Other Software Updates
gail...@mro.mts.dec.com
IN THIS SECTION:
o DEC ODBC Driver for MS-Windows V1.1
o DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS V1.3
o DECprint Supervisor (DCPS) for OpenVMS V1.0c
o DECtalk PC for DOS V4.2 Update Kit
DEC ODBC DRIVER FOR MS-Windows V1.1
Many businesses are using relational database management systems (RDBMSs)
from multiple vendors. All major RDBMSs use the Structured Query Language
(SQL) to build database applications, but proprietary extensions and
variable functionality make these systems largely incompatible with one
another. Each vendor provides a proprietary desktop application programming
interface (API), which is used to construct client database requests. These
API calls must be incorporated into off-the-shelf and in-house developed
software in order for client database requests to be processed by the
vendor's proprietary RDBMS on the server. It is costly to train programmers
in the use of each of these desktop APIs and to develop and maintain
applications written with multiple APIs.
Digital's DEC ODBC Driver for MS-Windows enables Windows based, ODBC enabled
applications and tools to access data stored in DEC Rdb and other data
sources accessible through Digital's database gateway products. The V1.1
release includes support for new transports (Windows SOCKETS compliant
TCP/IPs and NetWare SPX/IPX), transparent multimedia support, and support
for stored procedures, primary and foreign keys, and additional performance
enhancing ODBC Level 2 calls.
This is a standards based API driver, thus helping to reduce costs for
programmer training, application development, and maintenance. Programmers
need learn only one Windows API for client database requests and use it to
develop and maintain applications that work with relational data from
multiple vendors. MS-Windows users can choose from a large number of
powerful, industry leading end user and application development tools to
access the data they need.
The DEC ODBC Driver for MS-Windows is available now to DEC Rdb, DEC DB
Integrator, and DEC DB Integrator Gateways users as added value either at no
additional charge or at the cost of a media and documentation kit. It is
licensed and packaged with Digital's database server products (it does not
have a shrink-wrapped license) and is distributed with the three products
named, with ACCESSWORKS V2.0, and with such third party ODBC enabled
products as the Powersoft Powerbuilder, Cognos impromptu, Gupta SQL Windows
and Quest (release this spring), and Q+E Software ODBC Driver Kit (also due
for release this spring).
Specific availability is as follows:
o For current versions of server products with any license type (runtime,
interactive, or development):
- The server product Software Product Description conveys to ODBC enabled
application users the right to use the DEC ODBC Driver for MS-Windows
and install it on all Windows PCs supported by a DEC Rdb, DEC DB
Integrator, or DEC DB integrator Gateway license.
- If you need additional copies of the driver on a floppy, you order the
media and documentation kit, order number QA-26D*A-HB, which includes
an RX24 high density floppy with an installation/user guide in Windows
help format, and an electronic copy of the SPD.
o For older versions of supported server products with any license type
(runtime, interactive, or development) that do not include the DEC ODBC
Driver, you order the QA-26D*A-HB H-kit.
Note that the DEC ODBC Driver product is both ODBC driver and client
connectivity software. The distribution kit includes all the database client
software (including the MS ODBC Driver Manager and the ODBC Administrator
utility) required to permit an ODBC enabled application to access Digital's
database products. The kit uses the normal Windows installation procedure.
In addition to an ODBC enabled application and the DEC ODBC Driver, a
Windows PC requires a network transport product. V1.0 of the DEC ODBC Driver
requires the PATHWORKS for DOS DECnet or TCP/IP client. V1.1 of the DEC ODBC
Driver supports NetWare SPX/IPX and Windows SOCKETS compliant TCP/IPs.
The calls supported by ODBC are divided into three groups: Core, Level 1,
and Level 2. Core calls are the calls specified by the SQL Access Group Call
Level Interface (CLI). These calls represent the lowest common denominator
of database functionality supported by all SQL Access Group member RDBMS
vendors. Level 1 and Level 2 calls utilize database functions not supported
by all vendors' RDBMS.
