RevSoft UK - Martyn

Moved to WordPress

2011-05-13T22:04:00.002+01:00

We have moved to WordPress. Please click here to navigate to the new blog.

Thanks,
Martyn.

How many engines does my O4W consume?

2011-03-22T14:41:00.000Z

I recently ran into a problem where I was demonstrating O4W to a prospect and I ran out of available user counts. I have a 5-user system and I had been running up O4W, closing it, running up the desktop OpenInsight and then running up O4W again. I’d assumed that when I closed down O4W the user counts would be freed up, but as I was leaving the EngineSever running this was not the case.

This issue then provoked the usual question about how many O4W Web User licenses people should purchase for their web based systems. This is a terribly difficult question to answer, mainly because it depends on the time required to process each web request and this is dependant on the application and the type of request itself. If the request is a simple record read with only a few data items being returned, then it is going to be very quick and the engine could handle multiple requests of this type per second. However, if it is being asked to process a large report, then the engine will be tied up for considerably longer.

However, with the release of OECGI3, this becomes less of an issue as OECGI3 will utilise multiple licenses (OEngines) to process multiple requests. Furthermore, it will then queue any inbound requests if an OEngine is not free to process the request at that time. When an engine becomes free, it will then process the request as normal. That said, it is always advisable for developers to build in some form of monitoring where user counts are likely to be tight, so that peak usage times can be handled efficiently or additional user licenses purchased to cater for the peaks.

Now, if OECGI3 is able to consume multiple engines, and we are unable to control the number of web users accessing our system, AND we have both the web system AND the desktop system using the same OpenInsight user license (Oengine.dll file), then we could run into trouble.

Take the scenario where I have a 60-user licensed OI system. This is used to serve 50 desktop (office based) users and an O4W system that has been built to extend my application to customers over the web. I could easily get into a situation where I have 20-user licenses being used by O4W and this would leave only 40 user licenses for my office staff – i.e. 10 office users could be blocked from using the system – not a favourable situation.

Fortunately, the O4W developers have thought about this issue and it is easily addressed through the eserver.cfg file within OpenInsight. This file includes two lines towards the beginning of the file for managing both the maximum number of engines that the engine server (OECGI3 / O4W) can consume and also the time that the engine will remain active and able to process web requests.

MaxEngines is used to define the maximum number of engines that are kept alive and ready to process stateless connections. This means that the engine does not need to be spawned and closed down for each web request and it therefore handles more requests more efficiently. The default setting for MaxEngines is 10 (MaxEngines=10).

IdleTimeout is the length of time (in minutes) that an engine remains active and ready to process web requests before it is closed down. The default setting for IdleTimeout is 15 minutes (IdleTimeout=15).

So, in our example scenario above, we can easily use the eserver.cfg file to limit the number of engines available to O4W to just 10 and we can also control the amount of time that the engines remain active. By setting MaxEngines=10 and IdleTimeout=15, we can ensure that we will always have at least 50 engines (from the 60-user license) available to our desktop users.

I should also point out that O4W requires a minimum of 10-user licenses and you will receive a warning message stating that a 10-user license is the minimum requirement for O4W use if you try to use an engine with fewer than those required 10 users. In addition, the MaxEngines can be set to any number from 1 to 10 for that minimum number of user engines, or more if there are more engines available. If you set a figure greater than the number of user licenses in the engine (say MaxEngines=100 on a system with only 10 users) then O4W will use all of the engines available up to the maximum user count in the license (so 100 in the above example).

So, why was I running out of engines during my demo? Quite simply, I had the defaults set for MaxEngines and Idletimeout in the eserver.cfg file, and as I was not closing down my OengineServer all five of my engines (licenses) were being used and left open for the full 15 minutes. I then changed my MaxEngines to 3 and IdleTimeout to 5, mostly because I don’t need them open for 15 minutes) and all was fine. I now know that I always have two engines free for my desktop OpenInsight system and the remainder available for my O4W system.

O4W Quick Start Guide Video Series

2011-03-15T17:33:00.002Z

Well the midnight oil has been well and truly burning in my office these last few days, but finally the O4W Quick Start Series of videos are now complete and published to the web. You can gain access to the series from the new O4W Quick Start Guide page on our website.

The video series works through extending the Clinic application that we built in the desktop tutorial series and it provides us with a great example if extending a small ‘existing’ OI application. When I began the desktop series, I had only planned on web enabling one form as an example. However, when I saw what we achievable (at my level) with O4W I went quite a fair bit further.

I hope that you find the series of videos useful and I’ll welcome your feedback as always. I should also say a special thank you to Bryan at RevUS for his patience in answering some silly questions at times and helping over a couple of small hurdles.

OI 9.2.1 - Source Code Management Video

2011-02-25T15:52:00.000Z

Mike has just release a new video for those of you who have been asking about the Source Code Manager in OpenInsight 9.2.1. Mike takes a look at turning on the source code manager, working with a program at various stages, setting versions and also at using the module facility and how that hooks into the RDK for easier RDK upgrades.

The video is well worth a look if you are an OpenInsight developer and it can be found by clicking here.

Get email notification of updates.

2011-02-18T10:16:00.002Z

A number of you have recently mentioned that you have missed postings and this has come to light when asking about something that has been covered on my blog. Whilst I have the RSS feeds for people to sign up to, we do not always have the time to check these every day in our RSS Feed Readers and if you are like me and become faced with a list of 100 or more feeds, then it is easy to miss and important one.

For this reason, I have now added a new facility whereby you can subscribe to have an email notification sent through to you when a new posting is published. I think that this will be more user friendly as we all tend to monitor email more closely than our RSS Feeds.

Please let me know what you think, by way of a comment to this posting.

Should you use the UD 4.7?

2011-02-17T12:01:00.005Z

Earlier this week Revelation released OpenInsight version 9.2.1 and as part of that the Universal Driver 4.7 was released in both standalone and bundled configurations. But what does this mean for people running older Revelation Network Products or none at all?

Let’s begin with those of you not running a network product at all on your multi-user ARev or OpenInsight systems.

Multi-user applications written in OpenInsight versions prior to 9.0 or ARev 3.12 require the Universal Driver. It protects your data against corruption, increases speed performance and reduces downtime. More details about the benefits of the Universal Driver can be found here.

If your application is based on OpenInsight 9 then there is no need to purchase the Universal Driver. The Universal Driver NUL (Network User License) is already included with OpenInsight 9 and later. The Universal Driver NUL edition is compatible with all existing database files but it is only forward compatible with the OpenInsight 9 development environment. For mixed environments with OpenInsight 9 and any prior Revelation Software development tool, the for-purchase Universal Driver is required since it is compatible with all supported versions of the Revelation Software development tool.

If you are an existing Universal Driver (UD) user then you should also take advantage of the new Universal Driver 4.7. Below is a list of what has changed since these older versions:

Using the UD 3.0 -

Versions of the Universal Driver after 3.0 are compatible with all previous versions of Linear Hash files.

Using the UD 4.5 –

NSIS replaces Install Shield as the installer.
Support for unlimited-length record keys removed (click here for more details).
FIX_LH routine has been enhanced. The "Fix GFEs" option on the Verify LH menu silently considers any records with keys greater than 50 characters long to be GFEs and data can be lost when running Fix GFEs. This enhanced routine removes the "50-character-throwaway" functionality and replaces it with the "552-character-save" functionality.

Using the UD 4.6 –

The UD Manager (see note below) is now compatible with 64bit systems.
The ability to select and unlock multiple records from the Universal Driver Manager is now available. Previous versions allowed only one record to be selected during each unlock.
Server side install program now recognizes Arev 3.12 as a valid installation location.

Also included with the Universal Driver 4.7 is a console application (the UD Manager) that allows you to manage record locks without having to stop the Linear Hash Service, as well as view the active connections to your applications.

Some of the other great features of the Universal Driver include:

Only one REVPARAM file no matter how many different subdirectories you have with .LK and .OV files.
Support for files larger than 4 gigabytes.
Support for large frame sizes up to 100K.
You can 'hide' your .LK and .OV from your users.
The LHVerify facility is integrated onto the server side, allowing much faster performance.
Registry settings and REVPARAM file created automatically.

For those of you running the Universal Driver 4.x, the cost of the upgrade is FREE, although shipping and handling charges apply. If you are running an older version, please contact your local Revelation office and they will be pleased to provide you with local pricing to upgrade your current network product to the 4.7 version.

So in answer to the posting's title - Yes, I think that the benefits afforded by the UD 4.7 means that everyone should be using the Universal Driver 4.7 wherever possible.

OpenInsight 9.2.1 Released

2011-02-15T19:09:00.003Z

Revelation Software released OpenInsight 9.2.1 today (incorporating O4W version 1.1), along with the Universal Driver 4.7. The 9.2.1 version is now available as a free upgrade to all OpenInsight WORKS members, and for everyone else an evaluation version can be downloaded from our OpenInsight Evaluation page..

This is the culmination of months and months of work and it really is another sterling piece of work by the team at Revelation.

More information can be found within the 9.2.1 readme file and the US press release can be viewed by clicking here. The EMEA press release can be found here.

OpenInsight and NoSQL

2011-02-14T10:13:00.005Z

As many of you will no doubt know, the NoSQL technology has been steadily gaining ground as organisations move to super fast and highly flexible technologies for their web solutions. These organisations include some huge names such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay and many more.

So why do I mention this on a blog about Revelation Software?

Well, NoSQL presents OpenInsight developers (well any MultiValue developer) with a new edge to their sales pitch. NoSQL is now being referred to as ‘No’ SQL and also ‘Not Only’ SQL and most MultiValue systems, like OpenInsight, fit very nicely into the second camp. Not only do we have a flexible, scalable and fast multi-dimensional database (rather than a structured, slower relational database), but we can also play with SQL as well. In effect we bring the best of both worlds together and enable developers to do more, faster and therefore more economically.

MultiValue is not the be all and end all and neither are the Relational databases. Your MultiValue database is like your sports car hurtling along twisty country roads, whereas your relational database is like an articulated truck trundling efficiently along the highway with a large load – the truck can’t deviate easily but it is efficient at handling large loads.

In IT talk, this correlates to the sports car providing you with a system that can move and adapt with your ever changing business needs. This helps you to keep ahead of your competition and to maintain your competitive edge. Whereas the truck correlates to the data store that your business intelligence and data mining teams will work against.

Of course, both operate perfectly well in each others environments. Countless MultiValue systems have been written over the years and each efficiently and robustly handle thousands of users with millions of rows of data and likewise for the SQL based systems.

Putting an environmentally friendly slant on things, with your NoSQL based solution you can work more efficiently, benefit from the speed and sharding features and only work with the data that you 'need' to work with. Then, when you do need to work with the large datasets you can bring into play your SQL tools.

So back to our sports car and truck analogy. Your data will get to where it needs to get to, but the sports car will zip around and navigate the fastest route working with only the ‘NECESSARY data, whereas the truck will take the long route and lumber into the depot with everything - that depots delivery (your required data) and that of countless other deliveries (unnecessary but associates data). Smaller, refined and faster requests results in lower resource requirements, lower bandwidth use on both desktop and web systems and in most instances this correlates to a lower cost to your business.

So why compromise when you can have both? With MultiValue tools, like OpenInsight from Revelation Software, you can have the sports car with it’s small fuel tank and low running costs AND easy access to the truck when it’s needed.

For those of you who are not already benefitting from OpenInsight, please go to http://www.revsoft.co.uk/ or http://www.revelation.com/ to learn more about one of the leading MultiValue (NoSQL) databases. In addition, you can find out more about the NoSQL technology and what it has to offer in Prospectus’s new two part video.

OI QSG - The Grande Finale

2011-02-04T00:00:00.002Z

OK – So I was not done with the OpenInsight Quick Start Guide Video Series. As a few of you have rightly pointed out, I hadn't done anything with the table on the Consultations tab on the Patient Entry window. Well, that just happened to leave a nice topic for a finale, encore, or whatever.

The 24th lesson (could this now be 'learn OpenInsight in 24 hours') is a feature length lesson in which we look at creating the facility to capture consultations (appointments), hook them up to the Patient window and we create a report for our hypothetical receptionists and doctors to see appointments for any given day.

In this final video (before I look at O4W), the lesson will pretty much summarise the whole series by working with the Table Builder, Forms Designer, Indexes, User Interface Workspace, Scripts and the Report Builder.

I hope that you find the series useful and that this last lesson puts the cherry on the cake.

O4W 'Run First' Option

2011-02-03T10:05:00.003Z

Did you know, that you can enhance an O4W Report with the "Run First" option?

The O4W Report tool, in addition to all the flexibility it normally provides the user when generating a report, also allows you to specify a statement to "run first" before any other sort/selection is performed. This can be any R/List command that generates an active list, for example the report designer could pre-select data for particular users, or a particular month, or activate a previously saved list, before the O4W Report runs any user-entered selection criteria. READ ON.

Article first published in the January 2011 edition of the Revelation Software Newsletter.

The final page of the final chapter is complete and the book is now closed.

2011-02-01T23:39:00.000Z

For those of you that have been following my OpenInsight Quick Start Guide series of videos, the last few videos have just been completed and they are either now uploading to my YouTube Channel or rendering for then uploading. Once uploaded, I will add them to the main OI QSG playlist and also link to them from our web site.

The last few videos look at using Query By Form (QBF) within our Patient Entry window, creating reports and making them available to our users, making use of Index Lookups in OpenInsight and finally we wrap up the application. I’ve not covered wrapping up with the RDK as that is a big subject in its own right and people often choose different deployment methods to meet their own needs. I’ll therefore leave that for the official training.

