Re: ODBC vs Java

> I work for a non profit organization that has a small F10. We may be forced
> to upgrade by IBM to a Model 170 because they are ceasing support on V3R2.
> The primary use of the F10 is to run Computer Guidance's CMS software. We
> also have a need to develop a application that tracks our client's
> property, incomes, demographics, and disabilites. This application consits
> of 30 tables and 15 screens. All the users want a GUI interface. What are
> the pros and cons of developing this application in Java vs Visual
> Basic(with ODBC to 400)? Assume we have a Model 170 because I would not
> attempt this with our current F10. Thanks for all of your help.

it sounds like you may have more justification for the 170 that just ibm ceasing
support.  the 170 does a much better job of the visual programming, or the 
client
server apps.

some questions to ask yourself:  is the application you have written already, or
would you be doing it from scratch?  do you have basic experience?  what is your
budget?

if your application is already written, you can use visual rpg (either ibm's or
asna's) to create the gui environment.  i haven't used ibm's, but asna's has a
product called datagate that gives record level access to the as/400, and allows
you to do chains, reads, calls directly to the as/400.

if you are going totally from scratch, java may be your best bet.  that appears
to be the future where ibm is going.  this would give you the opportunity to 
give
users what they want, and learn something new for yourself.

we looked at visual basic several years ago, (before deciding on asna's visual
rpg) ans found it to be a powerful language.  we ended up going with the asna
product because of the direct access to the as/400.

nj

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