CompuServe Thread

#DATABASE FOR PDP-11

7 messages in this thread
#57238From: JIM MCCONNELLAug 1, 1990 4:01 PM
DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A DATABASE UTILITY OR SPREADSHEET PROGRAM FOR PDP-11'S ? SPECIFICALLY WE'RE STILL RUNNING RSTS/E 8.G. ORACLE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, C-CALC ONLY WORKS WITH RMS FILES (?), PORTACALC ONLY RUNS ON RSX. WOULD BE GLAD TO PURCHASE ANYONE'S LICENSE IF THEY HAVE A COPY BURIED SOMEWHERE. THANKS.
#57239From: Gary MetzlerAug 2, 1990 9:21 PM
Jim, I've been looking into this for SOME TIME now and I haven't had a whole lot of luck. There is at least one rudimentary d-base available through DECUS but it wasn't up to par, as I recall. Decent commercial software is TOO DARN EXPENSIVE ($8000 and up) and I can't seem to justify it for an old, aching PDP-11. The route I am going to go is pick up an old VAX, say, an 11-750 to open up the multitude of VMS possibilities that simply aren't there for RSTS. Sorry I couldn't be of any help. -Gary
#57241From: Bill Mayhew [VAX/DECPC]Aug 3, 1990 10:41 AM
Gary, There's a thread going on over in VAXFORUM on "the cheapest VAX" which you might find of some interest. One problem with the older, bigger machines like the 750 is that they are expensive to maintain and to run. Another is that software for them tends to be quite expensive by comparison to the newer, smaller, and MUCH faster models. For example, Rdb (full interactive version) costs $7500+ on a 750, and only half that on a MicroVAX 3100, which will run rings around the 750. Individual cases will vary, but it is not unusual to be able to cost-justify the new 3100 over the old 750 just on the basis of software license savings, period… never mind operational cost savings and performance benefits. Just a thought… -Bill
#57273From: Ray Haas, RJH SystemsAug 28, 1990 2:38 AM
Gary: Although the PDP-11 is old, there is still many options available that considerably extend it's life. Primary amoungst them is The Link, which allows one to form a Local Area PDP-11 Cluster. It's quite a product. However, I cannot argue the fact the PDP-11s are a DEC "Declining Feature." Ray Haas
#57272From: Ray Haas, RJH SystemsAug 28, 1990 2:38 AM
The only general purpose database that I can recall at the moment is Datatrieve…..but I will do a bit more research and see what I can come up with. Ray Haas
#57278From: John ZittingAug 30, 1990 11:38 PM
1 Another place to check for DataBase or Spread Sheet programs for PDP-11, is Saturn Systems, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN if they are still in business. I know they made Saturn-Calc, Saturn-Base, Saturn-Graph, and WP Saturn word processing for RT11, TSX, VMS, and maby RSTS.
#57279From: John ZittingAug 30, 1990 11:42 PM
Oh, by the way…the last number I had for Saturn Systems was (612)944-2452, and (800)328-6145.