I hope that you find the series useful and I will be beginning work on the O4W QSG series very, very soon.

New Graphs for OI 9.2.1

2011-01-26T09:35:00.002Z

As you will no doubt know OpenInsight 9.2.1 is in the final stages of beta testing and it is scheduled for release in early February 2011. Revelation also intends to release the new Universal Driver 4.7 at the same time.

Following the 9.2.1 release, Revelation will be working on the implementation of Data Encryption at Rest (DER) within the OpenInsight database environment. Whilst this has been discussed at length over recent months internally, please use the suggestions database for any requirements that you have for DER within your solutions.

Back to the 9.2.1 release – A number of the beta testers have asked if Revelation can provide a broader library of graphs for use with the O4W Dashboard. In response to that request, Revelation we will be including a new library of Google charts in addition to the existing jqPlot library. The new charts are as follows:

- 3D Pie - Gauge - GeoMap - Intensity Map
- Area Chart - SparkLine - Table - Line
- Scatter - Bar - Pie - Stacked Line
- Stacked Bar - Horizontal Bar - Horizontal Stacked Bar

OpenInsight Final Beta Released

2011-01-24T10:10:00.001Z

Those of you participating in the current OpenInsight beta program should have received an email from Mike over the weekend about the release of what we hope will be the final beta release before the commercial release, hopefully on the 1st February 2011.

I’d like to personally thank everyone that has been working with the current beta software and who has reported issues, recommendations and suggestions during this period. As Mike says, your help enables the developers at Revelation to make OpenInsight a better product.

The toolset has now moved well, well beyond any catch-up phase, with the version 9.x series being mostly lead by new functionality required by our OpenInsight developers and their end users. For this reason, shortly after the commercial release I plan another round of talking to Revelation clients in the EMEA region about new functionality, tools, etc. that are needed in future versions and which will help you (and Revelation) to be more successful during 2011.

If you have any requests prior to this, then please drop me an email or, if you are a WORKS member, post them to the suggestions database on revelation.com.

REVELATION USERS CONFERENCE 2011

2011-01-19T11:49:00.000Z

Mark your calendars! The Revelation Users' Conference will be returning to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference dates are Tuesday, October 4th - Friday, October 7th, 2011.

2010-12-22T17:01:00.000Z

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone reader of my blog and to all of the Revelation clients who have helped to make 2010 a very prosperous year. I look forward to working with you through 2011 and hopefully we’ll make 2011 a mutually happy, prosperous and profitable year.

The UK office will be closed from lunchtime on Christmas Eve until Wednesday 29th December and then we shall be running a skeleton (assuming not too many mince pies have been eaten) staff until Tuesday 4th January. For this reason, I will be very grateful if any EMEA region support issues could be submitted only using the support@revsoft.co.uk email address and any sales questions emailed to mp@revsoft.co.uk. Although I am booked off until the 4th January, I will be monitoring my email periodically during the break.

I hope that you and your families have a great festive and New Year holiday.

Long Record Keys and the UD4.6

2010-12-10T10:07:00.003Z

Back in June of last year, I wrote a blog posting about the release of the Universal Driver 4.6. Within that announcement, was a note about a change in the way that long record keys were to be handled. However, some more information has come to my attention and this posting is therefore to provide that extra information.

We were recently approached by a client who had upgraded to the Universal Driver 4.6 and who subsequently ran a long key check against their database. This check reported a number of long keys, but a subsequent attempt to remove them from the system using the removal utility failed. As an example, the error message received when trying to delete the bad records was “Unable to delete “M*15607”, FS100, M*15607”. And the actual key was M*15607 15608 15607 15608 etc…. It exceeded 552 characters.

The reason for this failure is down to the removal utility being run under the UD4.6 is bound by the imposed maximum key length. The Linear Hash Service will also have been generating application event logs on the server’s event log when it attempts to read or delete a long key.

As per the installation guide for the Universal Drive 4.6, the system should have been checked for long record keys ‘prior’ to the installation of the Universal Driver 4.6. The installation of the utility is covered in its own installation guide (Network Driver Update for Large Keys) which is included, along with the file, within the Universal Driver installation zip file.

However, if this step is missed out and it is run after the installation of the Universal Driver and it results in long record keys being found, the following steps can be followed to correct the issue:

1) Ensure that everyone is logged out of the system (all OpenInsight applications).
2) Locate and rename the REVPARAM file/s to something other than REVPARAM.
3) Change the chosen driver back to the 4.5 driver using netdrv.exe, or the previously used driver if you are coming up from an older one.
4) Start the application/s and run the utility to report and remove all of the long keys.
5) Change the chosen diver back to the 4.6 driver using netdrv.exe.
6) Rename your name changed REVPARAM file/s back to REVPARAM.

These steps should allow you to access the application through a single user maintenance mode without using the 4.6 service. The utility can be installed into OpenInsight version 7.x and 8.x systems and it is included in OpenInsight from version 9.1.

Installing OpenInsight into Citrix and Terminal Server Environments.

2010-12-09T09:40:00.003Z

From time to time I receive requests from VARs and end-users on Revelation’s recommended configuration on Citrix, Terminal Server and similar environments. Until now, there was no real recommended advice on where the various OpenInsight components should be installed and people were left to find what works best for them, their application, their environment and the users.

During my many conversations with people, I have learned that a configuration that works well for one client needed a rethink and modification for another. Putting together a recommendation for OpenInsight was therefore always going to be a tough call and Revelation would run the risk of documenting one configuration that people would follow to the letter and find that it was not the right, or even the best, solution for them, their application or their users.

However, following a typical ‘why does it work that way’ conversion about running OpenInsight and Citrix, I discussed the possibility of having a recommendation white paper with Jared (Revelation’s chief networking professional in the New Jersey office), along with the necessary this is a starting point only caveats.

I am please to announce that overnight Jared has released a white paper on the ‘Best Practices for Deploying OpenInsight on Terminal Services and Citrix Environments’.

This guide is Revelation’s best practice advice and it provides people with a welcome starting point when deploying OpenInsight based systems to these environments that are becoming more and more popular. The paper has been put together from Jared’s experience of working with OpenInsight 9.x on Terminal Services and Citrix and you can read the full article on the RevUS web site at http://tinyurl.com/2346d96.

Finally, I’d like to extend my thanks to Jared for taking the time to put together this hugely useful document.

Removing Phantom Indexes

2010-11-19T09:14:00.002Z

Whilst working on resolving a phantom index issue, John Godfrey from Carys Computing came across a useful little trick for removing the rogue index.

Faced with an unwanted phantom index on a table in his application, John turned to the database manager and diving into the Utilities -> Indexes menu, he ran the option to remove the phantom index. However, nothing happened, the phantom index remained.

John then tried to add the index so that he could then remove it. As expected, OpenInsight duly reported that the new index could not be added as one already existed – the phantom index.

John notes that, at this point, you can turn to the help system in OpenInsight. This points you towards the System Editor, in which you can change field 6 from a 1 to a 0, to indicate that no BTree index is active.

However, John has found a neat, quick resolution to the phantom index issue and one that he asked me to share with everyone through my blog. He states:

“To the errant field add an XRef Index. This magically makes the Index editable and removable. So go back in and remove the XRef and BTree Indexes as required.”

I would like to thank John for this contribution and I will welcome any more tricks like this that anyone comes across and who would like to share with my readers.

O4W and older browsers.

2010-11-04T10:31:00.002Z

OpenInsight for the Web (O4W) is fast becoming, if not already is, Revelation’s leading web development tool. This is no surprise when you see just how easy it is to create Web 2.0 compliant browser based systems against OpenInsight’s own Linear Hash data, TigerLogic’s D3 data, Rocket Software’s U2 data and also SQL data stores – the latter 3 via the built in dedicated data connectors.

However, being fully Web 2.0 compliant does come at a small cost. O4W uses advanced web technologies to deliver an interactive and dynamic web experience. To fully benefit from this, users and developers should use the most current versions of their web browser. At the time of writing this blog posting, these versions include; Chrome 3, Firefox 3, IE8, Opera 9 and Safari 3.

However, that is not the be all and end all. Developers and users may chose to use older versions of their web browser, but at the risk of reduced functionality. Developers who choose to support these older browsers should undertake their own careful testing of any plug-ins and functionality that their web solutions may rely upon. Minimally acceptable browser versions currently include Chrome 1+, Firefox 2+, IE6+, Opera 9+ and Safari 3+.

As a default, users accessing an O4W based system with an older browser will be presented with a message that their browser is unsupported. They can continue, but the message remains at the top of the O4W forms as a reminder that something might not work totally as expected. This can be seen if you run the Online O4W demo in an older browser or with IE8 running in compatibility mode.

The good new though, is that the javascript to create and display this message is stored in the O4W configuration record and this functionality will be updateable via the O4W Maintenance/Config Records screen in version 1.1 and later.

However, for the moment (version 1.0) developers can disable or modify the message by editing the appropriate CFG_O4W record in the O4WCONFIG table and clearing out or changing field 45 as appropriate. This can be either ‘CFG_O4W’ globally, or *CFG_O4W for a specific application.

Updating this will be easier from O4W version 1.1 (to be included in OpenInsight 9.2.1). From version 1.1, O4W will have an updatable field via the DB Management, O4W Maintenance, configuration Records, Browsers Tab.

Partial content c/o http://www.revelation.com/ discussion forum.

ARev32 / OI Hybrid Demo

2010-10-28T00:00:00.001+01:00

Advanced Revelation (ARev) users often ask me what ARev32 provides them with. The short answer is a future proofed system in a world where DOS applications are feeling their age and running into problems. A move to ARev32 brings you into the 32-bit Windows world of OpenInsight, and shortly the 64-bit world.

Whilst a straight conversion leaves you with an ARev32 window that looks and feel just like it does under traditional ARev, an extended conversion can take you ‘a lot’ further.

My new ARev32 demo video (hosted on my YouTube RevSoftUK Channel) takes a quick look at ARev 3.12’s converted SAMPLES application and how it can be run within an OpenInsight MDI frame and then how you can mix GUI and ARev32 windows, including sending information between one and another.

It also takes a look at how ARev32 users can extend the flexibility of the ARev32 system by displaying two or more ARev application screens in their own ARev32 windows – effectively having a Customer screen open with a record and another for the Products record.

Click here to review the ARev32 Demo Video.

What a novice can create with Openinsight!

2010-10-22T15:01:00.002+01:00

Many of you have been chasing me on the completion of the OpenInsight QSG series of tutorials. As well as becoming very busy over the summer, one of the main reasons for the pause in the creation of the video series was my time away developing my own Contact Manager.

Some of you that are new to OpenInsight and also some non-Revelation MultiValue developers who have been looking at OpenInsight have asked to see what I have been able to achieve with VERY little technical knowledge, mostly using the OI WORKS technical resources. I did have a couple of hours with Aaron in the car back from London to Northampton for a couple of areas and Carl helped me with an email blast module using an existing routine. Otherwise it is all my own work, design, code, etc.

It is now in use daily, but still far from complete. I need some data validation in areas, some OIPI reports need to be created, a global search facility and the report library in general adding to. I also have a healthy wish list of more technical things for when my technical colleagues become a little less hectic on client work.

Anyway, I have created an overview video of the application and I hope that it will serve to demonstrate what can be achieved in a very short period of time and by a complete application development novice, using OpenInsight.

New Tutorial Videos.

2010-10-20T10:06:00.003+01:00

As many of you will have noticed, Revelation continue to extend the range of data connectors for OpenInsight. A data connector for Univision is in development and the D3 (TigerLogic) connector was a new feature in the recent 9.2 release.

Revelation US has recently released a couple of tutorial videos to accompany the D3 Connectors release. They include:

Setting up and working with the OI4D3 connector - Mike Ruane demonstrates OpenInsight's connector technology and attaches data from TigerLogic's D3 data server. Once the data has been attached, OpenInsight can then be used to quickly and easily create graphical or browser-based applications against a D3 database.

Creating an O4W report against a D3 database – Second in Mike’s OI4D3 connector series, this time he takes a look at using OpenInsight's O4W Report Wizard against data from TigerLogic's D3 data server. The O4W Report Wizard lets a user or developer create browser-based interactive reports.

OI 7.2 to 9.2 Upgrade Release 2 now available.

2010-10-15T09:45:00.003+01:00

Thank you to everyone who is currently beta testing the 7.2 to 9.2 one step upgrade, available from the WORKS area on www.revelation.com. This will become an invaluable resource for anyone looking to move their end-users from an older version of OpenInsight to 9.2 and your feedback during this beta phase is very much appreciated.

As a result of the current testing, a new version (Release 2) has been published to the WORKS area. This release sees an enhancement to resolve an issue where the SYSREPOSIX table could become damaged and a ‘Rebuild system Index’ would then be required to resolve the issue. OpenInsight WORKS subscribers can download the new file from the WORKS area – click here.

New D3 Connector tutorial video.

2010-10-13T13:45:00.004+01:00

Revelation shall shortly be releasing yet another data connector for the MultiValue community.

This time, it is Tigerlogic’s D3 that comes under the spotlight. For those readers using D3, or wanting to use a D3 backend with OpenInsight as a front end, Mike has created and published a short demo tutorial on setting up and using the D3 connector. Click here to view mike’s video.

Protecting your sensitive OpenInsight data.

2010-10-07T11:05:00.003+01:00

Sometime ago, Kevin Ruane wrote an article on hiding your Linear Hash data from workstations, this prevented direct access to the data inside .LK and .OV files (Revelation’s Linear Hash data files).

