HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: shen@athena.cs.uga.edu (Mingzuo Shen)
Subject: database management system (DBMS) surveys?
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 21:04:07 GMT

Hi all,

    I just became aware that there are certain user surveys of
database management systems. I wonder if copies of such surveys on DBMSs
(preferably running on some flavor of Unix) may be had on 
the network (or, failing that, from some source, even with a fee).
If my information is accurate, there is a 
DataPro usr survey, and there is another called VAR Business
report card. 

   Thanks in advance for any information!

Mingzuo Shen

Newsgroups: comp.databases
From: jjfink@skcla.monsanto.com
Subject: Re: MICROSOFT ACCESS vs FOXPRO
Organization: Searle, Skokie, IL
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 13:23:00 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.220954.22700@nntpd2.cxo.dec.com>, lindsey@tincup.enet.dec.com (Randy Lindsey) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Dec12.004240.23761@netcom.com>, messina@netcom.com (Tony Porczyk) writes...
>>jcberger@grasp1.univ-lyon1.fr (Jean-Claude Berger) writes:
>> 
>>>Does anybody knows what will be the Microsoft policy about
>>>Access vs. FoxPro (for Win). Is Access an end user product and Fox a
>>>developper oriented one ? Are they aimed at the same market ?
> 
> I would certainly *hope* they'll be merging them somewhat, such as supporting
> the same file structures etc.

Microsoft is positioning FoxPro as a 'developer' tool, for developing
large-scale applications.

Access, on the other hand, is positioned 'like Paradox' for an advanced
end-user.  My guess is that this is because Access is a little less
code-oriented than Fox, as Paradox is.  You can get quite a bit done with
Paradox (I haven't gotten into Access yet) without writing a line of code.  I
can't say the same about Fox.  While they have some spiffy tools, at some point
you're going to need to code.

On the other hand, I wish I could use some of that Fox-like code on my Paradox
apps.

(I think I've run out of hands)
-- 
jjfink@skcla.monsanto.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I want peace on earth, and goodwill towards man."
"We don't do that kind of thing, we're the United States Government!"
  -- from _Sneakers_
Newsgroups: comp.databases
From: gus@progress.COM (Gus Bjorklund)
Subject: Re: Oracle and discrete transactions
Keywords: tpc, transcations, benchmark, Oracle
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Distribution: comp
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 13:12:40 GMT

oles@uniware.dk (Ole Skanning) writes:

>I've heard that Oracle has implemented somthing called 'discrete transactions',
> in version 7, which are supposed to give better tpc-ratings.

>Could someone send me a brief explanation of what a discrete transaction is and
>how it is implemented. What user benefits should there be ?

Oracle's "Discrete Transactions" is similar to a mechanism called
"Field Calls" in IMS. They are useful for short update transactions
that access a small number of rows.

The basic idea is this:

During forward processing of the transaction, data updated by the
transaction are locked and the updates are deferred by spooling
log records to a private, in memory log buffer. When the transaction
commits, the updates are applied by processing the log records which
are also written to the redo log. Then the locks are released.

The main goals are to minimize lock duration and the number of
instructions executed.

Some advantages:

No undo information has to be generated or written to the log.
If the transaction rolls back, all you have to do is throw away
the spooled log records and release the locks.

Discrete transactions are short and fast, so high concurrency is
possible.

Some disadvantages:

The transaction can't see its updates because they are not performed
until commit time. If the transaction attempts to access the same row
twice, it will fail.

Conflicting transactions cannot achieve read consistency because 
no previous versions of the rows updated by the discrete transaction
are available. So the conflicting transactions have to be rolled back.

Discrete transactions cannot modify both tables involved in a
referential integrity constraint. This is because the transaction
cannot see its own updates.

Discrete transactions cannot be distributed.

Hard to program.



--
Gus Bjorklund              uucp:     ...mit-eddie!progress!gus
Progress Software Corp.    internet: gus@progress.com
14 Oak Park                phone:    6172804361
Bedford, MA  01730         fax:      6172804095
From: steve.silverwood@filebank.cts.com (Steve Silverwood)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: DBase file formats
Date: 17 Dec 92 12:43:00 GMT
Reply-To: steve.silverwood@filebank.cts.com (Steve Silverwood)
Organization: The File Bank BBS - Fallbrook, CA  619-728-4318


 >Newsgroups: comp.databases
 >From: kuan@netcom.com (Kuan)
 >Subject: DBase file formats
 >Message-ID: <1992Nov28.085034.14874@netcom.com>
 >Keywords: DBase
 >Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1992 08:50:34 GMT
 >
 >I was told that DBase file formats are in the public domain.
 >Can anyone tell me where I can find this public domain ?
 >Or, is there any book talking about DBase file formats (DBF, etc.)
 >I know Borland has a developer's program for DBase IV, but if it's
 >in public domain, we really don't need to enroll in Borland's developer's
 >program.
 >
 >Many thanks in advance.
 >
 >
 >--
 >*********************************
 >Kuan, Yihpyng


A copy of Technical Support Bulletin #9 is on its way to you.  It has
all of the file structure information for Clipper file formats.  I
can't help you with the NDX or MDX file formats, unfortunately, but it
has the DBF and NTX file formats documented.

