Conference ilbbak::ibi_focus

    Bill Servey
    US Field Service HQ IS
    Westborough Ma.
    
    We have built an end user data access system that uses 1032. Our
    architecture theoretically enables any DB tool to be used as the
    'server' - we are not locked to 1032. I am interested in how Focus is
    used by others, and gleaning any advantages it has over other other DB
    tools. 

    
    
    Wayne Sheltry
    MEM Finance Information Systems
    Acton, MA 
    
    	I am a seven (nearly eight) year veteran of FOCUS on the IBM
    side.  I have used both mainframe and pc focus in developing a
    very wide range of software applications.  
    
    	Currently we are using FOCUS to develop SMIRS (Standard Management
    Information Reporting System).  Shrewsbury is the first site to
    be implemented (soon).  Before long, all Digital sites will have
    the application.
    
    	I'm a new hire (21st of September) so I'm learning the VMS
    operating system (slowly but surely) and trying to get my past IBM
    experience out of my head.  Easier said than done.  :-)
    

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    LIN-MEI KRAVIS
    Corporate Finance Planning & Analysis
    MSO
    Powder Mill Road, Maynard
    
    
    
    We are using IBI FOCUS to implement our Data Warehousing.   We are
    planning to install and test HLI to FOCUS for eventual networking
    applications.

    Brenda Ryan
    CSM HQ IS
    Westford, MA
    
    We have created a decision making environment for our clients called
    MDS, Management Decision Support.  We are currently using FOCUS
    as our DBMS but are in the process of migrating to a FOCUS/Rdb 
    implementation.  We are using FOCUS as our report writing tool and
    for some data entry forms.  Due to the fact that our environment
    is driven by ALL-IN-1 we are migrating the FOCUS data entry forms
    to ALL-IN-1 for improved performance.

    Bob Girard
    Industry Marketing IS
    Merrimack, NH
    
    I am a four year veteran with FOCUS.  Three years with IBM and one
    year with VAX versions.  We are building a FOCUS Industry Marketing
    Analysis and Reporting System.  The system will be comprised of
    approximately 20 FOCUS databases.  Eight detail databases and twelve
    summary databases (FOCUS).  The databases run in size from 5 million
    records over a five year period to 500 records.  The 5 million record
    structure is hierarchical with 4 levels, the top level will contain
    200,000 occurrances and the 4th level segment will contain 5 million
    occurrances.  All eight detail databases contain indexes in order
    to utilize a relational type of architect and cross-reference these
    files with each other in any number of ways.
    The system will
    contain standard reports, on-line inquiries, graphics generation,
    and on-line help facilities.  We will be interfacing this system
    with ALL-IN-1. 

    Paul Lacey
    Database/4GL Consultant
    Digital Equipment
    Chicago Financial District Sales Support
    (312) 407-6177  
     DTN: 447-6177
    
    I've first used FOCUS way back in 1977 when it only ran under IBM's
    MVS and VM operating systems.  Since then I've spent the last 10
    years (on and off, mostly on) developing or helping people develop
    FOCUS applications, but never had the opportunity to use FOCUS on
    the VAX. I have been with Digital six months now and have got religion.
    My current experiences with FOCUS revolve around some IBM-9370
    benchmarks, and some FOCUS/VMS performace tuning. 
                                            

	Howard GARLAND
	Management Reporting Unit
	IS European Application Development Group
	Reading, UK

We use FOCUS here for the reporting needs of the European subsidiaries.

The users access FOCUS and view output through an ALL-IN-1 environment that
we have written (thanks to the Westford MDS and the AIC implementations, for 
ideas and a great deal more).

    I IS A SALES REP.
    
    Seriously, I am Dana Scott.  Based in Tallahasse, FL, working on
    the State of Florida account team.  We are having tremendous success
    and are looking forward to a banner year!
    
    The interest I have in FOCUS relates to the clients I am working
    with that already have the product.  In order to be a consultative
    sales person, I try to understand the existing environment and match
    our solution to their needs.  It turned out that the Executive Office
    of the Governor of the State of Florida uses FOCUS on Wang.  They
    don't like Wang anymore and they wanted to know how well FOCUS worked
    on VAXes.  I was not able to get information from our marketing
    and sales support people, so I turned to VAXnotes.  Soooo....what
    I'd like to know is.....
    
    1) Does FOCUS run (ok, good, bad, so-so or it depends) on a VAX?
    2) Should my client buy 20/20 or Foccalc?
    
    Is this the wrong notes file?
    
