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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

141.0. "4GL TOOLS STUDY: LOOKING FOR INPUT" by AKOV12::BIBEAULT (Corp Financial Strategies) Tue Oct 11 1988 10:40

	Corporate Financial Strategies is currently in the process of 
	drafting a document entitled "4GL Tools Study" which will compare
	and contrast the various Digital (Rally, Teamdata, Datatrieve,
	DEC Report Writer), Globally-licensed third party offerings
	(System 1032, Focus, PowerHouse) and home-grown (GENiSYS) 4GLs
	and make recommendations as to their use.

	We are LOOKING FOR INPUT from USERS of these products for the
	PRODUCT REVIEW section of this document. The outline for the
	PRODUCT REVIEW (which may be subject to change) is attached as
	the first reply (Note .1).

	Specifically, we are very interested in WHAT YOU LIKE BEST and
	WHAT YOU LIKE LEAST about the product. However, please feel free 
	to provide input on any topic within the outline. If you do NOT
	want your name used, simply state this; otherwise, we will assume
	you don't mind being quoted.

	Respondents to this Note will AUTOMATICALLY be informed as to how
	to obtain a copy of the completed "4GL Tools Study" when it is 
	available.

	Upon release, an entry in this Notes Conference will inform all
	others as to how to obtain a copy of the study.

	Thanks in advance for your help.

	Regards,
	Bob
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
141.1Product Review TemplateAKOV12::BIBEAULTCorp Financial StrategiesTue Oct 11 1988 10:4190
<head1>(Overview of Focus )
<p>
Text...
<page>
<head1>(Standard Features of Focus )
<head2>(General Features)

<CHead>(Support for VAX-native data structures (RMS,rdb/VMS))
<CHead>(Support for VAX standard data types)
<CHead>(Extent of Ability to invoke external routines FROM tool)
<CHead>(Extent of Ability to invoke tool FROM external routines)
<CHead>(Ability of external routines to access tool's database)
<CHead>(Consistency with VAX architecture and standards)
<CHead>(User Friendliness)
<CHead>(Flexibility)
<CHead>(Ease of Use by Developer)
<CHead>(Ease of Use by End-User)
<CHead>(Intuitiveness of Syntax)
<CHead>(On-Line Help)
<CHead>(Ease of Learning and Documentation)
<CHead>(Error Handling)
<CHead>(Performance)
<CHead>(Quality)

<head2>(Unique Features)
<head2>(Data Dictionary Features)
<head2>(Data Capture Features)
<head2>(Data Reporting Features)
<head2>(Transaction Processing Features)
<head2>(Menu Driver Features)
<head2>(Standard Interfaces with other Products)

<page>
<head1>(Optional Components and Interfaces for Focus )
<head2>(Optional Components)
<head2>(Optional Interfaces with other Products)

<page>
<head1>(Documentation, Support, User Groups, Training)
<head2>(Documentation)
<head3>(Manuals)
<head3>(Notes Conference)
<head2>(Support)
<head3>(Vendor Support)
<head3>(Internal Support)
<head2>(User Groups)
<head3>(Internal)
<head3>(External)

<page>
<head1>(Conclusion)

<head2>(Summary of Features Evaluated)

<table>(Features Summary \ Tbl_Fea_Summ_$product )
<table_setup>(3\20\6\30)
<table_heads>(Feature\Rank\Comments)
<Table_Row>(Data Dictionaries\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Data Capture - Interactive Forms\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Transaction Processing\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Data Reporting\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Menu Drivers\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(General Features\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Unique Features\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Standard Interfaces with other Products\NR\ ___________________ )
<endtable>

<head2>(What We Liked Best about Focus )
<head2>(What We Liked Least about Focus )
<head2>(Overall Impression)

<table>(Report Card \ Tbl_Rpt_Crd_Focus)
<table_setup>(2\30\6\20)
<table_heads>(Category\Rank\Comment)
<Table_Row>(Ease of Learning/Documention\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Operation\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Ease of Use\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Error Handling\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Support\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Breadth of Product\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Depth of Product\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(rdb/VMS interface\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(RMS File interface\NR\ ___________________ )
<Table_Row>(Consistency w/ VMS Architecture\NR\ ___________________ )
<endtable>

<page>
<head1>(Reference)
<head2>(About the Vendor)
<head2>(Supplemental Reading)
141.2Product Review Writer WantedAKOV75::BIBEAULTCorp. Financial Strategies 244-6136Fri Nov 04 1988 13:3239
          Chapter__16_____________________________________________________

          Product Review: Focus


             This chapter will contain a software review of the 4GL
             product known as FOCUS.



          16.1 Product Review Writers Wanted

             The Product Review for this application has not yet been
             written.

             Persons who are knowledgeable about this product and
             interested and in writing this product review in whole or in
             part, please contact Bob Bibeault @AKO for more information.
             Your contribution(s) will be formally acknowledged within the
             Credits unless you specifically request to remain anonymous.

             The current, standard VAX Document 1.1 template for a product
             review may be copied from the world-readable file:

                 AKOFIN::DISK$FA0010:[BIBEAULT.PUB]PRODUCT_REVIEW.SDML

             Instructions as to how to copy and/or print current drafts of
             the 4GL_Tools_Study may be found in the world-readable file:

                           AKOFIN::DISK$FA0010:[BIBEAULT.PUB]
                              4GL_0_READ_ME_FIRST.TXT.SDML






                                               Product Review: Focus  16-1