At the time, this was just another useful benefit afforded the Universal Driver for users running Revelation based systems. However, in more recent times we have seen many headlines of high profile individuals and organisations loosing client and other sensitive data – headlines that no organisation can afford to deal with and that often lead to lasting damage to the organisation’s reputation.

If that was not reason enough to take data privacy seriously, organisations now have requirements to protect and audit access to data and this is becoming a more and more common request. For instance, compliance with industry security standards like the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is now a must have for anyone handling credit card information through their online systems or otherwise.

Revelation has published an update to the original article which covers one method to prevent unauthorised access to OpenInsight’s data held inside .LK and .OV files. Working with OpenInsight 9.2+ and the Universal Driver 4.6 over a Windows 2008 Server and Windows 7 workstation environment (so nice and contemporary) this new article details how to use strict NTFS permissions to achieve peace of mind for developers and end-users alike. After all, if your users can not directly read or change .LK and .OV files, you can audit and protect access to the data using controls that are internal to your application.

The full article can be found on http://www.revelation.com/ at http://tinyurl.com/32lhftq.

MVP Software Scores with Online Sports Scheduling Application

2010-09-30T16:43:00.004+01:00

MVP Software, a long standing Revelation Software Value Added Reseller in the USA, has recently used OpenInsight 9.2’s O4W technology to extend their Sportspak (originally written in ARev) and associated applications to the web. The new web application is now known as Sportspak.Online.

Having made the move to SQL sometime ago, when a Windows interface was required, MVP Software returned to Revelation and their trusted MultiValue technologies through OpenInsight 7.0. Now with a new web interface being the next logical step forward and required by their users, MVP Software looked to O4W when designing and creating their new web application for high school sports management.

Joyce Wells (Database trends and Applications), picks up this story in her article recently published to http://www.dbta.com/Articles/Editorial/MV-Community/MVP-Software-Scores-With-Online-Sports-Scheduling-Application--69758.aspx.

More OpenInsight 9.2.1 enhancements.

2010-09-23T00:01:00.002+01:00

As most of your will no doubt know, OpenInsight 9.2 featured release 1.0 of O4W, Revelation latest web authoring tool for Linear Hash and other MultiValue databases.

The release of O4W has been extremely well received throughout the OpenInsight community and Revelation has received a wealth of feedback, both following the commercial release and before that during the beta phase. In fact, there was so much feedback and subsequent development work undertaken that Revelation found it necessary to pause the development cycle of O4W for the OpenInsight 9.2 release at a certain point. This was to enable the company to catch up with the documentation and keep it in synch with the product itself.

Whilst the O4W development was paused and sandboxed for the 9.2 release, actual development of O4W continued right through the beta phase and it continues to evolve for the next OpenInsight release. As we learned at the Revelation Conference a few months ago, this further development resulted in a backlog of features and those are now being included in the forthcoming 9.2.1 release.

It is also interesting to note that, even before the 9.2 commercial release was available, some forward thinking Revelation clients saw the massive benefits and opportunities that O4W offered them and they became early adopters. Revelation created some special O4W cuts for these clients, enabling them to run O4W in earlier OpenInsight versions and to begin using the solution at that time. These were not test systems, most were real-world solutions for their customers and then, once the 9.2 commercial release was available, they were ready to deploy their O4W based systems to their clients.

So what’s in the new O4W 1.1 version?

One of the main new features is the new theme selector. This lets you change the look and feel of your web application on the fly. O4W is tied to Google’s jQuery library and this enables O4W developers to utilise a myriad of available themes. Just by picking a particular theme, developers can change the entire look and feel of their solutions. This is a major benefit to MultiValue developers, as it enables them to build on their years of experience and to couple this with the themes created by jQuery developers and the jQuery community. Together, this enables developers to easily create much more robust and better looking web applications.

In addition to theme support, O4W 1.1 (which will form part of the OpenInsight 9.2.1 release) will also provide Revelation’s OpenInsight developers with the ability to take an existing OpenInsight form (Window) or a report and convert that form or report into an O4W web form or web report automatically. There really will be no reason for Revelation’s exiting developers not to take a look at O4W if they have not already done so, as it will inevitably become even easier to create that all important web interface.

The OpenInsight 9.2.1 release will include many additional O4W enhancements and countless enhancements to the MultiValue application development toolset itself. You’ll need to be on the OpenInsight WORKS program to gain access to these benefits. If you are already a member, simply watch this blog and the Revelation web sites for more information as it becomes available.

If you are not a WORKS member, please contact your local Revelation office for details on how to ensure that you do not miss out on the OpenInsight 9.2.1 and O4W 1.1 beta cycle.

Two new OpenInsight WORKS downloads

2010-09-22T14:07:00.002+01:00

Some of you will have noticed that I recently pulled the 7.2 to 9.2 one hit upgrade from my blog. This has now been released as a pre-release package and it is now available from within the WORKS area on revelation.com.

The release is in response to customer demand around the world for a single update to OpenInsight 9.2 from OpenInsight versions 7.2 through 8.0.8. Please note that this is a pre-release beta upgrade for testing purposes only. If you are currently running version 7.2 through 8.0.8 and you need a supported upgrade path to 9.2, then we recommend applying the individual patches and upgrades, or installing a fresh copy of 9.2 and using APPBACKUP to backup and restore your applications in the new installation of 9.2 – I recently undertook this route (downloading and applying each patch and upgrade in turn) and it only took about 10 minutes or so to apply the patches and upgrades once I had them downloaded.

Alternatively, if you have the time in your release schedule to fully test your applications features on OpenInsight 9.2 before doing the final upgrade, then this one hit upgrade to 9.2 is perfect for your needs.

Revelation will be pleased to hear of any issues from those of you who do opt for the one-hit upgrade and your assistance in getting this to a supported release will be greatly appreciated. Please email info@revelation.com with your questions and comments, or post your comments on the WORKS discussion board on revelation.com. For those of you in the EMEA region, I’ll also be pleased to hear from you and to take your questions and comments.

Whilst in the OI WORKS downloads area, you’ll also notice that Revelation have also recently released a Patch for O4W, names 1.0a. This patch applies to the O4W component that ships with OpenInsight 9.2 and it addresses two issues:

In the O4W form runner, a ‘datepicker’ control generates a browser error when used with European formatted dates.
The URL used by the ‘on-line’ configuration of O4W for loading proper theme has changed.

OI Source Code Management in 9.2.1

2010-09-21T10:30:00.002+01:00

Slightly later than I’d hoped and indicated in earlier blog postings, but this one WILL be worth the wait for all of you cutting and maintaining OpenInsight code.

One of the major highlights in the next version of OpenInsight will be Version Control, something that I find very exciting, not because I’m a programmer who will use it (I’m not), but because so many of you have asked for this at recent RUGs and road shows around the world. Furthermore, I only saw an early ‘in-development’ preview, but it is clear that Revelation have again listened, researched and are building into the tool the best practice from a whole bunch of products – this is one that you guys are going to love.

So what does it contain at the present time?

Well, the Environment Settings in OpenInsight 9.2.1 include a new switch where the source control can be turned on or off for your system. This provides you with a nice and easy single turn on, as needed. Then the SCM (Source Code Management) option from the SCM menu item in the System Editor ++, provides access to all of the SCM tools.

The first menu item that Mike took me through was the SCM Panel option. This launches a window that provides you with a pick list of your programs (Stored Procedures) and below that the change information for the chosen program. This change information currently includes the date and time, the version and who the program was changed by. If you then select a version, you will be presented with the actual program code towards the bottom half of the window – this displays the program code as it was at that point in time.

However, this window does a whole lot more. There is a facility to delete individual versions (version records that are displayed in the table), or you can select multiple rows and block delete version records. There will also be a facility to select all versions before a certain date and delete all of those. This will help to keep the system refined and clutter free.

If you select two programs, the compare button becomes enabled and the power of this tool really comes into play. You will be presented with two copies of the program side by side, one version to the left and one to the right. Then, the system will colour the code based on the differences between the two versions of code. The colouring is based on ‘what is in the new version and not in the old version’ and ‘what is in the old version and not in the new version’. The system also drops in spacing lines to line up the code and this makes working with the two side by side super simple. As you would expect, these colours for the changes can be changed to suit your own personal preference.

Once you have decided which version you should be using in your application, you simply have to click one button ‘Make Live’ and OpenInsight will use that version.

The SCM menu item also includes a ‘Versioning’ menu item. This module enables developers to select stored procedures in several ways (for example, all entities that have been changed since a specific date and time) and then assign version numbers to those programs. These version numbers are then reproduced on the SCM panel window alongside the program.

If that was not enough, Revelation has also included the ability to create and maintain modules. Choosing ‘Modules’ from the SCM menu in the system Editor ++ will display a window showing all of the modules that you have defined in your system. Modules, are packages of programs and executables that make up a part of your application. For example, I have an email system in my new OI based contact manager. I could create a module called ‘Email System’ and assign all of my programs and executables used to drive that part of my application to that module. It is also possible to assign one program to multiple modules. When you assign source code to a module, OpenInsight will automatically pick up and assign the object code to the module to make deployment super easy.

So, once we have the modules set up and populated with our programs, we can turn to the Deployment Kit (Deploy application button in the Application Manager), create a new Repository View, grab our chosen module and you’ll get all of the procedures and executables that they module needs ready for deployment. Many people ask me how they can easily identify what they need to deploy in upgrades as they deploy upgrades but sometimes miss important entities. Well now, you can create and maintain your modules and never have to worry about missing entities again – assuming you remember to assign new entities that you create to the correct module ;).

I liked what Mike had to show me about the System Editor ++ and QBF enhancements, but this one really blew me away. I’ll be creating some videos on these new features when I have access to the Alpha or Beta. In the meantime, I’ll leave the guys at Revelation to continue finishing these great additions to the forthcoming OpenInsight 9.2.1.

Working with Hidden or disabled menus?

2010-09-16T13:13:00.002+01:00

If you are working with hidden and /or disabled menu items, then you’ll want to checkout Sprezzatura’s latest blog posting from Carl.

9.2.1 - System Editor Enhancements

2010-09-15T22:54:00.003+01:00

So the second little 9.2.1 teaser this week is something for our OpenInsight developers and it is again something that several of you have asked for at the recent road shows.

Within the System Editor ++ in 9.2.1, Revelation have added a new tab at the bottom of the window for your favourites. At the moment, OpenInsight maintains a list of the last 20 or so programs that you have opened under the File menu as a recent list. However most developers are opening far more programs than this list handles and very often programs that you want to com back to regularly, can get dropped from the list. The ability to save your favourites in the favourites list addresses this issue.

Better still, you can hit the play button on the favourites tab and OpenInsight will open up each of the programs in the Systems Editor ++ for editing in their own tab.

Another tab, entitled Record Info, displays the dictionary information for any field in an open record. You simply open your chosen record and then select the field in the display. The Record Information tab will then display information such as the Field Number, Column Name, Data Type, Heading, Validation, Conversion, Justification, Length and more.

The third enhancement to the System Editor ++ is with regards to Inserts ($INSERT). Whilst it is best practice to maintain your inserts at the top of your programs, it is not absolutely necessary and some developers like to maintain their Inserts as needed (or first needed) throughout their programs. This can make it hard to find those inserts and they can easily be missed if called earlier and used later, or even reused later.

The System Editor ++ in OpenInsight version 9.2.1 now includes a find facility that can be used to find Inserts throughout your programs. This makes checking if they are already called easy and also locating them in your programs a lot easier, especially in those longer programs.

9.2.1 - QBF enhancement

2010-09-13T10:05:00.004+01:00

So it is a new week and, as promised, I have the first of three 9.2.1 golden nuggets to tease you all with. The other two will follow over the next three days, leaving the best to last and something that will have many of you beaming like Cheshire Cats :)

So, during the recent road shows at which Mike has been presenting, many of you have been asking for the ability to load QBF from an external list. So, OpenInsight 9.2.1 now has a new menu item under QBF called (you guessed it) ‘Load from External List’.

Those of you using TCL within OpenInsight will know that we now automatically save your select statements when they are run from TCL. This list can be viewed from within TCL and the statements run time and time again – a nice time saver for frequently run statements. This list of statements can be accessed from QBF in 9.2.1 via the ‘Load from External List’ dialog window by choosing the Query Table option. The required list is then simply picked from the pop-up and the results displayed as a QBF browse list in the normal way.

The second option from the dialog window is to load QBF from a saved list. The save list is created by users within TCL. Basically they enter a select statement and then save the statement within TCL – nothing new there. However, by selecting ‘Saved List’ in the dialog window, the user can now populate the QBF browse list from one of their saved searches.

Printable OpenInsight manuals.

2010-09-10T15:50:00.002+01:00

As many of you will know, Revelation maintain a large amount of useful information in the online OpenInsight helps system. This consists of several .chm files that are exposed and fully searchable from within the OpenInsight toolset – an invaluable resource for anyone building systems using OpenInsight. However, owing to the fact that OpenInsight is being continually enhanced and new features added, hard copy manuals (the .chm file content) have not been available for some years.

However, now that we have more and more new (non-Revelation based) developers looking at and using OpenInsight, I believe that the time has come to consider creating one or more .pdf files that consist of the contents of the help system.

One of my first thoughts is to tackle the Programmer Reference Pages in the help system. A mammoth undertaking, but probably one of the more useful and appealing from a developer’s point of view.