    
    Dana Scott
    Tallahassee
    904-386-3280
    

    Mike Cusack
    Corporate Admin. Purchasing IS
    Northboro, MA
    DTN: 234-4764
    
    I am new to DEC but have been using FOCUS over the past 3 years
    on PC's as well as Vax.  During that time I have worked on a
    variety of database systems, primarily in support of marketing/sales
    and manufacturing and distribution.
    
    The project I will be working on here is to develop a end-user
    database which will provide information on cost savings in the
    admin. purchasing area.
    
    Mike

    Brian Beattie
    Software Services (Delivery)
    12100 Ford Road
    Dallas, Tx 75234
    DTN: 481-2946
    
    I am a VAX/VMS systems person delivering a long-term residency to
    a customer whose previous application work has been in FORTRAN.
    This customer site, after being "wowie-zowied" by an impressive IBI
    sales presentation, has recently begun an evaluation of IBI-FOCUS with
    a committment to purchase in 90 days if successful at migration
    of existing FORTRAN/FMS applications...
    
    I am brand new to IBI-FOCUS, and am likely going to be looking for
    knowlegable help in this forum on a regular basis.  I am ever so
    glad to see some real veterans in the league above!
    
    					-- Brian Beattie
     

    Bill Lynch
    ZKO Personnel
    
    I'm the Manager of Information Services for ZKO Personnel. That
    means I manage our VAXcluster and work at automating Personnel.
    
    I've just installed FOCUS and I'm trying to use it with my existing
    Rdb/VMS files (see my soon-to-be note for my first stumbling block).
    
    -- Bill

    Anne Formalarie
    MidRange Systems Engineering MIS
    Boxboro, MA
    
    After RALLYing around RALLY, I'm now FOCUSing on FOCUS.  Our MIS
    group is being bombarded with requests for applications and with
    our small staff, the only solution is to see what 4GL's have to
    offer.  We're working on a Cost Center Expense/Capital Equipment
    Expense Budget application.

         Barry Needleman 
         LA/CR SWS 
	
         FOCUS can be a competitive or complementary offering in a sales
         situation. The more I know, the better solution I can help
         tailor for a customer. 
         
         

    Alan Shepro
    DIS/F&A (Finance & Accounting)
    Acton, Ma  AKO1-3/P4
    
    We are using Focus for Corporate Financial Systems & Reporting.
    

    Carl Sjoquist
    SWAS/IIS 
    Stuttgart W-Germany
    
    I expatriated myself out of my native Boston - where I did Focus
    development, training and consulting (5 yrs. - mostly VM/CMS) for
    a then-large, now-kaputt time-sharing company.  Been in Germany
    for 3+ years and almost 2 of them with DEC in ALL-IN-1 etc.
    
    Altho a German A1 "integration" for Focus exists, I haven't seen 
    it yet and am curious to see how Focus fits in under VMS...
    
    Besides, an A1/Focus project is likely to land on my doorstep, should
    the need here every arise...
    
             
    
    
    
    
    

    
    Ray Levasseur
    U.S. Fiscal Reporting
    PKO3
    
    I'm a Data Resource Analyst who is making the transition from Financial
    analyst to DSS. Many applications I *was* writing were in Datatrieve
    and EPS, I've migrated about 97% to IBI-FOCUS with outstanding results
    Currently I'm using it totally for reporting purposes from existing
    flat sequential files. Lately I've learned how to segment some of
    the files and load them into FOCUS format. In one case I'm getting
    an 8-10 fold increase in table request speed.
    
    A lot of the report requests I'm developing are using Dialogue
    Manager with CRTFORM, which has drastically increased the
    flexibility of one FEX to generate many reports.
    
    After using Dbase II/III, 1022, DTR and EPS....this has to be
    the greatest package I've had the joy of working with.
    
                                   Ray

    Name: Alexander Carp                      Date: may 25, 1988
    Loc.: UTO (Utrecht, Holland)
    Tel.: 3218
    Cluster: HLIS07::CARP
    
    I'm I.S. financial analist. Besides this main task I'm writing
    financial models in EPS, System W, 2020, Information Warehouse etc.
    Soon I'm going to follow my first FOCUS course.
    Let's say for the time being I'm just interested; nobody knows what
    happens after my first course.
    
    Alexander Carp
                         

    Curtis Coppersmith
    Constell Group
    Working for MEM Finance
    Acton, MA
    232-2246.
    
    We are developing the SMIRS reporting system.  I work with Focus/VMS
    interactions: FMS, batch processes and user written-subroutines.

