Data Based Advisor articles from April 1996

Data Based Advisor archives from April 1996

End-user development tools: why not use them? (Wall Data's Salsa for the Desktop, Oberon Software's Prospero, Microsoft's Access for Windows 95 7.0, Lotus' Notes)(Editor on the Go) (Product Information)(Editorial)
April 1, 1996... What's your preferred way to develop an application? There are many tools, therefore many ways to develop--most of them fairly complicated, which is why the business world relies on professional developers like you. What about the idea of end...

Advisor developers forum.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 1996... Comments, opinions and dialogue from the development community Developer Conferences: What's the Payback? Conferences are important on many levels. A top conference usually offers technical training for all skill levels, and the courses are...

3-D graphics on your desktop. (3D/Eye's TriSpectives Professional 3D rendering package) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... Computer-generated graphics have brought us flashy network logos on television and terrorizing dinosaurs in the movies. Although these impressive images are the result of teams of artists working on powerful computers, you can create your own on...

Coming events. (industry events, March - June 1996) (Calendar of Events)
April 1, 1996... Internet & Electronic Commerce Conference & Exposition, New York, NY, 25-27 March--Internet infrastructure, its impact on commerce, and new media marketing and selling on the Net. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Gartner Group and Expocon...

Use OLE for your SQL Server connections. (Sylvain Faust's SQL Sombrero/OCX OLE custom control) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... SQL Sombrero/OCX, from Sylvain Faust Inc., is an OLE custom control (OCX) that gives you access to Microsoft and Sybase SQL Server database servers through an easy-to-use OLE Automation interface. It is yet another useful application of OLE...

Secure SQLBase Server from Gupta. (Dunn Systems' client/server database engine)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... An enhanced version of Gupta's SQLBase, titled Secure SQLBase, is a client-server database engine. Secure SQLBase can be manipulated by using popular 4GLs such as SQLWindows, Delphi, Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, and C++ to develop programs that...

Expanded bitmap display and OLE support for WinGIS 3.2 (PROGIS' WinGIS 3.2 geographical information system)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... New modules for this geographical information system include: GPS Connection, Multimedia, and Turbo Raster. OLE support lets most spreadsheets, documents, or databases be placed in the WinGIS graphic editor. Find Polygon and Find Object are also...

Accounting software for Paradox 7, Windows 95, and Windows NT. (Adapta Software's AdaptAccounts 5.7 accounting application add-ons)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Paradox 7.0 accounting application add-ons are available with AdaptAccounts 5.7. The applications, which include the usual accounting modules, can integrate with each other or be installed separately. The General Accounting package,...

Power tools for PowerBuilder developers. (Greenbrier & Russel's ObjectSmith 1.1 programming utility) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... By being the right product at the right time, PowerBuilder has become one of the leading client-server application development tools in the market. But it's far from perfect, and products are coming out that help smooth out those rough edges....

Sniffer Network Analyzer Database Module for Oracle7. (Network General's network, database analyzer)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... The Sniffer Network Analyzer Database Module for Oracle7 provides network and database users an internal view of the database and network by decoding the Oracle 7 SQL Net 2.0 protocols. The decode simultaneously presents the database connection...

Document manager. (XSoft's Visual Recall 2.0 client server document management program)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Visual Recall 2.0 offers client-server document-management capabilities for networked PC Windows users. It lets users locate, view, and utilize important documents. Visual Recall incorporates a form of summarization technology that automatically...

SGML file support. (XSoft's Astoria text processing software)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Astoria supports the use of SGML files as document databases by letting users store, retrieve, and manage elements within the files. it lets authors share and reuse information, and organizations can track the evolution of their information....

Windows accounting package. (Aptitude Software's Accounting Power Tools)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Accounting Power Tools is an accounting package with an open design, and stores its data in Microsoft Access Tables. It has several integrated modules built-in, and other modules can be added later. Packaged modules include a General Ledger,...

Data import and export. (IST Inc's OpenExchange PRO 2.0 for Windows DBMS utility)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... OpenExchange PRO 2.0 for Windows provides data import and export capabilities to database applications. Developers can export to a new file or update and merge data into existing databases, while maintaining present indexes. OpenExchange PRO...

Data warehouse initiative. (Dimensional Insight's CrossTarget OLAP tool added to Data General's Business Warehouse Program) (Product Information)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Dimensional insight is participating in Data General's Business Warehouse Program--a consortium of vendors and products that provide tools, middleware, database software, and hardware to implement data warehouse solutions. Data General selected...

ODBC interface. (Empress Software's Empress Connectivity 2.0 database access software)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Empress Connectivity v2.0 lets Windows or UNIX users access data from Empress databases. Through ODBC-enabled programs, users can access Empress RDBMS data residing on UNIX platforms on a TCP/IP network. A client driver and UNIX server product is...