As this will be a significant investment of my own time, I will be very grateful if you could comment below on;

The usefulness of one or more .pdf files, in addition to the online help system.
Whether you would prefer one huge .pdf file with all of the various manuals in one volume, or several .pdf files cover each specific topic (Native Tables, Programmers Reference, Guide to Application Development, etc.)
Any other comments.

Please visit my blog if you have received this as an email or an RSS feed notification. Please also forward this email to any of your colleagues that might not frequent my blog, but who might wish to voice their opinion on the usefulness of the manuals in .pdf format. It goes without saying that, owing to the time this will take to create and then maintain, I’ll drop this idea IF there is not sufficient interest and need.

Change the look of your O4W forms & reports.

2010-09-10T13:39:00.002+01:00

With the recent release of OpenInsight 9.2, Revelation Software’s new O4W web development tool is finally available for everyone to use. One of the key design goals for O4W is to be flexible and configurable; that’s why it’s built on the widely-supported jQuery open source toolkit. One of jQuery’s features is the ability to quickly change the look of a web page by changing which jQuery user interface “theme” is selected - and O4W developers and users can take advantage of this feature to change the look of their O4W screens in the same way.

You specify which theme you want jQuery (and thus O4W) to use on the O4W Configuration Screen. Bring up the O4W Configuration Screen (either in O4W from the main menu, or from within OpenInsight using the RTI_O4W_CFG form), and on the “scripts” tab press either the “on-line” or “off-line” button to set the default “core script” to the “on-line” version of jQuery hosted by Google’s servers (on the Google Content Delivery Network, or CDN), or the “off-line” copy of jQuery that’s distributed with O4W.

This blog article was taken from the September Rev US newsletter and more details can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2wjfxmk

Wicked new features for OI 9.2.1

2010-09-09T17:27:00.001+01:00

Ten minutes online with Mike and I’m already excited about some of the new features coming in 9.2.1 in a few weeks time. These new features are developments that have come specifically from OpenInsight developers and users who have attended Revelation RoadShows over the last few months, especially the Australasian gigs last week and no doubt more will come following the Houston Roadshow next week.

In addition to the O4W enhancements and new features that Revelation have just announced in their email newsletter and which I’ll be covering in the blog over the next couple of days, Mike has shown me enhancements to the System Editor, QBF and a brand new Version Control Module.

The System Editor enables you to click on a field in a record and see all of the key field information at the bottom of the System Editor’s IDE. Plus, you can now search for $Inserts within programs – extremely useful for those long programs where the inserts are spread throughout the program.

QBF has been enhanced to include TCL statements - remember that TCL now remembers your TCL List statements so that they can easily be run again and again. You can also save the statements and pick them from the recent used list, or your own library of saved statements.

The Version Control Module is just awesome and Revelation have done their homework and built in all of the best bits from version control modules in numerous other products. This includes the ability to create modules (for example an email module that includes windows, programs, etc.), assign versions to those modules and compare source code between programs. The system will colour changes for you for easy identification. Plus, you can select modules in the RDK to make deployment even easier.

These new features were being worked on whilst Mike was showing them to me and for this reason I do not yet have screen shots, nor the ability to put together some teaser videos. However, I will be writing some blog articles over the weekend with a few more details about these new features – so watch for those throughout next week.

A quiet blog = a busy Martyn.

2010-09-08T12:53:00.001+01:00

Guys, just a quick apology for being so quiet on the Blog recently. However, the reason is purely available time as I’ve been heavily involved with a number of projects. These include:

1) Designing, developing and populating my own OI 9.2 based contact manager – yes, I finally ditched Maximizer (on cost) and then the Outlook plug-in on reliability.

2) Working with a number of people on cross-grade deals from ARev and early OI versions to 9.2 and also helping clients with O4W and the dashboards in O4W.

3) Continuing to evangelise the benefits and virtues of OpenInsight to the less well informed, especially now that we have the connectors.

4) Then talking of the connectors, we’ve begun to see Universe, Unidata, Univision and D3 developers here in Europe begin seriously looking at OpenInsight, building on the growing interest the Rev US have been seeing over the last year or so.

However, watch for more training videos and blog postings coming soon.

O4W Examples Application Online.

2010-08-13T15:50:00.002+01:00

Following my recent posting about the OpenInsight 9.2 Evaluation Edition being available, several of you have asked for the O4W Quick Start Guide application to be hosted on the web. This has now been done and you can get to the O4W examples application at http://tinyurl.com/37wvmsv.

The current version includes an example of a Customer Entry Form, an Order Report and a Sales Dashboard. This provides you with the opportunity to view the application before downloading the OpenInsight 9.2 evaluation edition (or upgrade if you are a WORKS subscriber) and running through the O4W Quick Start guide yourself.

Sprezz release updated RevertLHFiles utility.

2010-08-12T19:40:00.002+01:00

The guys at Sprezzatura have recently upgraded their RevertLHFiles utility and the new version is now available. Please checkout their blog for more details.

3 reasons to take a look at OI 9.2.

2010-08-11T13:51:00.005+01:00

As if you needed them, here are just three of the countless reasons why you, as a MultiValue developer, should be looking at OpenInsight 9.2. Using one fully integrated toolset, OpenInsight 9.2 now enables you to:

Very quickly and easily extend the life of your leading MultiValue applications for LAN, WAN and the Web deployments. Creating a web interface for your application can be done in just a few minutes using OpenInsight 9.2’s O4W.
Interact with the entire Windows world in the easiest ways possible. This includes consuming .NET controls, ActiveX controls, Widgets, API’s, Windows hardware, third party applications and more.
Seamlessly support multiple databases from within your application using OpenInsight 9.2’s data connectors. Currently supported databases include OpenInsight’s linear Hash, Rocket Software’s Universe and Unidata (U2), TigerLogic’s D3 and numerous flavours of SQL (including mySQL, MS SQL Server, Oracle, etc.). Support for Univision will follow in a few weeks time.

This can enable you to enhance your users experience and workflow by aggregating disparate data sources into one interface, whilst continuing to maintain those separate islands of data. This ensures data integrity is retained, whilst enabling your application’s users to read, write and maintain those islands of data AND it enables the users of those islands of data to continue to work with them outside of your application, as they do now.

OK, so there is a fourth reason. Revelation Software has just recently released a free to use OpenInsight 9.2 evaluation version of the toolset – including the data connectors and O4W.

Mention this code (MDP92100810) and you’ll receive an installation key for a full 60 day period, rather than the usual 30 days.

OI 9.2 Evaluation now available.

2010-08-10T16:35:00.001+01:00

Following the OpenInsight 9.2 commercial release, the 9.2 evaluation is now available for download via the RevUK web site.

If you have been waiting to try the new features in 9.2, then now is the time to grab the evaluation.

Back to rumors of a SCM tool in 9.2x

2010-08-09T15:35:00.004+01:00

Well I’m now back from basking in the sun (mid 40’s Centigrade) and snorkeling over the Red Sea reefs in warm to hot water – fun. For those of you that are divers, Sharm El Sheik has some wonderful diving spots and those a little less adventurous; snorkeling with hundreds of fish over the inner reef is just amazing.

Anyway, annual vacation over and it’s back to work and back to some more OpenInsight development rumors. The first of which is very exciting as OpenInsight Source Code Management (SCM) tools were requested at the recent EMEA RUG in London and I hear that the guys at Revelation have been working on that request over the last couple of weeks.

My spies tell me that the SCM is invoked by simply setting an environment setting. The editor apparently saves a version of the code every time a program is saved or compiled, but only saved if it is different than the prior version. The versions of the source code are stored in a new table, with an associated ‘control’ table. Groups of code can be associated with version numbers, and an entire version can be rolled out for deployment, or rolled back and made the live version of the software. There’s also seems to be a comparison tool that lets a developer examine differences between different versions of code.

This new OpenInsight feature continues in development, but it is looking very exciting and I hope that many of you will find it hugely useful. It is certainly something that I have constantly been asked for over the last few years and it is great to, yet again, see that Revelation are listening to their developer community and delivering tools that are beneficial, rather than just fun to create.

Watch out for more on the SCM and more rumors about the next OpenInsight release as and when I learn about them.

EMEA RUG Report

2010-07-23T14:12:00.004+01:00

For those of you who were unable to make the EMEA RUG last week, Elkie Holland from Prospects IT (the leading recruiter in the MultiValue community) has written a very nice report about the RUG including links to some of the useful resources that Carl mentioned during his presentation.

Following the RUG Mike and I took to the road and made numerous site visits around the UK, including the first of many telephone interviews with mainstream IT media journalists. One of the striking things to come out of these discussions is the need for business to aggregate disparate data in one consistent interface. It seems that many people, especially MultiValue users, are still pumping data into corporate data stores for reporting, displaying over the web, etc.

O4W and the data connectors released as part of 9.2 are well placed to address this business need, enabling people to seamlessly use data within one single OpenInsight based application, from multiple database sources. At the moment the company supports its own native data, several flavours of SQL, Rocket Software’s Universe and Unidata, TigerLogic’s D3 and a Univision data connector is almost complete. Please visit www.revsoft.co.uk and the Products pages for more information about the new technologies – If you are an existing OpenInsight WORKS subscriber then you can start working with them today, as you already have them.

Anyway, it was a really nice surprise to find one of the RUG attendees writing about the event and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Elkie for the report.

OpenInsight 9.x End-User Benefits

2010-07-22T16:58:00.002+01:00

Since the RUG and my road trip with Mike, I have had a number of requests for a document that details the benefits to end-users in the 9.x series. Whilst the majority of the benefits are for developers, there are a large number of enhancements that will benefit end-users.

I was planning on blogging the list, but the document grew to a size where this is not effectively possible. Revelation have packed so much into the 9.x release :). For this reason and a few others, I am planning on making the document available on request. Please drop me an email to my usual address (or comment below) and I’ll get a copy to you via email.

The document itself is divided into two main sections. The first is divided into categories based on the tools and each benefit is listed with a few lines of explanation. The second section is a two page bullet point list that simply summarises the key points.

I hope that this will become useful for those of you, like me, who need to justify the annual license fee to your end-users who are currently on 8.0.8 or prior and who you now need to move into the 9.x series.

Mike Ruane Kidnapped in London

2010-07-21T09:38:00.004+01:00

So, I let Mike out of my sight for one day whilst here in London last week and he gets himself into trouble.

Then, following a grilling about the new tools in OpenInisght 9.2, he produces a new ‘How-To’ video for OpenInsight 9.2’s brand new SQL Connector. This tool lets developers use SQL server data as if it were native MultiValue data, without having to learn SQL. Stick with the BASIC you know.

Well, along with O4W, I guess the connector was one of the big highlights of the week and it is set to open many new doors for Revelations VARs around the world.

Upgrading to OpenInsight 9.2

2010-07-20T12:23:00.002+01:00

Following a hugely successful RUG and road trip around the UK last week (more on the RUG coming soon) and the release of OpenInsight 9.2, we have had a number of support requests from people new to OpenInsight for installation keys. This posting is therefore to remind everyone of the process to obtain the upgrade files and the authorisation key.

The first pre-requisite is that you have a current OpenInsight WORKS subscription. Please contact me if this is not the case. You then need to ascertain which version of OpenInsight you are running at the present time. If it is an older 7.x or 8.x version then you will need to cross-grade your runtime or Developer Class licenses, please contact me for more details about the cross-grade procedure.

Assuming you are simply upgrading your OpenInsight development system (W serial number) you will need to either obtain one of the single hit upgrades that are unofficially available (there is not currently one to jump from 7.x or 8.x to 9.2, but I will blog one if and when it is made available), or the appropriate upgrades from your current version to 9.2. The readme files identify which upgrades can be jumped, however I personally usually apply each in turn. Alternatively, there is a 9.2 full install in the WORKS area and this can be used for a single clean installation by those of you who wish to backup and restore your application/s into a fresh installation of OpenInsight.

Please note that the WORKS area includes both a 9.2 Full Install and also a 9.2 upgrade, so please be careful to download the right file.

Please also note that upgrades prior to 8.0.3 can be installed without an installation authorisation key, but upgrades from 8.0.3 require keys. The good news though is that you only need one key for the whole upgrade process.

OK, so the actual process:

1) Log into www.revelation.com with your unique username and password.

2) Locate the ‘WORKS Subscribers’ button on the left navigation bar and use it to enter the private WORKS area.

3) Next locate and click on the ‘Works Downloads’ link in the navigation panel and then choose ‘View All by date Posted’. This works fine for us at the present time, as the two upgrades appear at the top of this list. Otherwise you could select to display all by version.

4) Click on the full installation or upgrade page link to go to the license page.

5) Read and then accept the license to move on to the actual download page.

6) Review this page, but move straight to the OI92Install.exe icon at the bottom of the upgrade page and download the file, saving it to you local machine. Please also be sure to download and study the Installation Guide and Readme Guide as there is information in there about closing services, etc. before running the installation and installing the client files as part of the installation.

7) Move back to the top of the download page and locate the hyperlink to the ‘OpenInsight 9.2 Full Install / Upgrade Request Form. This launches the form that you will use to request your installation key.

8) Complete this form, being sure to complete all of the red labelled prompts, including your correct email address, serial number and a site name (reference to this license). If this is your development license (W serialised engine) then just enter Development License.

9) If you have already uploaded your OEngine.dll file DO NOT upload it again, just hit the save button and your request will be processed automatically and you will receive you code by email within a few minutes.

If you have not previously uploaded your OEngine.dll file for the system being upgraded, please locate your OEngine.dll file from within your OpenInsight folder and upload that now. This will invoke a manual registration process and you should receive your installation key within 24 hours (subject to the US office opening hours).

