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Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

Title:	DEC Rdb against the World

Moderator:	HERON::GODFRIND

Created:	Fri Jun 12 1987
Last Modified:	Thu Feb 23 1995
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1348
Total number of notes:	5438

692.0. "Question about conversion tools from dBASE to Rdb" by UTRUST::HERWIJNEN (Errare Humanum Est) Wed Jul 18 1990 15:56

  Does anybody know of any conversion tool that can make dBASE III
  applications run on Rdb ? It doesn't matter where the applications run,
  either on VAX or PC as long as the data comes from Rdb.

  The background here is a customer who has a bulk of PC-based dBASE III
  applications and who would like to use them on the VAX on a real database.
  ORACLE claims to have a tool (they call it a "compiler") that converts
  dBASE III applications to ORACLE. Whether that is true or not and how useful
  this tool is, is something I don't know. Has anyone any experience on that
  perhaps ? Personnally, I don't believe in the usefulness of such a
  "compiler", but my believes are not very relevent here.

  Any information would be appreciated.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
692.1	dBASE to Rdb Interface	SRFSUP::DAY		`Wed Jul 18 1990 19:40`	7
	There is a company in Massachusetts by the name of Recital that has a product that runs dBASE III code on the VAX. This product is just coming out with version that accesses Rdb. Also Ashton-Tate has already announced version of dBASE IV that will have access to Rdb. I believe that the version that I have heard is currently in field test runs on VAX with PC version using SQL services to follow.
692.2	QuickSilver sand	IJSAPL::OLTHOF	Henny Olthof @UTO 838-2021	`Thu Jul 19 1990 09:46`	23
	What Oracle has is a product calles QuickSilver that runs on the PC. It basically translates the Bbase III calls into Oracle's SQL dialect and the RSE is then shipped to the VAX using the SQLNet product. On the VAX the SQLNet product receives the RSE and passes it to the database. The database solves the RSE, passes it trough the two SQLNet layers and the result is presented in Dbase III. So, in theory it works. What your customer needs to be aware of is that beside Oracle on the VAX and Dbase III on the PC he needs to buy: - Quicksilver compiler for EACH PC (about $700 listpice) - SQLnet on EACH PC (about $400 listprice) - SQL*Net on the VAX with the Oracle database (about $20,000 depending on the VAX model) If your customer however would migrate to Dbase IV, he would not have to buy anyting additional to get the same functionality. Agreed, Dbase IV will cost you more money than Dbase III but that does not compare to Oracle's costs to get similar functionality. BE AWARE: you want to connect Dbase to Rdb, ORACLE only connects to ORACLE!!!! If you let Oracle get the deal, you'll lose your Rdb to Oracle.
692.3	This Recital sounds promising	UTRUST::HERWIJNEN	Errare Humanum Est	`Fri Jul 20 1990 10:57`	3
	Do you have more information about this Recital-product ? Do they have a dealer in the Netherlands or anywhere else in Europe ? Otherwise I'm afraid that a vendor in Massachusetts will be a drawback.
692.4	Info on Recital	SUBWAY::FRIEDMAN	a good slice of 3.14159265358979323846264338327950...	`Fri Jul 20 1990 16:08`	16
	Recital Corporation Lisa T. Hunter Sales Administrator 85 Constitution Lane Danvers, Ma 01923 TEL: (508) 750-1066 FAX: (508) 750-8097 I am currently testing the software to give a client access to an Rdb Database The attempt is to give them the same look and feel regardless of the desktop environment, but without having to always log into a VAX. I will keep you posted as the testing progresses. First cut, the product is impressive if you like DBASE <xx>. James N. Friedman NYO Sales Support.
692.5	Ashton-Tate will solve your problem	TRCA01::MCMULLEN		`Tue Jul 31 1990 21:46`	5
	Phone your local ASHTON-TATE office. At DECworld they are showing their product (today on VAX only) accessing Rdb databases. They also said that Dbase III applications will be compatible with Dbase IV. This should resolve your problem. I believe official announcement is in September 1990.