<DCasey> | VOICE welcomes Randell Flint and Rollin White from Sundial Systems |
<vetexpert> | Before I forget when I was figuring out this "new thing" earliier someone requested the following question since they could not be here: Is there any OS/2 calender that can sync with palm pilot? |
<Randell> | Thanks as always for having us! |
<DCasey> | Randell and rollin join us on the 1st Monday of every-other month |
<mandie> | Even number months |
<DCasey> | It's a regular "thing" that we all look forward to |
<DCasey> | Now, I'll shut up, and let the meeting begin :-) |
<Randell> | First, let me explain a little about out topic (or lack of it) for tonight! |
<Randell> | Believe it or not, we do have a rough plan for what we want to cover topic-wise for our visits here throughout the year... |
<Randell> | But, sometimes, our plans don't quite work out right... |
<Randell> | Our "Plan A" for tonight... set back earlier in the year... got scrapped a while back because... |
<Randell> | as I mentioned a bit before, Randell has been bad and hasn't got all his development work done lately. |
<Randell> | So, on to "Plan B"... |
<Randell> | When we set that up a while back... |
<Randell> | we planned on having a special "guest" joining us tonight that would give focus to the topic... |
<Randell> | That, unfortunately, dragged on out to the point that we never got final confirmation from the guest... |
<Randell> | So, rather than try for "Plan C"... |
<Randell> | We just kinda going with no plan at all... |
<DCasey> | :-) |
<vetexpert> | Randell STOP it already!! |
<Randell> | We've basically just going to open the floor for anything anyone wants to take about any of the Sundial products... |
<Randell> | But first, a bit of news, since out last visit. |
<Randell> | Toward the end of June, we did release a minor release of Junk Spy (1.01) that fixed some small problems and added some special support for Netscape users. |
<Randell> | The other new release, effective today, is DBExpert 2.0.9. |
<PROJECTS> | cool |
<DCasey> | Free Upgrade? |
<Randell> | This is another mostly bug-fix release (about 30 bugs) plus a couple of small new features. |
<Randell> | Both updates are available to registered users on our website. |
<Randell> | (Ah there goes the first download now) |
<Projects> | !ask sundial |
<VoiceBot> | [sundial] Sundial Systems http://www.sundialsystems.com/ (mandie) |
<Randell> | Rolliin, did you want to add anything before we open it up? |
<rollin> | No, that's the two important items. |
<rollin> | I think VetExpert had the first question before he was so rudely kicked :) He asked about Palm Pilot support. |
<Randell> | So he did! |
<rollin> | The answer is we're working on it. We're using one of the third party sync managers and writing the necessary code to talk to Relish. |
<Projects> | Do I need both the DBExpert update and the runtime, or just one of them? |
<Randell> | Projects, just one or the other. |
<rollin> | There are some dependencies on Relish 2.3 and visa versa that we're trying to work out the best way to handle. |
<Projects> | heh... guess I should read the release notes then :) |
<Randell> | Projects, if you have the full DBExpert product, only download the "full" update. |
<rollin> | Indeed the first DBE download is complete (according to the logs!) |
<Randell> | Projects, if you have the runtime version (purchased separately) on other workstations, download the runtime update for those. |
<DCasey> | yep .. I've got it :-) |
<vetexpert> | Rollin, what do you mean dependenecies on 2.3? |
<Projects> | Randell: ah, thanks. I don't have the runtime version |
<rollin> | There are some features in 2.3 PreReleases that the Pilot Sync takes advantage of. We're trying to decided if we should wait for 2.3, or figure some different way that will not depend on 2.3 |
<Randell> | (2.3 is Randell's problem by the way) |
<Randell> | (So don't blame Rollin for that one) |
<mandie> | ah, a result of that "bad boy syndrome" :) |
<Randell> | I'll give you an example of such a dependency... |
<vetexpert> | What can we blame Rollin for, or is the list too long? |
<Randell> | The Palm address book like things like names to be divided into first, last, etc... |
<Randell> | It also likes phone numbers to be specifically identified... |
<Randell> | Relish stotes things differently than that... |
<Randell> | (Sorry "stores" not "stotes") |
<mandie> | done! |
