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What's Up, DOCumentation?
Robelle Consulting Ltd.
Unit 201, 15399-102A Ave.
Surrey, B.C. Canada V3R 7K1
Toll-free: 1-888-ROBELLE
(1-888-762-3553)
Phone: (604) 582-1700
Fax: (604) 582-1799
E-mail: support@robelle.com
Web: www.robelle.com
Date: April 1998
From: Robert M. Green, CEO
David J. Greer, President
Fran╡ois Desrochers, Editor pro tem
To: Users of Robelle Software
Re: News of the HP 3000 and of HP-UX, 1998 #2
What You Will Find in This News Memo:
What's New in Suprtool
Suprtool Training Schedule
One User's Solution to the Year 2000 Problem
Using SmartDate in Year 2000 Solution
IPROF '98 OR "What's a Terabyte?"
Qedit for Windows Continues to Improve
Surviving the Ice Storms
HP World '98 Early Registration
Inventory Reduction Sale on User Manuals
Technical Tip for STExport
Qedit Removes Trailing Blank Lines
Screening Junk E-Mail
SPAM vs. UCE
Suprtool Changes Display Length
Comparing Two Files
What's Up, DOCumentation? Available in E-Mail
WhatÆs New in Suprtool?
=======================
We are currently putting the final touches on Suprtool 4.1.01, which will be
distributed to customers with support in the next few weeks. In the new
features this year, we see increased performance of If $lookup extracts.
These are some of the key new features:
1. The Num option of the Duplicate command determines which keys to check for
duplicates.
In the following example we sort by agent and by bill-date (in descending
order), but only check for duplicates at the agent level.
>sort agent {sort by agent}
>sort bill-date, desc {sort by date}
>duplicate none keys 1 {only check the first (primary) key}
>output agents {create roster of agents}
2. Suprtool can now limit specific users to read-only access. In read-only
mode, the Delete, Put and Update commands are disabled. To ensure that this
setting stays enabled, it is not reversible for the duration of the current
Suprtool session.
3. Suprtool now allows usefiles to be nested up to 10 levels.
4. New IMAGE SQL features:
With the release of MPE/iX 5.5 Power Patch 4, IMAGE SQL has two new features:
Master Dataset Expansion (MDX) and B-trees. Suprtool 4.1 supports these two
new features.
5 Performance improvements:
In the native-mode version of Suprtool we have used some new data structures
and techniques to remove the 15 MB limitation on tables. Before this release,
Suprtool allowed up to ten tables with a maximum of 15 MB for all tables. In
Suprtool 4.1, we increased the limit to 2 GB for each table.
We also found that the CPU and Wall time for extracts using If $lookup have
decreased by as much as half. The biggest performance improvements were for
large single tables. Improvements in performance vary depending on your
current system load, the amount of available memory and the size of the
tables.
6. Year 2000:
For Year 2000 testing, Suprtool is now compatible with the following date
simulation programs: Hourglass (from Allegro Consultants), Time Machine (from
SolutionSoft Systems), and HPÆs Setdate utility. A new Set Date Ifyy2000Error
command has been added to control whether Suprtool considers dates with two-
digit years an error when they go beyond 1999 during a relative operation.
[Neil Armstrong]
Suprtool Training Schedule
==========================
Want to learn more about Suprtool? WeÆll be offering training at RobelleÆs
head office on May 28 - 29 and October 15 - 16.
To arrange Suprtool training at your site, call us at 1-888-762-3553.
One UserÆs Solution to the Year 2000 Problem
============================================
A user told us how his company plans to implement Year 2000 capability in its
databases and programs. They are using the following three-phase approach.
1 Add new date fields to each dataset.
The first phase is quite simple. For each dataset and for each date field,
append new data fields to hold the century-equivalent values.
