IIUG Insider (Issue #14)
15 November 2002
Other Issues
Highlights: UK Report, Carol Wiese Profiled, OnLine 5.20 and More...
Welcome to the International Informix Users Group (IIUG) Insider! Designed for IIUG members and Informix user group leaders, this contains timely and relevant information for the IBM Informix community.
Contents:
- A Report from the United Kingdom
- Profiling Carol Wiese, IIUG Board Member
- InfoBahn Soon to Hit US West Coast & Toronto, Canada
- Updating "utils2_ak" in IIUG's Software Repository
- Upcoming Webcasts: Tivoli/Informix, OnLine 5.20/Classics, and More...
- Survey Response: Web DataBlade and Data Director for Web
- Informix OnLine Extended Edition Version 5.20 Available!
- Linux Gets Informix OnLine Extended Edition v.5.20 Specials
- IBM Learning Services: Informix Curriculum View
- PartnerWorld: "You Pass, We Pay"
- IDS 9.4 Business Partner Preview Web Cast - November 20th
- Informix Developer Zone: Seeking Authors, Have $$$s
- Useful Links
- Closing and Credits
UK IUG Launched
The recently reformed UK IUG (http://www.iiug.org/ukiug) held its first
meeting at IBM Warwick on Wednesday, 30th October.
We had an overwhelming response, with 117 in attendance - and many more
expressing interest in subsequent events! The meeting's success, in a period
when more IBM Data Management activities are upcoming, emphasizes the
continued strong interest in maintaining a robust user community, passionate
about the future of Informix products, in the UK.
In addition to technical presentations by IBM gurus Jonathan Leffler and
John Pickford, Barbara Stanley, former Managing Director of Informix UK
(now a sales executive for IBM's Europe/Middle East/Africa region), gave an
EMEA-tailored version of the IDS Roadmap, describing the extent of IBM's
continued commitment to Informix products. There was enormous interest in
this session, and with the benefit of hindsight, more time could perhaps
have been allocated to a Q&A session on this single topic. It was, however,
pointed out that the primary source of this information should be IBM's own
events, such as the UK Infobahn due (to have been held on 13th November).
The day's technical presentations are available for download at
http://www.iiug.org/ukiug/events.html.
The next UK IUG event is scheduled for late January 2003.
Informix Learning Services' IDS Overview
Informix Learning Services will be running a one-day overview of the IDS
server in the UK on 6th December 2002. This overview is being offered to
IIUG members and their colleagues and managers for a special price of just
30 Pounds Sterling. To book, or for more details, contact Data Management
Training on 020 8818 1169 or trains@uk.ibm.com.
The one-day technical overview describes what IDS does: its use, roles and
tasks needed to maintain the server. This should allow managers, architects,
etc. to be able to discuss plans and potential problems. It may be a useful
insight for users who are moving to IDS to understand the differences in the
architecture and operations.
Submitted by Neil Truby, IIUG Board Member based in the United Kingdom.
Carol is the fourth IIUG Board member to be profiled by ENews. Along with
Jean Georges Perrin, Neil Truby and Nancy Balsbaugh, Carol is new to the
IIUG Board, although not new to CDI aficionados
(http://www.iiug.org/resources/cdi.html). True to her style, Carol's profile
is direct and concise, so we have been able to include it in its entirety:
Q: How do you use Informix in your "real" job (DBA, Consultant, Developer,
etc.)?
I assist programmers in tuning their SQL and accessing data as well as
design data layout, security and process database change requests and
reorgs.
Q: How long have you been using Informix products?
Almost 5 years now.
Q: What is your role on the IIUG Board?
I am formally in charge of Special Interest Groups and infrastructure
documentation, although I am personally concerned most about representing
the user community whose livelihoods depend upon the stability and continued
success of Informix technology. I wish that users and IBM management alike
could experience the respect and passion for Informix database engines that
I felt and heard every day from our users while working in Informix
Technical Support.
Q: Why did you initially run for the IIUG Board?
I was asked and I would never turn down a request made on behalf of this
user community. I want to remind people that Informix is more than a company
or a superior database engine product line, that it is also a community of
people who share their expertise in an effort to tap the fullest potential
from this unique technology. I like being faster, better, smarter... who
wouldn't? And Informix lets me get there.
Q: What do you want to accomplish this year on the Board?
I want to give the SIG members a sense of being listened to by IBM
management. Chris St. Aubin and I are currently working on an interesting
initiative in that direction.
Q: Where are you from?
I was born and raised in a suburb of Buffalo, NY, although I have also lived
in Manhattan.
Q: Best Informix story?
Well, the one that still makes me laugh is troubleshooting a database on
bovine procreation... I learned more than I'd ever wanted to know and
hopefully would ever need to use.
