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Conference ilbbak::ibi_focus

Title:	FOCUS, from INFORMATION BUILDERS

Moderator:	ZAYIUS::BROUILLETTE

Created:	Thu Feb 19 1987
Last Modified:	Mon May 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	615
Total number of notes:	1779

135.0. "FOCUS compatible with VAX architecture" by WILKIE::MAYNARD () Tue Sep 27 1988 11:30

    Does anyone know whether IBI plans to make FOCUS more 
    compatible with the VAX architecture? I had discussions
    with their technical services manager a few months ago, but
    haven't heard anything since. It would be a much better
    product if it used CDD and RMS directly and did not use
    DECNET to make file calls. This, unfortunately, is a
    remnant of the IBM 370 architecture that FOCUS was originally
    designed to run on.
    
    Please leave a note or send mail. Thank you.
    
    Mike Maynard

T.R Title User Personal
Name Date Lines

135.1 You can HOPE with IBI but get RESULTS with COGNOS AKOV12::BIBEAULT Corp Financial Strategies Fri Sep 30 1988 18:02 33

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
135.1	You can HOPE with IBI but get RESULTS with COGNOS	AKOV12::BIBEAULT	Corp Financial Strategies	`Fri Sep 30 1988 18:02`	33
	I haven't spoken to anyone but course instructors from IBI but the message I hear from them is that the overriding objective of IBI is to preserve compatibility with the IBM platform. That means that Focus procedures developed on a VAX should run on an IBM mainframe with little or no modification (as well as the other way around). This is the major reason for the filename and fieldname size constraints: IBM just won't accept 31-char datanames and even longer filenames as can Digital. IBM compatibility is one of Focus' best selling points; it is also one of the main causes of its weaknesses from a VMS standpoint. Cognos, however, HAS made a substantial commitment to making its offering, Powerhouse/VAX, consistent with the VAX architecture. Already in place are: 31-char data names, filename and logical names to the limit of VMS and RMS, the most seemless interface to rdb/VMS available today (from anyone), ability to call subroutines in any language conforming to the VAX calling standard, etc. etc. Although no formal commitment has been made by Cognos, it is considering using CDD/Plus as a direct source for metadata or at least providing a supported bridge to it. Currently, Cognos offers such bridges to the original CDD and has a pretty slick interface to rdb, upon which CDD/Plus is based. Since Cognos' bread and butter is the VAX market and it is their primary and strategic platform, we are getting a lot more results in getting Powerhouse compatible with the VAX Architecture than is reasonable to expect with Focus, which is clearly IBM-first. For more info on Powerhouse, see Notes Conference PICA::POWERHOUSE.

    
    I haven't spoken to anyone but course instructors from IBI but the
    message I hear from them is that the overriding objective of IBI
    is to preserve compatibility with the IBM platform. 
    
    That means that Focus procedures developed on a VAX should run on
    an IBM mainframe with little or no modification (as well as the
    other way around). This is the major reason for the filename and
    fieldname size constraints: IBM just won't accept 31-char datanames
    and even longer filenames as can Digital.
    
    IBM compatibility is one of Focus' best selling points; it is also
    one of the main causes of its weaknesses from a VMS standpoint.
    
    Cognos, however, HAS made a substantial commitment to making its
    offering, Powerhouse/VAX, consistent with the VAX architecture. 
    Already in place are: 31-char data names, filename and logical names
    to the limit of VMS and RMS, the most seemless interface to rdb/VMS
    available today (from anyone), ability to call subroutines in any
    language conforming to the VAX calling standard, etc. etc.
    
    Although no formal commitment has been made by Cognos, it is
    considering using CDD/Plus as a direct source for metadata or at
    least providing a supported bridge to it. Currently, Cognos offers
    such bridges to the original CDD and has a pretty slick interface
    to rdb, upon which CDD/Plus is based.
    
    Since Cognos' bread and butter is the VAX market and it is their
    primary and strategic platform, we are getting a lot more results
    in getting Powerhouse compatible with the VAX Architecture than
    is reasonable to expect with Focus, which is clearly IBM-first.
    
    For more info on Powerhouse, see Notes Conference PICA::POWERHOUSE.