10) You then simply need to install the upgrade/s or full installation using the authorisation key where prompted.

Although the above ten steps sounds complicated on paper, it is actually very straight forward and (with the exception of the actual download time) the process of obtaining the upgrades and installation key should not take more than a few minutes.

However, please do not hesitate to contact your designated Revelation office should you require any assistance throughout this process.

OpenInisght 9.2 Now Available.

2010-07-19T11:36:00.001+01:00

For those of you that might not have noticed, the final commercial release of OpenInsight 9.2 was made available to all OI WORKS subscribers on Thursday last week and a press release will be going out form the EMEA office ina few minutes.

This new release was very warmly received last week, both at the RUG and the various client meets that Mike and I had around the UK.

Some of the highlights were the enhancements to TCL for end-users and the connectors for SQL and D3 and of course O4W.

There are a number of documents available for the connectors and O4W and we have videos planned for the SQL connector, the D3 connector and I also have plans to turn the O4W Quick start guide into a series of videos over the coming weeks.

All OI WORKS subscribers have access to the new release through the WORKS area on www.revelation.com. If you are no longer a WORKS member and would like to get your hands on the new version, please contact me for WORKS renewal details.

OpenInsight 9.2 now in final beta

2010-07-08T10:12:00.002+01:00

Overnight Revelation US has announced to their beta testers that the final OpenInsight 9.2 beta is now available for download from the beta site.

This final beta is the version that the company intends to put on general release on the 15th July 2010. In Mike’s email to the registered beta testers, he says that Revelation are very happy with this release and all of the functionality and features that it brings. He goes on to thank all of the beta testers for their time and feedback and I would like to take this opportunity to add my thanks to everyone involved with this release, both beta testers and the Revelation developers who have worked so hard to make this a great release.

Please remember that Mike will be in London on the 13th July for the next RUG. He will be reviewing 9.2 and also taking a note of your needs for 9.3 and beyond.

M.

OI listed in NoSQL directory.

2010-07-05T12:38:00.001+01:00

I am pleased to announce that OpenInsight is now listed on the official NoSQL list of databases compiled on http://nosql-database.org/. Our listing can be found in the MultiValue section.

Starting OpenInsight/OpenEngine with Arguments

2010-07-02T09:46:00.005+01:00

Over the last week or so we have had a few requests for details of the command line switches that are available when launching OpenInsight. They are actually listed in the OpenInsight help files and they can be found by searching for “Starting OpenInsight/OpenEngine with Arguments”.

However, for ease of use here are the details:

/ap - Application Name
For Example: /ap=SYSPROG

/un - User Name
For Example: /un=SYSPROG

/pw - Password
For Example: /pw=swordfish

/dv - Development mode flag
(1 = Development mode, 0 = Runtime mode).
Defaults to Runtime mode.

/sn - Server Name
see Client to Out-of-Process Engine.
For Example: /sn=dylan

/he - Hide Engine flag
1 = Hide Engine, 0 = Do Not Hide Engine.
The default value is dependent on the engine type.
Runtime Engines default to 1. Development engines default to 0.
Note: If you hide an Engine, the Debugger tool is disabled.

/hi - Hide Interface flag
1 = Hide Interface, 0 = Display Interface.
The default value is 0.
This option determines whether the OpenInsight Interface screen is displayed or hidden during execution. The OpenInsight help files provide some graphical examples.

/sm - System Monitor flag
1= Start System Monitor on startup, 0 = Do not start the System Monitor.
The default value is 0.
The System Monitor is not available in a runtime system.

/bn - Banner Display flag
1= Display Login Banner, 0 = Do not display banner.
The default value is 1.

/ca - Application Manager Caption
The caption may not contain spaces.
For Example: /ca=Local_OI.

/i - Indexer
This argument is used for OpenEngine only. This argument will start the OpenEngine as a dedicated indexer. The format for using this argument is /i appname.

------------------------------------------

Some specific examples include:

C:\RevSoft\OI32Bit>oinsight /ap=EXAMPLES /un=EXAMPLES
This command line will run the EXAMPLES application under the EXAMPLES user in runtime mode.

C:\Revsoft\Oinsight\oinsight.exe /ap=sysprog /un=sysprog /ca=local_oi /dv=1 /sn=soren
This command line will run the SYSPROG application with the user SYSPROG in developer mode. It will also set the window caption to read "OpenInsight - SYSPROG(LOCAL_OI) and a server name of SOREN. This will be listed in the OpenEngine Information under Queue Information.

C:\Revsoft\Oinsight\oengine.exe /i sysprog
This command line will run the OpenEngine Index Server with the SYSPROG database.

C:\Revsoft\Oinsight\OINSIGHT.exe /ap=examples /un=examples /hi=1
This command line is for use with runtime engines. The OpenInsight interface screen (The Application Manager IDE) is displayed by default. By setting /hi=1 the OpenInsight interface will not be displayed.

Yet another new OI connector goes into beta.

2010-06-25T09:34:00.001+01:00

As many of you will know, Revelation’s OpenInsight supports data connectors for Rocket Software’s (previously IBM’s) Universe and Unidata (U2) and also TigerLogic’s D3 databases.

However, a brand new data connector for Univision has just gone into beta and Revelation hope to release this shortly after the main 9.2 release mid July. Built on Revelation’s existing and proven connector technology, this new connector now means that Revelation supports data connectors for ‘five’ of the leading MultiValue (Pick) databases currently in use, as well as support for a variety of SQL databases.

These data connectors are shipped as part of the development suite meaning that there is nothing extra for you to purchase, other than your third party database licenses. Once configured, a job that usually take no more than a couple of minutes, these connectors enable developers to work with the OpenInsight toolset against the third party data just as if it was native OpenInsight data. This means that the entire OpenInsight toolset can be utilised against these databases: that includes the GUI design tools, the Powerful Systems Editor, the Data Warehouse, the Web Development Tools and much more.

Revelation are currently interested in talking to anyone running Universe, Unidata, D3 and Univision and who need to extend or modernise their current systems. Please contact Martyn in the first instance for more details or you can find out more about these connectors, and see them in operation at the forthcoming RUG in London on the 13th July. This is a free to attend event and you can register to attend on our website. Places are becoming limited, so please register as soon as possible.

OpenInsight Beta 5 Released.

2010-06-23T00:24:00.001+01:00

The OpenInsight 9.2 beta 5 release is now available to all OI WORKS subscribers registered for the beta program. You should have received an email direct from the Mike in the USA, but please drop me a line if this is not the case.

OpenInsight is a solid release and it has been used solely for the development of my new Contact Manager System. Throughout this project I’ve used the Table Builder, Forms Designer, User Interface Workspace, Database Manager, Report Builder, OIPI, the system Editor and more. This project has found a couple of issues and these have subsequently been fixed and I’m now looking forward to the final release in mid July, just after the RevUK EMEA RUG.

Thank you to all of the beta testers who have contributed and continue to contribute during this beta testing period.

Sarah Palin and Larry King discuss OpenInsight

2010-06-21T22:06:00.002+01:00

Here is something light hearted to start the day, but what if, Oh just what if . . .

http://www.prospectus.co.uk/t/OpenInsight-toon.

OECGI3 - New in OI 9.2

2010-06-18T11:03:00.002+01:00

With OpenInsight 9.2 now only a few short weeks away, there is news of yet more enhancements that will benefit your application and clients.

This time it is news of the OECGI3 executable that is being delivered within the new release. OECGI3 will support Failover and Load Balancing modes, making OECGI3 a more robust connection object which allows for extra capacity and/or redundancy to be added to a web application. A new OECGI3 registry setting, MultipleServers, controls whether OECGI3 operates in Failover (0) or Load Balancing Mode (1).

In Failover mode, you supply OECGI3 with a list of ServerURL's and ServerPort's that are available. OECGI3 attempts to connect to the first ServerURL/ServerPort in the list. If the connection is unsuccessful then OECGI3 will continue on to the next ServerURL/ServerPort in the list until a successful connection is made. If all connection attempts fail, then the SYSDOWNPAGE page is returned.

In Load Balancing mode, you supply OECGI3 with a list of ServerURL's and ServerPort's that are available. OECGI3 will randomly choose a ServerURL/ServerPort from the list available, and then attempt to connect to that server. If the connection fails, OECGI3 will move to the next ServerURL/ServerPort in the list, "looping" through the list until it is back at the originally selected URL/Port combination, at which point OECGI3 will return the SYSDOWNPAGE page.

The Revsoft.co.uk web site now includes links to all three of the O4W guides, including the OECGI3 Installation and Configuration Guide.

OpenInsight 9.2 release date.

2010-06-17T00:53:00.003+01:00

Revelation US have just announced that the 9.2 beta is in the final stages and the company expects a general release of OpenInsight 9.2 on the 15th July 2010.

Most of the new features will be demonstrated at our RUG on the 13th July, so please book your place to learn more about this major OpenInsight release.

Sprezz release WINAPI definitions

2010-06-14T08:59:00.001+01:00

Sprezzatura have just released their entire library of WINAPI definitions along with their corresponding structures and constants. These have all been wrapped up into a free of charge RDK. Please visit their web site blog for more details.

Why's my oinsight.ini file not working????

2010-06-11T13:02:00.003+01:00

We recently had a support enquiry because the OInsight.ini file (located under C:\Windows) was not being picked up and the developer was therefore unable to change the Application Manager buttons to display the System Editor ++, rather than the old System Editor.

I’d always understood that the OInsight.ini file that OpenInsight used for these settings and others, was the one in the Windows directory. However, from Windows Vista and Windows 7, things are no longer that simple.

As Carl enlightened me, Vista and Windows 7 implement something called virtual file redirection, which means that the ini file the OpenInsight uses is not the one in C:\Windows - when it asks for the file Windows goes and gets it from the Virtual Store instead. It is Microsoft’s way of trying to stop people using ini files - they don't like you using the registry these days either!!

Anyway, the *real* ini file that Windows gives to OpenInsight is stored in your user settings folder something like:

C:\Users\[UserName]\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Windows\oinsight.ini

If you change that ini file, then everything should be fine and OpenInsight will display the right buttons and your other preferences/settings.

For the more technical and those who want to understand all of this in more detail, the following link will be useful:

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/developers/archive/2009/08/04/user-account-control-data-redirection.aspx

One day you can't afford to miss!!!!!

2010-06-04T15:09:00.004+01:00

I’m sorry for being more than a little quiet on the blog recently. The reason is simple and it is because I have been working solidly on a new OpenInsight application to replace my old contact manager. Following a crazy price increase to run my old faithful CRM system under Windows 7, I switched to MS Outlook and a plug-in. Following the 6th issue with that system, resulting in another two or three days work to get the application back (even with backups), I decided to do the obvious and write my own – a long, long overdue project.

Within a week, I had a nice looking fully working system and data was being punched in. Even though I know how good OpenInsight is, I’ve been amazed at what I have achieved with OpenInsight 9.2 (as a non-professional developer). There are some bugs to iron out, some reports to write and a few items on the wish list, but it’s looking damn good :)

Anyway, if you are not using OpenInsight and want to see what a novice can achieve in a week, come along to our next EMEA Revelation User group meeting in London on the 13th July 2010.

If you are an existing OI developer, an existing end-user or someone thinking about adding OpenInsight into your toolset, then you’ll definitely want to reserve a place to see Mike Ruane from Revelation Software demonstrate how to use OpenInsight's U2, D3, and SQL connectors to either Windows or browser-based forms.

OpenInsight is a true, graphical, MultiValue product that's been around since 1992. Developers program in Basic, can run reports using an Access or English like language from TCL, but the can also create forms, reports, pop-ups and searches without writing code. Mike said to tell you all that, “If you write code... we have the capabilities that will knock your socks off”.

OpenInsight has its own MultiValue database, but with our Connector technology, OpenInsight can treat Rocket's UniVerse and UniData, TigerLogic's D3, and almost any flavour of SQL's data as if it was our own, and manipulate completely using our toolset. These connectors are going to open new doors for anyone involved with MultiValue systems and they are already opening doors for Revelation’s clients in the US.

Furthermore, Mike will be reviewing a number of new features in 9.2 and taking away a list of your needs and wants for 9.3.

And, if that is not enough reason to come along on the 13th July, then he’ll also be showing off O4W – The newest, best and easiest to use web enabling technology for OpenInsight and just about anyone wanting to create database driven web applications in minutes and without writing code – don’t believe me? Come along and see for yourself.

PLUS – For anyone already deep into using OpenInsight, Carl Pates (Sprezzatura) will be talking about utilising the Web Browser Control in OpenInsight - A bit hit presentation at this years main Revelation Conference in Las Vegas earlier this year.

So with an agenda like that you’d be mad to miss out on this one. Places are likely to be limited, so please reserve your place online as soon as possible.

Reminder

2010-05-26T16:10:00.002+01:00

The 50% off of OI WORKS May offer is coming to an end in a few days time. If you are planning on taking advantage of this large discount offer, then please drop me a line as soon as possible to ensure that you secure your license at the special offer pricing.

A date for your diary

2010-05-18T14:28:00.001+01:00

I am pleased to announce the date for the next Revelation User Group meeting for the EMEA region. The venue is yet to be arranged and it will be influenced by the number of people signing up for this event. However the RUG will take place in or around London on the Tuesday 13th July 2010.

As normal, Mike Ruane will be over from the USA and on the agenda this time will be some of the much anticipated 9.2 new features (SQL Connector, O4W, etc.) and Carl Pates will also be talking about ‘The Web Browser Control: Extending Your OpenInsight Forms with embedded HTML’.

