pgt@crosfield.co.uk (paul titcomb) (03/28/91)
Hello ! I am investigating using a Mac to provide a front-end to various (unknown) mainframe/mini databases using a SQL-like interface. The application will involve extracting user-specified data from the down- line DB and storing it locally, where it can be manipulated using various tools provided for the user (to produce graphs, statistical analyses etc). To try and avoid 're-inventing the wheel' as much as possible, some form of 'hyperscript-like' language seems most suitable. Possible candidates include Wingz and 4th Dimension. Has anyone had any experience producing similar packages with these (or other) products ? In particular, I'm interested in the following : Which DBs and target machines do these packages support ? What intermediary s/w is required on the target and/or Mac (e.g. DAL, SequeLink etc) ? What sort of performance could be expected ? If people are interested, I'll summarise any responses I get. Replies to this group or Email (if it works !) are fine. Thanks very much, Paul -- Paul Titcomb +----------------------------------------------------+ Crosfield Electronics | Disclaimer: Crosfield are not responsible for me ! | Hemel Hempstead, UK +----------------------------------------------------+ 0442-230000 (x3267) Email: pgt@crosfield.co.uk / pgt@cel.uucp
pgt@crosfield.co.uk (paul titcomb) (04/11/91)
Further to my original posting, I received only one reply from someone who had experience of what I asked. Tom Smith (toms@utoday.com) said the following (summarised) : " I am using Wingz as a front end toInformix Database(s) which reside primarily on a Hewlett P9000-832 but I also have data within an informix database on a SUN Sparcstation I+. I have one application which actually does an SQL join using two tables which reside on two different machines. I use Wingz on a Mac using Datalink. Datalink is an add-on product to Wingz which provides functions which allow you to retreive and manipulate data in databases. I have not had any experience with 4D, but I know that Wingz provides the Interface tools which I need, and using Datalink (Or your own home-grown 'C' libraries) makes the package really outstanding. " Thank you, Tom. Others who expressed an interest were : Norman Swenson swenson@isl.stanford.edu Bruce Southwick bruces@apple.com Rob Turner robt@mummy.agsm.unsw.oz.au Should anyone have any further comments and/or experiences in developing client/server applications I'd be most grateful to hear from you. Cheers, Paul -- Paul Titcomb +----------------------------------------------------+ Crosfield Electronics | Disclaimer: Crosfield are not responsible for me ! | Hemel Hempstead, UK +----------------------------------------------------+ 0442-230000 (x3267) Email: pgt@crosfield.co.uk / pgt@cel.uucp
Rick_McCormack@mindlink.UUCP (Rick McCormack) (04/11/91)
Paul Titcomb <pgt@crosfield.co.uk> or <pgt@cel.uucp> wrote asking: about Mac front ends for databases. I have been looking into Sybase, trying to get an example of their Hypercard extensions for the client portion of their architecture. I have attended a demo of the Sybase system, but they don't seem to demo much more than the standard terminal client. Admittedly, the rest of the demo was most impressive, but the conditions are usually optimal, and run with only one client on-line. I suspect that Mr. Titcomb is looking for Mac front ends for Mac-based data-bases, and the Sybase system will be too advanced for his use. Has anyone else seen/used the Sybase Mac-client? Any comment on it relative to Oracle's similar system? Thanks -- _________________________________________________________ | IMAGISTICS Business Theatre Technology | Rick McCormack | | Interactive Effective Compelling | Vancouver, BC | |________________________________________|________________| | UseNet: Rick_McCormack@mindlink.uucp | A O-L: Rique | |_________________________________________________________| .