//Steve//

/----------------------------+---------------------------------------\
|Steve Silverwood            |  Internet: 76703.3035@compuserve.com  |
|Computer Associates         |CompuServe: 76703,3035                 |
|300 Corporate Point, 2nd Fl.|     Voice: (310)348-4448              |
|Culver City, CA  90230      |       FAX: (310)348-7701              |
+----------------------------+---------------------------------------+
|The opinions expressed here are solely my own, mainly because nobody|
|else would want them....                                            |
\--------------------------------------------------------------------/

                                                                                                                       
Newsgroups: comp.databases
From: messina@netcom.com (Tony Porczyk)
Subject: Re: Paradox vs. Access
Organization: Messina Software
Distribution: us
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 23:37:54 GMT

dporter@rat.csc.calpoly.edu (Diana Porter) writes:

> [very interesting comparison of Access vs. Paradox]

>method wheras ODBC doesn't (?)  Overall, I like Paradox except for beginning
>users and simple applications, Access wins. 

I've been looking at various database apps that would allow transparent
linking (through built-in modules or DDE) of data to spreadsheets.
Access, because of its Access Basic comes reasonably close to it. (oh,
yes, ability to distribute everything as standalones or with
distrribution kit is a must, too, as is native networking capabilities).
Does anyone have a suggestion?  Below $gadzillion.00?

thanks,

t.
Newsgroups: comp.databases
From: stocker@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (ERICH FRANZ STOCKER)
Subject: Re: Using an RDBMS for scientific apps?
Summary: Are there any projects doing this?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: RDBMS, scientific applications
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 18:47:00 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.115608.15872@newstand.syr.edu>, podgorny@npac.syr.edu (Marek Podgorny) writes...
>We are considering use of the Oracle RDBMS as database engine
>for scientific applications (Earth science, physics). I would
>appreciate any pointers to similar work, completed or in progress.
>Oracle not essential, relational technology yes.
> 
>Marek Podgorny, NPAC, Syracuse University

You didn't indicated what type of use you are going to make of the RDBMS
in your science project.  It is going to be mostly metadata storage and
retrieval or are you thinking of putting in actual science data. Are you
thinking of image data, remote sensed data, etc.

We in NASA have used a whole bunch of relational databases for our ES
work including Oracle.  However, the actual inclusion of remote sensed
data or ground truth data within the RDBMS is not that common.  Generally,
the relational structure is not very conducive to the storage and 
retrieval of the actual data.

However, the metadata and lower quantities of tabular type of data have
been included.  Also, data processing sequences and calibration coefficients
have also been stored in RDBMS.  

Erich
NASA/GSFC
Newsgroups: comp.databases
From: tcheng@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Tony C. Cheng)
Subject: Re: MICROSOFT ACCESS vs FOXPRO
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 03:27:48 GMT

In <1992Dec16.224755.878@netcom.com> messina@netcom.com (Tony Porczyk) writes:

>thomasd@tps.COM (Thomas W. Day) writes:

>>No they're not.  You can get a position paper from Microsoft's Customer 
>>Service office.  It's 3 pages long and defines the proposed market for both 
>>programs.  Your assumption about the targeted markets is pretty close to 
>>what Microsoft claims: Access - end user, Foxpro 2.5 - developer.

>But that collides slightly with the fact that Microsoft is releasing
>a distribution kit for Access at the end of January.

	I don't know where you got this info. from.  When I
	asked MS reps. in a MS Access seminar at Indy about its 
	run-time distribution, they said MS will have Developer's 
	Distribution Kit for FoxPro in Feb. (BTW, they were
	demonstrating FoxPro at the same time), those two guys
	didn't know whether MS has plans for an Access distribution
	kit.