<Randell> | But 2.3 has a more intelligent import/export module that knows how to deal with such things... |
* | Projects is done too! |
<Randell> | So how much we put in the sync module and how much goes in Relish depends on what version of Relish we hook it to... |
<Randell> | And, while that part of 2.3 is working fairly well, other parts aren't ready for prime time yet... |
* | Projects wonders if Sundial took into consideration a comment about PMPostnotes /me made a while back... |
<Randell> | And you *all* know how concerned I am (some say too concerned) about product quality! |
<rollin> | There are also some more general Relish<->Palm issues that we're still trying to solve better than current implementations. So, the Pilot integration is important to us, but has several hurdles between it and the finish line. |
<mandie> | I for one admire your concern for product quality! |
<Randell> | Projects, I recall the comment but I don't recall the details off the top of my head... |
<Projects> | Randell: the ability to have more than one popup reminder able to activate at one time. With relish, I have to either defer or complete one before the next will occur |
<Randell> | (For those of you that may be waiting, it doesn't look like any downloads are going on at the moment.) |
* | Projects already got his d/l (and is amazed at the speed) |
<Randell> | Projects, yes, now I recall... |
<DCasey> | Projects you tighten up that string, did you? |
<Projects> | DCasey: dunno what happened. I go away for a week, and all speed breaks loose :-) |
<Randell> | It's on the list for future consideration, but it requires an architectural change that would probably further delay the release of 2.3... |
<Randell> | So it's 95% certain it won't happen for 2.3 (sorry)... |
<Projects> | Randell: understood |
<Projects> | :) |
<Randell> | The basic idea of reminders was, however, that you should defer individual ones that you can't deal with immediately. |
<Projects> | next question... is there a DBExpert mailing list of some kind? |
<Projects> | Randell: you don't know my kids... :-) |
<Randell> | You can then use the Overdue bun to see all the accumulating ones that you have deferred. |
<Randell> | Projects, correct... but I do understand :) |
<Projects> | hehehe |
<Randell> | Rollin, do you want to talk to the main list question? |
<os2hq> | Hello guys'n gals, what's up ? |
<Randell> | (Sorry, I can't type tonight: "mailing" list not "main" list) |
<StevenL> | I do have a Overdue bun wishlist item... |
<rollin> | Sure, we're in the processes of setting up joint newsgroup/mailing list services for all of our products. You should see them soon. |
<Randell> | StevenL, and what is it? |
<Projects> | rollin: great! |
<StevenL> | I would like the option of items past there due date/time to show up in the overdue bun even if you have not deferred them... |
<rollin> | Our goal is to have the newsgroup for the more casual browsing and the mailing list for the more dedicated users. It will be the same traffic though. |
<StevenL> | The idea is you could issue a snooze and use the overdue bun to reschedule... |
<StevenL> | As it is now, you have to defer the item to get it marked overdue. |
<rollin> | You'll probably seem them towards the end of the quarter. |
<Projects> | rollin: fine by me... I don't do newsgroups |
<Randell> | StevenL, but a Snooze doesn't impact, one way or the other, what's displayed in the Overdue bun... |
<StevenL> | It does indirectly. Let me give you an example... |
<Randell> | StevenL, so what you *really* want is a different bun that displays, I don't quite know, everything that is pending being displayed before the end of the snooze??? |
<StevenL> | Current time would be sufficient. |
<StevenL> | I'm not sure I am explaining the situation clearly. Am I? |
<Randell> | So a new view (and/or corresponding bun) that displays a summary of all pending reminders (that would have been displayed if things weren't snoozed) would be sufficient to meet your needs? |
<StevenL> | Yes. |
<Randell> | Ok, it's on the list... but I won't make any statement, one way or the other, about getting it into 2.3 at this point. |
<StevenL> | What I am trying to avoid is rescheduling from the Reminder dialog. It's tedious compared to drag and drop. |
<StevenL> | Also, a user level question if I may? |
<Randell> | Yes? |
<StevenL> | Is there a way to do multiple select within a bun? |
<Randell> | No. |
<StevenL> | I did RTFM. :-) |
<StevenL> | There are times it would be handy. |
