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From: broy@vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu (Barbara Roy)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Oracle SQL*FORMS 3.0 and SQL*MENU 5.0 gripe
Message-ID: <2357@ns-mx.uiowa.edu>
Date: 17 Sep 90 13:47:03 GMT
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Organization: U of I - Weeg Computing Center
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News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4

A few months ago we upgraded from FORMS 2.3 to 3.0 and MENU 4.1 to 5.0. This
was supposedly "limited production" software, since it was not yet in full 
release. I should have focused on the word "limited" rather than the word
"production" I guess. Since we installed the new versions, I have spent 
literally days trying to figure out the many quirks and bugs in the product. 
I feel as though I am doing Oracle's quality assurance testing. I would
appreciate hearing from anyone else having problems with these versions (we`re
on a VAX VMS system running Oracle 6.0.29.1) to compare notes and pitfalls. 

	Specifically, the master-detail block triggers are not created for
more than one detail block. And if you try to delete blocks and then recreate
them, you can't generate the form. When using the NO_SCREEN parameter of the 
HOST command, the function keys are mysteriously disabled. Forget about using
the LONG datatypes. It is murder trying to get data into them and once it is
in the table it causes nothing but problems. The interface between menus and
forms is a real mystery. The manuals barely address this feature and Oracle
Support is usually expert at one product or the other - not the combination.
Many of the MENU commands don't work if linked to FORMS. 

	I must agree with a previous poster that Oracle Support has improved.
They have been very helpful finding work-arounds and assigning bug numbers 
and they have been prompt in returning calls. However, the product certainly
leaves alot to be desired. I can only hope that the "full production" version
corrects the many problems I have encountered. Until then, we will be using
FORMS 3.0 as though it were still version 2.3 and ignore all those new features
that are causing us so many problems.

Barbara Roy, Weeg Computing Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. 52242
Phone: 319-335-5506  
Internet: broy@vaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu     Bitnet: broyva@uiamvs
Disclaimer: My opinions are solely my own and may change daily.