I am yet to update the revsoft.co.uk website with a registration page, but please drop me an email should you wish to register for this key RevSoft EMEA event.

More details will be published as they become available.

OI 9.2 Connector - New Licensing Model

2010-05-07T15:50:00.006+01:00

Things just keep getting better at Revelation this month. Not only has the cost of new OI WORKS licenses been reduced by a whopping 50% (getting you’re the entire development suite, upgrades including 9.2 and support for 12 months), but a brand new licensing model has been announced for the release of the connectors in OpenInsight 9.2, making the toolset even more attractive to people needing to use D3, U2 or SQL backend databases.

There are three new connectors scheduled for the 9.2 release in a few weeks time. We already have the U2 connector for Universe and Unidata, but the new version will see a connector for TigerLogic’s D3 added to the toolset and another for various flavours of SQL. Please contact me for more details about these connectors.

The new licensing sees the three connectors branded in their own license packs and available in two options. All of the licenses cater for OpenInsight as a front end to one of the three backend databases, but without the ability to use OpenInsight’s Linear Hash database as the back-end. As mentioned at the recent conference, the only linear Hash tables that will operate with the new license file (engine) will be the system tables that OpenInsight itself needs to operate. There will be no ability to create or utilise any other Linear Hash data tables.

The pricing for the new licensing model is therefore set to reflect the loss of the integrated Linear Hash database and to make the OpenInsight toolset very attractive to developers and end-users who wish to use OpenInsight’s GUI, reporting and System Editor tools. The six packages are:

OI For D3 (OI only) Network User License – Desktop Edition
Maximum of 5-users and it includes one Universal Driver 4.6
License cost is £35.00 (GBP) per user plus £7.00 per annum.
OI for D3 (OI only) Network User License – Server Edition
Any number of users and it includes one Universal Driver 4.6 and O4W
License cost is £40.00 (GBP) per user plus £8.00 per annum.
OI For U2 (OI only) Network User License – Desktop Edition
Maximum of 5-users and it includes one Universal Driver 4.6
License cost is £35.00 (GBP) per user plus £7.00 per annum.
OI for U2 (OI only) Network User License – Server Edition
Any number of users and it includes one Universal Driver 4.6 and O4W
License cost is £40.00 (GBP) per user plus £8.00 per annum.
OI For SQL (OI only) Network User License – Desktop Edition
Maximum of 5-users and it includes one Universal Driver 4.6
License cost is £35.00 (GBP) per user plus £7.00 per annum.
OI for SQL (OI only) Network User License – Server Edition
Any number of users and it includes one Universal Driver 4.6 and O4W
License cost is £40.00 (GBP) per user plus £8.00 per annum.

Developers and users who wish to make use of both OpenInsight’s Linear Hash database along with one of the above third party databases can do so through the purchase of a normal OpenInsight Network User License. Obviously, the third party database licenses will need to be purchased through your usual D3 (TigerLogic), U2 (Rocket Software) or SQL license provider.

All of the license information contained herein is subject to change prior to the commercial release of OpenInsight 9.2 so please check with your Revelation representative for updated information (as applicable) at the time of the 9.2 release. The prices shown in this posting are in pounds sterling, they are correct at the time of writing (but subject to change without prior notification) and they are valid for sales within the EMEA region only. Again, please refer to your local Revelation representative for local prices as applicable.

RevCon 2010 - Rio, Las Vegas.

2010-05-06T09:47:00.006+01:00

Despite the economic pressures, last week saw nearly 100 Revelation users, developers, vendors and resellers arrive in Las Vegas for yet another busy and exciting Revelation conference. I was kept so busy with learning and networking that I never even got to touch my blog, despite my plans to post each evening. However, I did have my camcorder and you can see some of the presenters in my YouTube conference video.

The conference reception was held on Tuesday evening atop the Rio Casino and Hotel and it gave everyone an opportunity to catch up with existing friends from around the Revelation community and to also meet some new friends, not least Erik and Jared, being the two newest members of the Revelation Team at the conference. With gusts of wind reaching over 40mph and being 50 floors up, the reception was a windy one, with spectacular views across the Las Vegas Strip as the sun set.

The conference kicked off for real on the Wednesday, with Mike Ruane’s opening remarks (Video Part One / Video Part Two) following breakfast and punctuated by a keynote from Tom Wilson, President of Database Trends and Applications Magazine and Unisphere Research. Tom spoke about the predicted year ahead in information management and touched on the key trends for the whole IT Industry and their relevance to the MultiValue marketplace in particular. One of the key points from the keynote was that whilst budgets are still being restricted, business still wants more from their IT departments, an area that MultiValue vendors and developers are well placed to exploit.

Revelation Software’s official conference wrap-up contains a mention for all of the technical presentations, but over the next two and a half days attendees were treated to two technical tracks with over 20 presentations ranging from OpenInsight 9.2, the SQL connector and O4W, through to full on technical talks on The Web Browser Control, Interaction with MS Office (a new way), Using MVC concepts, Virtual Server solutions, Trouble Shooting OI Applications and much more.

The first full day was rounded off with dinner in the conference centre and an evening performance from Penn & Teller. Whilst some insight into some of the tricks was provided, they still left you baffled and wanting more. The second day concluded with a very busy Vendor Fair providing vendors and attendees with the perfect forum to meet and discuss just about anything, plus an opportunity to win a Netbook ( Revelation Software, Inc. ) and an iPod ( TigerLogic (D3) ), both winners were drawn at the conference close.

Friday, the final day, saw two O4W presentations from Bob Catalano and Bryan Shumsky back to back - two of the biggest draws across the whole event. However, Clay Borne from CLB IT and Andrew McAuley from Sprezzatura (presenting at the same time as the O4W talks) still had a good attendance at their presentations looking at ‘Web Applications Using Abobe Flex and OI’ and ‘Troubleshooting OI Applications – the Logging Approach’, respectively. Bryan’s talk (video coming soon) was especially well received with a visual explanation of Web2.0 followed by clear examples of using the O4W APIs.

The whole event was then closed by Mike Ruane (Video Part One /Video Part Two) with a suggestion of 64-bit OpenInsight and a return to Las Vegas during 2011 for more of the same – watch http://www.revelation.com/ during mid 2011 for more details.

Finally, I would personally like to thank Mike, Nancy and the whole Revelation team for hosting a great event and also a very big thank you to all of the speakers who gave up their time to plan, write and deliver some of the best and most informative presentations yet. I look forward to see your all (and a few more new faces) for the next Revelation Conference at the Rio in Las Vegas sometime in late 2011.

Click here for the RevCon 2010 Video PlayList featuring all of the videos noted in this posting.

May '10 Special Offer - 50% off WORKS.

2010-04-23T09:09:00.003+01:00

Time has finally caught up with me and today is the last day that I will be in the UK office for a week, as next week I’ll be flying out to Las Vegas for the Revelation Conference.

I say that time has caught up with me as I’ll be coming back to the May Special offer – a whopping 50% off of new OI WORKS subscription purchases (I confirmed my first new client WORKS purchase on the offer overnight :) ) for the duration of May 2010 – and I am still only half way through producing the OpenInsight Quick Start guide video tutorial series. However, two more lessons have been completed and published this week and I have more planned following the conference, so that makes 12 lessons published thus far.

So, if you are an OpenInsight developer who is still not on the WORKS program or if you are still considering whether to adopt OpenInsight as another tool in your arsenal of application development tools, then now is the perfect time to pull down the OpenInsight evaluation, run through my tutorials and get ready to take advantage of the WORKS offer over the next 5 weeks.

I’ll be back in Blighty a week Monday.
M.

OERun - Did you know . . .

2010-04-19T12:04:00.004+01:00

That OERun is an executable that provides command line access to the OpenEngine. OERun utilises the OpenEngineServer technology and for this reason the OpenEngineServer needs to be running to access OERUN.

Syntax:

OERUN -a <appname> -u <username> -p <password> -c <commandString>
{-l <location of OpenEngine>}
{-e <engineserverURL>}
{-n <engineserverPort>}
{-r <routineName>}
{-s <engineName>}
{-f <startupFlags>}
{-d <shutdownFlags>}

For Example:
The following example will execute the GET_SYSINFO command within SYSPROG and return the results to the command line.

OERUN -a SYSPROG -u SYSPROG -c GET_SYSINFO -e LOCALHOST -n 8088 -r GET_SYSINFO -f 65 -d 1

Support for Vista

2010-04-14T10:03:00.002+01:00

Just in case anyone is sleeping, Microsoft have finally dropped support for the Vista operating systems, support for XP continues for a short time.

The No SQL movement.

2010-04-13T13:36:00.002+01:00

Computer World UK have published a rather interesting article for all of us operating in the none SQL world. The full article can be accessed from the link above and it might be useful when talking to management and prospects about your OpenInsight based systems.

Also, a few of you have recently contacted me with regards to the video tutorials. It is good to hear that some of you are finding them useful and I do have plans for more. The first set of lessons were pretty much planned before I started and I’m now planning the next few lessons around building myself a new OpenInsight application :).

Once this short month is over and the conference is behind me, I’ll get back into producing the next lessons.

In the meantime, thanks for your patience.

M.

OpenInsight 9.2 beta

2010-04-06T09:20:00.002+01:00

The OpenInsight 9.2 beta software was officially released over the weekend. You should have received an email about the released direct from RevUS yesterday (Monday 5th April) if you are a WORKS member and you had previously registered an interest in being included on the beta program.

I have been impressed with the 9.2 Alpha that I have been working with for a few weeks and I am looking forward to a successful beta cycle for this new version of OpenInsight.

Thank you to everyone who will be taking the time to run through the new version, it’s new features and to report any issues through the beta bug tracker on revelation.com.

Last Day for Hotel Room Block!

2010-03-29T16:29:00.002+01:00

Revelation USA have just sent out the following email about booking rooms for the conference. It is included here for anyone not on their mailing list.

As you are probably already aware, our 2010 User’s Conference begins on Tuesday, April 27th, just over four weeks from today.

However, the ability to book a room in our block at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino, the venue for the Conference, expires today. Booking a room in our block ensures a good price for you, the attendee, and it actually lowers the cost of the conference for us, because the Hotel knows it has customers for those nights, and they lower their charges to us.

Today is the last day that this block of rooms is being reserved for us. If you are thinking about attending the Conference, and even if you haven’t signed up for the conference, I urge you to contact the hotel and reserve a room. You can cancel if you decide not to attend, but you will have a guaranteed room if you do attend the conference.

Let me add that these are not your typical Las Vegas hotel rooms – the Rio is an All Suite hotel, and the rooms are great. You won’t be disappointed by them, and by staying in the same hotel where the conference is being held you’ll save a lot of time and cab fare getting around Las Vegas.

You can reserve rooms by calling 1-888-746-6955 and asking for the Revelation Software room block.

Thanks – we hope to see you at the show, where you’ll learn more than you would have imagined about what OpenInsight and Revelation Software can do for you.

What is an OpenInsight BFS?

2010-03-25T17:40:00.002Z

Following a successful SQL Connector webinar recently, during which Andrew helped to better explain MFS’s and how they are used, the guys at Sprezzatura have written a superb blog posting that explains what a BFS is and how it works. This is a must read for anyone considering using the SQL Connector in OpenInsight 9.2, or those of you that just want to better understand Base Filing systems in OpenInsight.

Stay in touch with Rev News and Tech.

2010-03-19T01:29:00.006Z

Any modern business needs to be utilising social media these days and that means maintaining and watching various blogs, RSS feeds, twitter feeds, etc. I myself have got quite into this over the last few months and I have made some useful contacts in the process, which have lead to some interesting business discussions.

However, keeping up to date with all of the feeds was becoming a daily chore and one that I felt was needlessly eroding half an hour or so of my day, and this was just keeping up with Revelation related topics. What I needed was a way to keep myself up to date whilst on the move - In the playground whilst waiting for the kids to finish school, whilst commuting to work or between meetings and discreetly whilst at home in the evening and especially avoiding the tuts and long faces from the family when the laptop comes out.

Well finally I have something that will hopefully help any OpenInsight developer or user keep up to date with the various feeds from the Revelation community, including the discussions bases. The only issue is that you need an iPhone, iPod Touch with an internet connection or a Smartphone running Android.

What I have done, is to create a small iPhone application that brings most of the Revelation news feeds, blogs and technical discussion bases together. If I am missing any, please let me know and I’ll do my best to include them.

For more information, please checkout my Revelation iPhone Application demo on YouTube and the application itself can be downloaded using the safari browser on your mobile device from http://m.wbx.me/revsoft-news.

Enhanced TCL

2010-03-18T09:21:00.003Z

Did you know...
That in OpenInsight 9.2 there will be new TCL softkey functionality and a great new Grid view for list statement output:

- Shift-F1 – Link Multiple Commands (Makevoc)
- Shift-F4 – List Tables
- Shift-F5 – List Volumes
- Shift-F6 – TCL Assistant
- Ctrl-F10 – The Query Table

The query table is a list that stores the last 50 select statements, and their results, run by the system (from TCL) on a particular workstation. Pressing Ctrl-F10 from TCL will provide a list of the past queries, the time and date the query was run, and the number of results returned from the query. Choosing an item from the popup will return the results in an active select list.

Running a List statement with (G (for example LIST INVOICES CUST_NO CUST_NAME INVOICE_DATE ITEMS DESCS (G from the EXAMPLES application) will display the results in an EditTable on the screen. From there you can move columns around, copy the content, or part thereof, to the Windows clipboard and also sort and remove the data.