Q: Worst Informix nightmare.
Reading that Ardent staff were taking over Informix Database Software
company.
Q: Can you tell us about your family and hobbies outside of the IIUG?
I am 37, single, own an old home which I am renovating and care for 2 cats
and a German Shepherd puppy. I love old jazz, R&B, rock/alternative and
(hard) science fiction. I drive fast and am very opinionated.
IBM's InfoBahn road show will hit three US West Coast cities next week:
- Nov. 18: Seattle, WA
- Nov. 19: San Francisco Bay Area, CA
- Nov. 20: Los Angeles, CA
Don't miss this opportunity to interact with IBM Data Management executives
face to face and discuss the future of the IBM Informix product portfolio.
Janet Perna, Don Top, Brian Staff and Jerry Keesee, along with Informix
veterans like Carlton Doe, will lead these North American meetings, which
are geared for technology executives and managers, as well as business users.
Toronto, Canada will follow the sequence on Nov. 26, while the rest of the
North American continent will be covered during the first half of 2003.
For an up-to-date list of locations, agenda, and other information, go to
http://www.ibm.com/events/infobahn or write directly to infobahn@iiug.org.
Our esteemed IIUG Directors Award-winning Art Kagel has informed IIUG ENews
that if you have already downloaded the Nov. 5 release of utils2_ak (and
"iff" you are using IDS 9.xx), don't hesitate to download the new and
improved November 7, 2002 release. You'll find the latest version of
utils2_ak in the IIUG Software Repository
(http://www.iiug.org/softwaindex.php).
Art has told ENews that there is an uninitialized array that will cause
trouble for IDS 9.xx users ONLY when running dostats for more than one table
(i.e. when doing the whole database or a table list with -i or a wildcard).
The Nov. 7 release has the fix.
Please take note of the following upcoming webcasts which IIUG considers
of interest to the Informix community:
IIUG, in coordination with IBM, recently conducted a survey regarding the
future of the Web DataBlade and Data Director for Web. Check out the
survey's findings at the IIUG Member Area, located at www.iiug.org/members.
You may also log in with your personalized link, included at the end of your
personalized e-mail Insider.
Highlights:
- Some of the issues and feature requests for Web DataBlade and Data
Director for Web (DDW) have already been addressed. Please make sure that
you are using the current versions, Web DataBlade 4.13.UC2 and DDW version
2.00.TC4.
- The HTML opaque data-type support is a planned feature of a future release
of Web DataBlade. HDR HTML data-type support should be available by IDS 9.4
GA. If demand is sufficient, a beta release could be provided for the 9.4
beta program.
- IBM will support the multi-threaded Apache 2.0 server in upcoming
releases.
- Addressing the need for enhanced handling of Web DataBlade messages for
DDW, IBM is investigating innovative improvements in this area.
- In the next release, IBM will investigate adding an interface which
disables the layout tab, ensuring that it doesn't corrupt code. IBM would
also like to see a test-case so the error may be reproduced and fixed.
For questions or additional suggestions, please contact the Marketing
Manager for those DataBlade products, Reiner Kappenberger (reinerka@us.ibm.com).
IBM Data Management has announced the general availability of IBM Informix
OnLine Extended Edition version 5.20.
This is a new name for two popular Informix products: Informix OnLine and
Informix STAR. With this release, IBM adds distributed computing to the
proven database server at no extra cost.
Version 5.20 includes the following features:
- Rapid Application Development (RAD) Tools That Support Pipe Connectivity.
Instead of utilizing a TCP/IP loopback connection with Informix Star or
Informix Net, RAD tools - such as IBM Informix 4GL and IBM Informix SQL,
version 7.31 or later - use pipes to communicate with OnLine Extended
Edition 5.20 servers running on the same machine. Using OnLine Extended
Edition 5.20 with the 7.31 tools saves the cost of purchasing Informix Net
or Informix Star separately. Customers who are still using the version 4.x
tools can upgrade to OnLine Extended Edition 5.20 and take advantage of the
many language enhancements in the version 7.31 tools.
- Support for Greater than 2 GB Chunk Offsets. Increase your ROI with this
performance-enhancing feature, which utilizes the entire capacity of the
disk drive. It eliminates the need to partition the drive into smaller
logical devices and employ logical volume managers. Maximize use of the
latest computer hardware - and save money you would otherwise squander on
third party storage management solutions.
For more information, visit
http://www.ibm.com/software/data/informix/online5/extended/announcement.html.
We would also encourage you to participate in the December 10th IBM webcast
that will explain the new packaging, features, and Linux offerings
associated with the 5.20 release and also discuss upcoming releases of the
Classic Tools. For logistics and more info, please visit
http://www.iiug.org/resources/webcasts/webcast_10dec02.html.