For example, you can start with a dataset that looks like this:
D-SECURITY Detail Set# 4
Entry: Offset
USER-PASSWORD X8 1
TRANS-EFF-DATE X6 9 <<YYMMDD>>
TRANS-EXP-DATE X6 15 <<YYMMDD>>
SEARCH-TYPE X2 21
ACCT-DATE X4 23 <<YYMM>>
PASSWORD X8 27
SECURITY-LEVEL X2 35
Add fields for each of the date fields that cannot currently store the
century, so that the dataset looks like this:
D-SECURITY Detail Set# 4
Entry: Offset
USER-PASSWORD X8 1
TRANS-EFF-DATE X6 9 <<YYMMDD>>
TRANS-EXP-DATE X6 15 <<YYMMDD>>
SEARCH-TYPE X2 21
ACCT-DATE X4 23 <<YYMM>>
PASSWORD X8 27
SECURITY-LEVEL X2 35
TRANS-EFF-CYMD X8 37 <<CCYYMMDD>>
TRANS-EXP-CYMD X8 45 <<CCYYMMDD>>
ACCT-CCYYMM X6 53 <<CCYYMM>>
Initialize the new fields to some standard value, such as a blank or zero,
depending on the data-type of the field. Then fill the fields with the
correct century dates using Suprtool. For example:
get d-security
update
define trans-eff-cc, trans-eff-cymd[1],2
define trans-eff-yymmdd, trans-eff-cymd[3],6
define trans-exp-cc, trans-exp-cymd[1],2
define trans-exp-yymmdd, trans-exp-cymd[3],6
define acct-cc, acct-ccyymm[1],2
define acct-yymm, acct-ccyymm[3],4
extract trans-eff-cc = "19"
extract trans-eff-yymmdd = trans-exp-date
extract trans-exp-cc = "19"
extract trans-exp-yymmdd = trans-exp-date
extract acct-cc = "19"
extract acct-yymm = acct-date
xeq
This simple example assumes that all the dates in the dataset are in the 19xx
range. It further assumes that all the dates are valid (e.g., there are no
special date values such as all blanks, zeros or nines; special values should
not be changed). If either of these assumptions is not true, then the
Suprtool process would need to be different. Multiple tasks might be
required.
2. Alter the programs to keep the new fields updated.
The second phase examines all the code that puts or updates values to the
date fields. Change the code that supplements putting or updating the new
century fields (as well as maintains putting or updating the old date
fields). This method allows for a safe, gradual change to all code on the
system. (See also SmartDate article below.)
3. Alter the programs to use only the new fields.
The last phase changes all the code to reference only the new date fields
(for instance, within the If statements). Once this is done, the old fields
can be removed from the dataset.
[Mike Shumko]
Using SmartDate in Year 2000 Solution
=====================================
To facilitate the conversion from the old date format to the new, you can use
SmartDate from Robelle in step 2 of the Year 2000 story above. SmartDate can
automatically insert the century by using a cutoff year.
SmartDate can also compare dates stored in different formats, without
converting one of the fields to a common intermediate format (of course,
SmartDate does this internally).
For more information about SmartDate, contact the sales department.
IPROF Æ98 or "WhatÆs a Terabyte?"
=================================
As in previous years, the Interex MPE ProgrammersÆ Forum last month in
Sunnyvale, CA gets my vote as the best conference around. ItÆs three days of
sessions, SIG meetings, tutorials as well as updates from HP lab techies and
from a whoÆs who of the MPE community.
From HP, we heard that a Web server from Netscape Communications Corporation,
Samba/iX, Java, Multiple Job Queues and Date Intrinsics will be bundled into
MPE/iX 6.0. After that, look for massive changes to MPE that would allow file
sizes of 1 terabyte or 1,099,511,627,776 bytes. The limit to these files is 2
gigarecords or 2,147,483,648 records. So if you need to create a global phone
book, the HP 3000 will be ready for it. Of course youÆll need hardware to
support this: 18 - 200 GB disk drives, disk arrays set with AutoRaid, and
Fibre Channel Arrays. For backups youÆll need DLT Libraries, then high-end
devices with backup speeds of 1 terabyte/hour by year 2000. The plans are for
annual performance growth of 20% per year.