A complete review of all the new TCL features will be on display at our Conference next month and you can get a taster on my YouTube Channel.

O4W on an Apache Web Server

2010-03-17T08:24:00.006Z

Aaron Kaplan has recently been working with OpenInsight for the Web (O4W) and I am pleased to hear from him that the toolset has been running nicely under the Apache web server, although some additional configuration steps were required, when compared to configuring it under IIS which is the web server covered in the O4W Quick start Guide. Aaron, was therefore kind enough to email those additional steps to me to share with my blog readers.

The first difference when installing and configuring O4W on Apache, is the requirement for an ASP support module. This is an open source third party module and it can be found at sourceforge.net. Once installed, you will then need to modify your httpd.conf file.

You’ll need to tell Apache and the ASP modules where to find the ASP files and directories. Please note, that in Aaron’s example below, you will need to change the paths to match your paths.

<IfModule mod_aspdotnet.cpp>
    # Mount the example app
    AspNetMount /examples/ "C:/revsoft/oinsight/9.1.1/O4W"

    #Alias in the examples directory to the O4W root
    Alias /examples/ "C:/revsoft/oinsight/9.1.1/O4W/"

    # Allow asp.net scripts to be executed in the O4W root
    <Directory "C:/revsoft/oinsight/9.1.1/O4W/">
        Options FollowSymlinks ExecCGI
        AspNet Files
        Order allow,deny
        Allow from all
        DirectoryIndex Default.htm Default.aspx 
           apache-start.html start.htm
    </Directory>

    # For all virtual ASP.NET webs, we need the 
    # aspnet_client files to serve the 
    # client-side helper scripts.
    AliasMatch /aspnet_client/system_web/
       (\d+)_(\d+)_(\d+)_(\d+)/(.*) \
       "C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/
          v$1.$2.$3/ASP.NETClientFiles/$4"
    <Directory \
        "C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/
           v*/ASP.NETClientFiles">
        Options FollowSymlinks
        Order allow,deny
        Allow from all
    </Directory>
</IfModule>

You will also need to ensure that OECGI2 will run at its default location, which is outside a standard script alias. To achieve this, you will need to add a script handler:

AddHandler cgi-script .exe inside the section.

Once you have made these additional changes, you should be able to run O4W on Apache in the normal way. Aaron’s testing with the current O4W release continues and we will post updates to this blog posting as appropriate.

In the meantime, I would like to extend my thanks to Aaron for working with O4W on Apache and for sharing this information with us.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN VEGAS IN APRIL 2010?

2010-03-16T08:44:00.005Z

I have previously written about this years conference on my blog (see links below), but with only 41 days until the welcome reception, now is the time to book your place if you have still not registered but intend to join us in Vegas.

Revelation Software’s 2010 Users' Conference will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, April 27th - Friday, April 30th, 2010 and, over the weekend, Revelation announced that the dinner event at the User’s Conference will include the PENN & TELLER show.

Contact NANCY RUANE (info@revelation.com) at Revelation Software in the New Jersey office in the USA for further details and to obtain booking details.

Conference Website Links:
WELCOME
VENDORS
KEYNOTE
TOPICS
SPEAKERS
REGISTER

Previous Blog articles:
http://revsoftuk.blogspot.com/2010/02/revelation-world-conference.html
http://revsoftuk.blogspot.com/2009/11/revelation-users-conference-2010.html

PayPal in O4W

2010-03-15T10:00:00.004Z

Over the weekend, Revelation have announced that integrating OpenInsight for Web (O4W) with PayPal, the online payment provider, will be extremely easy using O4W’s APIs.

Using the PayPal “Buy Now” feature, your customers will be immediately able to purchase a single product direct from your website. Once your customer has selected “Buy Now” (either via a link or a button on your web page), your O4W stored procedure will use the O4WPayPal call to redirect the browser to PayPal’s on-line payment site, from where your customer’s transaction can be completed.

Using the PayPal “Add to Cart” feature, your customers will be able to purchase one or more products by adding them into their PayPal shopping cart through your site. Once your customer has selected a product to “Add To Cart” (either via a link or a button on your web page), your O4W stored procedure will use the O4WPayPal call to redirect the browser to PayPal’s online payment site. From there, your customers can review their shopping cart and then they can choose to return to your site to browse or add additional items to their shopping cart, or they can proceed to “Checkout” on the PayPal site to complete their transaction.

Using the PayPal “Add To Cart” feature, your customers will be able to review which products they have placed in their PayPal Shopping Cart, modify their selections or begin the PayPal Checkout process.

New TCL functionality for 9.2

2010-03-04T20:09:00.003Z

As many of you will no doubt know, I have recently been working with the OI 9.2 alpha software to create a series of Getting started with OpenInsight videos. These are being hosted on YouTube in a playlist for people new to OI and they are designed to support our marketing campaigns that are currently going out to non-MultiValue developers – yes, were are once again out there spreading the word about MultiValues and OpenInsight in particular.

One of the new features in 9.2 is some enhanced TCL functionality for both ARev users (new ARev Softkeys supported) and OpenInsight users in general through a new Grid switch for a TCL list statement.

If you want to know more, please checkout my latest video that looks at the new TCL functionality coming in OpenInsight 9.2 in a few weeks time.

NOTE: The guys at Revelation are working extremely hard on the 9.2 release and since I recorded this video TCL has been further enhanced. The image above is a little difficult to see, but a graded background and the ability to drag one column to another location has been included. In addition, a lookup button has been included in the active Command cells prompting the user to click for further options (or to pick a command from the list). In my video I had to know that the cell needed to be double clicked.

Trapping EditTable Mouse Messages

2010-03-02T09:22:00.002Z

Did you know that from OpenInsight version 9.1 it is now possible to trap mouse messages? Check out Sprezzatura’s latest blog posting for more information and example source code.

Optimise your OI deployments!

2010-03-01T09:41:00.002Z

There is a very useful discussion on the Revelation Discussion Boards at the moment with regards to Universal Driver and the use of revparam files. If you are involved with deploying application at any level, this is a posting that you’ll want to check out.

http://revelation.com/OIdiscuss.nsf/All+by+Date/159B2E4E0BFD3328852576D6001BF5FF?OpenDocument.

Microsoft support for Vista, etc.

2010-02-26T12:40:00.002Z

The Register has published a very interesting announcement about the support for the Vista operating system. I think that it is worth everyone knowing about this, especially VARs installing and supporting systems on pre-Windows 7 operating systems.

Conference Guide

2010-02-23T13:41:00.002Z

If you are still considering whether or not to attend this years Revelation conference, the conference guide is now available to help you to decide.

The guide includes a note from Mike, a complete list and details of educational session topics, details about the many speakers and an introduction to the conference’s keynote speaker. The guide concludes with registration information, pricing and everything else that you need to know about the conference.

Reliability and Performance Monitor

2010-02-18T10:02:00.003Z

Did you know that Windows Server 2008 includes an improved Reliability and Performance Monitor. This useful utility can be used to monitor and check the over all disk activity on your server and you can use it to drill down to see which Revelation Linear Hash files are the most utilised.

Identifying heavily utilised files with slow response times is the first step to determine whether faster solid state drives will be beneficial to your business and this utility can go along way to helping make a better more informed decision.

The Reliability and Performance Monitor can be started by running perfmon.exe on the server.

OpenInsight 9.2 and the Universal Driver 4.7

2010-02-17T16:37:00.003Z

Development on OpenInsight 9.2 continues and this release is scheduled to include the following new features:

OpenInsight for Web (O4W) - A web development toolkit that empowers OpenInsight Developers to rapidly create browser based forms, reports, menus, dashboards and programs. I have been playing with this over the last few days and it is very, very nice indeed, clearly the best web development tool to come out of Revelation.

SQL Connector - With this new connector, SQL tables are now seen as native tables to all components of OpenInsight including forms, reports, popups and stored procedures. I have also had a quick look at the SQL Connector and, using the built in wizards, it is child’s play to set up and use SQL tables from within OpenInsight.

D3 Connector - This connector will allow OpenInsight to be a front end application development tool with the D3 database from Tiger Logic. I am yet to get my hands on this one.

Bitmap Indexes - Bitmap indexes have nothing to do with images, but rather with bit arrays (the 'bit map'). OpenInsight developers do the work internally with bitwise operators. They are mostly used for indexes where the number of indexed values are relatively small; e.g. Sex (M, F), Active(Yes, No), etc. Basically, there is one index node per index value, as opposed to OpenInsight's Btree or Xref indexes, which could have many nodes per value, or multiple values in a node. Bitmap Indexes are extremely fast, and are much faster than existing Btree indexes.

TCL Enhancements – Mike has also recently shown me some really nice enhancements to TCL, including displaying list results in a grid control that you can manipulate and copy to the Windows clipboard from and also support for some long lost ARev Softkeys – watch for a video on this soon.

In conjunction with the release of OpenInsight 9.2 Revelation will also be releasing the Universal Driver 4.7. The Universal Driver 4.7 replaces the Universal Driver 4.6 and will be offered in two versions. The free bundled version supplied with OpenInsight 9.x network user licenses (NUL) and the standard version to be used with OpenInsight 8.0.x and below as well as Advanced Revelation.

Both products are expected to be released in Q2 2010.

OpenInsight and Thin Client Deployments

2010-02-10T11:56:00.002Z

We have recently had a couple of people asking about configuring OpenInsight systems to run in a thin client environment, most notably Citrix and Terminal Server.

Following assistance to get the systems working, the clients wanted to better understand the working of the system. My experience indicates that getting these systems to work on one site is not always a recipe for success on another site and often an exact duplicate of a site at a new site results in a system that needs further configuration to get it to work correctly – go figure!

It is for this reason that, whilst we know that OpenInsight runs fine in these environments (once correctly configured) and Revelation even have some Citrix systems hosted internally, they are still officially labelled as unsupported. This sometimes results in consultancy services being needed and onsite investigation to resolve some of the more stubborn issues.

However, to better help Revelation VARs and users to understand these environments from an OpenInsight installation perspective, Sprezzatura have written and published a very useful blog posting. You can gain access to it at www.sprezzatura.com and I would highly recommend all VARs take a look and anyone else involved with or considering a thin client based OpenInsight system.

www.revsoft.co.uk

2010-02-05T10:07:00.002Z

Guys, the http://www.revsoft.co.uk/ web site is now back up and running. However, following the rebuild some of the old pages have gone and most have been renamed as part of a new marketing drive that I am on at the moment. It has not been fully proof read and I apologise in advance for any typos and other similar errors. It was published earlier than expected owing to our issues with the hosting provider’s web server and our domain.

Any pages requested from a search engine and that no longer appear are currently going to a page not found page. If you hit this please email me with your requirements and I’ll get the content to you by return of email. For example, the error code pages are not yet there and I’m not planning on recreating them unless they are really needed as the help files in OpenInsight are now very good and contain this and much more information.

In addition, a lot of the documentation, manuals, etc. (especially older files) have been removed as they are now included in the OpenInsight install and from 9.2 there are folders with 9.1 and 9.1.1 documentation, etc.

That said, please let me know if there are files and content that you used to use a lot and that is no longer there. I have the old site saved locally and I will get the content republished based on demand.

Revelation World Conference

2010-02-04T15:10:00.002Z

The Revelation Conference is now only a few weeks away and the conference website is now live.

The Revelation World Conference is the most significant event in the Revelation calendar and provides Revelation’s developers and end-users with a large number of education, networking and business relationship building opportunities.

To be held between the 27th and 30th April at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas and with sessions on new features such as O4W and O4SQL, this has to be one of the can’t miss events of the year.

The conference web site contains all of the information that you will need about the event, including a letter from Mike, a list of vendors who will be available to meet and discuss Revelation based topics with, an introduction to the keynote speaker and of course details of the education sessions and their speakers. Of course, there is also a section with registration details.

So, should you attend?

If you are involved in any way with an ARev or OpenInsight, or considering purchasing OpenInsight or a pre-built Revelation based application, then the answer is, without doubt - YES you should attend.

However, with the economy just entering recovery many people will be questioning the cost to attend, rather than considering the cost of not attending. With over 18 technical education sessions to choose from, there is no easier, faster and cheaper way to get a complete understanding of specialised areas of the products and technologies that Revelation provide. Furthermore, with new features planned for release around conference time, this is the perfect opportunity to fully understand how the technologies will benefit your business, gain valuable information prior to release (to help you plan your future developments) and to voice your needs from these new and exciting developments.

In previous years, the conference speakers (all Revelation professionals) have delivered amazing value from their talks, leveraging their considerable product and technical experience. Furthermore, session attendees usually have the opportunity to continue the dialogue with the speaker during the vendor fair and conference evenings. Then also through the services that many of the speakers offer following the conference. The conference really is the ideal venue for adding to your address book of top knowledge resources.

With the invaluable knowledge that you are unquestionably going to gain, the professional contacts that you will make and the huge motivation that you will ultimately leave the conference with, this is the one Revelation event that is sure to leave you more confident, productive and profitable.

I look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas in April.

Visit http://www.revelationconference.com/ for more details.

www.revsoft.co.uk

2010-02-02T14:57:00.002Z

Those of you who frequent the EMEA web site (http://www.revsoft.co.uk/) will have noticed that the navigation has disappeared and that there are other issues with the site. We are aware of these problems and have been working with our hosting provider to get them resolved.

It would seem that the web server side of the site is seriously broken and following several days of investigation, they are unable to resolve the issues.

For this reason, the site will be nuked shortly and www.revsoft.co.uk will be offline for a short time whilst we reconfigure the server side settings and upload the site.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any information from our site.