<Sector> | And you call yourself a user... |
<Fuzy|ogic> | Did I miss the DBE 2.0.9 statement? |
<Randell> | It *might* be in 2.3... it's on the list of possible features but, to be honest, isn't implemened yet. |
<Randell> | Fuzylogic, yes... |
<StevenL> | Sector, sure. I didn't say I understood it. |
<Projects> | Fuzy|ogic an annoucement, yes |
<Randell> | DBExpert 2.0.9 is available effective earlier today... the update is on our website now. |
<rollin> | Fuzy, yes. DBE 2.09 is available :) It includes about 30 bug fixes. You can download it from www.sundialsystems.com/dbexpert |
<Fuzy|ogic> | Cool. Sometimes the install fails from floppy. Can all the files be copied to a dir and installed that way? It worked for Relish... |
<Randell> | Yes, copy all the files from both floppies to a single directory, then run the SETUP program from there... |
<Randell> | However, the updates are merely files you unzip and place in your DBExpert directory... there is not setup/install for those. |
<Projects> | Fuzy|ogic: install is painless :-) I was installed about 10 seconds after the d/l was complete |
<Fuzy|ogic> | Yeah, I had 2.08 on my other box... |
<Randell> | One of the bugs that is fixed in DBExpert 2.0.9 is a particularly nasty memory leak... |
<Projects> | oh, /me was talking about the upgrade... |
<Fuzy|ogic> | =O |
<Randell> | It turns out that if you ran *lots* of UPDATE or INSERT queries... |
<Randell> | The ODBC drivers were not releasing all their resources... |
<Randell> | The problem was not in the ODBC drivers, but in how DBExpert was calling them on multiple threads... |
<Randell> | The leak was so bad for some users that then eventually needed to reboot just to keep running... |
<Randell> | What finally allowed us to track it down was one user who had such a complex UPDATE... |
<Randell> | that was calling a macro... that was calling other UPDATES... |
<Randell> | that the single query would run the system out of resources! |
<Randell> | Well, it turned out to be a one line fix! But what a fix! |
<Projects> | sounds like Communicator :-) |
<vetexpert> | I want to personally thank Sundial for fixing the"leak" over and over! |
<Randell> | vetexpert out here on the chat was one of the folks that tested the fix... and perhaps he can comment. |
<Randell> | (Well, I can now see he already did) |
<vetexpert> | I just did, the next step would be to kiss your feet for fixing it!! |
<Projects> | ewww! |
<Randell> | Well, we don't need to go *that* far! |
<Randell> | (The download queue looks to be empty again if anyone else was still waiting.) |
<Randell> | Next question/comment? |
<vetexpert> | The fix made a huge difference in the "flow" at our front desk - it was a major improvement. |
<Fuzy|ogic> | Sundial: Have you been approached about inclusion of any of your apps with eCS? |
<vetexpert> | What is eCS |
<Projects> | any accounting apps in the works? :-))) |
<Randell> | I knew that was going to come up! |
<Sector> | EComStation |
<rollin> | Projects, no that's one of the areas we're staying away from. We have one or two tools you can use to build your own though! |
<Randell> | (My refererence was to eCS, not accounting apps) |
<Projects> | rollin: been mucking with Mesa to do it, but my REXX leaves much to be desired :) |
<rollin> | Sounds like you need to find a partner to help with that part. |
* | Projects looks at Swanee |
<Projects> | oh, forgot... happy hour |
* | Swanee feels someone staring... "Who is it!" |
<Projects> | hehehe |
<Randell> | As for eCS, I'm not quite sure how to put it, but the bottom line is that it doesn't make sense for us to *give away* our apps with eCS. |
<Fuzy|ogic> | I just meant demo versions and install rexx.cmd files... |
<Fuzy|ogic> | I would never assume you would give away your apps.. I paid money, so should everyone else :) |
<vetexpert> | Randell - Has anyone created and accounting app with DBExpert? |
<os2hq> | Rollin & Randell, I just want to commend you guys for being doggedly determined to make a living with native OS/2 apps, and finding a business structure that lets you do it. Bravo!! |
<warspite> | Good morning all. Finally made it. |
<madodel0> | It was the Frequent Flyer version of Mesa that reeled me in. |
<os2hq> | whois warspite |
<Swanee> | Good morning warspite! |
<Projects> | vetexpert: there's a few Mesa macros that look promising, but I haven't found any DBExpert ones |
<warspite> | Good morning. |
