Re: 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. C-ISAM is not mainstream, and hasn't been for a while now, but I don't believe it is a dead-end path. If you're just comparing the functionality of the applications and you don't intend to muck around with the internal data, you don't have much of a problem, unless you're worried about the viability of the C-ISAM-based solution's vendor. You should, in theory, be able to build or map an Informix-Standard Engine database over your C-ISAM database, which should give you a degree of openness to other solutions. However, OnLine (or IDS as it is now known) *is* mainstream technology and will be easier to integrate with future development. >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. It's really down to how important the additional functionality of the C-ISAM solution is compared to the expected cost of mapping the SE database over it and the extra work that may be needed to integrate that solution. Not much useful, but I hope it helps. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Obnoxio The Clown wrote: > > >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. > > > > You should, in theory, be able to build or map an Informix-Standard > Engine database over your C-ISAM database, which should give you a Be sure to find out where the C-ISAM comes from - it may not be Informix. I currently have a client with such a package on an anon. C-ISAM. They were supplied such a mapping. It seems to have been based on SE 2.1 for DOS - 8.3 table names and some system catalogues missing. The indexes supplied were not in line with the system catalogues (hacking with bcheck and perform screens on systables and sysindexes!). Even now I can't get it to do a join properly - it insists on doing sequential searches on the secondary tables. Still, in the words of Flanders & Swan, it all makes work for the working man to do. Ian