The DEC ODBC Driver supports SQL-92 compliant DEC SQL, Digital's value added
SQL extensions, all ODBC Core and Level 1 calls, and several performance
enhancing Level 2 calls. It is supported with DEC Rdb V4.2 (and subsequent
versions), DEC DB Integrator V1.0 (and subsequent versions), and the DEC DB
Integrator Gateway family of interoperability products. The SQL/Services
server (included with the DEC Rdb, DEC DB Integrator, and DEC DB Integrator
Gateway products) is required on the OpenVMS server. Both Alpha AXP and VAX
systems are supported as OpenVMS servers.
ODBC is based upon the SQL Access Group CLI specification. ODBC calls accept
as parameters both standards based SQL (SQL Access Group API) and database
vendors' value added extensions of SQL. ODBC calls are used by an
application to connect to a database, prepare and execute SQL data
definition and data manipulation commands, and manage data structures and
requested data sets (cursors). These ODBC calls are passed, via the MS ODBC
Driver Manager, from the application to a database product-specific ODBC
driver on the PC.
The ODBC driver acts as an interface between the MS ODBC Driver Manager and
a database vendor's proprietary client connectivity software on the PC. The
client connectivity software interfaces to a network transport product,
manages the connection to the vendor's RDBMS, passes the application's SQL
commands to it, and receives data from the RDBMS. The ODBC specification
does not specify the formats and protocols required to connect to a
database.
Client hardware requirements include a PC that can run Windows and Ethernet.
Client software requirements include MS-Windows 3.x and one of the following
network stacks:
o PATHWORKS for DOS (DECnet) V4.0 or later.
o PATHWORKS for DOS (TCP/IP) V2.0 or later.
o Windows SOCKETS compliant TCP/IP.
o NetWare SPX/IPX V3.1.1.1.
Server software requirements include:
o SQL/Services Server V4.2 or later (V6.0 is required for stored procedures
and NetWare support).
o For NetWare SPX/IPX clients: Interconnections' Leverage for NetWare on
OpenVMS VAX.
Services for the DEC ODBC Driver are the same as those available for
SQL/Services under the DEC Rdb, DEC DB Integrator, and DEC DB Integrator
Gateway products.
DEC DISTRIBUTED QUEUING SERVICE FOR OpenVMS V1.3
DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS V1.3 updates DEC Distributed
Queuing Service V1.2 for OpenVMS AXP (SPD 45.86.00-A) and VAX Distributed
Queuing Service V1.2 for OpenVMS VAX (SPD 28.80.02-B). It provides
performance, operational, and system management related improvements and
updated, easier-to-use documentation.
AS its principal functions, the Distributed Queuing Service:
o Provides unassisted remote printing anywhere in a worldwide DECnet
environment.
o Allows the sharing of printers among many clusters.
o Simplifies queue and workstation system management by connecting printers
to one or two nodes of a system or cluster.
o Allows users of one OpenVMS system to request and query print services on
any other OpenVMS system (local or remote via DECnet software) on which
the Distributed Queuing Service also resides.
The new features of the V1.3 release include support for DECnet Phase V
(ADVANTAGE-NETWORKS) fullname functionality and implementation of POLYCENTER
software installation. The support for DECnet Phase V fullnames lets you
access and use printers connected to nodes in excess of the 65K node limit
of DECnet Phase IV. POLYCENTER software installation makes Distributed
Queuing Service installation easier and faster.
DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS V1.3 is available now. The
version for VAX systems has a ClusterWide license and is available on the
OpenVMS VAX Consolidated Software Distribution on Compact Disc
(QA-VWJ8A-A8). The version for Alpha AXP systems has a traditional license
and is available on the Digital CDROM Software Libary for OpenVMS AXP
systems (QA-03X*A-H8).
The Distributed Queuing Service license and media are also part of the NAS
client/server packages for OpenVMS VAX and OpenVMS AXP systems (NAS 250, NAS
300, and NAS 400).