_Tony
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: CIA World Factbook
From: cocks_d@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: 17 Dec 1992 21:40:39 GMT
Reply-To: cocks_d@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Organization: Wellington City Council (Public Access), Wgtn, Nz
NNTP-Posting-Host: kosmos.wcc.govt.nz

In article <1992Dec16.113953.16008@polaris.utu.fi>, karjarns@polaris.utu.fi (Kari J{rnstr|m) writes:
>I just downloaded CIA World Factbook database from Funet.
>Does anybody know any Database browser/searcher for this
>database and where can I get it?
>
>Kari Jarnstrom
>University of Turku, Finland
>
>

My friend here in Wellington, New Zealand has written such a front end.

I don't have FTP access so can't upload to Internet. I do have access to

Compuserve so could upload it there.


Write or telephone:

Dave Rowsell
11b Barraud St
Avalon
Lower Hutt
New Zealand

Telephone 64 4 5670320.

Regards, Derryl Cocks.


________________________________________________________________________________
Mail: 	Derryl Cocks, Analyst/Programmer
	New Zealand Fire Service, PO Box 2133
	Wellington, New Zealand
Phone:	(4)4724969  Fax: (4)4781603  International: +64 4 47.... 
Email:	"cocks_d@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.databases
From:  wld@consum.moldova.su (Yakhnenko Vladimir L.)
Subject: Clipper 5.01 DBF recovery problem
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 07:00:52 GMT
Reply-To: wld@consum.moldova.su
Organization: MarfConsum

      Hi, there!
  Using Clipper applications corruption of database files sometimes appears.
Some variables of error object are: CanRetry=.F., CanDefault=.F.,
CanSubstitute=.F. .  My application perfoms copiing of backup file instead
corrupted and tryes to open again this area. Error of recovery in
DBUSEAREA(0) appears, i.e. restarting of application is necessary.
      Can anybody give more information about this trouble.
      Regards.
   ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
   ?     Vladimir Yakhnenko     ? VOICE: SU (0422) 24-41-32  ?
   ?   wld@consum.moldova.su    ?  FAX:  SU (0422) 24-41-32  ?
   ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
From: varney@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (Al Varney)
Subject: Re: The ISDN network
Organization: AT&T Network Systems, Lisle, IL
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 15:48:48 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.081459.164@indyvax.iupui.edu> imhw400@indyvax.iupui.edu writes:
>In article <7370@dove.nist.gov>, toense@cplxsys.ncsl.nist.gov (Robert E. Toense) writes:
>> As for dial-in services, I would expect that they would have analog lines for
>> modem service and ISDN lines for pure digital service.  The mix would be
>> based on the needs of their customers and other business factors.
>
>Don't forget the money that the telcos can make by offering modem pools to
>their ISDN customers (if and when they deign to accept any) for a fee, to
>facilitate connection to the digitally impaired.

   This capability has been available on the AT&T 5ESS(rg) switch for several
years, for speeds up to 9600 baud.  They interwork to X.25 on an ISDN D-channel.
Modem pools can be either public (TELCo) or private (on customer prem.), and
can exist in various combinations of Closed User Group & Incoming/Outgoing
restrictions.  The private designation can allow public (unscreened) access
if that is desired.  Maintenance responsibility can be either "customer"
or "switch owner".

   For some users that need modems on an infrequent basis, model pooling
makes a lot of sense (for analog or ISDN lines).  For ISDN users that use
D-channel for data to "internal" points and only occasionally need
"outside" access, modem pools are much cheaper than a modem per user.

Al Varney - just MY opinion, I'm not in sales....
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn
From: varney@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (Al Varney)
Subject: Re: ISDN home wiring questions
Organization: AT&T Network Systems, Lisle, IL
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 20:01:24 GMT
Keywords: isdn

In article <1992Dec9.200002.27774@dvorak.amd.com> brett@dvorak.amd.com (Brett Stewart) writes:
>In article <1992Dec8.170248.28360@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> bear@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (james.j.allen) writes:
>>
>>You can order the following book on the subject from AT&T
>>Customer Information Center (1 800 432-6600):
>>
>>ISDN with 5ESS Switch Customer Premises Planning Guide
>>Select Code: 533-700-100.
>
>For US$194.13 !
>
>>This document describes the planning, installation, and
>>maintenance of ISDN customer premises equipment. Descriptions and
>>guidelines for various ISDN equipment and wiring configurations
>>are discussed in this guide.

   To be fair, it's over 100 pages on loop configurations, equipment
configurations, power options, NT1 interfaces, wiring closet cross-connect
options, pin/wiring diagrams, color codes and ordering information for
various terminal blocks, designation strips, patch cords, etc.  Not at
all the typical information one would expect in a consumer-grade book
on how to hook up your typical telephone....

   Of course, you have the option of asking for installation information
from your telephone vendor.

