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From: horton@fortune.UUCP (Randy Horton)
Newsgroups: net.database
Subject: Re: UNIX dbms
Message-ID: <5475@fortune.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 13:34:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: fortune.5475
Posted: Tue Aug 20 13:34:33 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Aug-85 23:17:09 EDT
References: <589@hlwpc.UUCP>
Reply-To: horton@ranhome.UUCP (Randy horton)
Distribution: na
Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 66
Summary: a vote for Informix

In article <589@hlwpc.UUCP> kmk@hlwpc.UUCP (Ken Keyzer) writes:
>Let's start with something simple :-) 
>	What is the best UNIX database management system?  Why?
>

The question of "what database software is best" is dependent upon the
intended users of the database(s), and the specifics of an application.  There
are tradeoffs of power, flexibility, and ease of use (both by the programmer
and the users).  In my situation, I develop databases for use by
non-programmers.  Many of the users of my databases not only do not know much
about computers, they are not particularly interested in learning about them.
They just want to get their work done.  This has a great influence on my
choice of "the best database software".

For my needs, I have found INFORMIX (tm of Relational Database Systems) the
best all around package.  Most database packages offer similar capabilities
for defining database structure, so I will address what I feel are the two
especially strong points of Informix: the data entry screen generator and the
report generator.

PERFORM (tm)is the data entry screen generator of Informix.  It allows the
programmer to create sophisticated data entry screens faily easily.  Naturally
the programmer has total control over the appearance of the screens.  You can
validate data by range checks, accepting only a certain format of data, and
lookups from other files.  Newly added to Perform is a feature called
instruction blocks.  These instruction blocks give the programmer the
capabilities to create truly sophistcated screens.  You can control cursor
movement depending on what type of function (add or update) is being
performed, as well as depending on what value or range of values was entered
into a specific field or fields.  You can creadte display fields that are not
part of any file, which can take on values based on calculations based on
other fields.  You can perform calculations and lookups on entered field
values and take actions based on the entered values or on the results of the
calculations.  For example, you could take the values entered into several
fields, perform a calculation using those values, use the result of the
calculation to perform a lookup from another file, enter the value returned
from the lookup into another field, and then move the cursor to any other
field based on the results of any of the previous steps.  You can also call
your own C language functions which could themselves perform extensive
manipulations of the database.

The report writer, ACE (tm) also provides extensive capabilities.  Ace is
actually a programming language, sort of a fourth generation language.  You
write a report program and compile it.  The compiled file is then used to
actually generate the final report.  The report program can be passed
paramaters, or it can prompt the operator for input.  Of course in a case
where the program prompts the operator for input, input could be redirected
from a file containing the values to be input.  I combine this capability with
other programs which update the input files to run various reports at various
times automatically in conjunction with cron.  You can define variables and
perform extensive calculations using the variables and database fields.  You
can also call C language subroutines.

As long as this posting is, I have barely scratched the surface of the
capabilities of Informix.  The query language is equal to any I have seen, but
it is similar to most.  I would be happy to answer specific questions about
Informix.  I am not an employee of, or have any connection to Relational
Database Systems.  I am just a very satisfied customer.
-- 
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              |   allegra\   Randy Horton @ Fortune Systems |
              |   cbosgd  \                                 |
              |   dual     >!fortune!ranhome!randy          |
              |   ihnp4   /                                 |
              |   nsc    /   Clever disclaimer goes here    |
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