randy@rls.UUCP (Randall L. Smith) (06/10/91)
Apologies if this has been discussed recently. Has anyone used Dbase IV for VAX/VMS? What is the curent release number (don't tell me v1.0! 8-| )? Does it at least use Sys$Update:Vmsinstal.Com for installation? Does it use VMS's licensing units or ignore them? How stable is it (crashes, core dumps)? Do you have ancedotal info for the number of users supported simultaneously? How does it work in a multi-user environment (server process?)? How compatable with DOS based Dbase is it? How easy is it to set up Dbase on a VTxxx terminal (keymapping etc.)? What are the VTxxx limitations for Dbase programs? How well does (can) it interactively share data with a networked DOS PC? What special provisions/requirements (code) are there for record locking? Overall, how good or bad of a product is it? I've been using VMS for many years and have been doing system/cluster admin for about as long, so VMS is not at issue here. The above is a bunch of things I can think of off the top of my head. Don't feel obligated to answer them all. Any info would be appreciated even if it isn't listed above. A/T are you out there? BTW, I have the glossies and literature from DEC, but I don't fully trust/understand the doublespeak. To get your own, call 1-800-343-4040 (DEC) or 1-213-329-9989 (A/T). Thank you in advance. If anyone is interested, please drop me a note and I will summarize. Those wishing to remain anonymous, just say so. Cheers! - randy Usenet: randy@rls.uucp Bangpath: ...<backbone>!osu-cis!rls!randy Internet: rls!randy@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu C -- the language that put the fu in fubar.
johnh@dbase.a-t.com (John Haskey) (06/15/91)
Recently in Message-ID: <10721@rls.UUCP> randy@rls.UUCP (Randall L. Smith) asks the following questions: >Has anyone used Dbase IV for VAX/VMS? I'll let you know up front that I work for Ashton-Tate on the VMS project so you'll know my bias. >What is the curent release number (don't tell me v1.0! 8-| )? We shipped dBASE IV for VMS version 1.1 last September. It is based on the same code that produced dBASE IV for DOS version 1.1. >Does it at least use Sys$Update:Vmsinstal.Com for installation? Our installation makes full use of VMSINSTAL.COM. If you are familiar with installing VMS layered products you'll feel right at home. >Does it use VMS's licensing units or ignore them? dBASE IV for VMS uses LMF for access control. There are a variety of PAK's available. >How stable is it (crashes, core dumps)? Like a rock! It never crashes! :-) ( O.k., so I'm biased) Hopefully some users will share their experiences. >Do you have ancedotal info for the number of users supported simultaneously? We don't have a report on this available yet. You might check with Digital. >How does it work in a multi-user environment (server process?)? dBASE IV for VMS runs in multi-user mode by default. In a VAXcluster, we have complete multi-user access to data from any node. dBASE IV uses the VMS Distributed Lock Manager to provide file and record locking across the cluster. >How compatable with DOS based Dbase is it? We are fully binary compatible with the DOS version and 100% language compatible. It is very easy to move an entire application from DOS to VMS and run it with NO recompilation or translation. >How easy is it to set up Dbase on a VTxxx terminal (keymapping etc.)? We provide a keyboard map for VT terminals with an LK201 type layout. We also have some support for VT100 type keyboards. A third party ( Persoft) can supply terminal emulation that supports dBASE IV for VMS on PC's. >What are the VTxxx limitations for Dbase programs? The major limitations are screen size ( 24 lines for a VT terminal versus 25 for the PC) and color. Currently, dBASE IV for VMS behaves as if you were running on a monochrome PC. >How well does (can) it interactively share data with a networked DOS PC? With PATHWORKS for example, both dBASE IV for VMS and dBASE IV for DOS can access the same database. In this mode, exclusive use is required. >What special provisions/requirements (code) are there for record locking? We have implemented file and record locking that provides functionality that is identical to the DOS version. FLOCK(), RLOCK(), UNLOCK(), LKSYS(), etc. all work just as they do on DOS. We also support dBASE IV's automatic record locking. >Overall, how good or bad of a product is it? I personally think it's great. ( Major personal bias here!) >I've been using VMS for many years and have been doing system/cluster >admin for about as long, so VMS is not at issue here. The above is a >bunch of things I can think of off the top of my head. Don't feel >obligated to answer them all. Any info would be appreciated even if it >isn't listed above. A/T are you out there? Yes, we're here. I guess you missed the recent flame wars. :-) Ashton-Tate Software Support can send you a copy of a recent TechNotes article ( TechNotes is a technical magazine that A-T publishes) that outlines the differences between dBASE IV on DOS and VMS. The article was in the December 1990 edition. Ashton-Tate Software Support can be reached at (213) 329-0086. Hope this helps. ---john. -------- johnh@dbase.a-t.com -- --------- johnh@dbase.a-t.com My opinions are my own but I'll gladly share them with you!