Al Varney - just MY opinion, and not necessarily AT&T's.
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn,alt.dcom.telecom
From: bcapps@atlastele.com (Brent Capps)
Subject: The ISDN network
Organization: Atlas Telecom Inc.
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 18:22:30 GMT


In article <28624@oasys.dt.navy.mil> curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch) writes:
>First, I don't know how ISDN charges work, but I doubt that you will be
>charged anything for trying to place the 64K UDI call.  The network
>will just return an error - like a busy signal - if the destination
>can't answer that type of call.  At most, I'd expect that you would be
>charged $.10.

These systems are operated by *carriers*.  Carriers get charged by the RBOCs
for ALL trunk group usage, completed or not.  Unrecoverable charges represent 
about 25-30% of their overhead. 

>And I think G4 includes more advanced compression
>algorithms, which could give you an even greater speed up.

Nope.  The two-dimensional encoding algorithm which G4 uses is also defined
for G3, but nobody bothers to support it because it is a lot of effort for
an algorithm that doesn't really achieve that much in way of compression.
In tests we ran internally we found that T.4 (G3) and T.6 (G4)-encoded
files differed by less than 10% for typical business correspondence-type 
images.  As often as not the G4 files were *bigger* than the G3 files.  
It makes a great deal of difference whether your documents are mostly 
whitespace.  G4 is optimized for graphics, which doesn't represent the 
most frequent type of fax transmission.

>The Fax will just automatically do this (so the user doesn't have to
>try to fax everything twice - once G4 and then once G3).  It will first
>try to use G4, and if that fails, it will use G3.

G4 machines aren't designed this way.  The G3 and G4 capabilities 
use physically separate lines, one analog POTS and the other digital.
In theory the digital line is used for ISDN, but in practice it's 
usually a leased line to another G4 machine over the pond.  To 
switch from G4 to G3 requires a second phone call to a different DN.

>Once you switch to G4 fax, you can get 400 dpi resolution (higher
>resolution the the current de facto 300 dpi laser printer standard.)
>So if you have these G4 fax/printer/copier/scaners, the best way to
>connect them to your computer is not through a local LAN, but through
>the phone system.

The standard G4 application is to suck in faxes from G3 machines in the
local calling area and blast them over a leased line to another G4 machine
where they are broadcast locally.  As such your resolution is only as
good as the sending G3 machine.  That extra resolution G4 buys you does 
you no good.  This is the niche G4 has carved out for itself, and it
does a pretty good job at it.  But if you're looking for G4 to drive
increased ISDN acceptance, you'd better think again.
-- 
Brent Capps                          | 
bcapps@agora.rain.com (gay stuff)    | Quis corriget correctores ipsos?
bcapps@atlastele.com (telecom stuff) |
From: Helge.Oldach@Stollmann.DE (Helge Oldach)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn
Subject: Re: The ISDN network
Date: 20 Dec 92 17:47:07 GMT
Organization: Stollmann GmbH, D-2000 Hamburg 50, Germany
Originator: he@sup

curt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Curt Welch) writes:
| It's just as reasonable to build a 64K ISDN "modem" that also supports
| the old slow V.fast and V.32 protocols, 

It is not only reasonable, but (becoming) available (soon), however
without V.fast. But 14.4 kBd fax is included.
-- 
Helge.Oldach@Stollmann.DE
From: joe@jshark.inet-uk.co.uk (Joe Sharkey)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn
Subject: Re: ISDN international tariffs
Date: 20 Dec 92 21:47:46 GMT
Organization: Independent Network (UK)

In article <1992Dec19.214534.3982@cbnewsd.cb.att.com> varney@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (Al Varney) writes:
>In article <724643806.AA00663@cswamp.apana.org.au> Arthur@cswamp.apana.org.au (Arthur Marsh) writes:
>>From Australia, a voice call to the USA which is encoded by 64
>>kbps PCM costs about A$1.12/minute off peak. An 64 kbps single
>>ISDN B channel call to the USA using costs A$1 flagfall plus
>>A$3.15 per minute.

These look to be comparable to UK to USA. (US$3.00/min, peak)

>>With a good modem, one can get about 1500 cps on one of these 64
>   1500 cps in one direction...

In *two* directions!

>>With one 64 kbps ISDN B channel,
>>presumably 7500 cps throughput is possible, a five-fold increase
>>at nearly 3 times the per-minute cost plus a big flagfall.
>
>   Where is 7500 cps from???  You should get 64000 bps / 8-bits/c

From the USA'a 56kb "digital" services - look at the rest of what you write.

