Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

Some additional information.

I've read an article in the VTX-CIS named "Datacom/DB Spreads its Wings"

According to this article (that was written in 16/MAR/89):

1- "Computer Associates has announced that Datacom/DB will be suported in a
   number of new environments".
2- "CA's Challenges:
    . Late entry to crowded VAX, Unix and PC markets
    . ...."
3- "Datacom/DB License Estimates

               1988  1989  1990  1991
    VAX          --    --    --   100"

Does anybody know:
Is there any updated news about CA's plans? 
Are they still committed to offer Datacom/DB in the VAX/VMS environment? 

Thanks in advance for any help
Djalma

1- Is there any information about DATACOM/DB running on VAX? (Do you know if
   CA has plans to develop a version that runs in VAX/VMS environment?)

    I don't think that CA is planning to put another database on the VAX.
    They already have a VAX database (CA-DB/VAX) which they acquired from
    Cullinet Software.  It's doing miserably, and it's fully relational.
    DATACOM is not a fully relational system.
    
2- Considering that the first answer is negative. Do you know if there are
   plans to develop a product "IDEAL for Rdb" that could allow a team with
   expertise in IDEAL to continue working with the same 4GL but accessing
   Rdb databases?

    I haven't heard anything about plans for IDEAL for Rdb, although I 
    think it's a reasonable idea.  But, again, they already have a 4GL
    for the VAX (CA-Builder and CA-Generator) which they acquired from 
    Cullinet.  I know that they are interested in providing
    interoperability between the VAX and CA-IDMS and CA-DATACOM, but I 
    haven't seen them produce anything.
    
3- Considering that the two answers are negative. Do you have information
   about tools or filters that can help the migration from the DATACOM/IDEAL
   environment to Rdb/VMS with SQL environment?
 
    CA offers a nice cooperative programming tool called 3270 Link (also
    from Cullinet, but it should work with IDEAL).  This tool makes it 
    easy to build VAX applications which converse with existing IBM
    applications using 3270 DS.  If they are running MVS or VM, then you
    could use DTF to transfer data back and forth.
    
    Regards,
    Anne Thomas

    For more information on CA products, contact Paulo Suzuki at 
    Tecom Systemis in Sao Paulo.  Tell him I sent you.
    
    Anne

Anne

At first, thanks for your help.
I've contacted Paulo Suzuki at Tecom Sistemas but unfortunately they are
responsabile only for the CA products that came from CULLINET. They don't
work with the products that came from ADR.
He'll put me in contact with the right person at CA's office in S�o Paulo,
and I'll try to get their official position about my questions.
If they give me some useful information, I'll put them here. 
Paulo asked me to send you his regards.

Djalma 

    I have a request which is similar to the previous request in this note. 
    My customer is a manager (and Rdb ally) of a development group that
    uses Rdb in a fairly large, multi-vendor shop.  
    
    BACKGROUND INFO:
    
    VMS Platform                IBM Platform
    ------------                ------------
    VAX                         3090
    VMS 5.4-1                   CICS
    Rdb 4.0                     DATACOM V7
    CDD 4.2                     IDEAL
    
    CUSTOMER NEEDS:
    
    They would like to develop a 2-way connection with DATACOM.  Ideally, 
    they would like to write an application that would open both an Rdb 
    database and a DATACOM database.  If not, they would like to download
    data from the DATACOM database to an Rdb database and upload it when 
    necessary.  They would also like to transfer meatdata as effortlessly
    as possible from DATACOM into CDD.
    
    These people are sophisticated Rdb developers, but are not familiar
    with DATACOM nor with connectivity to DATACOM. 
    
    MY REQUESTS:
    
    1 Can we supply the connectivity they want?  If so, how?
    
    2 What other information need I ask them in order to determine whether
      or not we can do it?
    
    
                                             Kurt

    Kurt,
    
    We do not provide a tool which can access CA-DATACOM.  All I can
    suggest is to use cooperative programming.  Since your customer 
    uses CICS, then you have a number of choices available for 
    cooperative programming.  
    
    The easiest available cooperative programming tool is DECmessageQ.
    DECmessageQ allows you to easily send messages between VMS and 
    CICS application programs.  Using DECmessageQ, a VMS user can 
    open an Rdb database, and then send a message to a CICS application 
    to open the DATACOM database.  When the VMS application needs to access
    the DATACOM database, the requests are passed to the CICS application
    which makes the requests to the DATACOM database.  DECmessageQ can be
    used for both read and write operations, although the applications are
    responsible for insuring the integrity of the transactions. 
    DECmessageQ communications use the APPC/LU6.2 protocol.
    
    If DECmessageQ is not appropriate for your needs (although I suspect it
    is) you might decide to program at a lower level using the APPC/LU6.2
    Programming Interface.  Or, you might decide to use the 3270 Datastream
    Programming Interface.
    
    Unfortunately, these cooperative programming techniques will not help
    you to transfer the DATACOM metadata.
    
    

    
    Hi,
    
    the US ARMY is interested in accessing data in the DATACOM database on
    the IBM from the VAX.
    
    I've read the previous notes, does anybody know of any tools out there
    that can help? or is it roll your own time?
    
    thanx ! Simon

    I think the situation is still the same.  Some third party tools
    (FOCUS comes to mind) provide access to DATACOM, but for true
    interoperability, you'll pretty much have to roll your own.
    DECmessageQ is a good starting point.
    
    Anne

    Contact CA. They are releasing DATACOM/DB and IDEAL on the VAX/VMS
    platform now. According to their brochures, there should be 99%
    compatibility. They may have access components in their product suite.