INFORMIX WGS NT 4.0
I have installed INFORMIX WGS on NT 4.0 with Livewire Pro. I did this a DAY before getting the Demo CD we've all been waiting for. ( Don't need the download now, thanks! ) This is the same way you get it to rain. You wash your car. I go and BUY Livewire Pro, then the demo CD arrives. Go figure. :-) Anyway, my initial unscientific observations: Descriptions - Netscape Livewire Pro - Javascript compiler - Web/HTML connectivity to data bases - Requires the additional component of an http daemon - you pick one of your choice, but I'm using Fasttrack for now to reduce potential problems yet to be discovered. - replaces CGI to work with the data base directly from Javascript. - Informix Workgroup Server - Informix 7.12 data base engine - Space Explorer, Data Base Explorer interfaces, Backup interfaces, client/server install setups. Install - Overall a pretty smooth install - couple of glitches with NT services, but after a reboot all is well. - Netscape readme instructions are a little messy but work. - Netscape install very easy Product worked right away. - Informix install very easy. Product worked right away. Interface - Netscape - very nice ( what'd you expect? ) - simple - Informix - very nice - coming from the character-based world, this is a fantastic interface ( Yes I've got win95 and Xwindows ) - compares favorably with SQL Server interface where everything is an object. - A very mainstream product. This should be the Informix product found at retail outlets where you find software. - Makes Oracle look the s*** it is. In fact, the comparison for me is more between SQL Server and Informix. Oracle isn't even a contender. Informix can give SQL Server a run for the money on this one. Documentation - Netscape - very nicely written - this is the first time I've ever read actual Netscape books or materials. Being a download junky I rarely see printed materials from software vendors, except at work. - Supplied are docs on Javascript, and a developer's guide on how to make it work with the data base. Concepts are discussed and a reference manual describes the many functions and data base calls you can make. - Informix - very nicely written - Have observed some incomplete captions on several pages. - consistent look-n-feel to other INFORMIX docs. This one is very mainstream, but adequate. Haven't investigated the user-defined data types like SQL Server. These show up on the tree in SQL Server, but do not show up in Informix WGS, but I'm hopeful with a bit more digging they are a feature. This is my first impression of what appears to be a really cool product. ( Unscientific Customer here ) If there was a Try it recommendation, I 'd say go for it. The demo CD contains stuff the Livewire Pro/ Informix CD didn't contain, so the demo CD is still a nice birthday present...thanks INFORMIX!!! Next eval will be the Javascript-to-data-base... your comments here regarding this product are eagerly anticipated... Tim -- \\\\|// (6 6) -----------oOOo---( )---o00o------------------------------- Tim Schaefer Motorola: tschaefe@paging.mot.com Worldwide: tschaefe@shadow.net Homepage: http://www.shadow.net/~tschaefe Liberty: www.lp.org www.cato.org -----------------------------------------------------------