Revelation tech and interested;

I've been asked to find out what exactly the benefits of switching to OI from Arev are. Inititally there was talk about the benefits of switching to a 32 bit system and I believe I read that OI 3.4 is still 16 bit. Is this right? When jRev comes out will it be 32 bit?

There's a lot of information in the documentation, but it's hard to define exactly *why* it's a good idea to switch over when the Arev database is, with a few rough spots, doing what we want. I'm looking at the 12 reasons but most of them don't really apply to us, or don't apply right now.

I'd be really interested in hearing anyone's experience, good or bad, switching over and especially interested in measurable benefits resulting from the transition.

Thanks in advance;

David Craig.

David, my reason was to have access to Main Frame databases

through ODBC. A real plus . Steve Carlson

David,

I read that OI 3.4 is still 16 bit. Is this right?

Yes this is right. OI will continue to be 16 bit until jRev comes out.

When jRev comes out will it be 32 bit?

As just mentioned, yes.

There's a lot of information in the documentation, but it's hard to define exactly *why* it's a good idea to switch over when the Arev database is, with a few rough spots, doing what we want.

I would first recommend looking at it a little more philosophically and asking the same question. That is, why did you (or anybody else) move anything from DOS to Windows. Many people loved their WordPerfect for DOS, Lotus 123 for DOS, etc., but realised that DOS can only provide so much functionality and flexibility. Additionally, newer hardware and operating systems will soon be leaving DOS compatability behind. So, like many areas of business, standing still and doing nothing is the same as moving backwards. The longer one waits to make the move into Windows the more expensive and troublesome it will be as well.

Now, that being said, I still am a firm believer that Windows (i.e. OpenInsight) can make any AREV application easier to use, more efficient, more productive, and more cooperative with other applications running on a system. The major pitfall is the lack of experience of character-based (i.e. AREV) developers in a GUI world. They are usually lost and create very poor GUI designs which is why I recommend that developers who want to jump into the GUI/Windows arena should buy a good book on GUI interface design and standards.

I'd be really interested in hearing anyone's experience, good or bad, switching over and especially interested in measurable benefits resulting from the transition.

Well, if you read my user's story here you should get a very good idea of the benefits. If you need any more details let me know and I'll be happy to go further with you.

[email protected]

SRP Computer Solutions

David,

It's hard to define exactly *why* it's a good idea to switch over when the Arev database is, with a few rough spots, doing what we want.

Personally speaking, I have rarely encountered limitations using Arev as a development environment, as a database, and as an application platform. So I'd have to agree, Arev does just about all an application developer needs.

On the other hand, Arev does not have a GUI, it does not interact with Windows and Windows applications, and it does not have the breadth of external messaging and database support that OpenInsight does. Only you know if these items are important to you, your customers, and your potential customers.

One of OpenInsight's biggest benefits to Advanced Revelation developers is the ability to keep their Arev 3.1x application running while developing a Windows version in parallel. With the NPP, LH/NLM, and LH/NT Service, Arev and OpenInsight work extremely well together, jointly maintaining dictionaries, indexes, and data. Using OpenInsight, you can selectively replace and extend portions of your application in the Windows environment. You can provide good looking reports, point-and-click user interfaces, connectivity via DDE, ODBC, MAPI, etc., and all without giving up the application you already have.

Cameron Purdy

[email protected]

David,

If your Arev system is doing all that is needed then

I would suggest that you leave it alone.

If you need to expand your system to incorporate Window processes,

access other windows data etc AND if you NEED to stay with the Arev

data structure then moving to OI is the way to go.

Although it is 16bit AND jRev (it should be called JOi since rti wanted

noting Arev in OI) will not be available until the end of next year (in

anything stable .. like we are finally seeing in OI).

So the real question is .. are your users satisfied with what they have.

If not .. seriously look at all options before just jumping into OI.

dsig

David Tod Sigafoos ~ SigSolutions

[email protected] voice: 503-630-8080 cis:70302,77

NOTICE FOR RTI FORUMS: The message above is an answer to a user request and should

be taken as personal opinion only.

Although care was taken to not hurt anyones feelings or impugn the quality of any product, support or idea IF there is an

exception taken please note in detail the offending portion of the note and email me. I will take all notes under advisement.

When you have an excellent Arev application

and you are considering moving it to Windows

is it important that you maintain data structures

or is it that you really want to redevelop your

app to an higher level?

This is a quandary to many!

Should you invest a great deal of time in learning

how to develop a substantial 16 bit OI app only

to end up with a 16 bit OI app that then has to

be redeveloped to become an industry standard

32 bit (whatever that really means) app or …

Develop a 16 bit OI app that has to therafter be

redeveloped as a Fully Compliant Industry

Standard Java app or …..

Maintain the integrity of your system as it is now

and plan to commence to develop that app in

another environment that is an industry

standard development environment with full

32 bit functionality.

You then need also to decide do you really want

or need to consider Lotus Notes connections.

Do you really want to invest further development

energies in developing the Notes aspects of a

system that perhaps may not be right for the

great bulk of your client base.

A very difficult decision that each of we long

term Arev developers have to face. A decision

for one of us will be different from all others.

Only each individual can decide what is right

for their future direction.

Regards,

Concerned Arever

email [email protected]

This was my fault, I posted the question once

and couldn't find it, so posted again.

I'll be more careful in the future.

Thanks for all your answers;

David Craig.

Although I agree with some of your post I do wonder why you

post it as 'concered arever'.

Be that as it may ..

You are correct in your assessment. Not only is there the question

about moving to windows, there is also the decision of what is the

best tool and dbms to use.

If you need the mv database the OI might be a good decision. There

are other dbms available to review .. those that are accessible from

any 16/32 bit tool available.

Once the decision on the database is made, then you need to review your

needs for a tool. Do you want/need to developer 32 bit apps, do your apps

need to be able to access multiply dbms? Do you want/need controls similar

to tools in other environments? All of these questions and more need look

to.

The only thing I see that OI has over the other environments is the Active

dictionary in the native table structure (although I have recently found the

mfs/bfs processes very nice). Of course if you were a rev/arev developer then

you knowledge of the basic language used in OI is of great benefit.

So .. as you said .. there are many questions and all of them are hard to answer.

dsig

David Tod Sigafoos ~ SigSolutions

[email protected] voice: 503-630-8080 cis:70302,77

NOTICE FOR RTI FORUMS: The message above is an answer to a user request and should

be taken as personal opinion only.

Although care was taken to not hurt anyones feelings or impugn the quality of any product, support or idea IF there is an

exception taken please note in detail the offending portion of the note and email me. I will take all notes under advisement.

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