Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

    It should be easy to find the corresponding Rdb numbers.  What are
    these numbers, though? the "maximums" for the line items?  For example,
    assuming they are the maxs:  (I know they are not "typicals")
    
Number of bytes in a a record                        32,766 bytes
	Rdb's SPD says 16K, as I recall, though the real max is 65K
    
Number of fields in a record format                  8,000 fields
    We say 2000.
    
Number of key fields in a file                       120 fields
    We don't have a practical limit
    
Size of key for physical and logical files           120 characters
    254
    
Size of key for ORDER BY (SQL/400 and OPNQRYF)       256 characters
    no practical limit, the real limit is around 32 or 64K
    
Number of records contained in a file                16,777,215 records*
    no practical limit.  4 billion pages divided by the record length
    (pages can vary though)
    
Number of bytes in a file                            2,147,483,648 bytes
    now that's a good one.  We never thought about it and would have said,
    "Duh, gee there's no limit there.)
    
Number of bytes in an access path                    1,073,741,824 bytes
    I think an access path is just an index.  We wouldn't say those were
    limited.
    
Number of keyed logical file built over a phys f     3,686 files
    N/A.  We're not hierarchical, we're relational.  I know IBM calls
    this relational.  people will believe anyone who wears monogrammed
    shirts.
    
Number of phys file members in a logical file mem    32 members
    Same as above
    
Number of members that can be joined                 32 members
    Can join 32 relations in a view, if you really want to.
    
Size of a character or DBCS field                    32,766 characters
    I think the 16K vs 65K wishy washy answer gets repeated here.
    
Size of a zoned decimal or packed decimal field      31 digits
    Do not currently have zoned or packed decimal.
    
ed

Thanks, Ed

The information is very useful (and competitive!), but...

"It should be easy to find the corresponding Rdb numbers" 

and

"now that's a good one.  We never thought about it and would have said,
    "Duh, gee there's no limit there.)"

don't quite correlate :-).

Peter

    Well, there's product management for precise answers.
    
    How many bytes can your put into a VMS file?  How many disks can you
    afford!
    
    

    On a related topic:
    
    I'm competing against IBM on an opportunity to convert (downsize) a
    customer from a 4381.  The customer has seen several third-party
    financials packages that run against Rdb and likes them.  
    
    She was already to go to her management and recommend our VAX/VMS, Rdb 
    solution (today is decision day), when the people in blue paid her a 
    visit.  They told her that they/she could port her COBOL applications
    from the 4381 to their proposed AS/400 "without changing any of the I/O
    statements." (!)
    
    I'm ready to call her and probe very gently along the lines: 
    
    	1. the 4381 is a 16-bit architecture, the AS/400 32-bit
    	2. the AS/400's native application development language is RPG III,
    		yet the application to be ported is in COBOL
    	3. the AS/400 has a built-in relational database and the existing 
    		application uses VSAM
    
    How are they going to emulate VSAM with a relational database?  Does
    she think she's going to get the optimum, or even marginally efficient
    performance with no conversion?
    
    But I want to put as positive a spin on this as possible.  How else
    might I do that?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Bruce
    	
    

    Bruce,
    
    I'd be _very_ surprised if IBM could manage the .4. If their
    application has terminals attached, then I'd guess it's using CICS,
    which doesn't run on AS400... Thus you haave to change all your
    screen IO for start !  As for ths database stuff, the AS400 file
    system can look like flat files or like a relational database, so
    the file IO stuff may be true ! But I doubt it provides the richness
    of facilities that the VSAM does
    
    Most of this appears to be FUD spreading, and making you're allies
    life very awkward. For more info. try the KACIE::IBM notes file
    (DIR/TITLE=400) yields a wealth of info. on the AS400 (try note
    420m for start)
    
    Let us know how you fare
    
    Steve J
    
    
    

    Phew!
    
    She recommended us to her management!  Her manager (non-computer guy)
    is out of town until Monday.  I'm sure IBM has the first available
    piece of time on his schedule to bend his ear.
    
    We're not going to rest on our laurels, after all we've only been
    recommended.  The thing is that she has bet her integrity on her
    recommendation (we surmise) so she should be very willing to work with
    us and "open her kimono," as a former district manager, here, likes to
    say.
    
    She will probably tell us what she sees as our strengths and weaknesses
    and for IBM, as well.  Both the third-party financials packages she's
    looking at for the VAX platform are promised to be Rdb-compatible 
    "within 12 months."  We have proposed Rdb and CDD+ as part of the base
    platform, and I think she perceived them as strengths (and why not!?).
    
    Stay tuned...
    
    
    -b