Order No. Description
Distributed Queuing Service Licenses, Media, and
Documentation:
QL-VEN*9-** DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS VAX V1.3
QL-0HP**-*A DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS AXP V1.3
QA-VEN*A-** DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS V1.3 media and
documentation
QA-VEN*A-GZ DEC Distributed Queuing Service for OpenVMS V1.3
documentation only
DECprint SUPERVISOR (DCPS) FOR OpenVMS V1.0c
The V1.0c release of the DECprint Supervisor for OpenVMS VAX and AXP systems
is available now, adding support for the latest Digital PostScript printers
(the DEClaser 5100, including the LAT network card, and the DECcolorwriter
1000). New ANSI translator features include improvements in tray selection
commands and ANSI embedded duplex commands.
The DECprint Supervisor family of products (SPD/SSA 44.15.00) comprises
DCPS-Base, DCPS-Open, and DCPS-Plus. See the following Digital's Customer
Update issues for DCPS articles providing complete information on these
products: December 14, 1992; January 25, 1993; May 31, 1993; and August 2,
1993.
While DCPS V1.0c ships, Digital is making the license for DCPS-Plus
available at a special standard price. Through June 1994, when DCPS V1.1 is
scheduled to ship, you can get both the DCPS-Plus V1.0 license and one year
of layered product support (LPS) for the regular U.S. list price of the
DCPS-Plus V1.0 license alone. (DCPS-Open prices are not affected by this
special offer.)
If you purchase media and documentation while V1.0c is shipping, you will
automatically receive the V1.1 media and update documentation at no
additional cost.
Note that while update licenses will be available for the DCPS-Plus V1.1
release for both OpenVMS VAX and AXP systems, it is more cost effective to
purchase a V1.0c license at the reduced standard price than to purchase a
V1.0c license at the lower U.S. list price and then the DCPS-Plus V1.1
update license.
Order No. Description
Specially Priced DCPS-Plus:
QL-09L**-AA DCPS-Plus for OpenVMS VAX traditional licenses
QL-09M**-AA DCPS-Plus for OpenVMS AXP traditional licenses
DCPS Kits:
QA-09N*A-H* Media and documentation kit
QA-09N*A-GZ Documentation only (single set of documentation for
DCPS-Base, DCPS-Open, and DCPS-Plus on OpenVMS VAX and AXP)
DECtalk PC FOR DOS V4.2 UPDATE KIT
Digital's DECtalk PC Speech Synthesizer converts ASCII text into speech
output to provide easy access to the contents of dynamic databases and other
computer based information. New features in the V4.2 software upgrade (SPD
36.08.03) enhance speech quality, offering synthesized speech output that is
unparalleled in naturalness and intelligibility. These features include:
o Greater ease of installation.
o Digitized sound file processing.
o Expanded user information.
o Expanded (unlimited) dictionary.
o Expanded DTDEMO program.
o User dictionary suffix processing.
o Expanded pronunciation rules and improved pronunciation.
o Multilanguage architecture.
o Homograph processing.
o Improved indexing.
o Parameter setup and recall commands.
For users with disabilities -- particularly those who are blind, have low
vision, or have learning disabilities -- the new features that facilitate
installation and allow a direct match between screen viewing and speech
output offer greater independence and computing access both in the workplace
and at home.
For further product information please consult the "DECtalk PC Speech
Synthesizer Option" article in the January 10, 1992, issue of Digital's
Customer Update and the "DECtalk PC Speech Synthesizer V4.1" article in the
May 10, 1993, issue.
The DECtalk PC for DOS V4.2 update kit is orderable now in the U.S. through
the DECdirect (1-800-344-4825) and DESKTOP DIRECT (1-800-722-9332) services.
It is compatible with the DECtalk PC Speech Synthesizer (DTC07-AA).
Installation, technical support, maintenance, training, documentation,
integration, and consulting services are available. A list of assistive-
technology value added resellers that remarket the product in the U.S. is
also available through these channels.
Order No. Description
QA-XA6AA-WW DECtalk V4.2 update kit
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Corporation.
NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.
PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.