| Oracle to Rdb/VMS Migration Service,
offered by the Center for Migration Services (CMS)
CMS has recently completed a significant Oracle->Rdb migration project.
This migration consisted of the conversion of 14 individual applications
which contained:
396 COBOL files with SQL*Plus and OCI calls
84 SQL*Plus report files
113 SQL*Forms V2 files
5 Oracle databases: 1 production database and 4 development databases
CMS successfully completed the migration and was present when the
customer shut down their Oracle system. They are now running with
Rdb/VMS and have saved enough money to purchase additional Digital
HW and SW.
CMS can be reached at dtn 523-2002, to learn more about how we can
assist your customers in migrating to Rdb/VMS.
Here is some general information on the migration program.
The Oracle->Rdb/VMS Migration program was announced in November 1990 and
offers a number of conversion options. When 4GL applications need to be
converted, CMS offers the following options:
1. TRIMtools - A suite of products developed by Trifox, Inc, a member
of Digital's Rdb Solutions Vendor Program (RSVP). Trifox, Inc is working
closely with Digital to provide database tools that provide database
interoperability (Rdb/VMS, Oracle/VMS/UNIX, ULRIX/SQL, Ingres/VMS,
INFORMIX, SYBASE) and portability across platforms (VMS, UNIX, ULTRIX, DOS).
Products include TRIMapp (forms application development), TRIMreport
(report generator), TRIMmenu (set of menu and database utilities),
TRIMqmr (ad hoc report writer), TRIMmonitor (cursor manager for TP
environments), TRIMCobol (precompiler), and TRIMnet (client-server module).
CMS can provide reference sites for the TRIMtools.
4GL SQL*Forms applications can be converted to TRIMapp applications in
a partially automated procedure, using TRIMtranslate. 4GL SQL*Report and
SQL*ReportWriter applications can be converted to TRIMreport applications.
The TRIMtools solution fits the following scenarios:
o The customer is an Oracle user that has used SQL*Forms, SQL*Report,
or SQL*ReportWriter products to develop applications and does not
want to experience the learning curve associated with a new 4GL product.
o A migration of SQL*Forms applications to the TRIMtools
products is the least costly, since the conversion is highly automated
(70-100%).
o The customer is comfortable with the C language. TRIM applications
use TRIMpl for coding triggers. TRIMpl is a subset of C with
extensions.
o Pricing is an issue. Both Rdb/VMS and the TRIMtools products are
available in run-time and full development licenses. Rdb/VMS, TRIMtools
full development licenses for a smaller powered VAX machine will
reduce costs significantly when compared with Oracle systems.
o The customer wants a 4GL that can be used for developing
sophisticated applications without leaving the 4GL environment. The
TRIMpl language that is included with TRIMapp and TRIMreport provides
a rich set of functions.
2. SmartStar - The SmartStar products are a set of 4GL tools that provide
an excellent 4GL environment. SmartStar is a member of Digital's Rdb
Solutions Vendor Program (RSVP).
The following scenarios are reasons for looking at this solution:
o SmartStar is integrated with Digital products - CDD/Plus,3GL's
The customer considers a rewrite an acceptable solution.
o The customer would consider retraining to a new 4GL environment
o Retraining of end users is acceptable. The key mappings will be
different under the SmartStar environment.
o The SmartStar "NO-GL" environment reduces the amount of coding and
maintenance for simple applications.
3. RALLY, DECforms
Conversion can be done to Digital's RALLY 4GL product, or
to embedded/dynamic SQL, DECforms, and a 3GL.
No conversion tools exist for this service option. This is a rewrite,
therefore the cost for this migration option is higher than for the other
options, and the duration of a migration project will be longer.
3GL Migration:
Oracle 3GL code can be converted to VAX 3GL code with embedded VAX SQL
There are 48 Oracle SQL*Plus functions that have no VAX SQL equivalence. All
these functions can be emulated with 3GL code:
ABS
ADD_MONTHS
ASCII
CEIL
CHARTOROWID
CHR
CONVERT
DECODE
DUMP
FLOOR
GREATEST
HEXTORAW
INITCAP
INSTR
LAST_DAY
LEAST
LENGTH
LOWER
LPAD
LTRIM
MOD
MONTHS_BETWEEN
NEW_TIME
NEXT_DAY
NLSSORT
NVL
POWER
RAWTOHEX
REPLACE
ROUND
ROWIDTOCHAR
RPAD
RTRIM
SIGN
SOUNDEX
SQRT
STDDEV
SUBSTR
TO_CHAR
TO_DATE
TO_NUMBER
TRANSLATE
TRUNC
UID
UPPER
USERENV
VARIANCE
VSIZE
Migration Benefits to Customer:
Once a migration project is completed, a customer can realize immediate
benefits. CMS offers migration solutions that benefit customers as
follows:
o Lower cost - Rdb/VMS licensing and maintenance are less costly than
Oracle licensing and maintenance
o Database interoperability - CMS's migration solutions deliver ANSI SQL
access to relational database engines and ANSI defined use of cursors.
This strategy gives customers the flexibility to choose the best
price/performance relational database engine without requiring
modifications to their applications. A decision to switch database
systems would be a matter of converting the database schema and data, a
rather simple job with proper database conversion tools such as those
CMS uses.
o Database tuning capability - Rdb/VMS, DECtrace, and DECexpert products
assist DBA's in optimizing their logical and physical database designs
for the business environment
o Better performance - The TRIMtools solution uses bulk transfer of data
to reduce database interaction and significantly improve performance,
Rdb/VMS is optimized for VMS and performs better than Oracle (especially
on systems with large transaction loads). Converted systems usually run
as well as the original system; however newly developed applications
benefit from the use of Rdb/VMS and significant performance gains can
be realized.
o Support - When the TRIMtools are purchased through Digital, Digital
provides training, telephone, and update services
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