Newsgroups: comp.databases.oracle
From: sstephen@us.oracle.com
Subject: Re: MS-Windows based tools
Organization: Oracle Corporation, USA
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 22:36:35 GMT
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              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

In article <1623@rwja.umdnj.edu>, holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu (Richard Holowczak) writes:
> jgb@prism.gatech.EDU (James G. Baker) writes:
> 
>>In article <1992Oct7.055014.18461@usl.edu> cdc6586@usl.edu (Charbonnet Clement D) writes:
>>>I am currently running Oracle on a Data General AViiON 6220 
>>>with DOS based clients communicating with SQL*Net TCP/IP.
>>>I am not pleased with the fact that Oracle's tools are not 
>>>compatible with the enhanced mode of MS-Windows which is our 
>                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> I think this is conflict between Windows 386-Enhanced mode and the SQLPME
> program needed to run SQL*Net.
>

SQLPME is besides the point.  SQL*Net talks to some major network drivers. 
Most of these drivers were meant to run under DOS and were therefore run as
TSR's in real memory.  Therefore, if Windows runs under enhanced mode, it will
start moving around programs when it gets low on memory and will eventually
wipe out any real mode TSRs.  If Oracle can't find the network drivers, it
can't get it's data.  So, it doesn't work.

Just recently, some of our favorite network driver publsihers have finally come
out with DLL Windows drivers.  Excellan and FTP, for instance.  Also, I know we
are testing DLL SQL*Net drivers that would be required to access the former.
When everyone is in production, you will then be able to run Oracle for windows
in enhanced mode.  However, the only Oracle for DOS tools you will be able to
run from a window would be SQL*Plus, RPT and SQLDBA, since these can fit in the
"virtual DOS" of a window.

The memory problems running on intel chips under 16-bit mode are so numerous,
it may be best to wait for Oracle for Windows-NT, (32-bit, flat address space).

> 
>>>standard user interface.
> 
>>It depends how robust your needs are.  $300 at Egghead will get you
>>ObjectVision Pro, which has SQL (SQL Server/Sybase, Oracle, etc)
>>access included.  It is good for the price, but there are stronger
>>products out there...  PowerBuilder is probably the leading one, IMHO,
>>but it is a bit more in cost.  I am using MicroSoft Excel via Oracle's
>>DDE Manager to access a server - it certainly has the reporting 
>>capabilities, along with dialog boxes, custom menus, etc of Excel 4.0...
>>It might be a good place to start... The DDE Manager (~$300) would let other
>>programs, MS-Word, VisualBASIC, and even some C++ if you want... :-) 
> 
>>There was a review in the September 29 PC Magazine for SQL Front Ends...
> 
>>Let me know if you need more info...  Good luck.
> 
> All of these are good tools.  The question is, do they allow access to
> Oracle Databases via SQL*Net froom Windows in 386 Enhanced mode. I too
> am using MS-Excel and can access databases using Windows in Standard mode.
> I still can't get it to work in 386 Enhanced mode.  There was something
> in the latest ORACLE magazine about this.  Oracle also makes Oracle Card
> for both the Mac and MS-Windows.
> 
> 
> 
> Rich Holowczak
> Rutgers University
-- 
One name I like to drop is Actor, by the Whitewater Group.  It's object
oriented, it's very flexible, and apparently Actor 4.0, (I only have 3.0), has
built in classes for Oracle access.  It is also possible to access DDE servers
AND talk directly to DLL files, (no need for a C compiler to talk Pro*C or
OCI).  I've seen other's who swear by it on some window programmers forums. 
Still, you have to be a bit of a programmer to handle the language.  It's not
really an end-user tool out of the box, but it is writeable.

I picked up a runtime copy of Toolbook and played with the demo in Oracle for
Toolbook, it was more of an end-user tool, still had a lot for programmers, but
I didn't like the feel too well.  Too many cryptic messages being sent to
users, when the programmer messes up.  It has a lot of the same effects as
Oracle Card.
================================================================================
Scott Stephens				inet:	sstephen.us.oracle.com
Oracle WorldWide Support                Redwood City, California