Re: WINGZ, how good?

>use Wingz. On another note does anyone know of an e-mail address to send >coments to Informix about their spreadsheet. I use the term spreadsheet losely. I don't have an e-mail address, but you might consider calling Wingz tech support @ (913) 492-9922. You might also consider posting to comp.databases.informix as several Informix persons frequently respond to messages posted there. However, I doubt Informix will seriously consider any comments as they are dropping support of Wingz. As a previous poster mentioned, Informix is getting out of the spreadsheet business. They are, however, continuing HyperScript and Wingz in a new product called HyperScript Tools, which is purposed to provide developers with tools for creating front- ends to databases. Rumor has it (based on conversations with various Informix persons, but no official announcement) that Informix is turning over development of HyperScript products to an as-yet-unnamed third party. I would speculate that Informix's Lenexa, KS operation (the shop who brought us Wingz and HyperScript) will either spin-off to form an independant company, or else merge with an existing s/w development shop. I have heard all sorts of conflicting rumors as to what platforms will continue to be supported in the future. (Can anyone confirm/deny/expand on these rumors?) Personally, I LIKE Wingz (*gasp!*). Yes, there are certain "features" (overused euphemism for bugs) which annoy me. However, I know of no other spreadsheet which offers a scripting language as powerful and easy-to-use as HyperScript. I've worked with Excel macros in the past, and I definitely prefer HyperScript over Excel macro sheets. (Aside: although if Excel replaces macro sheets with VisualBASIC as another rumor has it, I may change my mind...) IMHO the biggest problem with Wingz has been lack of support from Informix. When the product came out on the Macintosh (1988?), Wingz offered more features than any other spreadsheet package. I would go as far to say that Wingz inspired many features common to Excel and Lotus, particularly their charts and graphs. Unfortunately for Wingz users, support has been pitiful: in 1989, Informix released Wingz 1.1 and Microsoft released Excel 2.2; now, Wingz remains stagnant at 1.1 (after 3 years of promises that 2.0 would be out in another 6 months!@#$!) while Excel is going strong at 4.0 (and 5.0 just around the corner). Again, I do like Wingz/HyperScript, but am EXTREMELY disappointed in the lack of support Informix has given the product, particularly on the Macintosh platform. (submliminal message to Informix: DON'T DROP THE MACINTOSH!) Regards, Brian O'Sullivan | bosulliv@mitre.org MITRE Corp. Washington, DC | "yet another disgruntled Wingz/HyperScripter" ** Disclaimer: definitely my own opinions, and not those of my employer **