From the users, the forum offered tutorials on porting to POSIX, COBOL 2000,
as well as various approaches to the Y2K projects and a great session on Java
from Mike Yawn and Gavin Scott. Having done a lot of work creating small Java
modules from the IMAGE intrinsics, Mike showed how to create Web applications
that access your data. That led to a real showstopper of a demo from
Synchronix, who converted COBOL code to Java applications.
Of course, there were also the HP round table events with complaints about
compiler support, upgrade credits and NT printer support. In response, HP
management showed it was listening and supportive.
All who attended felt the conference was very positive. The atmosphere was
friendly and people were there to share information. The biggest impact was
the amount of development in the MPE labs and within the user community. See
you there next year.
[Paul Gobes]
Qedit for Windows Continues to Improve
======================================
We have just released the latest version of Qedit for Windows. As David Greer
mentioned in the last issue of this newsletter, we have been putting our
energy into the scripting language for an automated test suite. However, we
also found some time to add a few nice enhancements.
Version 4.6.08 now keeps track of the last 15 host filenames entered (in the
Open Host File dialog box). This should make it easier to open frequently
accessed files to correct a typo in a long filename without retyping it.
Another enhancement allows you to sort the file list in the Directory dialog
box in ascending or descending order.
If you are interested in upgrading to this new version, please call our
technical support staff. If you have not tried Qedit for Windows, please call
our sales department and order your free 30-day demo.
Surviving the Ice Storms
========================
Freezing rain and ice storms are all part of winter in QuΘbec. Every year we
get at least one storm that significantly affects the landscape and the human
activities in relatively small areas. Fortunately, they usually last only one
day and the ice melts or falls away after a couple more days.
This year has been a little bit different. At the beginning of January, four
severe ice storms in five days hit the area roughly delimited by the city of
QuΘbec to the east, Ottawa to the west, MontrΘal to the north and the
QuΘbec/US border to the south. The area hardest hit ended up with 100 mm (4
inches) of ice. Trees suffered serious damage and some forests have been
devastated.
From the "human" point of view, many power lines were brought down. Thousands
of wooden poles along the roads were broken in half. Even high-voltage steel
towers collapsed as if they were made out of toothpicks. At the peak of the
storm, there were more than 1.2 million households (approximately 2.5 million
people) without electricity. Although the loss of power meant no lighting and
cooking, most importantly, it meant no heating. In the middle of winter, this
is really serious.
At the beginning of February, a month later, there were still close to 20,000
households without power. Whole towns had to close down. People had to move
in with relatives, neighbors, or to official shelters set up in schools, city
halls and community centers. Some people had a secondary heating system (wood
burning stoves), something to cook on (you can only live for so long on cold
cuts and sandwiches), propane or gas, a hot water tank, or a generator to
provide emergency power and to save whatever was left in the freezer. Very
few had all of these resources. If someone had two or more of these items,
they lived in luxury.
People started to help each other with whatever commodity they had. Someone
would trade wood in exchange for a hot shower or a hot meal. They would find
new ways to bring relief and support to each other. Support came, not only
from other regions of QuΘbec, but also from across Canada and the United
States.
Although these have been very stressful times, they have also been a time to
recognize solidarity and how people can stand together against adversity.
Personally, my family and I were not hit directly. Some of our relatives were
not as lucky. We were without power for 24 hours over a period of three days.
I had to work off-line only one day when my Internet Service Provider (ISP)
lost power. And for a little more than a week, my ISP operated on emergency
power with somewhat limited services.
The storms have come and gone. A lot of work has been done to bring things
back to normal. But now we are entering a new phase: roofs are still
overloaded with ice, warm days are thawing the ice, and water is leaking
everywhere. It is going to take a while before we evaluate the total impact.
Mother Nature has found a new way to show us how fragile we (and the things
we have built) are. It is not unusual to see her brute force in tornadoes,
hurricanes and earthquakes. This time, it was just a rather gentle rainfall.
[Fran╡ois Desrochers]
HP World Æ98 Early Registration
===============================
HP World Æ98 will be held in San Diego, CA on August 2 - 6, 1998. If you want
to take advantage of the early registration discount, you have to send your
registration form before July 10, 1998.
Robelle will once again showcase its products in the exhibit area. Some of
our staff will also be presenting a number of papers and tutorials.
For more information about the conference, contact Interex at 1-800-INTEREX
or point your browser to http://www.hpworld.org.
Inventory Reduction Sale on User Manuals
========================================
Now that everyone has received Qedit 4.6 and we are about to ship Suprtool
4.1.01, the manuals from previous versions (Qedit 4.5 and Suprtool 4.0) are
on sale at a very attractive price. These manuals include the same subjects
as the latest manuals, except for the enhancements introduced in the last
versions. For information about the new enhancements, you can print a copy of
the appropriate change notice simply by running Printdoc.Pub.Robelle.
If you need a large number of manuals, this may be a cost-effective way of
getting them. The manuals for the current version are US$20 each. Now you can
purchase manuals of previous versions at 50% off. Call us for details.
Technical Tip for STExport
==========================
STExport is the newest component in Suprtool. Although it was introduced more
than two years ago, STExport is still fairly unknown. STExport allows you to
format data from a self-describing file into almost any format you want, from
fixed-length fields to HTML tables. You can control field delimiters,
quotation marks, numeric and date formats among other things. You can export
data from IMAGE SQL, Oracle or Allbase databases that reside on your HP 3000
or 9000 to just about any other platform, all without having to write a
custom program.
The example below shows how to extract data from an Allbase database on your
HP 3000 and load it into an Oracle database on your HP 9000.
:run Suprtool.pub.robelle
> {extract the data into a self-describing file}
>open allbase employee.db humres
>select * from humres.employees
>sort department_no
>output emp,link
>xeq
>export {invoke STExport}
$input emp
$output empfmt
$xeq
In this example, we are using the following defaults: no heading record, text
fields in quotation marks with trailing blanks suppressed, comma separators,
and variable length columns.
Because the Oracle database resides on the HP 9000, you have to transfer the
formatted file. Once the file is on the machine, you can use OracleÆs
SQL*Loader to insert the data in the appropriate table. The command to run
SQL*Loader is:
sqlload userid=username/userpass control=loaddata.ctl log=load.log
where sqlload is the filename of the SQL*Loader program; userid is the
username and password to connect to the database; control points to the file
that contains the load specifications (shown below); and log requests
SQL*Loader to write the various messages generated during the load operation,
including error messages.
The control file should contain the following:
load data
infile '/users/mike/oracle/data/empfmt'
append into table employees
fields terminated by ","
optionally enclosed by '"'
(employee_name, employee_number, status, address, city, province_state,
country, postal_zip_code, home_phone_number, sex, social_insurance_number,
hire_date, marital_status, spouse_name, monthly_salary, bank_name,
bank_account_id, birth_date, title, department_name, work_phone_number,
last_review_date, vacation_days)
This list describes the elements in the file:
load data - the load command
infile - the name of the data file
append into table - the destination table
insert - assumes the table is empty
append - creates new rows
replace - deletes existing rows before loading
truncate - the same as replace
fields terminated by - the character used between column values
optionally enclosed by - the character used around text strings
(employee_name etc.) - the column names, in the same sequence as the
data file
ItÆs as simple as that. There is a lot more you can do with STExport. Read
the STExport section in the Suprtool manual and find new ways to exploit its
power. If you have a minute, let us know what you did. We are always on the
lookout for new, innovative ideas.
Qedit Removes Trailing Blank Lines
==================================
When I edit e-mail messages in Xpress, I use the following command file. Just
before sending a message, I execute this file to remove any trailing blank
lines.
DELBLANK
/l "~"(pat) last
if qeditcount <> 0 then
/zzq *
setjcw cierror 0
continue
/findupq "~"(pattern nomatch)
if cierror = 900 then
/zzq first
else
/zzq *+1
endif
/dq zz
endif
[Mike Shumko]
Screening Junk E-Mail
=====================
As an active Netizen for years, my e-mail address has made its way into
commercial advertisersÆ lists. I would prefer, however, not to receive
unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), which, in my case, is handled by the
Outlook Express program from Microsoft.
Another Outlook Express user gave me the following tip for reducing the
amount of junk mail that appears in my Inbox. This tip depends on the fact
that most junk mail appears to be addressed to bogus e-mail addresses instead
of directly to the person who receives it. (Usually it gets to you using the
blind carbon copy (BCC) feature of e-mail.)
The solution involves creating a new folder for the e-mail that I want to
keep and setting up the MS Outlook Express Inbox Assistant to move the
messages from expected sources to that folder. Any messages that stay in my
Inbox are almost certainly UCE, which I can safely ignore or delete.
In general, the filters catch messages in which the To address or the CC
address has any of the common aliases people use for me (mike, shumko, mcs).
Anything that is not directly addressed to me gets screened out. Most of the
newer e-mail clients should have similar features to the Inbox Assistant.
[Mike Shumko]
SPAM vs. UCE
============
What is discussed in the Junk E-Mail story isnÆt SPAM. SPAM is excessive,
off-topic cross-posting of messages to Usenet newsgroups. When junk mail is
directed through e-mail not newsgroups, it is UCE not SPAM.
Suprtool Changes Display Length
===============================
One of our customers wanted to extract a J2 field with List Standard, but the
default column width for J2 is too wide for the screen and overflows to a
second line. This customer wanted to specify a smaller width for the J2
field.
You can use the numeric conversion feature of the Extract command to move the
existing value to a temporary field with the desired length.
Define New-field, 1, <numdigits>, display
{new display field with <numdigits>}
Item J2-field, decimal, <numdecimals>
{original field has decimal places}
Item New-field, decimal, <numdecimals>
{same decimal places as original}
Extract New-field = J2-field
Comparing Two Files
===================
Did you know that with every Suprtool or Qedit tape we include a free program
that can compare files and note any differences? Simply set up a few file
equates, then run the Compare program.
:file filea=ARES3.PAUL
:file fileb=ARES22B.PAUL
:file outfile=$STDLIST
:run compare.pub.robelle
Compare/iX/Copyright Robelle Consulting Ltd. 1991-1997, J.Miner 1978
(Version 2.5)
Licensee: Robelle Consulting Ltd. [0]
Compare/iX (Version 2.5) Match Criterion = 4 Lines
----------------------------------------
Mismatch:
Line 7 of ARES3.PAUL.TECHSUP:
> DATE: 07 Aug 97
Line 7 of ARES22B.PAUL.TECHSUP:
> DATE: 04 Jun 97
End Run
The Compare program is installed by the Bonus.Job.Robelle job. If this job
has not been streamed, it may still be called Compnm.Pub.Robelle. For more
information on the options in the Compare program, you can use
:run compare.pub.robelle;info="?"
or you can print the complete 20-page manual from the Printdoc program in
Pub.Robelle.
WhatÆs Up, DOCumentation? Available in E-Mail
=============================================
Are you tired of waiting for RobelleÆs popular newsletter to make the rounds
in your office? Would you like to receive our newsletter first, not last?
Then send us your e-mail address and we will add you to our growing list of
electronic mail readers. YouÆll receive your copy automatically, without the
wait.
Right now the electronic version of our newsletter is in a text-only format,
but otherwise it has all the same great Robelle news, tips and technical
information that you get in our printed version. Send your request to
support@robelle.com.