HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Information Access/XL Version A.04.10
by the Information Access Product Team--Office Systems Division
Information Access/XL allows PC users to retrieve data from PCs and HP
3000s to solve critical business problems quickly. It provides quick
information access through one user interface, that can retrieve and
manipulate data from a variety of data sources and machines. This allows
business decision makers to make timely, informed decisions without
ongoing MIS involvement.
ENHANCEMENTS
The new release enhances the previous Information Access/XL release
(A.03.10) in the following ways:
* MPE FILE SUPPORT. In the previous release, the data sources supported
on the HP 3000 were IMAGE or TurboIMAGE databases only. With this
release, database administrators (DBAs) can also configure the
following types of MPE files as data sources: KSAM, SD, BRW/IRF, and
binary (including ASCII) files. From these new data sources, file
tables can be defined and accessed in ways analogous to IMAGE tables
and view tables. Formats for remote file output now include BRW/IRF
and binary as well as the previously supported ASCII, VisiCalc DIF,
and SD formats.
* MULTIPLE DBAS. In the previous release, one DBA controlled all data
sources accessible through Information Access. With this release,
the primary DBA can define any number of users as secondary DBAs.
Secondary DBAs can then use the Administrator Utility to configure
data sources, tables, and security. However, a secondary DBA has no
access to the definitions of entities controlled by other DBAs.
* ADDITIONAL PC DATA SOURCES. The previous release allowed access to
the following types of PC databases: Condor, dBASE II, R:base
4000/5000, ECM, and PCF. With this release, the following new data
sources are supported: dBASE III and III+, R:base System V, R:base
For DOS, Symphony, and Lotus 1-2-3. Input and output of data can be
in any of these formats, as well as output to the previously
supported ASCII, VisiCalc DIF, and Quoted BASIC file formats.
* WINDOWS SUPPORT. The new version of Information Access PC runs as a
context-switchable program under Microsoft Windows 2.03 on an HP
Vectra. Output from Information Access can be directed to the
Windows clipboard.
* OFFICESHARE SUPPORT. OfficeShare connections between the PC and the
host MPE/XL system are now supported.
In addition to these software features, the customer training class
Information Access for Database Administrators (32576A) has become
available since the A.03.10 release. Major topics addressed by the class
are view table creation, hands-on experience with the Information Access
Report Writer, and a consideration of multiple DBA issues.
NOTE If you are migrating from the A.04.00 release on MPE V/E, please
note that the A.04.10 release supports neither OMNIDEX IMSAM keyed
sequential access nor the Information Access Cullinet Link.
IMPROVED FEATURES
The existing feature set of Information Access has been improved in a
variety of ways at all levels. These improvements include changes to the
Host Data Server Process (HDSP), the Administrator Utility, the Host
Batch Facility, and the PC software.
Host Data Server Process
HDSP, the co-processing software on the host side, has been enhanced in
the following ways:
* AUTOMATED MPE COMMANDS. MPE commands (such as file equations) which
your PC users want to invoke whenever they access remote tables can
be automated using IAFILEs. A global IAFILE can be created in the
PPCSAVE.HPOFFICE group. A second IAFILE, activated after the global
IAFILE, can be created in the PC user's logon group.
* KEYED READS. Data handling for KSAM files has been optimized to take
advantage of KSAM keyed sequential access.
Administrator Utility
The following enhancements have been made to the Administrator Utility,
the screen-driven interface the DBA uses to maintain the Information
Access data dictionary:
* DATA TYPES. Within IMAGE tables, support has been added for items of
type I4, J4, K2, and K4. Items of type Numeric can be included by
using the SUB function. Within file tables, the following data types
are supported: Character, Real (HP floating point only), Integer,
Logical, Numeric, Zoned, and Packed. In both types of tables, items
of type Integer can now be converted to type Real or Character, with
a specified decimal point position.
* CONFIGURABLE TABLE SIZE. In the previous release, the size of a
loaded table could not exceed 100,000 records. With this release,
the primary DBA can configure the maximum number of records in a
table, up to a limit of 2,000,000.
* DATA SOURCE RELOCATION. Previously, if a data source changed
location, it was necessary to delete and re-add its definition. This
meant reconfiguring every table derived from it as well as security
for those tables. With this release, the location identified in a
data source definition can be changed without disturbing other
entries in the data dictionary.
* AUTOMATED MPE COMMANDS. If IAFILEs are used (see the previous
discussion), they are also invoked whenever the Administrator Utility
is run. This makes it easier to define and synchronize file tables
which depend on file equations to fully specify the source of their
data.
Host Batch Facility
The Host Batch Facility now supports command files and user-defined
commands. The special :RUN command, while still supported, is no longer
necessary.
PC Software
Here are some of the ways the PC side of the product has been improved:
* CONNECTION FILES. For basic serial connections, the use of connection
files for sophisticated logons is now supported. The
* Using Basic Serial Connection Files manual (P/N 5957-9335) explains
how to set up such files.
* EASIER INSTALLATION. Installation procedures have been simplified to
the point where the installation manuals have been replaced by a
single installation card.
* IMPROVED COMMAND FILES. Command files have become more sophisticated.
They can now prompt for parameters. A WAITCLOCK command lets you
suspend command file processing until a specified time. In addition,
command files can now be used to automate a sequence of commands, and
then place the user in interactive mode for further processing.
* SIMPLER QUERY FORMAT. On the Define Query screen, a more intuitive,
more powerful form of the OR operation is now supported.
* REPORT WRITER IMPROVEMENTS. The flow of Report Writer screens has
been reworked to make Information Access's powerful report writing
facility easier to learn and easier to use.
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"Condor" is a trademark of Condor Computer Corp.
CullinetR is a trademark of Cullinet Software, Inc.
dBASE IITM and dBASE IIITM are trademarks of Ashton-Tate.
LotusR , 1-2-3R , SymphonyR , and VisiCalcR are trademarks of Lotus
Development Corp.
MicrosoftR is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc.
OMNIDEXTM and IMSAMTM are copyrighted products of Dynamic Information
Systems Corporation.
R:baseTM is a trademark of MicrorimR , Inc.