Re: User/Today functions

In article <3c2632$oph@emory.mathcs.emory.edu>, mac@antares-dev.com (Miguel A. Caldera) writes: Gburnore@netcom.com (Gary L. Burnore) posted a response to my response which was a response to someone else's post. The original post was how to use the USER and TODAY functions. Mr. Burnore's method included the words "or, on your system". My statement from the soapbox is that this is fine for those of us who do custom development for a given platform, but for those of us who do applications meant to run on any platform that Informix runs on, words like "or on your system" are not really acceptable. This falls into the same category as saying that nroff and the like are the ultimate solution for pretty printer output. This is one of those things that may or may not exist on the target system, and requiring the end user to buy extra things to run your software is like asking the customer to buy everything from somebody else. I could go on , but the soapbox timer has expired :^) AND Tim Schaefer responds: :-) Miguel, Just what is the "INFORMIX platform" ? And , does all software need to be purchased? In my little travels to customer sites, UNIX shareware is rubbing elbows with the best of payware, especially if the company has internet access. This is a GOOD thing. The programmer of today will follow the least path of resistance when it comes to good software, and if you gots to get shareware, then so be it. Is there really a standard UNIX platform anymore? Well, thanks to the 'net this definition is up for grabs. Isn't interesting to note too how little attention is paid to MS-DOS compatibility? If you have a major brand of computer you almost have to buy sub-system components from that manufacturer or the warranties are void. And you have to run their OEM PC/MS-DOS. So much for open systems. Maybe we'll all get Linux and call it a day. Commercial software has to compete against shareware. And you have to keep abreast of the shareware just to improve the quality of life for your users, especially when management isn't going to sign off on that payware TROFF package. So you go and get groff and get you app to work with it. You might get ELM for an electronic mail package. And life goes on. What might be of benefit to folks out there is a "shareware 100" of the best of what's apropos for UNIX/INFORMIX sites. This could be a valuable resource to allow the solutions to fly even when the cash doesn't. And keep those soap boxes from breaking... Yes Miguel I agree with what you are saying, but the users are waiting...ooops soapbox timer expired... :-) Timmy The Computer Business Company All opinions are really my own without harm to the environment or animals used to create the message. And I don't care what my company thinks--I hope they fire me! They're a bunch of animals anyway!