toppin@melpar.UUCP (Doug Toppin) (06/20/89)
I recently asked if anyone was familiar with a product called 'Vermont Views' by Vermont Creative Software (1-800-848-1248) and received several replies asking for my opinion once I tried it. I am interested in data entry in my application so that is what I have done the most with. This is a short description that does not do it justice but I don't like posting large texts. If anyone has specific questions about what I have seen mail them to me. Doug Toppin uunet!melpar!toppin My results: I am very satisfied with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a serious forms system and willing to spend some time getting up to speed on it. It is not a toy for idle use. It does: * data entry forms and menu system that gets tacked onto your program * relieves programmer of burden of user I/O * provides data type checking, list of choices available to user, more * provides scrollable regions, tickertape fields within software windows * embedded user help * many other things Good things you get: * combination of latest version of the Windows for Data/C products * several hundred functions that describe what you want with extensive defaulting simplifying form description * available for Unix/Xenix/VMS/DOS/OS2 * documentation is superb, enough cannot be said about it * working examples are provided that gradually increase in complexity and are comprehensive of the features available * $1,600 for my version (will definitely pay for itself) * optional embedded debug code that catches incorrect function usage, etc... * money back guarantee * royalty free applications * international character set support * output speed boosted with memory mapped console recognition (which can be disabled) resulting in switch to direct video memory output * efficient, competent phone support Bad things you get: * very large programs, simple example without embedded debug was 80K (but I am still new at it so that is a very raw number) * IBM Xenix version is uncommented source which required a 6-hour compile on a 286 for large model library only * you have to spend a few days learning it