Antiquated Software

[Nancy Palmquist]

Linda Hapner wrote:
> Salesmen at my biggest client are calling my database system 
> "antiquated".  It is a very nice suite of integrated databases, and we 
> work very smoothly.
>  
> I suspect his "antiquated" comments are due to the fact that we are 
> character based.  All of us that actually do the entry and upkeep do not 
> want a GUI interface, but I'm starting to think that perhaps I should 
> have the sales folks in the GUI mode.
>  
> We are running on a unix server - from what I've read, I can have GUI 
> version for some and character base for the others.
>  
> I've not gotten into the GUI at all - can someone give me an idea of 
> learning curve time, and will all my programs have to be altered in some 
> fashion?  What headaches am I in for to give these guys their little 
> mousies?  And will they still see my programs as "antiquated"?
>  
> Right now, the program the sales people work in, I have an number of 
> @key functions to draw windows into outside files.  Ideally, a click of 
> a button would do the same, and then they want to be able to print to 
> their local printers.  Right now I'm using Anzio to hook them up to the 
> unix system.

Since the others have gotten side tracked, I will post an answer here.

The learning curve is small, but it depends on if you want to make the 
application have a number of additional enhancements or just make it 
look GUI.

Basic changes would be to enhance the prompts:

       ◄ If: not gui
       Then: prompt24="\{\K4:[SAVE]}-To Record,  \{\KY:[BRKY]}-To Cancel"
  4  -------   -   -   -   -   --   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
       ◄ If: gui
       Then: prompt24="\{\K4:[SAVE]:RECORD},  \{\KY:[BRKY]:CANCEL}"
  5  -------   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -

There is a GUI test as shown in these lines.  In the GUI example, you 
will get a button with the word RECORD on it.  In the Not GUI, you get a 
reverse video, with "ESC - To Record"

If you commonly use the \K4 codes for prompts and not just \r ESC \r 
text prompts, it will be easy.  Otherwise, some quick passes by the 
stuff like this will convert to buttons.

More advanced would be to add dropboxes - boxes with the little down 
arrow like windows will do when they have choices for the box.

You will probably find other things also but the menus will look GUI, by 
themself.  You can make them have backgrounds, email, and other stuff.

I haven't messed with it in some time, but I did spend enough time to 
test it out and play with all the stuff.

Hope this helps.  (You need the tool kit to do some of this stuff.)



>  
> Thanks
>  
> Linda Hapner
>  
>  
> 
> 
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> 
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-- 
Nancy Palmquist 		MOS & filePro Training Available
Virtual Software Systems	Web Based Training and Consulting	
PHONE: (412) 835-9417		   Web site:  http://www.vss3.com