Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!fernwood!shograf!jim From: jim@shograf.COM (jim morris) Newsgroups: comp.object Subject: Re: Borland's ObjectVision Message-ID: <558@shograf.COM> Date: 10 Mar 91 20:19:55 GMT References: <1991Mar7.233150.7422@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> Organization: SHOgraphics Lines: 50 From article <1991Mar7.233150.7422@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au>, by sci240s@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (mr w.j. ho): > Has anyone seen ObjectVision in action or used it? How good is it ? > .... What is it??? Just got a copy of it... It is a neat concept, but it is NOT what I expected it to be! I thought I was getting a Toolbook-like Actor-like tool for creating windows apps.. No Way... Actually what I got (or what it appears to be) is a way of building forms that can be filled in on the screen. It is a little like a spreadsheet. So you define fields, then link them, and perform calculations to automatically fill in other fields. It can be set up to guide people through the form-filling process. One good example they have is a W-4 form. It looks like the W4 form. When you fill it in it prompts for the relevant info, then fills in the rest based on the filled in fields. It is actually quite easy to set up these forms...But it is not designed to write general applications that do not fall into this form filling category. (At least thats MY impression to date). It also gives you access to Database files, that are ASCII, Paradox, dBase, Btrieve or DDE with other windows programs. In conclusion I'd say it is an on screen form filling/generation program with spreadsheat-like formulas to calculate the reulsts from filled-in fields. You could generate forms that a lay-person could fill in, by forcing them & prompting them for the relevant input etc. I am not complaining about Borland mis-representing this product, as it was an impulse buy on my part... I could have waited for a review or something. But I do think they could come up with a better explanation of what it is!! I would not classify it as a "General purpose Business application generator". Unless your business is filling in order forms, W-4, sales forms, credit application forms etc (These are the sample programs that come with it!) I would be interested to hear if anyone else has any other first hand comments!! Jim -- Jim Morris, E-Mail: jim@shograf.com Voice: (415) 903-3887 _ SHO graphics. Practical PEX