IBM is also announcing IBM Informix OnLine Extended Edition for Linux
version 5.20. Linux is a major platform for database and application
servers. IBM Informix OnLine Extended Edition for Linux gives you a proven,
easy-to-manage database offering high performance, stability and
reliability. Together, Linux and IBM Informix OnLine Extended Edition for
Linux are excellent building blocks for e-business. For the Linux users in
all of us, you will receive all of the benefits of IBM Informix OnLine
Extended Edition for the low price of $199 (*).
By popular demand from IIUG, IBM is also proud to announce IBM Informix
OnLine Personal Edition version 5.20. Available only on Linux, this single
user product provides all the same functionality of IBM Informix OnLine, but
at an economical cost of only $49 (*). IBM Informix OnLine Personal Edition
allows individuals to quickly become familiar with the multimedia capability
and user-friendliness of this proven and trusted relational database
management system. Individual users developing database applications on IBM
Informix OnLine Personal Edition can be assured that they can easily export
and import their finished database application to the multi-user, online
transaction processing - and reliable - IBM Informix OnLine Extended
Edition.
For more information, visit
http://www.ibm.com/software/data/informix/online5/extended/announcement.html.
(*) Prices are current as of November 12, 2002, exclude applicable taxes,
and are subject to change by IBM without notice. Suggested retail price,
dealer prices may vary.
Visit http://www-3.ibm.com/services/learning/spotlight/informix and browse
through information about the latest classroom training, e-learning courses,
industry-leading technical conferences, and professional certification. In
addition to these education choices, you'll find great savings options!
Check out the IBM Education Advantage program - three ways to save money on
future training.
You can also create your own "Customer Information Profile" by visiting
http://www.ibm.com/training/us/getinfo/right. IBM promises IIUG ENews to use
your information to customize the materials they will send you in the future
- saving you time, reducing the clutter, and getting you just the
information you need.
ENews has been notified that PartnerWorld for Software is offering special
education benefits, designed to help IBM Business Partners keep their
technical skills up-to-date and increase their sales productivity.
We Pay offerings
The We Pay offerings are among the highlights in the PartnerWorld for
Software's Value Package. Through the "You Pass, We Pay" and "You Test, We
Pay" offerings, Business Partners receive reimbursement for the cost of
tuition and test fees spent acquiring valuable certifications.
These programs are offered for IDS v.7, IDS v.9, Redbrick, and 4GL. A
sampler of other certifications offered includes IBM Certified Specialist -
IBM WebSphere Application Server, Advanced Single Server Edition for
Multiplatforms, V4.0 and IBM Certified for e-business - Solution Advisor.
For details, visit
http://www-1.ibm.com/partnerworld/pwhome.nsf/educert/pe_rewards.html.
IBM Informix partners in North America, don't miss the upcoming web cast
Titled "IDS 9.4 Business Partner Preview" on November 20th at 2:00 PM ET.
The IBM IDS development team will review the relevant features of IDS 9.4
and what IBM Informix business partners need to know.
IDS 9.4, scheduled to be released in early 2003, contains many features and
upgrades that will enhance application effectiveness and customer value. If
you are currently using IDS 7.x or 9.x in your application, you are
encouraged to attend this technical presentation and ask questions about
this upcoming release of IDS. Be prepared for IDS 9.4 as soon as it becomes
available!
IBM Informix Business Partners in North America can access the details to
attend this web cast in one of the following ways:
If you would like to attend but are not a member of PartnerWorld for
Developers or PartnerWorld for Software, you can join online.
Join PartnerWorld for Developers at http://www.developer.ibm.com. On the
right, under "Membership", click "Join Now".
Join PartnerWorld for Software at http://www.ibm.com/partnerworld/software.
Click "Steps to apply for membership".
Submitted by Dawn Shannon
User Group Communications
IBM Data Management
Phone/Fax: 650-926-6762 (Pacific)
Email: shannon@us.ibm.com
IIUG's contact at the Informix Developer Zone, Kathryn Zeidenstein, notified
ENews that she is looking for authors and is willing to pay for qualifying
submissions.
If you think you can contribute, taking a cue from what's already posted at
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/zones/informix and when ready, submit at
http://www-105.ibm.com/developerworks/ddcontent.nsf/ideas_informix.
Author guidelines are available at
http://www7b.boulder.ibm.com/dmdd/author_guidelines.html.
Useful Links *** Newly Update by Popular Demand ***
The International Informix Users Group (IIUG) is an organization
designed to enhance communications between IBM and its worldwide user
community. IIUG now exceeds 16,000 members and enjoys the support and
commitment of IBM's Data Management division. Key programs include
local user groups and special interest groups, which we promote and
assist from launch through growth.
