Jeff throws out a thought:

> On a more overall note, it would be really neat if VPLUS or
> some variant of it was adapted to support HTML (hey, it
> isolated the terminal interface fairly well, how about HTML
> now?).
>
> I'm not talking about thin clients or would-be termulators, but
> something that generates HTML/Javascript rather than PCL
> terminal escape sequences.  And the concept is not that far
> off base (an HTML form is sort of block mode).
>
> But that may be asking Mayfield to dig some skeletons out of
> their closet...

An interesting idea.....  but I have to think as per Jeff's last
above, actually delivering something like this would probably
require Mayfield / Roseville to dig up not just an isolated skeleton
but an entire graveyard;  unlikely they could ever be sold on the
"business case"....


Then Lars:

> I wonder if it would be helpful if the Transact compiler were
> available in some kind of trial version, either time-bombed like
> Glance or maybe with some kind of limit for program size or
> so.
>
> Maybe this could give more people a chance to try-before-
> buy...

I don't want to throw cold water on this idea, but while Transact
is pretty straightforward, as with any full-featured language there
is a bit of a step-function learning curve before you can start
implementing systems of any complexity (The IF-THEN-ELSE
& etc. logic is very straightforward, but the database verbs and
a few other things are somewhat unique).....   so if it was going
to be time-bombed, as a practical matter I would think it would
have to be a pretty long countdown;  like five or six months or
something like that....  then users would have a chance to do a
little serious study in between "other duties"....  but 30 days or
etc. wouldn't cut it....

But let me hasten to add:  Lars' suggestion is one of those
things that certainly could not in any way hurt;  it's a good idea;
I wish HP would do it.....  and of course announce same in a
Communicator article...

Ken Sletten