New York Conference 2005

Developing Developing Sophisticated Applications Sophisticated Applications

in SIRin SIR

UnsophisticatedUnsophisticated

I’m the only userI’m the only user I’m only go to do this once anywayI’m only go to do this once anyway I know what these codes meanI know what these codes mean If anyone wants any of this stuff If anyone wants any of this stuff

they have to come to me anywaythey have to come to me anyway You can do anything with a You can do anything with a

spreadsheetspreadsheet

Sophisticated ApplicationsSophisticated Applications

Other People Use ItOther People Use It– ReliableReliable– RepeatableRepeatable

Long LivedLong Lived– Changes in PeopleChanges in People– Changes in ApplicationChanges in Application

Understand RequirementsUnderstand Requirements– Implementation may not be the Implementation may not be the

problemproblem

Data, Processes and Data, Processes and InterfacesInterfaces

Database Design Database Design – Driven by dataDriven by data– Data Analysis from existing/proposed Data Analysis from existing/proposed

documents or systemsdocuments or systems– Records and KeysRecords and Keys– Coding systemsCoding systems

Processes – who, what, when?Processes – who, what, when?– Regular Data InputRegular Data Input– Standard TasksStandard Tasks– Interfaces to other systemsInterfaces to other systems– Queries and analysesQueries and analyses

Data, Processes and Data, Processes and InterfacesInterfaces

User InterfaceUser Interface– Easy to useEasy to use– Easy to learnEasy to learn– ConsistentConsistent

Implementation IssuesImplementation Issues– Test DatabaseTest Database– Data Base AdministrationData Base Administration– Long Term MaintenanceLong Term Maintenance– DocumentationDocumentation

Building Sophisticated Building Sophisticated Applications in SIRApplications in SIR

‘‘Cooking with SIR’ Cooking with SIR’ – Known IngredientsKnown Ingredients– Possibly some old favoritesPossibly some old favorites– Fresh IdeasFresh Ideas

Four presentersFour presenters– Tony Reardon & David BaxterTony Reardon & David Baxter

SIR developersSIR developers

– Dave Doulton and Tom ShriverDave Doulton and Tom Shriver Long term sophisticated SIR usersLong term sophisticated SIR users

TimetableTimetable Day 1 Day 1

12:30 Overview12:30 Overview Creating and Maintaining a DatabaseCreating and Maintaining a Database14:30 Building User Interfaces – David 14:30 Building User Interfaces – David

BaxterBaxter Day 2Day 2

9:00 9:00 Building Sophisticated ProcessesBuilding Sophisticated Processes10:30 – 11.00 Converting from earlier versions of 10:30 – 11.00 Converting from earlier versions of

SIR – David BaxterSIR – David Baxter13:00 Exchanging Data between SIR and 13:00 Exchanging Data between SIR and

other Systems – Dave Doultonother Systems – Dave Doulton14:30 A Case Study – Tom Shriver14:30 A Case Study – Tom Shriver

Creating and Maintaining Creating and Maintaining a Databasea Database

New DatabaseNew Database– Logical DesignLogical Design– Normalization Normalization

Eliminate redundant data Eliminate redundant data Identify data dependencies – keys Identify data dependencies – keys

SIR SchemasSIR Schemas PQL Schema FunctionsPQL Schema Functions

– Simple Data DictionarySimple Data Dictionary

Internals of SIR databaseInternals of SIR database

Structure of recordsStructure of records Structure of blocksStructure of blocks Structure of indexStructure of index Loading FactorLoading Factor

Concurrent UpdateConcurrent Update

MasterMaster– General PrinciplesGeneral Principles– Database AccessDatabase Access– Lock ManagementLock Management– ‘‘Difference File’Difference File’– Managing MasterManaging Master

Backup and RestoreBackup and Restore

Unload/ReloadUnload/Reload JournalsJournals RestructuringRestructuring Export/ImportExport/Import VerifyVerify

Building User Interfaces in Building User Interfaces in SIRSIR

Menus & DialogsMenus & Dialogs Generic Database ApplicationsGeneric Database Applications Spreadsheet & FormsSpreadsheet & Forms Other Interface PossibilitiesOther Interface Possibilities

Menus and DialogsMenus and Dialogs

Menu OverviewMenu Overview Writing and Running Menu ProgramsWriting and Running Menu Programs Menu TipsMenu Tips Dialog OverviewDialog Overview Dialog ProgramsDialog Programs Dialog PainterDialog Painter Dialog Tips & TricksDialog Tips & Tricks

Generic Database Generic Database ApplicationsApplications

Programs and RetrievalsPrograms and Retrievals Schema FunctionsSchema Functions Generating CodeGenerating Code Example ApplicationsExample Applications

Spreadsheet & FormsSpreadsheet & Forms

PQLFormsPQLForms Writing FormsWriting Forms Generating FormsGenerating Forms Forms PainterForms Painter SPREADSHEET DBMS commandSPREADSHEET DBMS command GRID PQL CommandGRID PQL Command PQL+Forms+GridPQL+Forms+Grid

Other Interface Other Interface PossibilitiesPossibilities

GUI vs Console InterfacesGUI vs Console Interfaces ODBC/SIRSQLs InterfaceODBC/SIRSQLs Interface CGI InterfaceCGI Interface API InterfaceAPI Interface

Building Sophisticated Building Sophisticated ProcessesProcesses

Review of SIR StructureReview of SIR Structure Command Processing ‘scripts’Command Processing ‘scripts’ Use of GlobalsUse of Globals PQL as development toolPQL as development tool

– Review of SyntaxReview of Syntax– Recent CommandsRecent Commands

PQLPQL

EXECUTE DBMSEXECUTE DBMS GUI commands outside DialogsGUI commands outside Dialogs Current capabilities for file and Current capabilities for file and

directory processingdirectory processing ARRAY ProcessingARRAY Processing GRID commandGRID command LOOKUP commandLOOKUP command PQLFormsPQLForms

Converting from Earlier Converting from Earlier Versions of SIRVersions of SIR

EXPORT/IMPORTEXPORT/IMPORT PQL ProgramsPQL Programs ICE ProceduresICE Procedures FULLSCREEN PQLFULLSCREEN PQL SIR3.2 MenusSIR3.2 Menus SIRFORMSSIRFORMS HELP TabfilesHELP Tabfiles Tips & TricksTips & Tricks

Exchanging Data between Exchanging Data between SIR and Other Systems SIR and Other Systems

ODBCODBC– Setting up ODBC sourcesSetting up ODBC sources

– ODBC importODBC import

– ODBC PQLlODBC PQLl

– ODBC membersODBC members

Using sirweb.cgiUsing sirweb.cgi ODBC and sirweb.cgiODBC and sirweb.cgi ODBC and PQLServerODBC and PQLServer

Case StudyCase Study

Implementation Philosophies & Implementation Philosophies & Strategies for Sophisticated Strategies for Sophisticated ApplicationsApplications

Brief description of the MNYR databaseBrief description of the MNYR database Database Management on Remote Database Management on Remote

ControlControl A Model for End-User Database A Model for End-User Database

Navigation SystemsNavigation Systems Useful End-User FeaturesUseful End-User Features

New York Conference 2005

Developing Developing Sophisticated Applications Sophisticated Applications

in SIRin SIR