    
    Peter Ashley
    Semiconductor Manufacturing Program Office
    Hudson, MA 01749
    DTN 225-5731
    
    	We would like to use FOCUS to create a data warehouse for user
    access.  Our production environment includes a number of planning,
    shop floor control and MRP II systems.  Hopefully, FOCUS will allow
    users to link data from the different systems.

    
    John D'Addieco
    US/DIS Information Management
    PKO3
    Maynard, MA
    
    I'm a Senior P/A. I've worked with FOCUS for 5+ years (lucky me!).
    With DEC for 1.5 years now, and have used VAX FOCUS the whole time.
    Right now I'm working with the Area Information Center development
    team.  We use FOCUS for DSS and Management Reporting Applications.
    	

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AKOV12::BIBEAULT "Corp Financial Strategies"         54 lines  19-AUG-1988 09:30
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    Bob Bibeault
    Systems Consultant
    Corporate Financial Strategies
    AKO1-3/N3 DTN 244-6136
    100 Nagog Park
    Acton, Ma 01720-3499

    Experience with rdb/VMS: I'm fairly new to rdb but have fairly
    extensive applications development experience on both the VAX and
    the HP3000 utilizing both 3- and 4-GL tools. Took the rdb/VMS design
    and programming course in June 88.
    
    Interests: All aspects of database management, transaction processing,
    data warehousing, information centers, data distribution, etc. etc.
    
    How my present responsibilities tie into rdb/VMS:
    
    1.	In a consulting role, advising as to the best technical approaches
  	in the development of databases and tools which access them.
    
    2.	In a direct role, develop prototypes for transaction processing
    	and reporting systems which access rdb/VMS databases with primarily
    	4GL tools.
    
    	Current favorites:	Powerhouse for 	Data Management (Dictionary),
    						Data Capture (Forms),
    						Txn Proc (Procedures),
    						Standard Reports 
    
    				Focus      for  Ad Hoc Reporting
    
    				Rally      for  Defining, modifying
  						rdb/VMS databases.
    
    	Good information on accessing rdb/VMS from these tools may be
    	found in their respective notes conferences:
    
    	PICA::POWERHOUSE,	RUNTUF::IBI_FOCUS,	JENEVR::RALLY
    
    I will be glad to answer questions on a time-available basis but
    due to my relatively recent exposure to rdb, I may answer many
    questions by referral to a person who is more knowledgeable about
    a particular subject.
    
    
    

    Richard Madden  DTN 223-7022  PKO3-2/33G  
    ALL-IN-ONE @PKO  E-MAIL FDCV01::MADDEN
    FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REPORTING IS GROUP serving the US FIELD FINANCE
    ORG.
    IBI-FOCUS is my primary data processing tool
    

    Scott Stephens  (408) 864-7308
    Data Entry Clerk and Computer Whiz, :-)
    UCF, Cupertino, California
    
    I found FOCUS while exploring the different software available on
    my node. I taught it to myself about a month ago, (only using HELP),
    and impressed my cooridnators so much with fancy graphs and reports
    they sprung for users manuals and "marketed" me around to all the
    managers at this site. I just completed transfering a database which
    I originally wrote in VAX COBOL on a slow day, and am currently
    beginning some applications from some PROMIS files.

    
    
    My name is Stephen Wood.  I'm an outside consultant working for
    the Northeast Area DIS group in Waltham.  I provide some ad hoc
    assistance with the AIC (Area Information Center) system as well
    as help them develop some new applications.  I have about 5 years
    of Focus experience on DEC, IBM, and PC equipment.  
     
    DTN: 221-5638
    or USWAV8::SWOODDEV
    
    

Thomas Clipson - MPO
DTN 442-2315

I am currently working with a manufacturing company that has selected FOCUS
as its primary language.  We have proposed a solution, but have little to no
knowledge or experience in FOCUS in the NCD office.  Hence, I have looking
for FOCUS information, binaries and documentation.

Tom

                      < Self Introduction >

Hello,

Our names are Sim Lee and Andr� van 't Hoog and we have recently 
joined this conference. We work in the Field Distribution Centre 
in the Netherlands and use FOCUS for producing reports from a 
COBOL maintained database. 

We have been on the SHIRE::FOCUS conference for some time and 
thought it would be a good idea to enter some of our outstanding
unsolved problems from there on this conference. 

Greetings to all participants.

Sim & Andr�.

    LARRY SISLE, TWO INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT.
    
    I AM PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN USING FOCUS WITH RDB.

    Patrick McMahon : APO-CIMT

    FOCUS site coordinator for APO. We use FOCUS mainly for reporting
    from existing RMS files, but we also use it for prototyping databases.
    We haven't delved into using it with RDB yet, but it sure looks
    like fun!!