I apologise for any inconvenience that this might cause.

S/List Patch for OpenInsight 9.x

2010-01-28T14:48:00.004Z

My colleagues at Sprezzatura have just uncovered a small issue with S/List whilst running under OpenInsight version 9.x. With SYSENV CFG_OIPI set to VSPRINTER 2 (the OIPI.NET option in OpenInsight 9.x), the preview generated by S/List can terminate after only ‘printing’ the headings. All other direct output (printer, .csv, etc.) works fine.

With the VSPRINTER option set, everything within S/List under OpenInsight version 9.x runs fine.

The issue was traced to a piece of code that was set to do a GET_PROPERTY from VSPRINTER if the OpenInsight release is greater than OpenInsight 4.1.3. Support for the VSPRINTER2 logic has now been included via a minor change to the offending program and it is currently released in a patch - the full installation will be amended shortly.

Current S/List users (both Designer and Viewer users) can download the patch from www.sprezzatura.com

Input controls in an OIPI report.

2010-01-19T11:27:00.005Z

One of the new features of OIPI.Net is the ability to define input controls (textboxes, radio buttons, etc.) that are created on the form and allow user interaction. The additional Set_Printer messages are INPUT_TEXTBOX, INPUT_RADIOBUTTON, INPUT_CHECKBOX, and INPUT_COMBOBOX.

Below is a sample code snippet:

DefaultValue = "LastName,FirstName"
toolTip = "Enter the last and first name"
xPos = 0
yPos = 3.5
posn = ""
posn<1> = xPos
posn<2> = yPos
x = Set_Printer("INPUT_TEXTBOX", DefaultValue, toolTip, posn)

In addition, did you know that you can now configure the use of OIPI versus OIPI.Net by application, and not just globally. Specific control records can be created in the SYSENV table to fine-tune the control of OIPI.

OpenInsight first looks for:
CFG_OIPI**
then
CFG_OIPI*
and lastly
CFG_OIPI

It is then possible to have users of application "ABC" using OIPI, while everyone else uses OIPI.Net or vice versa.

Field 1 of each control record should be either VSPRINTER for OIPI or VSPRINTER2 for OIPI.Net

List Command Reporting Update for Landscape Reports

2010-01-14T09:04:00.001Z

Works members can download a patch for OpenInsight 9.1.0 and 9.1.1 to resolve a reporting bug that can occur if the definition of the report is too wide for landscape printing. This patch prevents the list command from going into a loop and crashing the OpenInsight engine on certain landscape reports.

This patch can be retrieved from the WORKS download section of http://www.revelation.com/.

In Development - SQL Connector

2010-01-07T12:09:00.001Z

Back in October, Revelation announced that OpenInsight for Web (O4W) is being designed to bind to SQL tables. This has led to the development of a new SQL Connector that will also be included in OpenInsight 9.2.

The SQL Connector is a Base Filing System (BFS), not a Modified Filing System (MFS) that is currently part of the Client/Server Workspace of OpenInsight. In the past SQL data was only accessible to the Form Designer via the C/S Workspace. With the SQL Connector, SQL tables are now seen as native tables to all components of OpenInsight including forms, reports, popups and stored procedures.

Within each of these components, opens, reads, writes, locks, unlocks and selects all work the same.

The SQL Connector works with the SQL statement that is placed in a dataset. This means that you can bind to tables, use views and multi-table SQL selects. The SQL Connector will point at a dataset and it will create OpenInsight F-type fields for each column in the dataset. Developers can add symbolics, including Xlates to other SQL based tables.

The SQL Connector also utilizes ADO record sets which eliminates the need for developers to deploy ODBC connections to client workstations.

Escrow releases on the rise.

2010-01-06T12:51:00.003Z

Firstly, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. 2009 was a tough year for many of us, but all in all it proved to be very successful for Revelation and our VARs and I'm looking forward to some good things coming from Revelation through 2010 - not least O4W and the D3 (TigerLogic) connecter.

However, the difficult trading period continues into the New Year and, whilst most Revelation VARs are coping well with the global recession and looking forward to a profitable 2010, the concerns surrounding the loss of an application author (or support company) remain uppermost in many business leaders minds.

Just today, The Register have highlighted the issue following an announcement by Escrow provider NCC Group that they saw a 150% increase in source code releases during 2009. You can view the full article at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/06/recession_escrow_boost/.

Professional escrow services are often expensive to setup and maintain and they do not normally cater for all of the end-users needs. For instance, as an end-user it is great to get the source code for your application but what do you do with it and where do you go to find qualified help.

This is where Revelation’s Business Continuation Service comes into play. Not only does this service cater for the release of source code in the event of a trigger becoming active, but it also caters for providing emergency support services to end-users and brokering new relationships with other Revelation consultants for the future support of the system. In addition, it is also a cost effective solution and one that is much more affordable for smaller organisations and smaller systems.

Please drop me an email or give me a call if you would like to discuss this service in more detail or to review the Business Continuation Service agreement.

9.x Reporting Patch

2009-12-22T10:23:00.001Z

A patch for OpenInsight 9.1.0 and 9.1.1 has recently been made available to correct a problem with the list command and landscape reports. It resolves an issue that can occur if the definition of the report is too wide for printing in landscape. The patch prevents the list command from going into a loop and crashing the OpenInsight engine on certain landscape reports.

For more information please visit the WORKS download page on http://www.revelation.com/for the patch.

If you are not a Works member please contact your local Revelation representative who will be happy to discuss the WORKS program with you.

9.1 and 9.1.1 reporting patch

2009-12-22T10:13:00.001Z

A patch for OpenInsight 9.1.0 and 9.1.1 has recently been made available to correct a problem with the list command and landscape reports. It resolves an issue that can occur if the definition of the report is too wide for printing in landscape. The patch prevents the list command from going into a loop and crashing the OpenInsight engine on certain landscape reports.

For more information please visit the works download page for the patch.

If you are not a Works member please contact your local Revelation representative who will be happy to discuss the WORKS program with you.

In Development

2009-12-17T11:34:00.003Z

Those of you that have attended one of the recent RUG meetings will have seen an early look at O4W - Revelation's new web technology.

Development on O4W is just about complete and Revelation will begin beta testing shortly. The technology is already in use internally and it is running the US eStore, Evaluation Request, and Upgrade Request processes.

In addition the SQL Connector (also previewed at the RUG meetings) continues to be improved and Revelation have also started development on OpenInsight for D3. This connector will allow OpenInsight to be a front end application development tool with the D3 database from TIGER LOGIC.

I will cover these new technologies in more detail early in the New Year.

www.revsoft.co.uk – rebuild

2009-12-16T12:56:00.001Z

As many of you know, I will be ‘officially’ finishing up on Friday for the seasonal holiday and I do not plan to be back at my desk until Monday 4th January. However, I will be monitoring email throughout this period and I can be reached as usual on my mobile during UK office hours.

However, it will not all be leisure, mince pies and the odd bottle of beer. During the holiday period I am planning on rebuilding the RevSoft UK web site. The look will remain similar, but the content will be greatly changed in order to be more W3C compliant, optimised for the search engines and to be much more standards based.

I have some analytical software running on the site and this shall be consulted when deciding what goes and what stays. There have been a number of areas that our VARs had requested, but which get few or no hits. In addition, much of the developers area content is now readily available in the OI help files (error codes), the WORKS CD and elsewhere. On the flip side, some areas gain a lot of hits and could benefit from being more concise or informative.

This posting is therefore to ask any of you that want specific areas of the site to stay, to make your requests know to me over the next few days. There will obviously be an opportunity to add back content at a later date, but I’d like to include anything that you need in the first draft if at all possible.

Thanks,
M.

Did you know - Background Gradients.

2009-12-07T08:38:00.004Z

Back in March, I wrote about the new background gradient feature for OpenInsight forms. These enable you to instantly change the look and feel of your OpenInsight application by setting window gradients for the background colour and style of a window, or set a default that runs throughout your application.

These gradients can be set programmatically using the GRADIENTSTYLE and BACKCOLOR properties of a window. In addition, they can be set in the Form Designer by opening the Windows Properties dialog and clicking on the Gradient button located on the right hand side of the dialog box.

However, since that first report, the features has been enhanced to include a drop down list of available Gradient Types on the Gradient Definition dialog box. The list of available types has been extended and now includes: "None", "Vertical", "Horizontal", "Ellipse", "Pyramid" and "Mountain".

When a type other than "None" is selected, the "Grade To Color..." button is enabled. Clicking the button will display the Choosecolor dialog box. Once the Grade to Colour is set, click the OK button. The settings will be stored on the OpenInsight form.

SRP Editor Update, Version 2.3.3

2009-12-03T09:44:00.002Z

Those of you who use SRP’s System Editor will be interested to know that a new version has recently been released. This new version addresses a small issue where a variable is not assigned under certain conditions – namely, when attempting to close a record with unsaved changes, whilst the ‘Window -> Close All’ menu option was selected.

More details, a hot tip for the SRP Editor and a link to the download can be found by clicking here.

From the desk of Bill Caisley

2009-12-02T11:39:00.002Z

When you create an RDK deployment it creates a row called %RUN% in the SYSUPGRADE table which contains $RDKMODULEINSTALL from SYSPROG. This program has changed from version to version and the source that is issued with an upgrade is NOT the Source for the live Object but merely an example if you wish to create your own custom RDKMODULEINSTALL.

What happens if you run an RDKInstall is that the object from %RUN% is copied into SYSOBJ and then it is run. A problem can occur if an RDKInstall fails because of an OI version change that will leave the incorrect version of $RDKMODULEINSTALL in SYSOBJ.

You will have to copy a ‘clean’ $RDKMODULEINSTALL into your working copy of OI so that any future RDK deployments contain the correct version in %RUN%.

OpenInsight version 9.1.1 released!!

2009-12-01T14:58:00.002Z

Overnight Revelation released the latest version of the OpenInsight application development suite – Version 9.1.1. For those of you who decline to install the first major release, waiting for the first patch, then now is the time to take a look at 9.1 and what it has to offer for developers and users.

The new version is available from the WORKS area on http://www.revelation.com/ and it should be noted that it can only be applied to a pre-installed version 9.1 installation. As usual, you will require an authorisation key form Revelation using the form linked from the 9.1.1 download page.

Some of the enhancements in 9.1.1 include a new .NET version of IDX_SETS to address some performance issues whilst running ARev32 or CTO applications. In addition, RWREPORT has been fixed to display when printing to the screen.

Other enhancements sees the ability to use a key value for from fields added into the Database Manager’s Add Relation Index window. Using DELETE from TCL whilst defining a specific key will now delete that entity, rather than the last active list and the Command Stack can now be user based.

There have been three key enhancements to the System Editor ++, including the addition of an option to search inherited applications, a cancel option for users running a global find and replace search and an issue with Cascaded/Tiled stored procedure code windows no redrawing correctly has been resolved.

A Savewarn message has been added into the Table Builder’s Calculated Column Edit window and a list handling error when adding and removing QuickDexes and RightDexes has been resolved.

OIPI.NET/OIPI sees three issues resolved. Creating files using LIST or RUN_REPORT will now preview, CSV files can now be created and ADDTABLE message results are now justified. On the subject of reporting, the Banded Report Writer sees a fix to the Calc button, which was not working.

Within the Client Server Workspace, Options buttons have been added to the XO_CHILD and DS_CHILD windows, so that users no longer have to remember to double-click to see the window’s options.

The RDK sees one fix that now allows Buildexe to default to designation and data paths.

Finally, scrollbars have been added to the DotNetExplorer window EditTables and a missing program within RTI_GetNetworkUserName has been added back into the system.

It is nice to see that a few of these fixes came from client requests at the recent RUG meetings and I hope that you all find the 9.x releases more enjoyable to work with and, more importantly, help to make you more productive.

TCL – Limiting commands by user

2009-11-23T10:55:00.001Z

Revelation are gearing up for the release of 9.1.1 shortly and part of this upgrade will be a request made at the recent EMEA RUG meeting in London.

Changes have been made to TCL in the new version. These enhancements will enable developers to limit certain commands so that they can not be run by a particular user. For example, you will be able to expose TCL to your users and at the same time you could restrict access to the CLEARFILE command.

This neat change to TCL will enable users to make better use of TCL, without the application author having to worry about the integrity of the system being compromised in any way.

Revelation User's Conference 2010

2009-11-12T09:39:00.002Z

Revelation Software is pleased to announce that our keynote speaker for our 2010 Conference is THOMAS J WILSON, president and CEO of Unisphere Media which publishes DATABASE TRENDS AND APPLICATIONS. Tom's keynote presentation is titled "Ten Trends Shaping Information Management in 2010".

Our 2010 Users' Conference will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, April 27th - Friday, April 30th, 2010.

Please drop me a line if you would like more details about this main Revelation event.

Hardening OI Directory File permissions

2009-11-11T13:40:00.003Z

Several of you have recently asked for details about ‘Hardening File permissions on the OpenInsight Directory’. I am pleased to announce the publication of a comprehensive knowledge base article that details this topic.

Locking down file level permissions on the OpenInsight directory is an important step to ensuring the stability of your application. Improper permissions can allow users to change or delete files - accidentally or intentionally. The ‘Hardening File permissions on the OpenInsight Directory’ Knowledge Base article provides guidelines to secure your OpenInsight directory.

Examples of securing the application at the share level and file level are provided within the article. Each example begins with the creation of the destination directory followed by installing OpenInsight into the newly created location. Establishing the destination directory permissions before installation ensures that the administrator installing the application will have rights to modify it later.