>>Are there other costs to the telephone company involved that
>>already has ISDN capable equipment that can in any way justify
>>the extra cost of ISDN?

No. In the UK, ISDN comes in after the codecs, so there is *no* difference.
Q: Why should I pay more to use *less* of your equipment?  ;)

>data service.  In the USA, even 56 kbps requires either dedicated MF
                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^
qv.

>Al Varney

joe.
-- 
Joe Sharkey     joe@jshark.inet-uk.co.uk     ...!uunet!ibmpcug!jshark!joe
150 Hatfield Rd, St Albans, Herts AL1 4JA, UK      Got a real domain name
(+44) 727 838662         Mail/News Feeds (v32/v32bis): info@inet-uk.co.uk
From: sanford@aria.Ascend.COM (Curtis Sanford)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn
Subject: Re: Looking for TA
Date: 18 Dec 92 16:10:57 GMT
Organization: Ascend Communications, Alameda CA

On Fri 04 Dec at 17:30 Lee Ziegenhals (8:7000/8@fmlynet) wrote to
All:

 LZ> From: lcz@dptspd.sat.datapoint.com (Lee Ziegenhals)

 LZ> I'm trying to locate a BRI terminal adapter that has two 
 LZ> V.35 interfaces (to support circuit-switched connections 
 LZ> on both B channels simultaneously) and a separate RS-232 
 LZ> dialing port.

Our Multiband family of inverse multiplexers also act as ISDN TA's with
the characteristics described.  They are available worldwide.  For local
availability, you may contact Ascend Communications, Inc. at 
Ascend Communications, Inc.
1275 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, CA  94501
Tel: 510-769-6001
Fax: 510-814-2300
email: info@ascend.com

--Curtis Sanford
  Ascend Communications, International Department
From: peter@micromuse.co.uk (Peter Galbavy)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn
Subject: Re: The ISDN network
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:51:22 GMT
Organization: MicroMuse Limited, London, England.

bcapps@atlastele.com (Brent Capps) writes:

>In a previous article, Bob Larribeau writes:
>> There are no technical impediments to interoperation with voice or data 
>> services.  The issues are tariffs and deployment of available technology.

>An ISDN set won't talk to an analog modem.  An engineer might call this a
>deployment issue WRT the modem, but the end user is going to see it as a 
>technical impediment.  Exclusively using ISDN for your home PC effectively 
>cuts you off from BBS, etc., which makes it kinda hard to justify its use.

Sorry - I must disagree. In the UK Jaguar are selling a "modec", which
is an ISDN TA, but also will do the codec functions to make it work as
a v32 modem (v32bis by now I expect). I have never used one, but the
specs seem quite nice. About 1600 pounds sterling.

-- 
Peter Galbavy
Tech Support, Micromuse Ltd
Phone: +44 71 352 7774		E-Mail: P.Galbavy@micromuse.co.uk
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn
From: bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw)
Subject: Re: The ISDN network 
Organization: Corporation for Open Systems
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 14:38:12 GMT

In <724096126snx@crynwr.com> nelson@crynwr.com (Russell Nelson) writes:

>In article <5ce56aee.1bc5b@pisa.citi.umich.edu> Jim.Rees@umich.edu writes:

>   In article <1992Dec10.235056.27621@spectrum.CMC.COM>, lars@spectrum.CMC.COM    (Lars Poulsen) writes:

>     If the straight digital asynch TA is $600 and a V.32bis modem is $400,
>     a combined modem/TA should cost $800. When the digital TA is $100
>     and the V32bis modem is $200, the combined modem/TA might still cost
>     $250.

>   Given equal production volumes, the digital modem should be cheaper than the
>   analog one, since it doesn't have to deal with nasty analog phone line
>   issues like ring voltage and electrical isolation, and it doesn't need a
>   hybrid or a codec.

>Ha!  What do you think your NT-1 is doing?  Those local loops are
>pretty nasty.  Yes, you're paying for the functionality, you just get
>to use it for both B channels at once.

Well, actually, your NT1 is decoding the 2B1Q line code and providing
some maintenance functions. The telco is under no requirement to send
CO battery or ringing current to the NT1. Since ISDN may some day be
running over fiber, they eliminated the requirement for office battery.
(Something to do with the difficulty of pushing 48V DC down a bit of
glass, I think).

>-russ <nelson@crynwr.com> What canst *thou* say?
>Crynwr Software           Crynwr Software sells packet driver support.
>11 Grant St.              315-268-1925 Voice  |  LPF member - ask me about
>Potsdam, NY 13676         315-268-9201 FAX    |  the harm software patents do.

Bob.
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.isdn