| > What would it take for you to move from Focus, or 1032, etc to
> DEC's products?
Your question contains a first answer. You talk about "DEC's products"
and not DECxxx and DECyyyy. Which DEC's product should we choose ?
Datatrieve, SQL, Teamdata ?
I wrote a lot of reports using FOCUS and DTR. I also supported many
end-users working with these two languages. FOCUS is far more easy to
use especially because it requires knowing less syntax. It chooses for
you most default values. You don't have to bother about details if you
don't want to.
The problems in using FOCUS come mainly from the file structures.
It is impossible for end-user and sometimes very difficult for the
programmer to describe the various type of databases (.FOC, Sequential,
Indexed, Rdb, HOLD binary, Hold alpha...). When on the top of it you
need Joins and you quickly need them you'd better find a good expert.
I don't have enough time to develop but my first feeling would be:
We need a tool which copes, like DTR, with DEC database stuctures
(CDD, DTR, RMS) and would be as simpler as FOCUS for simple reports
and even easier for more complex ones (Customization, recap...).
A very good feature in FOCUS is the financial reporting language (FRL)
I would implement it in DECxxx.
Jo�l
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I would like a report writer that can be used by End Users and not
only by professional (as DTR is).
As a consequence:
1) English like sintax
2) Estensive use of defaults BUT
2.1) Every default modifiable.
3) A menu-driven interface (DECwindow?) covering *all* the product
functionalities.
4) The possibility to customize for Local Language this interface.
5) An easy language for the DB manipulation.
6) A ample set of output type. I would like to use exactly the same report
procedure to obtain a textual report; then to obtain a file that can be
imported in a spreadsheet (20/20, LOTUS,DECcalc+); then to obtain a subset of
the data base; then to obtain a graph in Regis or in Sixel format; then to
import these data in DECgraph to manipulate the graph. Or to obtain more
different format with a single retrieval operation.
6.1) The ability to ADD new output type.
7) A full integration in the CDD.
8) Ability to retrieve (through CDD) a data element help.
9) A full integration (keypad definitions) ecc.., ecc.. in ALL-IN-1.
Apart from that:
1) I would love to have a report writer able to divide my request
in A) data retrival
B) formatting
and to run the two parts of the request on two different machines.
As an example: I am using a VAXstation and I want a report containing three
fields and some fancy formatting. The data are on a remote file server. The
report writer will interprete my request, create a SQL (RDO) query; ship
the query to the file server; execute there the query (The file server can
be in another location); ship back the raw data; format the raw data using the
my VAXstation power.
2) Ability to interact with 3GL.
3) Multilanguage collating sequences.
4) Use in the formatting of various fonts if needed.
I think these requests are enough for the moment. Keep tuned for more.
Best Regards Maurizio.
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| In about 12 years FOCUS has acquired over 500,000 users worldwide.
While it excells at report writing it is also used extensibly in low
volume transaction/data input systems. IBI's strategy has been to
develop a 4GL language which could access its proprietary data
structure or anybody else's data structure. In addition to the 4GL
language it provides menu driven code generators such as FILETALK,
TABLETALK, MODIFYTALK, AUTOMOD, SCREENPAINTER. If you know the FOCUS
language you can easily modify the code generated by these tools.
I think it would serve DEC well to buy, borrow or follow the features
and style that have made IBI successful. What I would like to see is
a DEC4GL which can read/write any VMS file, and allow me to code
complex reports and/or generate code by menu for simpler reports; this
DEC4GL should have links to the CDD, DECFORMS, RALLY, TEAMDATA, VMS etc.
and be the unifying tool which ties all these products together as an
integrated system (like FOCUS's DIALOGUE MANAGER ties together menu's
report programs, modify programs, VMS calls etc.)
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