Learning Informix for beginner

Hello all, thank you for your responses to my previous post. I need a little more help from y'all; I am starting a new position soon with a companywith an HP9000 using Informix 4GL on top of SQL Technology. I am very familiar at creating simple and complex queries, analysis reports, gui's and simplifying workflow processes with MS-Access however I have absolutley no experience with Informix or coding of any sort. Could you please recommend the steps I should follow to get up to speed quickly? Should I be learning SQL before working with Informix or is there a more direct approach - remember, I am a beginner and have no written coding experience. I would not be working with database infrastructure, only the compiling and analysis of things like sales history, forecasting etc. Again, I really appreciate your help and direction, Thanks Robert Ingles

I would start with the SQL Tutorial manual - there are some differences between MSSQL and Informix SQL, although in later versions Informix does support much of that style of syntax. The manuals are well written and a pretty decent read. You can find them at http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/informix/library.html cheers j. -----Original Message----- From: ids-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:ids-bounces@iiug.org]On Behalf Of ROBERT INGLES Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 5:35 PM To: ids@iiug.org Subject: Learning Informix for beginner [19232] Hello all, thank you for your responses to my previous post. I need a little more help from y'all; I am starting a new position soon with a companywith an HP9000 using Informix 4GL on top of SQL Technology. I am very familiar at creating simple and complex queries, analysis reports, gui's and simplifying workflow processes with MS-Access however I have absolutley no experience with Informix or coding of any sort. Could you please recommend the steps I should follow to get up to speed quickly? Should I be learning SQL before working with Informix or is there a more direct approach - remember, I am a beginner and have no written coding experience. I would not be working with database infrastructure, only the compiling and analysis of things like sales history, forecasting etc. Again, I really appreciate your help and direction, Thanks Robert Ingles **************************************************************************** *** Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.

also find out what version of Informix SQL they are using and read the documentation for that version since newer versions have a lot more functionality than previous ones. and once you have a basic understanding of SQL syntax, tackle 4GL which uses SQL syntax plus all the usual procedural stuff (loops, conditional logic, etc). 4GL is pretty easy and you will probably like it once you get the hang of it.... On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 7:54 AM, Jack Parker <jack.parker4@verizon.net>wrote: > I would start with the SQL Tutorial manual - there are some differences > between MSSQL and Informix SQL, although in later versions Informix does > support much of that style of syntax. The manuals are well written and a > pretty decent read. You can find them at > http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/informix/library.html > > cheers > j. > > -----Original Message----- > From: ids-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:ids-bounces@iiug.org]On Behalf Of > ROBERT INGLES > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 5:35 PM > To: ids@iiug.org > Subject: Learning Informix for beginner [19232] > > Hello all, thank you for your responses to my previous post. I need a > little > more help from y'all; > > I am starting a new position soon with a companywith an HP9000 using > Informix > 4GL on top of SQL Technology. I am very familiar at creating simple and > complex queries, analysis reports, gui's and simplifying workflow processes > with MS-Access however I have absolutley no experience with Informix or > coding > of any sort. > > Could you please recommend the steps I should follow to get up to speed > quickly? Should I be learning SQL before working with Informix or is there > a > more direct approach - remember, I am a beginner and have no written coding > experience. I would not be working with database infrastructure, only the > compiling and analysis of things like sales history, forecasting etc. > > Again, I really appreciate your help and direction, > Thanks > Robert Ingles > > > **************************************************************************** > *** > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --001485eaffaa54534c04810e2c22

Thanks guys, Is there a demonstration db somewhere I can download to my laptop in order to practice putting together statements? Informix has stores7 which comes with their server software however it would be a bit pricy for me to invest in a server and the software to practice on. I don't mind buying a suitable demo database or reference materials, I just need to know what I should be looking for and which one is most applicable to advancing towards 4GL. Thanks again for continuing to help out a neophyte RJI

You can download the Informix Developer's Edition for free from the IBM website. If you are a registered IBM user (you can register free at the time of the download) just go to www.informix.com (a shortcut link to the Informix pages on the IBM site) and click on "Trials and demos" in the box at the top left and follow the links. The Developer's Edition is fully functional with all Enterprise Edition features but you can only have a limited amount of disk, memory, and concurrent sessions. Perfect for the kind of learning or evaluations you want to run. One of the options is to download a fully installed VMware enviroment running Linux and IDS. Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.com) IIUG Board of Directors (art@iiug.org) See you at the 2010 IIUG Informix Conference April 25-28, 2010 Overland Park (Kansas City), KS www.iiug.org/conf Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on my employer, Advanced DataTools, the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves. On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 11:10 AM, ROBERT INGLES < robert_ingles@telusplanet.net> wrote: > Thanks guys, > Is there a demonstration db somewhere I can download to my laptop in order > to > practice putting together statements? Informix has stores7 which comes with > their server software however it would be a bit pricy for me to invest in a > server and the software to practice on. I don't mind buying a suitable demo > database or reference materials, I just need to know what I should be > looking > for and which one is most applicable to advancing towards 4GL. > > Thanks again for continuing to help out a neophyte > > RJI > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --00151747671a804fb70481105fd5

