Re: NCR/Informix/FourGen Versions
In article <5dvorj$ju8@dfw-ixnews5.ix.netcom.com>, Kerry Davids <dino@ix.netcom.com> writes >Greetings! > >I am trying to upgrade a client from Informix Version 5.03 to >Version 7.x on an NCR Multi-processor computer. The current >versions are: > > NCR UNIX: 2.03 > Informix: 5.03.UC1 > 4GL: 4.11.UC3 > FourGen: 4.12 > > >First Informix says that they will support the following: > > NCR UNIX: 2.03 > Informix: 7.14.UC1 > 4GL: 6.03.UC1 > Standard 5.x to latest 7.x move. >Then FourGen says they will only support the following: > > NCR UNIX: 3.00 > Informix: 7.12.UC1 > 4GL: 6.01.UC1 > FourGen: 5.1 > >BUT THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE NCR PORT AND CANNOT >GUARANTEE A SHIP DATE OF FourGen 5.1 !!! > They have are using the release they got when they first started to port. It can take a long time to port something that large across Informix versions. Informix keep adding patches to the tools/engines and Forgen clearly are trying to get a fixed environment (OS&Informix) which they can test against and make sure works. If they upgrade they will have start testing again from the beginning. I have seen some bug fixes where the behaviour of 4GL/OnLine was not properly defined and a bug fix actually changed the behaviour of Informix i.e. they defined the 'correct' behaviour and CHANGE the product to conform. Thus code written under 4GL version 6.01 could fall over under 6.03 even though 6.03 contains the 'bug fixes'. Some companies get the latest copy of 4GL/Online/OS AT THE TIME THE PORT STARTS, do the port and then when the customer orders the product install the latest version of 4GL/ONLINE for whatever version of the OS the user has AT THE ORDER DATE. They then compile on time, cross fingers and hope it works...usually it does but sometimes if doesn't then there is a mad panic and the person installing it. i.e. me starts raising urgent support calls and halts the installation and the end of the day. Spents the next couple of days in the office writing workarounds and come back to site a few days later to complete the installation of the product. Or even worse spends all the time on-site on the phone to Tech. Support and trying to implement workarounds in front of the customer....nothing changes.... In summary Fourgen are tring to do proper QA on the product and need to freeze OS/Informix version whilst they complete porting/ testing. >Then Informix counters that if NCR UNIX 3.00 is used they ONLY >support: > > NCR UNIX: 3.00 > Informix: 7.12.UC1 > ** 4GL: 6.03.UC1 ** > >What's the scoop??? Is FourGen having problems with the NCR port >because they are using the wrong version of 4GL???? FourGen is not >being responsive about this!!! > >Any help from anyone will be greatly appreciated. > >Thanks! > >Kerry Davids > -- David Williams