Automated client-server testing. (Performance Awareness' preVue-C/S application test software)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... preVue-C/S tests client-server applications by replacing the activities of actual users and the PC workstation with client emulation scripts. It provides a non-intrusive automated testing solution for regression testing, stress load testing, and...

Windows encryption tool. (Azalea Software's carrick 1.0)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... carrick 1.0, a Windows encryption tool, functions as a stand-alone application or from within Windows applications that can access a DLL, including word processors, databases, and spreadsheets. It uses the Blowfish algorithm, supports...

SQL Windows Class Library helps in RAD. (Metex Systems' ClassIQ 2.2 object-oriented Class Library for SQLWindows) (rapid application deployment) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... SQLWindows is a veteran windows tool for client-server development. It also sports one of the better development environments for object-oriented programming. To fully benefit from SQLwindows' powerful features requires making full use of these...

Developers toolkit. (Lifeboat Publishing's Dan Bricklin's TimeLOCK)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Dan Bricklin's TimeLOCK developer's toolkit creates TimeLOCKed versions of Windows software. A function call converts vendor code into a TimeLOCKed version. When a user first runs an application, the predetermined evaluation period begins....

Compression of Windows and ODS.EXEs and .DLLs. (Blink's Blinker 4.0 program compression software)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Blinker 4.0 creates compressed Windows and DOS programs directly, with no separate decompression steps. Blinker 4.0 also introduces linking of 32 bit PE format EXES for Windows 95 and NT. It's compatible with C, C++, Microsoft FORTPAN, Pascal,...

Automated testing. (Eastern Systems' TestPlan, TestDesigner software testing design and management package)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... TestPlan designs and manages software testing for technical and non-technical staff. TestPlan has planning, scheduling, process management, revision control, and problem reporting features, and documents all testing activities. It supports...

Integrate business processes. (Cincom Systems' TOTAL Framework integrated business object component package)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... TOTAL Framework consists of individual object components for managing business processes. Persistence Framework integrates existing databases with its TOTAL ORDB object-relational database, SUPPA Server relational database, and the Persistence...

4D competitive upgrade. (ACIUS's 4th Dimension 3.5 DBMS upgrade) (Product Information)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... ACIUS is offering a competitive upgrade to non-users of 4th Dimension 3.5, the cross-platform relational database management system. Developers proving that they use another database can purchase 4D for US$295 & US$600 less suggested retail), and...

Improved error correction. (Nu-Mega Technologies' BoundChecker for Windows 95/NT Service Packs)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... BoundsChecker for Windows 95 and NT Service Packs has better integration with Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Developer Studio and Visual Test 4.0. New features include ability to launch multiple instances of BoundsChecker. This is a no charge to...

Simplify GUIs via SmallTalk. (TechBridge Technology's Visual TRIO for Smalltalk 2.1 application development utility)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Visual TRIO for Smalltalk 2.1 adds 4GL-style tools for building graphical components into Smalltalk applications. It contains more than 500 programming classes, presented in a desktop metaphor as a tool suite. US$270. TechBridge Technology...

The next generation data integration tool. (Evolutionary Technologies International ETI EXTRACT Tool Suite 3.0 GUI)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... ETI EXTRACT Tool Suite Release 3.0 offers an industry-standard style graphical user interface (GUI) that enhances usability, such as a user-controlled desktop metaphor, metadata access and export, and unlimited versioning. It now addresses...

Class generator. (Subtle Software's Subtleware C++ Class Generator Developer Edition)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... The Developer Edition of the Subtleware C++ Class Generator is a Windows tool that creates persistent C++ classes from relational databases. It eliminates the need to hand-write mapping code that transfers object data between application classes...

Strike! Out for better data access. (Software Centric's Strike! 2.1 programming tool) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... Strike! Developer's Edition for DOS, US$795, for Windows, US$595 Software-Centric 2231 Gerber Ave. Sacramento, CA 95817 USA (916)454-9031, fax (916)454-9223 Software Centric LTD 7 The Croft, Sudbury town Wembley, Middx, HAO 3EQ, UK...

ODBC driver for database developers. (Trilogy Technology International's OpenPath RDA/ODBC 1.1 DBMS utility)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... The ODBC driver OpenPath RDA/ODBC 1.1 is for application developers using Microsoft Access and Visual Basic, Borland Delphi, and Powersoft PowerBuilder. It can simultaneously access corporate databases from UNIX and Windows front ends. Open-Path...

Skeleton projects for PowerBuilder. (MetaSolv Software's PowerFrame Framework Library 3.0 objects class library)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... PowerFrame Framework Library 3.0 is a class library of objects and an application framework that helps developers learn PowerBuilder. Using the Quick Start Generator, the library creates skeleton PowerBuilder projects that include an application...

