C-ISAM ?

I am currently evaluating software applications for our small business (financials,inventory,order processing etc) and face a choice between an application using C-ISAM file structures and another application using Informix Online. Our dilemma is that the preferred application (in terms of superior functionality and cost)is the C-ISAM product. Naturally, the Informix Online vendor has given us grave warnings that C-ISAM is a dead end path and we will be restricted in terms of future development of the software application. I am therefore seeking some independant advice on the merits of either platform so that we may reach a strategically-sound decision. To put our situation in context: - our database is relatively small - we do not have the luxury of employing dedicated MIS people, therefore our skills in managing complex systems will be limited - we will always be reliant on outsourcing computer development/programming - our finance resources are not unlimited! - we wish, however, to keep our business in touch with current technological trends.For example,we plan to make available on an intranet relevant information(prices,order and inventory status etc) and electronic commerce. - we are looking at this proposed systems investment as being valid for the next 5 years minimum. I would be highly appreciative if anyone could add their thoughts,or direct me towards some useful resource. TIA Chris Kalmar

Chris Kalmar <ckalmar@ozemail.com.au> a 'crit dans l'article <79s62l$e06$1@news.xmission.com>... > > I am currently evaluating software applications for our small business > (financials,inventory,order processing etc) and face a choice between an > application using C-ISAM file structures and another application using > Informix Online. > > Our dilemma is that the preferred application (in terms of superior > functionality and cost)is the C-ISAM product. > > Naturally, the Informix Online vendor has given us grave warnings that > C-ISAM is a dead end path and we will be restricted in terms of future > development of the software application. > > I am therefore seeking some independant advice on the merits of either > platform so that we may reach a strategically-sound decision. > > To put our situation in context: > - our database is relatively small > - we do not have the luxury of employing dedicated MIS people, therefore our > skills in managing complex systems will be limited > - we will always be reliant on outsourcing computer development/programming > - our finance resources are not unlimited! > - we wish, however, to keep our business in touch with current technological > trends.For example,we plan to make available on an intranet relevant > information(prices,order and inventory status etc) and electronic commerce. > - we are looking at this proposed systems investment as being valid for the > next 5 years minimum. > > I would be highly appreciative if anyone could add their thoughts,or direct > me towards some useful resource. > > TIA > Chris Kalmar > > Just take in consideration these two things : - What is for you the best word processor between the followings : Word 2, Word 6, Word 97 or Word 98? For me and most of people, the needs are fairly corvered by Word 2, which in terms of performance is by far the best. In fact, the newer Word versions are, the slower they run and the more disk space they need. In the other hand, an 8 years old Word 2 may still run on a poor 386 SX 16 PC. And you can find other Word 2 or Word 6 file format compatible word processors from editors like Corel or Applix, less expensive than Microsoft. - The more you code, the more bugs you get and the slower you run. So, you must understand what makes sense for you does not automatically for the software industry. For software editors, what makes sense is to make you upgrade your software as often as possible, and to lead you to use always more new functionalities. Why? The more legacy functionalities you use the harder it will be possible for you to change your software later. And the more often you upgrade, the more money you give them to get the new releases. C-ISAM is a very efficient file system developped by Informix 20 years ago, by a time when this company was driven by technical rationality considerations. It is strong and does not require much system resources. If you need to make SQL queries, you may even build an Informix SE database over your C-ISAM files. Informix SE is the old Informix database standard engine. The editor of your C-ISAM product should be able to do that work easily. If you need to build Internet/Intranet application over that old stuff, don't worry. A very powerful and portable language like Perl, widely used for CGI scripting, provides a DBI/DBD package that allows interfacing with most of the database engines, including the 10 years old Informix 4.10 SE DBMS. Remember that : the vendors are not the users, and they don't care how complex their products are to manage by the end users. Pascal Ferrari ------------------------------------------------------------------- Code short if you want to run quick and strong

Pascal Ferrari wrote: > Chris Kalmar <ckalmar@ozemail.com.au> a écrit dans l'article > <79s62l$e06$1@news.xmission.com>... > > I am currently evaluating software applications for our small business > > (financials,inventory,order processing etc) and face a choice between an > > application using C-ISAM file structures and another application using > > Informix Online. > > Our dilemma is that the preferred application (in terms of superior > > functionality and cost)is the C-ISAM product. > > Naturally, the Informix Online vendor has given us grave warnings that > > C-ISAM is a dead end path and we will be restricted in terms of future > > development of the software application. > > > > I am therefore seeking some independant advice on the merits of either > > platform so that we may reach a strategically-sound decision. > > > > To put our situation in context: > > - our database is relatively small > > - we do not have the luxury of employing dedicated MIS people, therefore > our > > skills in managing complex systems will be limited > > - we will always be reliant on outsourcing computer > development/programming > > - our finance resources are not unlimited! > > - we wish, however, to keep our business in touch with current > technological > > trends.For example,we plan to make available on an intranet relevant > > information(prices,order and inventory status etc) and electronic > commerce. > > - we are looking at this proposed systems investment as being valid for > the > > next 5 years minimum. > > I would be highly appreciative if anyone could add their thoughts,or > direct > > me towards some useful resource. [Pedantic but valid opinion SNIPPED] In the interests of equal time I'm going to present the other side of the coin from Pascal's well thought out and well presented opinion. Yes C-ISAM is still an excellent indexed filesystem and for many applications it is all you will ever need. Certainly it's structures lend themselves as well to the design of accounting software as they do to the design of relational database servers. Having said this let me point out that with a C-ISAM based accounting system you will be limited as to how and easily you can expand the functionality of your system and the access to your data. With a true relational database you will be able to apply any number of third party report writters to adding functions and reports to your system and to create your own databases that can interface with and benefit from the accounting data on the main database. If this is the kind of functional advantage that the C-ISAM system has, ie additional reports and a report writer, keep in mind that you will easily add the functions yourself to the relational system and this may be why it is not included. Can the C-ISAM system allow you to build a sales tracking module, for example and assuming it is not already provided, using the accounts receivable data, without paying the vendor to develop one? I am certain the relational system could. FYI and just to keep things confusing. Art S. Kagel