POPKEN@crcvms.unl.EDU (RYAN POPKEN) (05/26/88)
We are looking into some software available from Clyde Digital Systems in Orem, Utah and were wondering if anyone out there had any experience with their products. The products we are looking at are: WINDOW, which allows multiple interactive sessions to be run simultaniously from one terminal; INSTRUCTOR which allows one terminal to have several other terminals display what is done on the first terminal, this is for instuctional or presentation use; and CONTRL, which allows a one-on-one consultation on the terminal with your terminal displaying another terminal's screen and your keyboard able to enter data in the other terminal's input stream. If you have experience with any of these products or any other products from Clyde Digital Systems we would appreciate hearing your experience with them. We are particularly interested with the area of software support and any intrinsic problems these packages have. Thank you in advance. Ryan Popken Computing Resource Center University of Nebraska <popken%crcvms.unl.edu@cunyvm.cuny.edu> <POPKEN@UNLVAX1.BITNET>
POPKEN%crcvms.unl.EDU%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU%KL.SRI.COM%lbl%sfsu1.hepnet@LBL.GOV (05/29/88)
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Date: Thu, 26 May 88 09:27 CST
From: RYAN POPKEN <POPKEN%crcvms.unl.edu@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: Info on Clyde Digital Systems
To: info-vax@kl.sri.COM
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We are looking into some software available from Clyde Digital Systems in
Orem, Utah and were wondering if anyone out there had any experience with
their products. The products we are looking at are: WINDOW, which allows
multiple interactive sessions to be run simultaniously from one terminal;
INSTRUCTOR which allows one terminal to have several other terminals
display what is done on the first terminal, this is for instuctional or
presentation use; and CONTRL, which allows a one-on-one consultation
on the terminal with your terminal displaying another terminal's screen
and your keyboard able to enter data in the other terminal's input stream.
If you have experience with any of these products or any other products
from Clyde Digital Systems we would appreciate hearing your experience
with them. We are particularly interested with the area of software
support and any intrinsic problems these packages have.
Thank you in advance.
Ryan Popken
Computing Resource Center
University of Nebraska
<popken%crcvms.unl.edu@cunyvm.cuny.edu>
<POPKEN@UNLVAX1.BITNET>michael@ddsw1.UUCP (Michael Duebner) (05/30/88)
In article <8805280741.AA04612@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> POPKEN@crcvms.unl.EDU (RYAN POPKEN) writes: >We are looking into some software available from Clyde Digital Systems in >Orem, Utah and were wondering if anyone out there had any experience with >their products. The products we are looking at are: WINDOW, which allows >multiple interactive sessions to be run simultaniously from one terminal; > >If you have experience with any of these products or any other products >from Clyde Digital Systems we would appreciate hearing your experience >with them. We are particularly interested with the area of software >support and any intrinsic problems these packages have. > >Ryan Popken >Computing Resource Center >University of Nebraska As part of our migration from RSTS/E to VMS we needed to move some data between the two machines. The required communications program was supplied by Clyde Digital, it is called CALLOUT. It uses a proprietary protocol to move files between various operating systems. As part of your purchase you can choose remote modules that the host can download to the remote system in ASCII mode and turn into an executable. You can then send files error-free to the remote system. Its rather simple to use, set your "Target System" and you are set. We ordered the tape and had it sent to use overnight. We were specific as to our needs, the moving of files from RSTS/E to VMS and back. We were assured that the proper modules would be part of our TK-50 distribution. The installation software worked well. Trying to contact the other machine was no problem via a local 9600 baud link. During the file transfer setup face the program reported that the local files to be sent where missing. A serach of the distribution media did not result in locating additional software. I quick call to C.D. and their tech. support called our system and transmitted the omitted modules. They were very nice about it and responed immediately to our need. They also had several suggestions as to some problems we may encounter, but there weren't any. The software to this day works well in moving our ISAM files between the two systems. The only thing that surprised us a bit was when they called after our check had reached them along with the signed license agreement, and informed us that a patch need to be applied to the software to prevent it from expiring. I guess they have very little faith in their customers, or they have been screwed at some point in time. During our initial contact we learned about their WINDOWS product and ordered the demonstration version. It installed fine and allowed an ordinary terminal to run up to 9 simultanious sessions. You either log in again or are automatically logged in by the software. You could run one privileged session along with several user sessions off the same terminal. Each session carried a text buffer that could be varied in size to restore your screen to the point where you left the session. This feature is ok if you are switching between two word processors, but can be a bit annoying during database searches. I guess it is a trade off, but at least you have some control over the quantity of text that is redisplayed. We did discover two conflicts with our software and WINDOWS. We use an assiciation management package from Smith Abbott and Company that is written in Dibol. The software will not deal with a pseudo terminal and dumps the user back to DCL. SACO was not willing to mend the software to recognize the required terminal device which made it useless for at least half of the staff, those using SACO software. The other users are running some FOCUS applications along with WORD-11 word processing. This is where problem number 2 comes in. FOCUS sets the terminal to a VT-220 7 bit. So does the word processor until you edit a document, it then changes to VT-220 8 bit and changes the keypad to application mode. The problem is that the application keypad is lost if you are switching between FOCUS and Word-11 edit sessions. At times the only thing you can do in the word processor is give a ^Z to file the document. Clyde Digital had no answer for that one. This made the software unusable for the other half of the firm. Needless to say we did not purchase the software. Overal our experience has been positive. It is my personal opinion that WINDOWS is not the answer to running multi sessions from a single terminal. I am currently using an HDS terminal with two sessions and like it a lot better than having two VT-220 terminals on my desk.