Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!rex!rouge!lafayet!rob
From: rob@lafayet.Lafayette.LA.US (Rob Freyder)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: db_VISTA III -vs- Relational DBMS'
Message-ID: <468@lafayet.Lafayette.LA.US>
Date: 9 Aug 90 03:48:41 GMT
References: <15660@s.ms.uky.edu> <1990Aug8.144318.10203@dg-rtp.dg.com>
Organization: Core Laboratories, Lafayette, LA  USA
Lines: 49

In <1990Aug8.144318.10203@dg-rtp.dg.com> cohend@roadkill.rtp.dg.com (Dave Cohen) writes:

>Eric -
>    In general, I agree with this. I am also looking at db_VISTA.
>    But I disagree on a couple points.
>In article <15660@s.ms.uky.edu>, ericd@ms.uky.edu (Dan Chaney) writes:
>|> We chose db_VISTA for the following reasons:
>Using function calls is much more difficult than using an embedded 
>language. Plus, a good SQL implementation will preoptimize and
>store the embedded statements.
>|>   A 4GL might be "powerful" but it isn't as flexible as C with libraries.

I am not so sure... We love the speed of dv_vista but are thinking of moving
to Informix 4GL and Wingz due to the options we give our users !  Although
maybe these options dont exist under dos.

db_vista lacks a friendly SQL interface and report writer ... while the code
*is* fast... the users have no friendly avenue for ad hoc queries !  
Something we desparately need.. (who doesnt ?)  We also want to be able 
to query databases on different machines transparently ..(see Informix-Star)
which we cant do with db_vista products !

>|>   It has a reasonable SQL interface.

>No - it can only query thru the SQL interface using SELECT statements,
>plus you have to set up your own views. There is no DELETE, UPDATE, or
>INSERT statement support.

I agree...  Its SQL interface is far from reasonable.  Our schema was 
monstrous when we got done... (Laboratory Information Mgmt Sys...) and
the joins were mind boggling...  Forget it with db_Query.  we even tried
IQ ... they have a Report Writer for Bean Counters... Great for relational
databases but horrid for sets...  Somebody needs to come up with a good report
writer / SQL interface to db_vista databases before it will be widely 
accepted.   

Dont get me wrong... We love the speed but ... novice users can't interact
with it except through the code *you* write for them !  Unless they are
SQL wizards...

I await you reply.

-- 
Rob Freyder                                  Core Laboratories a division of
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