Hi, I've been administering Informix IDS for close to 10 years now. I started back with 7.31. You can download an evaluation copy of IDS at: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/informix/downloads.html Two books that I started with, still use, and highly recommend are: "Unix Backup & Recovery 1st Edition", W. Curis Preston, O'Reilly (ISBN: 1-56592-642-0). Look @ Chapter 14 on setting up DB Spaces, configuring Physical and Logical Database logging and log-space, Disaster Recovery, Backups and Restoring. "INFORMIX DBA Survival Guide 2nd Edition", Joe Lumbley, Prentice Hall PTR - Informix series / Informix Press (ISBN: 0-13-079623-9). This book is not in print, but I got one used from Amazon.com. Also, IBM frequently offers "Chat with the Labs" that have a lot of How-To demos. Sign up for as many of those as you can. Lastly, ask questions here. It's fantastic resource with a lovable sarcastic clown at no extra cost. I hope you find this stuff helpful. Good luck and best wishes. Jonathan B. Smaby Pomona College phone: (909) 621-8506 email: jonathan.smaby@pomona.edu Semper Paratus! "Always Ready!" -----Original Message----- From: ids-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:ids-bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of ROBERT INGLES Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 8:10 AM To: ids@iiug.org Subject: Re: Learning Informix for beginner [19253] Thanks guys, Is there a demonstration db somewhere I can download to my laptop in order to practice putting together statements? Informix has stores7 which comes with their server software however it would be a bit pricy for me to invest in a server and the software to practice on. I don't mind buying a suitable demo database or reference materials, I just need to know what I should be looking for and which one is most applicable to advancing towards 4GL. Thanks again for continuing to help out a neophyte RJI ******************************************************************************* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2723 - Release Date: 03/04/10 23:34:00 ------------------------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned by Postini anti-virus software.

Oh, for 4GL you can get the open source 4GL clone Aubit4GL to play with 4GL. It has some extensions that handle GUI displays and PDF report output, but otherwise it is almost 100% compatible with 4GL as a superset language. Go to: www.aubit4gl.com and see the "Latest Software Releases" box on the right side for download links. The project coordinator, Mike Aubrey, is very responsive to questions and problems. Art Art S. Kagel Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.com) IIUG Board of Directors (art@iiug.org) See you at the 2010 IIUG Informix Conference April 25-28, 2010 Overland Park (Kansas City), KS www.iiug.org/conf Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on my employer, Advanced DataTools, the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves. On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 11:40 AM, Art Kagel <art.kagel@gmail.com> wrote: > You can download the Informix Developer's Edition for free from the IBM > website. If you are a registered IBM user (you can register free at the > time of the download) just go to www.informix.com (a shortcut link to the > Informix pages on the IBM site) and click on "Trials and demos" in the box > at the top left and follow the links. The Developer's Edition is fully > functional with all Enterprise Edition features but you can only have a > limited amount of disk, memory, and concurrent sessions. Perfect for the > kind of learning or evaluations you want to run. One of the options is to > download a fully installed VMware enviroment running Linux and IDS. > > Art > > Art S. Kagel > Advanced DataTools (www.advancedatatools.com) > IIUG Board of Directors (art@iiug.org) > > See you at the 2010 IIUG Informix Conference > April 25-28, 2010 > Overland Park (Kansas City), KS > www.iiug.org/conf > > Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions > and > do not reflect on my employer, Advanced DataTools, the IIUG, nor any other > organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or > by > inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals > affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the > entities themselves. > > On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 11:10 AM, ROBERT INGLES < > robert_ingles@telusplanet.net> wrote: > > > Thanks guys, > > Is there a demonstration db somewhere I can download to my laptop in > order > > to > > practice putting together statements? Informix has stores7 which comes > with > > their server software however it would be a bit pricy for me to invest in > a > > server and the software to practice on. I don't mind buying a suitable > demo > > database or reference materials, I just need to know what I should be > > looking > > for and which one is most applicable to advancing towards 4GL. > > > > Thanks again for continuing to help out a neophyte > > > > RJI > > > > > > > > > > ******************************************************************************* > > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > > > > > --00151747671a804fb70481105fd5 > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --0015174c19567587f30481109243

