lynch@theory.tn.cornell.edu (Tim Lynch) (10/16/90)
Hello,
We are in the process of evaluating some windowing packages for use in
the development of a program to deliver various database packages.
That is, we provide access for patrons of our
library to various vendor supplied databases; some databases are
remote and we simply assist with the connection while others are
locally mounted. What we hope to do is provide some sort of front-end
user interface to hide all the technical details from users so that they
might be presented with a menu that simply says, for example:
1. Agricultural Data for New York
2. Biological Abstracts
3. Census Data for the U.S.
4. Manufacturing Data for North America
Your choice?
Well, you get the idea. Anyway, we are now searching for a windows
software library to handle our front-end. Our constraints:
1. Must run under Unix. We have decided that our lowest common
denominator is a dumb terminal coming in over a modem, thus, our
software must run on our central "server" machine. We currently
run under HP-UX (sys V) though this may very well change.
2. Obviously from #1, X11 is out. We do, however, hope to find a
package that provides some of the features found in something like
X at least as far as text goes: movable resizable windows,
different types of windows (help, dialog, scrollable), support
for various data types (date, money) and data input (numeric
only, alpha only, picture or template input i.e., telephone
number (xxx-xxxx) or social security (xxx-xx-xxxx). And,
very important, support for context sensitive help.
3. Low cost. One or two thousand is reasonable; over, say,
8K is not OK.
And, so, my big question: Anybody got any recommendations? If so, could
you address the following points:
- If you are using a package, could you briefly describe how the package
is used? Include a brief description of the hardware environment.
- In choosing your package, what competing packages where considered?
- Why was your package chosen over the others?
- What would you say is your package's strengths?
- What would you say is your package's weaknesses?
I'll plan on either posting or e-mailing to anyone interested, so if you
don't want your views exposed publicly, please say so.
Thanks!
Tim Lynch, computer systems and network manager, Mann Library
ps: We are considering several packages that, at this point, I'll refrain
from mentioning but will include in my summary.