Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!elroy!spl1!ddsw1!michael
From: michael@ddsw1.UUCP (Michael Duebner)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Re: Info on Clyde Digital Systems
Summary: Windows by Clyde Digital review
Message-ID: <1147@ddsw1.UUCP>
Date: 30 May 88 03:02:58 GMT
References: <8805280741.AA04612@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: michael@ddsw1.UUCP (Michael Duebner)
Organization: AERA Tech Services, Buffalo Grove, IL
Lines: 82

In article <8805280741.AA04612@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> POPKEN@crcvms.unl.EDU (RYAN POPKEN) writes:
>We are looking into some software available from Clyde Digital Systems in
>Orem, Utah and were wondering if anyone out there had any experience with
>their products.  The products we are looking at are: WINDOW, which allows
>multiple interactive sessions to be run simultaniously from one terminal;
>
>If you have experience with any of these products or any other products
>from Clyde Digital Systems we would appreciate hearing your experience
>with them.  We are particularly interested with the area of software
>support and any intrinsic problems these packages have.
>
>Ryan Popken
>Computing Resource Center
>University of Nebraska

As part of our migration from RSTS/E to VMS we needed to move some data
between the two machines.  The required communications program was supplied
by Clyde Digital, it is called CALLOUT.  It uses a proprietary protocol to
move files between various operating systems.  As part of your purchase you
can choose remote modules that the host can download to the remote system in
ASCII mode and turn into an executable.  You can then send files error-free
to the remote system.  Its rather simple to use, set your "Target System"
and you are set.

We ordered the tape and had it sent to use overnight.  We were specific as
to our needs, the moving of files from RSTS/E to VMS and back.  We were
assured that the proper modules would be part of our TK-50 distribution.
The installation software worked well.

Trying to contact the other machine was no problem via a local 9600 baud
link.  During the file transfer setup face the program reported that the
local files to be sent where missing.  A serach of the distribution media
did not result in locating additional software.

I quick call to C.D. and their tech. support called our system and
transmitted the omitted modules.  They were very nice about it and responed
immediately to our need.  They also had several suggestions as to some problems we may encounter, but there weren't any.  The software to this day works
well in moving our ISAM files between the two systems.

The only thing that surprised us a bit was when they called after our check
had reached them along with the signed license agreement, and informed us
that a patch need to be applied to the software to prevent it from
expiring.  I guess they have very little faith in their customers, or they
have been screwed at some point in time.

During our initial contact we learned about their WINDOWS product and
ordered the demonstration version.  It installed fine and allowed an
ordinary terminal to run up to 9 simultanious sessions.  You either log in
again or are automatically logged in by the software.  You could run one
privileged session along with several user sessions off the same terminal.

Each session carried a text buffer that could be varied in size to restore
your screen to the point where you left the session.  This feature is ok if
you are switching between two word processors, but can be a bit annoying
during database searches.  I guess it is a trade off, but at least you have
some control over the quantity of text that is redisplayed.

We did discover two conflicts with our software and WINDOWS.  We use an
assiciation management package from Smith Abbott and Company that is written
in Dibol.  The software will not deal with a pseudo terminal and dumps the
user back to DCL.

SACO was not willing to mend the software to recognize the required terminal
device which made it useless for at least half of the staff, those using
SACO software.

The other users are running some FOCUS applications along with WORD-11
word processing.  This is where problem number 2 comes in.  FOCUS sets the
terminal to a VT-220 7 bit.  So does the word processor until you edit a
document, it then changes to VT-220 8 bit and changes the keypad to
application mode.  The problem is that the application keypad is lost if you
are switching between FOCUS and Word-11 edit sessions.  At times the only
thing you can do in the word processor is give a ^Z to file the document.

Clyde Digital had no answer for that one.  This made the software unusable
for the other half of the firm.  Needless to say we did not purchase the
software.

Overal our experience has been positive.  It is my personal opinion that
WINDOWS is not the answer to running multi sessions from a single terminal.
I am currently using an HDS terminal with two sessions and like it a lot
better than having two VT-220 terminals on my desk.