    Hi,
    
    Name:	Chris GRAY     
    VAXmail:	LARVAE::GRAY   
    Mailstop:	USH
    Job:	Project Manager/Account Consultant
    Location:	Government Region, Basingstoke, UK
    
    Interest:	Interested in anything that will help me obtain, analyze
    		& assess data to provide information.
    

    Hi,
    
    Name	: David OTTEN
    Vaxmail	: CURRNT/PASTIT::OTTEN
    Mailstop	: UCG A1/6
    Job		: DS in Support for Euro ADG
    Location	: Crescent, Basingstoke, UK
    
    Interest	: Trying to support a FOCUS - ALL-IN-1 Interface (MRE)
    		So anything I can learn could be useful. !

    I have been with Digital since Feb 1989. My background is mainly
    in Cobol on a variety  of machines.
    
    Name	: David Lazarus
    Vaxmail	: OURBOX::LAZARUS or BROOKE::LAZARUSD
    Mailstop	: PCO 
    Job		: DSS Sales support NY area 
    Location	: Princeton, NJ

    
    Name        : Sharon Foreman
    Vaxmail     : CHET::FOREMAN, NQOAIC::FOREMAN, CGVAX2::FOREMAN
                  (You'd think I get a lot of mail)
    All-in-One  : Sharon Foreman @DDD
    Mailstop    : DDD/W26
    DTN         : 264-9139
    Group       : US Admin. Reporting/Info. Management
    
    First experiences with FOCUS were converting DTR reporting procedures
    to FOCUS .FEX's.  I have just recently entered the realm of Focus
    Modify in creating some input screens using FIDEL for a database I
    formed to track project status information.  Please press NEXT UNSEEN
    for my latest problem ( did I mean Opportunity ?? - NAH ).
                                                   
    
    
    my latest problem ( did I mean Opportunity ?? - NAH )

    
    
    Narinder Chauhan
    Edu/Mkting
    The Crescent, U.K
    
    We have written a information gathering system which provides
    management with information on how many man days were spent doing
    what on a project, this is called MIGS (monthly information gathering
    system). We are now having a Focus reporting option which will allow
    users to create ad-hoc reports on the stored data

    Vijay Murthy
    MEM Finance Information Solutions
    MLO3_6
    
    We are working on a capital reporting system for which I am trying to
    have users develop their own reports using FOCUS.  While doing this, we
    are developing a menu driven application for canned reports.  Am
    scratching around for answers to some rather strange questions and
    so...

    
    Name:	Daniel Frei
    Location:	Geneva/Switzerland.. Lake.. Mountains.. Skiing!!!!!!!
    				     Fun....!!!
    
    Mail:	@TXA, Leman::Frei
    Dpt:	EDU
    
    I'm quite new to FOCUS (although I've been focusing on SKIING for
    quite a while..) and start giving courses for
    
    		B E G I N N E R S.
    
    Hope to find lots of information in this conference.
    
    
                     

    Arrigo de Angeli
    Customer Administrative Services
    Rome Office (RM-MAG)
    Italy
    ARRIGO DEANGELI @RIO
    
    Ciao a tutti!
    I'm a 9 years C.Admin. and use FOCUS (in Management Reporting
    Environment) since 6 months. I took a lot of fun in converting
    all the existing booking recognition procedures (OLR reports)
    from $$ to It. Liras and retailing them in different ways in
    order to provide Sales forces of more 'user oriented' tools.
    I have developed a lot of nice procedures to check the delivery,
    invoicing and cashing forecasts and I'm really enthusiastic
    about the tool FOCUS. My only problem is that, as a remote,
    non specialistic end-user, I can't get the $ prompt that (at
    least on a PC) would help me a lot for new creations.
    By the way, can someone tell me what's the minimum PC require-
    ment to use FOCUS and which kind of connection could I have to
    to local database.
    Happy to read from you again. Bye. A.
    

    RE: .17
    
       Time for an update:
    
       Ray Levasseur
       U.S. Fiscal Reporting DSS
       PKO3
       Production Assistant/Data Resource Analyst, U.S. Brownbook
    
       I'm still in my position and when I posted .17, I was relatively new
       "and in awe!" at what FOCUS could do for me. Some look on me as the
       resident FOCUS guru in our area. I like using it and have migrated
       many/most in some cases applications from COBOL/DTR to FOCUS with
       excellent results.
    