Why don't you download a copy of the server software developers edition. This has all the features, but the edition is limited to development and testing uses only. It is free to use. http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/downloads/im/ids/learn.html?S_CMP=rnav John F. Miller III STSM, Support Architect miller3@us.ibm.com 503-578-5645 IBM Informix Dynamic Server (IDS) ids-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 03/05/2010 08:10:25 AM: > [image removed] > > Re: Learning Informix for beginner [19253] > > ROBERT INGLES > > to: > > ids > > 03/05/2010 08:11 AM > > Sent by: > > ids-bounces@iiug.org > > Please respond to ids > > Thanks guys, > Is there a demonstration db somewhere I can download to my laptop inorder to > practice putting together statements? Informix has stores7 which comes with > their server software however it would be a bit pricy for me to invest in a > server and the software to practice on. I don't mind buying a suitable demo > database or reference materials, I just need to know what I should be looking > for and which one is most applicable to advancing towards 4GL. > > Thanks again for continuing to help out a neophyte > > RJI > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. >

The best way to learn anything in my experience is to dive in try stuff and make mistakes. If you don't make mistakes, you're not learning anything. 4GL is easy for beginners, but it does offer some advantages to those who spend some time with it that aren't readily obvious to the beginner. If I were you I'd play around with programs developers at your workplace have written (in a test environment, of course). Try stuff out - If I had time I think I would write a version of breakout in 4GL....It's probably already been done before but I haven't seen it. Oh great - now I have to write it just to show it can be done. :-) --- On Thu, 3/4/10, ROBERT INGLES <robert_ingles@telusplanet.net> wrote: From: ROBERT INGLES <robert_ingles@telusplanet.net> Subject: Learning Informix for beginner [19232] To: ids@iiug.org Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 3:35 PM Hello all, thank you for your responses to my previous post. I need a little more help from y'all; I am starting a new position soon with a companywith an HP9000 using Informix 4GL on top of SQL Technology. I am very familiar at creating simple and complex queries, analysis reports, gui's and simplifying workflow processes with MS-Access however I have absolutley no experience with Informix or coding of any sort. Could you please recommend the steps I should follow to get up to speed quickly? Should I be learning SQL before working with Informix or is there a more direct approach - remember, I am a beginner and have no written coding experience. I would not be working with database infrastructure, only the compiling and analysis of things like sales history, forecasting etc. Again, I really appreciate your help and direction, Thanks Robert Ingles ******************************************************************************* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum.

Besides all other answers pointing to IDS developer edition, the virtual appliance, and several books, please take a look at this e-book: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/information/ids-ebook.html It's author is a well known and very respected member of the Informix community. This book was released in electronic format without costs (well... you need to answer several questions and register on the IBM website). He has released another "paper" book that you can find in online bookstores. Just search for his name (Carlton Doe) P.S.: for a ready to go environment go for the IDS virtual appliance. It does not include 4GL... Regards. On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 4:10 PM, ROBERT INGLES <robert_ingles@telusplanet.net > wrote: > Thanks guys, > Is there a demonstration db somewhere I can download to my laptop in order > to > practice putting together statements? Informix has stores7 which comes with > their server software however it would be a bit pricy for me to invest in a > server and the software to practice on. I don't mind buying a suitable demo > database or reference materials, I just need to know what I should be > looking > for and which one is most applicable to advancing towards 4GL. > > Thanks again for continuing to help out a neophyte > > RJI > > > > ******************************************************************************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > -- Fernando Nunes Portugal http://informix-technology.blogspot.com My email works... but I don't check it frequently... --0016e64982d0afff4404813de235

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE Ron Flannery's book, The INFORMIX Handbook, was published quite a few years ago. I still use it almost daily. I think you can get it on Safari, but you still need to get it. Read it cover to cover, then use it for reference. Rob -----Original Message----- From: ids-bounces@iiug.org [mailto:ids-bounces@iiug.org] On Behalf Of ROBERT INGLES Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 5:35 PM To: ids@iiug.org Subject: Learning Informix for beginner [19232] Hello all, thank you for your responses to my previous post. I need a little more help from y'all; I am starting a new position soon with a companywith an HP9000 using Informix 4GL on top of SQL Technology. I am very familiar at creating simple and complex queries, analysis reports, gui's and simplifying workflow processes with MS-Access however I have absolutley no experience with Informix or coding of any sort. Could you please recommend the steps I should follow to get up to speed quickly? Should I be learning SQL before working with Informix or is there a more direct approach - remember, I am a beginner and have no written coding experience. I would not be working with database infrastructure, only the compiling and analysis of things like sales history, forecasting etc. Again, I really appreciate your help and direction, Thanks Robert Ingles ************************************************************************ ******* Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE