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OPENWIN.UPD
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OpenWin - a GUI 4GL Front End
The release of the new Windows systems, increase in the availability of
networking, decrease in the cost of computing, and the down-sizing of
current equipment makes the database and front-end tools market ready for
OpenWin - a joint development of Y.A.M. and IBM.
The product
OpenWin; An Open GUI 4GL, Multiple Data Base and Multiple platform front
end which applies a Client-Server paradigm, has unique technological
advantages that no other front end can offer.
OpenWin Concepts
Open System
OpenWin ia a truly Open System; It interfaces Graphical User Interfaces -
GUI such as MS-Windows, OS/2, Motif etc. while adopting their best. The
users can use 3rd generation languages and software packages. OpenWin
enables portability of applications across platforms by working with LAN
servers on different operating systems and computers and simultaneously
interfacing range of DBMS and RDBMS as well as SQL servers products using
local and global data dictionary. OpenWin preserves software investment
even as hardware technology develops and changes rapidly. With OpenWin the
user is free to select the most cost effective vendor on project by project
basis.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
OpenWin's open architecture enables to employ Graphical User Interfaces
(MS-Windows, OS/2-PM, Motif etc.). OpenWin is a truly GUI 4GL. The
developer works within a GUI environment with all it advantages, such as
working simultaneously in many windows, selecting options using radio
buttons, choosing commands from lists etc. An application developed with
OpenWin is a fully GUI application. It's windows can be easily designed in
many styles, applying to the end-user the GUI advantages. Furthermore,
though OpenWin is committed to GUI standards, an OpenWin GUI application
can include features not supported by the GUI environment, such as in-line
data updating and more.
Down-sizing
The availability of cost effective networking makes it possible to build
systems capable of handling large mainframe class applications by
partitioning the task across a group of cooperating computers networked
together on a Local Area Network (LAN). OpenWin is the ideal tool for this
task because it can interface simultaneously a range of DBMS and RDBMS on
the network or on the mainframe. Furthermore, by enabling both
synchronized and un-synchronized access to the mainframe data OpenWin makes
an effective cooperative processing possible.
Client-Server Paradigm
Networking and Microcomputer-to-mainframe links are only part of the
solution. Using a Client-Server paradigm to access database engines
(back-end or Server) simultaneously, as well as User Defined Servers makes
OpenWin a true Client-Server tool which facilitates ease-of-use, reduces
costs and modular growth.
Multiple Data Bases
OpenWin is a DBMS-Independent User-Interface Management System tool which
is designed to help develop front-end, user interface components such as
screens and windows, flow-control and field edits. Not like other tools,
OpenWin is not coupled to the database back-end, the operating system or
hardware platform. OpenWin is designed to be portable across a range of
DBMS products, making it possible for a developer who learns one tool to
work on a number of different DBMS platforms. While declaring a table, the
user chooses the DBMS or RDBMS which will manage the tables. From that
moment on, the user relates to the tables in the same way through OpenWin
commands or ANSI SQL Queries, regardless of which server is managing the
tables physically. Furthermore, If the chosen server do not support all of
the features offered by OpenWin (back cursor - for example), OpenWin can
emulate this feature. The possibility of interfacing simultaneously with
DBMS and RDBMS enables users to build applications using RDBMS-SQL tables
and Index files for quick look up tables.
Multiple Platforms
OpenWin's unique architecture makes it a truly multi-platform product which
runs on IBM PC/PS and IBM RS/6000 as well as other computers using OS/2 AIX
and MS-DOS operating systems. When moving an OpenWin application from one
environment to another, OpenWin adapts the best of each environment, giving
the application new qualities. Recognizing a Multi tasking environment,
OpenWin immediately uses its advantages. Nevertheless, OpenWin application
can set a task to be a background process. For example, The user can
operate a complex report in the background while continuing data entry. By
working with LAN servers on different operating systems and a variety of
peripheral equipment, OpenWin enables the user to take advantage of
heterogeneous environment for its software.
OpenWin Light specifications:
The OpenWin manual describes most of the OpenWin package's
capabilities. If you are using OpenWin Light which is the
stand alone single database version of OpenWin, you should
be aware that:
1. OpenWin Light uses one non-SQL file handler bound in the product
(dBASE files format compatible file handler).
:p.
2. Your application can use external commands by shelling, but you cannot
define new OpenWin commands as described in OpenWin Programming guide
User Defined Routines chapter.