Three-tier architecture with MSAccess as Client !?

Three-tier architecture Aim: 1. Fast calculation of an offer/product. The products must be configured, that is the reason why calculating is so difficult. 2. Creating something like a data-mart. Problem: More than 1 GB of data each year. A lot of server-side application is needed (to calculate). The client need some intelligence, too. (I think this model is called Distributed Business Logic) Idea: 1. Database and application on one machine. But with the possibility to scale the system in the future by dividing the app- and the db-part. So both parts must be separated logically from the beginning. 2. MSAccess as client is preferred by the customer. One Scenario could be like this (perhaps) 1. User enters the offer-relevant data (customer, product, some product-specifications...) in MSAccess. (MSAccess generate an INSERT INTO statement with the entered data) 2. The application-server begins (TRIGGER) the calculation by using the tables of the db-server (materials, bill of material, customers...) and generates the result. 3. The result is presented by the MSAccess-Client. (via ODBC) Questions: (I am Informix-beginner) I recognized that Informix dynamic 4gl exsist, but I have no idea how it works. Is it a normal database only with code in it? I did not found a complete language-reference. What can be programmed and what is not possible? (I have seen SPL do not know a CASE-structure eg.) Any ideas or comments? bye cf

D4GL is not a database but a development environment and language. Anything can be programmed. Unlike SPL, 4GL is a full featured programming language that can do anything but perform non-database I/O and that you can program in "C" and link into the runtime or executable and execute as function calls very easily. 4Gl is a fully expandable language with the full power of "C" in reserve. Art S. Kagel "C. Fischer" wrote: [SNIP] > Questions: > (I am Informix-beginner) > I recognized that Informix dynamic 4gl exsist, but I have no > idea how it works. > Is it a normal database only with code in it? > > I did not found a complete language-reference. > What can be programmed and what is not possible? > (I have seen SPL do not know a CASE-structure eg.) D4GL uses the same basic language, with small number of optional extentions, as C4GL. The manuals for C4GL are online at the Informix WEB Site under Tools. Art S. Kagel