Hi, I couldn't agree more. It seems to me like the vendors "deaf ears" are their own worst enemy - each one clinging onto their own uniqueness, all be it by name. It would probably help if any of them actually appeared to market their products outside of Spectrum....having said that, I do not read much trade press so I may be missing something. But my general assumption is that most of their business comes from word of mouth.
I also find the naming and terminology a nightmare. It is not a problem anymore as I don't have to deal with unknowledgeable agents much, but years ago I remember having to engage in long discussions with agents, explaining to them what the term "Pick" or "Multivalue" generally refers to in order to even get them to submit my CV to their client. Maybe they were looking for a "pick" developer but at the time my CV mentioned Reality or UniVerse - agents question - do you have any Pick experience? Here in Germany, there is no point in even mentioning Pick or Multivalue. You won't get anywhere. The terms "Multidimensional", "Extended Relational" and "Nested Relational" are the only terms which will take the conversation anywhere useful over here; otherwise they will probably just think you are part of a strange cult (grin). Either we can sit here and moan about the vendors, or we can take action ourselves, as we clearly care about this topic more than the vendors do. Schöne Grüße Glenn -----Original Message----- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Brian Leach Sent: Dienstag, 23. März 2010 10:34 To: lbc7...@gmail.com; 'U2 Users List' Subject: Re: [U2] Pick Pocket Guide Lloyd Thanks! Yes, I use Lulu because the volumes are so small and since they are US based - as is most of the readership - they can dispatch directly to the client rather than my having to dispatch them from here. The downside is the lead time for production. But 'windbag' or not Tony [grin], don't underestimate the amount of work required to create these - they take literally months of effort and if I were looking on a purely commercial basis they would be a non-starter for that reason. I write the books because I enjoy it, and I because I love this technology. The sales are a bonus. BUT it does lead into another soap box of mine: if you were searching for a book on this technology, what do you search under? The fact that there are no generic names for this market space, other than the 'multivalue' name that only participants understand, is one of my pet hates. Everyone understands the name SQL even though different variants are largely incompatible. Yet we can't even agree on one, single, sensible name for our query language: it's even different between the two U2 products! So if, for example, you wanted a book on the query language, are you looking under: Retrieve, UniQuery, AQL, ACCESS, ENGLISH, INFORM, JQL ... Yes it's fine to have all these trademarked variants - just like TSQL and SQL*PLUS - but the fact that after all these years the vendors still cannot bash their heads together to come up with a single, overarching and generic term just frustrates the h*ll of out me. And the other pieces are no better (BASIC, UniBasic, UniVerse Basic, DATABASIC, DATA/BASIC, PROC or PROVERB ...) I've raised this with the various vendors several times over the years, and it has always falled on deaf ears. But until we can start to just refer to our technology sensibly, it is always going to be an uphill struggle reaching beyond our community boundaries. Brian -----Original Message----- From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Lloyd Cottrell Sent: 23 March 2010 3:01 AM To: U2 Users List Subject: Re: [U2] Pick Pocket Guide I would talk to Brian Leach about how he publishes his. If I'm not mistaken they are printed on demand. I have bought a few from him, and they are very good quality. _______________________________________________ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.791 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2763 - Release Date: 03/22/10 07:33:00 _______________________________________________ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential. It is intended to be read only by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed or by their designee. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are on notice that any distribution of this message, in any form, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender and delete or destroy any copy of this message _______________________________________________ U2-Users mailing list U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