<Randell> | Fuzylogic, the folks at Serenity (eCS) have been a Sundial OEM for a long time... they offered most of our products on Wise Manager and thus have everything they think they need to run them on eCS. |
<Projects> | is eCS any good? |
<Fuzy|ogic> | Well, then people should just let it be... Demo version of Mesa on CD4 or whatever? |
* | os2hq is working on some mini-apps... but needs a good GUI-based dev environment. |
<Randell> | None of us here at Sundial have seen a copy of eCS so we can't comment. |
<Randell> | FuzyLogic, that's up to them |
<os2hq> | Randell, what does your app development toolbox -- your development system -- look like? |
<Projects> | ok, is fp14 any good? :-) |
<rollin> | Projects, we haven't touched it either :) |
<Projects> | rollin: :-) |
<warspite> | I've downloaded FP14 using the .dk method |
<Randell> | os2hq, each of us here at Sundial has a different set of development tools... |
* | Projects didn't bother with fp13 'cause of all the negative comments |
<warspite> | ....and found it OK so far. |
<rollin> | We tend to be pretty conservative about that stuff unless we have specific customer complaints/requirements. |
<Randell> | os2hq, partly that's becasue the "heritage" of each each product is different and each of us likes different programming tools as well... |
<warspite> | I got one, a Trap E.... |
<warspite> | but I think I was pushing AB pretty hard. |
<Projects> | warspite: so you had to use that "fix"? |
<Projects> | AB? |
<warspite> | No. rebooted back again OK, thank gooodness. |
<Randell> | os2hg, as for my box personally, I handle the builds for Relish and DBExpert. That takes VA C++ (version 3) plus DB2 and some other things for testing. |
<warspite> | AB sound fle...recording old LP's to CD's. |
<Randell> | os2hg, editor-wise, I'm and EPM fan (since before it was EPM) and use that for most everything I do. |
<Randell> | os2hq, does that cover it? |
<rollin> | I use VA C++ version 3 & 4 depending on the project. Qedit/TSE is my editor of choice. |
* | Projects ^5's rollin |
<Randell> | (os2hg, oh, by the way, *all* our GUIs are straight PM/GPI/WPS code -- we don't use any User Interface libraries/classes other than our own) |
<Projects> | TSE was a great editor in my dos days... wish it was native OS/2 |
<rollin> | There is a 16bit native OS/2 version. It works very well. I don't know if you can still buy it though. |
<Projects> | rollin: seriously? I was on the TSE beta team, and way back then, it was dos only |
<Projects> | I know there's an OS/2 version of Qedit, but TSE beats Qedit by miles... |
<rollin> | True, this is Qedit I'm using, not TSE. TSE didn't sit well with me for some reason. |
<Randell> | Showing my age, I was on the "Personal Editor" beta team -- the "E"-type (as in EPM) editor for DOS 1.0! |
<Projects> | DCasey: ok, it's actually $29.95 though |
<Projects> | rollin: I love TSE... much better than Qedit IMHO |
<Randell> | Enough on editors... did we miss anybody's question back there along the way? |
<rollin> | Back to Sundial products - does anyone have an interesting use of the Real-time feed they wouldn't mind sharing? |
<warspite> | Randell..I know I came in late but, any updates for DBExpert? |
<rollin> | dejavu all over again. |
<Randell> | warspite, yes, visit www.sundialsystems.com/dbexpert for 2.0.9 out today |
<warspite> | You beauty! will do. |
<vetexpert> | Randell, A question earlier: Has anyone created any accounting apps with DBExpert that you know, an a new one - could the real time feed feature of Mesa be useful to such an app? |
<Randell> | I asked for one question, not two! |
<Randell> | Seriously... |
<Randell> | I don't know of anyone having tried to create an accounting app in DBExpert.... |
<vetexpert> | Why not? It should be a breeze.. |
<rollin> | We have a volunteer! |
<Randell> | Certainly, DBExpert, like any good database, would be good for keeping track of the transaction data... |
<StevenL> | As one who builds accounting apps, when forced to, I beg to differ. :-) |
<Randell> | But, for whatever reason, accounting apps just aren't all that easy to develop (even though it seems like they should be)... |
<warspite> | Randell, Rollin, I've gone part way there. I use DBExpert to access Telephone Banking |
<StevenL> | It's easy to build an accounting app that fits one user's needs... |
<Randell> | I think that's why there just aren't all that many good ones out there on any platform... |
