Wirt,

We have to get the files downloaded.  We have not gotten the support we
need from our vendor.  We have contracted out the use of HP3000, so we
have no control over it.

Therefore, we need to keep our business going and we needed these reports.
It is not my place to determine why we have such an odd arrangement, but
with weekly files we are able to use SQL in FoxPro.  FoxPro is the fastest
Database for PC's.  So, in terms of speed I don't think the HP3000 with
300 users and only 14 jobs running at once can compete with the PC.

Also, the Suprtool and COBOL I have seen does not allow for easy queries
like SQL/FoxPro does.  So, not only is faster it is easier to get the
information we need.

Except for those two reasons: Speed and ease of use ther is no reason not
to put them on the HP3000.  Let me say, if you have not figured it out, I
am PC programmer.  I have done the Mini/MainFrame and think it is good for
24x7 operations.  Otherwise bring it down to a PC and let people use tools
that will be easy to use.

The tables we are talking about have 1.5 million records.

Peter

On Tue, 6 Jan 1998, WirtAtmar wrote:

> Peter Hecht writes:
>
> > I was unclear.  We have an HP3000 and create files via SUPRTOOL to
> >  download to our Novell 312.  We then bring it into FoxPro and create
> >  applications and ad-hoc reporting.
> >
> >  I want to make the hours of downloading reduced.
>
> Wouldn't you be far better off moving your reports to the HP3000 where they
> can be executed with far greater efficiency and ease? Trying to reduce
> download times may be solving the completely wrong problem. Eliminating all of
> the manipulations that you're going through now would not only save you hours
> of downloading, it could also free up an enormous amount of personnel time
> that you must be consuming now.
>
> Wirt Atmar
>
>
>
>