Dating service. (Peritus Software Service's Automate:2000 service for system conversion to year 2000) (Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
April 1, 1996... Automate:2000 is a service that will enhance computer programs for the year 2000. The service can convert two million lines of code per eight-hour shift, or 250,000 lines an hour. The service involves a five-step process, which organizes a...

Provide a professional setup routine. (Great Lakes Business Solutions' Windows Self-Installing Executables 4.0 installation program) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... Windows Self-Installing Executables (WISE) version 4.0 US$199 Great Lakes Business Solutions Canton, MI 48187 800-554-8565, (313)981-4970 Fax (313)981-9746 The first impression a user has of your application is the setup routine. With...

Worth an upgrade: Paradox 7. (Borland's Paradox 7 for WIndows 95/NT DBMS) (Software Review)(Evaluation)
April 1, 1996... With this new version Paradox 7 for Windows and Windows NT, c and has embraced the Window s 95 environment and fully leveraged its 32-bit technology. In addition, version provides compatibility with applications built using any previous Windows...

The impact of the Internet on programming practices. (Industry Trend or Event)
April 1, 1996... It's virtually impossible to pick up a newspaper and not see a reference to the information superhighway, or a mention of how some form of electronic communication is changing our lives. Because I live in a small town (New York City) and I...

SQL Server 6.5 sports better replication, Internet support. (Microsoft's SQL Server 6.5 DBMS) (Product Development)
April 1, 1996... "In my consulting, I am in contact with dozens of large corporations," says David McClanahan, an independent consultant in Marion, Ohio, and DATA BASED ADVISOR client-server columnist, "I see a dear, strong trend towards adoption of Windows NT...

Building blocks of data warehouses. (integrated, best-of-breed solutions) (includes related article on companies offering total data warehouse solutions) (Technology Information)(Cover Story)
April 1, 1996... What's the formula for maintaining an enterprise's growing data, and maximizing user access to that data? Two companies,, with two approaches. Data warehouses have become popular at corporations for two simple reasons: They promise easy access...

Money, modems, and Visual dBase. (United Vetcare's online transaction processing system) (case study) (Technology Information)
April 1, 1996... Online transaction processing is the wave of the future, but implementing it in the present can be a nightmare. Here's how one company worked through the hassles and came out with a successful project. Conventional wisdom dictates that online...

Enterprise client-server database design and tuning. (access models for system design) (part 2) (Technology Information)
April 1, 1996... EDITOR'S NOTE THis is the second in a three-part series of articles which discusses client-server database and application design and tuning issues. In this issue, Jonathan continues with specific details surrounding proactive design for...

Reengineering leads to new business venture. (James Moran Family Enterprises uses Baltimore Systems Group, Logic Works' BPwin 1.5 in process modeling project) (Company Operations)
April 1, 1996... "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," or so the saying goes. But a Florida automobile distributor challenged that notion by implementing an improved information workflow system--one that might help the already successful company realize increased...

Create reports that get rave reviews; get up-to-speed on the most effective type of report for your development project. (includes related article on normalized data) (Technology Information)
April 1, 1996... Whether you work in the MIS department of a large company or work as an independent consultant, most of your development probably involves building information systems for businesses. The term "information system" is an appropriate one because it...

Computer telephony integration: what you need to know to get started. (includes related article on TAPI vs TSAPI) (Technology Information)
April 1, 1996... Before you start that computer telephony application, look at the key decision points that guided our projects. You've probably heard about all the wonderful things that happen when computer intelligence is applied to telecommunications...

Creating the optimal document database. (approaches to electronic document database management systems) (Technology Information)
April 1, 1996... With the advent of imaging, text retrieval, electronic publishing, the Internet, and the World Wide Web over the last decade, businesses ave been migrating to a world that's less reliant on paper documents. They're rating to an environment where...

Speed up queries; use these custom query techniques to build the ultimate queries. (with C++) (Technology Tutorial)(Tutorial)
April 1, 1996... In 1991, Fox Software amazed the database world when it unveiled the Rushmore technology. Database queries suddenly sped up by an order of magnitude--in some cases two orders of magnitude. Since then, Fox, now part of Microsoft, has continued to...

Real-world banking. (case study of online banking software development project using Computer Associates' CA-Visual Objects DBMS) (Technology Information)
April 1, 1996... In the last quarter of 1994, we were faced with a big challenge from our general manager: We had to build a Windows version of a major home banking application that we had originally developed using Clipper. The first challenge we faced was...

Database confidential. (Humor)
April 1, 1996... Imagine the embarrassment: At the giant Lotusphere conference in January, one of the developers of Lotus Notes Release 4 was conducting a session titled "New Elements of Form Design in R4." As Buzz watched him demonstrate the new capability to...