<StevenL> | It's much harder to build one that suits a large class of users... |
<StevenL> | There are several good accounting apps for OS/2... |
<Projects> | warspite: seriously? Hope YOU'RE planning on joining those Sundail mailing lists... :-) |
<Fuzy|ogic> | If I could do so much as keep my checkbook balanced, I would right one, but I don't know much about accounting. |
<warspite> | How do I go about it? |
<StevenL> | InCharge, MoneyDance etc. |
<Projects> | StevenL: name one |
<Projects> | Moneydance doesn't do businesses, InCharge doesn't do them well... |
<Randell> | I agree with StevenL, building *any* app to fit a large class of users is hard... any the way people do accounting is particularly constraining by how they use accounting in there business, etc |
<StevenL> | InCharge is OK for small service businesses... |
<StevenL> | I've complained enough to Bruce so perhaps it will get a bit better for businesses that sell goods... |
<StevenL> | MoneyDance is just getting started... |
<StevenL> | If the internal structure is good, adding business features is not impossible. |
<warspite> | Randell: The stuff I sent you. If that helps anyone, (besides the data), they're welcome to it. |
<StevenL> | Other than basic debits and credits each business class almost has a different set of rules for doing accounting. |
<Randell> | Over the years, several folks/companies have brought us partially or fully developed accounting "programs" that they thought we should turn into Sundial products... |
<Projects> | StevenL: cool... I kinda liked the moneydance interface, but the lack of business functions deterred me |
<Randell> | But none of them seemed to be a genernally "good enough" solution for us to run even our own relatively modest bookkeeping needs... |
<StevenL> | The thing I like about Moneydance, as much as anything else, is that it shows the potential for Java apps to perform well. |
<os2hq> | Thanks for the rundown on the development suites. Cool. |
<Randell> | So we've basically stayed out of that business and prefer, for now at least, to let the specialists in that area develop their own products... |
<Projects> | Randell: do you mind me asking... what do you use for your "modest bookkeeping needs"? |
<rollin> | match sticks |
<Randell> | I don't think we would *ever* attempt it without cooperation from someone with significant accouting expertise. |
<Randell> | Projects, I'd rather not say if you don't mind. |
<Projects> | Randell: np... me too :-) |
<StevenL> | Sounds like my in-house systems. :-) |
<vetexpert> | I started my veterinary practice with set of "dual entry" accounting ledgers, simple debit and credit entries and when I switched to computer accounting that was the end of my understanding my business... |
<StevenL> | Vetexpert, you are typical... |
<vetexpert> | I think an app in DBExpert could easily duplicate the elegant simplicity that the monks came up with way back when... |
<Projects> | Abacus? :-) |
<StevenL> | What I find in small to medium businesses is that the manangement/owners have a couple of key items they watch. That's the only report they want and if your system.. |
<vetexpert> | I tried that;-) |
<StevenL> | Doesn't do that, they don't want it... |
<StevenL> | Sometimes the things they watch make sense to me, other times I wonder... |
<Randell> | We do use a commercial accounting product... and we've changed products over time... but we really aren't entirely happy with what we are using but we also haven't really given the competition fare shake... so it's better if we just don't comment. |
<StevenL> | However, they understand their business and these keys seem to work for them. |
<vetexpert> | StevenL - I could watch it all with my old set of books. |
<StevenL> | I usually recomment InCharge to home users... |
<StevenL> | The trick is to ignore the interface oddities. |
* | DCasey would be tickled pink with an OS/2 version of the old DOS QuickBooks |
<DCasey> | All those damn windows popping up jeut get in the way |
<madodel0> | Like that would ever happen |
<StevenL> | Someone's got to fund the R&D... |
* | Projects has NO comment about the evil quickbooks |
<Randell> | Ok, enough of the "accounting nightmares"... back to any Sundial questions... |
<StevenL> | For that to happen they have to believe their will be a return. |
<StevenL> | OK. |
<vetexpert> | I agree about quickbooks - i called it cookbooks |
<StevenL> | But, you've already heard all my wishlist requests at least twice. |
