiple
values. This is a long awaited new feature that brings NEXPERT closer to
LISP-based object oriented tools.
Regards
Dirk
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FLAGS: The VAX-user group (VAX means VAX plus RISC here) mainly complained
about the slow delivery of NEXPERT V2.0 from Digital. After explaining
this fact as a matter of precaution, documentation and support readiness,
we were asked to explain (i) why Digital prepares another windowing
system (Motif) and (ii) why there are no tools to export CDA-graphics
to PCs. While concern (i) could be easily refused (NEXPERT should run
on MOTIF without modification, because it doesn't use the DECwindows
Toolkit), (ii) is easy to explain but harder to accept for customers:
they want to develop a complete user interface on workstations and
then use it on PCs without modification. We have to offer them
terminal modus in this case, as long as DECwindows on PCs is still
unknown and/or not accepted.
TRENDS:
The exposition in the lobby of the hotel was dominated by
PC-(Compaq-)based applications. From the workstation community only
a VAXstation and our DECstation were visible. HP, Sun, IBM missing.
We should capitalize on the availability of NEXPERT on all the
various platforms and propagate workstations as development
machines (just mention, how the low resolution 12'' or 14'' screens
spoil the rich development interface). Neuron Data seems to be very
interested to position NEXPERT not as a PC-tool but fully flexible
workstation tool. Repeatedly, Digital's telephone support for
NEXPERT in the U.S. was given as a good example for other partners.
HIGHLIGHTS:
American Airlines showed a MACintosh based Airline Flight
Scheduling system. A closer look showed that the actual NEXPERT
based part was less than 100 rules enhanced with several thousand
lines of conventional code. Nevertheless, NEXPERT is considered
a central part of the system and cannot be omitted.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
roughly 200-300 attendees (althoug participation was expensive),
about 10% participants VAX/DEC based
lengthy discussions on NEXPERT OBJECT V2.0 features:
- upwards compatible from V1.1
- new release strategy, coming closer to Digital's needs
- AGENDA-monitor included, with aid to modify the agenda
- multivalued attributes with EXECUTE-functions for manipulation
- more list operations included as ready-to-use EXECUTE-functions
- complete EXECUTE library accessible from special editor
windows: no explict C-programming necessary !
- UNIFY-operator for match-operations between two lists
(This was formerly impossible)
- encryption of knowledge bases (separate option, interesting vor
vendors of ready-to-use applications based on NEXPERT)
- SQL-based database bridge to ORACLE, SYBASE, INGRES (and later
INFORMIX) available as separate option
- but RDB-access still in standard distribution
- NEXPERT FORMS (for character based end-user interfaces) will be
included with V2.0 for VAX/DECstations, too.
FUTURE:
Neuron Data looks forward for tighter cooperation with Digital.
However, if we don't come up with more license sales, we risc
to loose this entry level tool to the PC-world.
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Verteiler:
An:
GERD BACHBAUER @NBO DIRK BADE @UFC HANNS BALZER @CEN BALZER@COL01@VAXMAI
THOMAS BOCK @SUT ALEXANDRA BOECK @UN MARIANA BOZESAN @RT PETER BRITTAIN @UFH
BERND DREWES @UFC GRUPE@GYPSC@VAXMAIL ADRIAN HAMMERSTEIN SABINE HINZE-LIETZE
HEINZ-DIETER HUFNAG HUFNAGEL@FRAMBO@VAX KLAUS KEMMLER @UFC DIETER REICHARDT @F
DIETER SCHEITOR @CO CAROLINE STUTZ @THR RUEDIGER TRAUTMANN VARSEK@KAMPUS@VAXMA
RALPH WINTER @HAO
CC:
KARL KRAMER @SUO PAT ROACH @VBO MANFRED SCHLUETER @
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