Re: Query Tools

John wrote
>I am trying to determine what the trend (if there is one) is for AS/400
>shops using query tools.  Are you using Query on the 400, query manager on
>the 400, or a PC based query tool - like Crystal Reports or Cognos Impromptu
>or NGS Query tool, or ACS SQL, MS Access, or...

>What I am looking for is the answers for the following:
>What are you using (duh!)?

Showcase Strategy

>DO you like it and why?

Love it.  Very powerful, very easy to use, lots of options, integrates
well with the desktop (Excel, 123) and the AS/400.

>Are your users able to do their own and why or why not?

Yes.  The product is fairly intuitive and the query wizard handles 99% of
what a user needs.  As is typically the case the biggest problem we have
is where are the files and the fields.....

>Have you researched other tools (like the PC based ones)?

We looked at other products, green screen and GUI....

>If PC based have you found performance issues?

No, my opinion is that a PC based tool doesn't have that much different of
an impact compared to a green screen tool.

>How do you restrict user performance impacts?

Showcase allows us to control by user, interactive run length (which is
batch anyway), batch run length, run priority etc.  It is actually easier to
control than most green screen applications.

We are now in the process of implementing a data warehouse using
Showcase and it's other tools (Builder, Analzer).

The biggest con I can think of is that Showcase is not for those that
are sensitive to the cost of acquisition....if you want to do it cheaper
you can.  Better?  Depends! :)







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