<warspite> | Projects: I have a DBExpert "system" for incoming/outgoing finances + telephone banking, if this helps. |
<madodel0> | I basically use InCharge for my checking/savings accounts, and Mesa 2 for my Invoicing and income/expenses. though InCharges new online banking features are getting nice. |
<Projects> | warspite : seeing as I'm going to get into DBExpert as much as I possibly can, that would help :-) |
<Projects> | InCharge totally screwed up my books earlier this year (one of the updates)... Unfortunately I had to go a win accounting app |
<StevenL> | Did you talk to Bruce about your problem? |
<warspite> | No problems...it's a bit rough,..... |
<vetexpert> | Randell - you never did answer the sec |
<vetexpert> | ond question |
<warspite> | I'm not good at IRC, how do I contact you afterwards? |
<Projects> | StevenL: I found that Bruce doesn't listen that well... I had another problem that never got fixed that I asked about.. he said "send my your account files". I did, the problem still occurs |
<Randell> | vetexpert, The one about using Mesa Real Time Feed? |
<vetexpert> | yes |
<Projects> | warspite : email treasurer@os2voice.org or plazenby@yellowhead16.net |
<Randell> | vetexpert, I guess I didn't ahve a real good answer... I'm not sure what using the RTF functions in an accounting application would buy you since I can't envision what the source of the feed would be. |
<vetexpert> | Before I forget I tried to join VOICE online and got the error "DNS entry not found" - The same when trying top email. |
<warspite> | Thans..notes and sent. Mine is: nlysaght@one.net.au |
<Sector> | Hopefully those problems will be fixed soon |
<vetexpert> | OK - I don't understand real time feed anyway |
<Projects> | vetexpert: try again :( It's a problem that's been far too frequent |
<vetexpert> | I will try again |
<Randell> | vetexpert, I think we are going to have a presentation of the Mesa Real Time Feed at Warpstock if you are going to be there... |
<vetexpert> | Okey Dokey |
<Projects> | vetexpert: or as an alternative, you could use the snail mail route... those seem to get here faster than the net these days... |
<vetexpert> | will do |
<raysun> | Randell: Could real time feed be an RS232 feed from a GPS? |
<Randell> | I've gotta run in about 5 minutes... and I'm not entirely sure what Rollin's schedule is tonight... so it's about time for a "last call" on questions. |
<Randell> | raysun, absolutely yes! |
<rollin> | I'm getting hungry, that's my schedule :) |
<vetexpert> | Thanks for the chat - I don't keep a confusor at home so I need to run along now since I am hungry to! |
<rollin> | Raysun, there are a couple of REXX libraries for grabbing data off of the serial port, which you could then easily transfer to the RTF. |
<Randell> | raysun, you would need to create "something" to read the RS232 data (such as a REXX program using a COMM library)but you would then feed the data into Mesa using the RTF calls in REXX. |
<raysun> | Thanks Randell: I'm looking forward to seeing your demo at Warpstock. |
* | Projects is really looking forward to the Sundial mailing lists |
<Randell> | raysun, see you there. |
<Randell> | vetexpert, see you whereever and know I'll be getting mail from you... |
<mandie> | Once again, VOICE thanks Randell and Rollin for taking time out of their busy schedules to provide support to the OS/2 community! |
<rollin> | It's our pleasure! |
<Projects> | no, it's ours! :) |
<madodel0> | Next Saturday VOICE will be hosting yet another Speakup session. This time with the Warpstock 2000 Event Team. The time is 4PM, the place #voice of course. ;-) |
<madodel0> | That's 4PM EDT (8PM GMT) |
* | Projects doesn't think he'll be able to make that one... daughter's birthday |
<Randell> | Don't forget that our web server is just waiting to receive your connections and download requests... cycles are standing by right now! |
<madodel0> | Projects you seem to have a birthday party every other week |
<Randell> | And we'll be back the first Monday in October... hopefully with a planned "topic" (if Randell keeps his nose to the grindstone) |
<Projects> | madodel0: yeah, that's the problem with these large families :) |
<Sector> | ARRGGHHHHHH it would have to be Saturday... |
<rollin> | See everyone soon! Have a good evening. |
<mandie> | nytol :) |
<Randell> | Thanks again for having us... good night... |
<raysun> | Likewise! |
<Projects> | Randell: anytime! |