Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site fortune.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!ihnp4!fortune!horton 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. -- +---------------------------------------------+ | allegra\ Randy Horton @ Fortune Systems | | cbosgd \ | | dual >!fortune!ranhome!randy | | ihnp4 / | | nsc / Clever disclaimer goes here | +---------------------------------------------+