Subject: Take Panorama to the Next Level!
From: James Rea (Jim_Rea@provue.com)
Tuesday, May 30, 2000
Dear Panorama User,
As you may be aware, we have been working on post-production for the ProVUE
99 Conference CD's for almost 8 months. The delay was caused by a
combination of personnel changes and technical glitches - and by the fact
that top priority has always been the Panorama 3.5 project. (In fact, I did
not work on the conference CD project at all, so Panorama 3.5 wasn't
delayed by a single minute.) However, I'm happy to announce that the work
is now complete, and the ProVUE 99 CD set is finally available. Like last
year's ProVUE 98 set, this set includes 12 CD's with over 24 hours of
QuickTime movies. This year both the video and audio were recorded entirely
digitally for even better quality.
Since it has been a while since the conference, I've summarized some of the
major highlights of this event below. You can also find out more about the
CD-set online at
http://www.provue.com/proVUE/live99_home.html
If you are not familiar with last year's CD's, what we have done is
digitally record the video and audio from every session at the conference.
The video is recorded with software - no camera is used so the result is
pixel perfect QuickTime movies you can play on your Macintosh or Windows
based computer. It's not quite the same as attending in person, but pretty
close! And in some ways even better, because you can pause, backup, and do
it all from the comfort of your own home or office. We also included all of
the sample software used in the sessions, so you can follow along as you
learn and master new techniques.
*** INTERFACING PANORAMA WITH THE WEB ***
The CD-set includes a full 8 hours of sessions devoted to Panorama/Web
topics. The ProVUE 99 Conference marked the introduction of the ultra-fast
PanSTAR plug-in for WebSTAR, which is included with the conference CD's.
The web sessions teach step by step:
* How to install and configure WebSTAR, Panorama and the PanSTAR plug-in.
* For beginners, how to create simple HTML, including lists, tables and
images.
* How to set up web based database queries.
* How to set up web forms for data entry and/or database modification.
* How to use JavaScript to enhance your web applications.
* How to build a complete order entry system using JavaScript and
Panorama.
All of the files used in the examples are included as part of the CD set,
so you can follow along on your own system. You're free to use the supplied
on-line ordering system as is or to modify it for your own needs. We'll
even show you how to test your web applications without an Internet
connection!
The techniques used in these sessions will allow you to create high
performance Panorama based web applications for almost any application.
Check out this ESPN golf statistics databases that uses Panorama to manage
and display records from a 500,000 record database (that's 1/2 million,
folks!):
http://www.golfonline.com/golfstats
(This site set up by Jim Cook of Hindsight Ltd., www.hindsightltd.com)
*** BASIC SKILLS ***
Even experienced Panorama users may need a refresher on the basics now and
then, and you can also use these sessions to train new Panorama users in
your organization. Topics covered include:
* Basic Panorama Skills (data sheet, design sheet, etc.)
* Forms and Graphic Tools
* Text and Images
* Basic Programming Skills
*** INTERMEDIATE SKILLS ***
If you've mastered the basics and are ready to move to the next level of
Panorama productivity then these sessions are for you:
* Building Cross Platform Databases
* Calendars (includes ready-to-use [or modify!] monthly calendar database)
* Partner/Server Programming
* Cataloging Images
* Automatic Procedures
* Advanced Export Techniques
Another interesting session in this section is MAKING MONEY WITH PANORAMA.
In this session, Jim Cook and Peter Guerrini (two top Panorama developers
that have collectively sold over 1000 applications between them - most of
you know them from their frequent posts here on the QNA list) talk about
their experiences in creating and marketing their successful Panorama based
vertical market packages (photography and track meets).
*** ADVANCED SKILLS ***
These sessions cover the latest and most advanced Panorama techniques:
* Building Panorama Installers
* Windows and Secret Windows
* Using the Windows Registry
* Jim Rea's Advanced Programming Tricks
The BUILDING PANORAMA INSTALLERS session was a big hit. For Panorama 3.5 we
have created an installer for Panorama that is actually written in Panorama
itself. This installer is included on the Panorama CD-set so that those of
you that are distributing Panorama applications can easily create your own
cross platform installers. The installer can automatically allow the user
to select configurations, copy the proper files into the appropriate
folders, set up resources and Windows registry entries. The installer also
includes the Panorama Platform Converter so that it can automatically
convert databases and resource files to PC format "on-the-fly" as the files
are installed! We even show you how to create cross-platform CD's using
Toast, allowing you to create a single CD that can be used to install your
software on either a Mac or a PC. How cool is that?
*** AVAILABLE NOW! (finally!) ***
The ProVUE 99 CD-sets are finished and we have built up a stock of them (it
takes a while to duplicate each set of 12 completely full CD-ROM's!). The
price of $299 is less than $12 per session. The package includes 12
CD-ROM's and a deluxe storage case, and includes all of the example files
used in the sessions - including the PanSTAR CGI, sample web databases
(including a complete on-line order entry system based in Panorama and
JavaScript), sample calendar files, the Panorama Cross Platform Installer
the Panorama On-line Reference and much more.
You can order the ProVUE 99 CD set online from the ProVUE Shopping Cart
http://www.provue.com/orders/ShoppingCart.html
or you can call our order line at (800) 966-7878 [overseas call (714)
841-7779].
Sincerely,
Jim Rea
ProVUE Development
www.provue.com
(714) 841-7779