       I'm at a point where I know I'll need to get some/more exposure to
       other languages; more COBOL, learn RDB, Rally, etc, etc, since most
       of my eggs are in the FOCUS basket. I'm also now seriously thinking
       of where/what I want ot do next, since technically I'm a Financial
       Analyst, but 95% of what I do is IS support for applications in our
       group. I really enjoy programming and want to learn more in a group
       where, I'll be in an IS atmosphere, able to learn more and am
       looking more [I hope] at moving more to an IS career in finance/
       accounting applications.
    
       Oh! BTW, SSTMV1 went the way of the PDP10a long time ago. I can
       be reached at either {FDCV01,FDCV10}::LEVASSSEUR or Ray Levasseur @
       PKO.
    
       Regards, Ray

    Just a quick note to let folks know that this conference is up
    and running again.
    
    Kate Alexander
    DIS Toolkit
    

    Hi,
    
    Bob Hynes
    SR. Information Systems Spec.
    Marlboro, Ma. (MR03-2)
    
    I have been writing Focus procedures for about two years now for
    the USDS group. With Focus I have been able to develope the following:
    
    	-Standard Report Selection from Menu of Reports.
    	-User Entered Data Selection Query using CRTform.
    	-Batching or Running Online - if batching mail is sent to user
    	 when report is done with the name of the randomly generated
    	 report name.
    	-Audit database which is used for tracking who is running what
    	 standard reports.
    

	Tom NeSmith
	SWS Munich, Germany

	What FOCUS can produce is impressive. How it does it is atrocious! 
	I have heard that FOCUS is ok, if you are writing and supporting your
	own applications - but, if you are supporting someone else's 
	application you are to be pitied.

	The only thing FOCUS and English have in common is the use of English
	words. If I wrote a letter using English words and German syntax and 
	sentence structure, I would end up with something similar to a FOCUS
	program.

	FOCUS is not intuitive, the help is not helpful, the logic is not
	logical.

	Why does Digital need to use this product? Why doesn't Digital have
	a product which gives the same functionality, but with the high quality
	and user-friendliness I have come to appreciate from Digital products?

	I have written programs in BASIC, C, COBOL, DATATRIEVE, FORTRAN, PASCAL
	and RPG II. I consider any of the above languages (except RPG II) much
	easier to use and understand than FOCUS.

Digital does have a product which gives the same functionality - 
or soon will have..with the same facilities for
"Extract to a Hold file", and "Extract to a 2020 load file", and
a similarly user-friendly Menu-Guided interface as TABLETALK
implimenting almost the whole of the DTR Report Writer.

Look in CUCKOO::MRE$PUBLIC:MRE021_awareness.ps - 

(I'm Talking, of DATATRIEVE under Walking Windows)

At the moment, it's packaged under MRE - Maybe, under the 
auspices of the software reuse project, it'll be productized.
Incedentally.. WW can be easily modified to produce code in ANY Language..
You just have to be clever enough to write a BNF
(Bacus-Nair Format??) Language description.


David

    
    Nancy Glidden D'Andrea
    Programmer/Analyst
    M/E Finance IM&T
    
    We use focus to access Rdb files for ad-hoc reporting, as well
    as for standard more complex reporting using FRL and parameter
    passing.
    
    

    Bob Lee
    Digital Services
    CIS EIC, TP&DB
    
    Loc:  ....... MKO2-1/J12
    DTN:  ....... 264-3820
    All-in-1: ... "ROBERT M LEE@MKO2"
    VAXmail: .... "ACESMK::RLEE"
    
    Old IBM Focus user - curious about FOCUS side-effects on VAX-based
    transaction processing systems.

Jean-Claude Carriere
ASSIST Support Engineering Group
ADG Evry (Paris France)


	Up until few weeks ago, I was programming manager for the Interface
	group of the Vax Division at Information Builders in New-York.

	As you can imagine I know the ins-and-out of FOCUS, especially
	the interfaces (RMS or RDB, ...). I'm both curious to see what
	you folks think of FOCUS,  and willing to provide as much help
	as I can.

	Note: I'm not a Digital employee per say but a contractor
	(consultant) from an external company currently taking care
	of the ASSIST SEG in Evry Paris

Hi,

here is one more who is interested in FOCUS!

Name: Thomas Purker
Loc : @AUI
City: Vienna
Country: Austria

I m within IM in Austria and am working with FOCUS since 1984. For the first time
I worked on IBM/TSO and since 1989 I'm with DEC and working on VAX. I also train
this thing for useres as well as for DBspecialists. 

I like FOCUS very much and hope to get a lot of informations in this note.

FOCUS_for_ever

Thomas