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Introducing QuiVerR.O.I. Syngineering is pleased to introduce you to QuiVer, a set of tools for users of MultiValue systems. QuiVer stands for "Quick and Versatile", a name which aptly describes the product. It has been described to increase the productivity of all system users, both the technically proficient and the novice. It is easy to use, self-teaching, and tailorable to the specific needs of your company. What is QuiVerQuiVer is and "expert" system. It works by asking questions about what you want to do, demonstrates what you told it to do, and asks you if you like what it showed you. QuiVer is "object oriented". It implements global definition and reusability, enabling developers to select from a library of tested processes, functions, utilities and data bases. QuiVer is a prototyping tool. In just a few minutes a programmer (or anyone given access to the entire suite of QuiVer functions) can develop a working prototype of a complete application. You can create a file, build a dictionary, and simulate typical program functions (such as updating, reporting and inquiry) without a single line of program code being written. Merge the results together in a QuiVer menu and turn it over to the end-user for evaluation, QuiVer is an application development tool, capable of satisfying a significant percentage of your requirements without additional program code. Developing a prototype application frequently results in satisfying all or most of the customer's needs. If an esoteric function is required, you can call a subroutine at any processing milestones. Any BASIC program may be included in QuiVer menus, so you can include existing programs in a QuiVer application. Because source code is included, Quiver programs can be cloned to include any special requirements not addressed by standard versions. QuiVer is an ad hoc report and inquiry writer which enables the untrained user to obtain needed information without distracting professional application developers from more demanding tasks. Optionally, these procedures may be cataloged for future use. QuiVer enhances the functionality of software packages developed by third-party providers. R.O.I. Syngineering is building software bridges to popular MultiValue applications to simplify the coordination and administration of all these tools within your organization. Features and BenefitsQuiVer leverages the strengths of MultiValue systems by using their integral file structures and data dictionary features. These enable QuiVer to apply general rules of program structure and functionality to the development of applications. It is an "expert system", and its use results in exemplary application of the principle of reusable code. It is not a code generator that produces unique source code for each application, and requiring individual debugging and long-term maintenance. QuiVer is a collection of a few programs which actually perform the standard functions of most computer applications. QUIVER-D creates or updates MultiValue-type files and dictionaries. It also prompts for validation rules and help text for each attribute. These are then stored in parameter files which are accessed by other processes. NOTE- External storage of rules and procedures for elements of a data base (rather than hard-coding them in a program) is a feature of object-orientated programming. the data base definition and its associated procedures constitute an "object", which may be linked into disparate applications. This will facilitate our introduction of a Windows-based front-end to QuiVer in the future. QUIVER-U can update any MultiValue file (not just those created by QuiVer) using the file's dictionary to define the update process. In addition to applying the formatting requirements, QUIVER-U will use any validation, processing and help text parameters which have been through QUIVER-D. You can specify certain acceptable values for attributes, require that the entered value exist on another file, or execute a subroutine to validate or create the value. You can even direct QUIVER-U to build a window at the touch of the help key, display the attribute's help text and list the acceptable values and their associated descriptions. the user can then pick the value from the displayed list by number rather than keying in the data. Other parameters can be linked to the process rather that the attribute, enabling you to perform supplemental procedures at certain milestone (@OPEN, @READ, @NEW, @WRITE, @ PROCESS, etc.). QUIVER-R lists the contents of a MultiValue file, on a terminal screen or printed output, according to the format, selection and sort criteria of the user. This is the quickest and clearest example of QuiVer's "expert system" functionality. "What file do you want to process?"; if you don't know the names, just ask! "Here are the names of the file's attributes - which do you want to use"; chose the number. "Here are the attributes you selected - do you want to look for certain values? do you want to sort any of them? This as a numeric field - do you want to total this column?"; just answer each question. QUIVER-R will create a syntactically-correct LIST or SORT statement which can be used once or cataloged for on-going use. QUIVER-M ties your resulting application with a menu network. You are asked to provide a description of a menu's purpose, which will be displayed within the standard QuiVer heading each time the menu is invoked. you may then enter up to fifteen procedures (executable items in your master dictionary) and corresponding short descriptions. You can also add in-depth about the menu and its various procedures.; this text will be displayed when the help key is pressed while in the menu. Any executable item in your master dictionary can be included on a QuiVer menu. When you create a menu it is added to the master dictionary as an executable item, so you can invoke any menu from the TCL prompt or form any other menu. Financial officers, auditors and data base administrators should be particularly interested in QUIVERPWD and QPASS, which control access to specific files by specific individuals. Each time someone attempts to start a QuiVer procedure, QUIVERPWD asks for a personal identifier and checks the person's access rights to the file and process. Also, whenever a QuiVer update procedure is executed, an audit trail logs the file, record, date, time and individual. ConclusionQuiVer improves the intrinsic capabilities of MultiValue systems. While MultiValue has tremendous advantages over classical application development environments, training and regular use are needed to make a user proficient and safe. This is not the case with QuiVer. Once the system administrator has defined a user's access rights, the tools are safe, effective and self-explanatory. QuiVer may easily be justified by cost/benefit analysis. For a fraction of the annual salary of a single programmer, a company can obtain these tools for perpetual use. A one-year warranty and support agreement is included in this price. Subsequent support agreements are available for 15% of the current list price. New features will be added in future releases, and customers on support may obtain upgrades for 50% of the price differential between their current and new releases. Contact R.O.I. Syngineering for a demonstration of QuiVer. We are anxious to show you what it can do, and to help you to be successful in its use. Pricing InformationQuiVer 3.0 is priced at $4,995 for a single-copy, unlimited-user license. Additional copies may be licensed at a fraction of that cost for use in companies with several computers; a second copy is priced at one-half of a single-copy, a third is one-third, etc. Licenses may be transferred to new host computers at nominal costs. Other discounts are available when QuiVer is purchased in conjunction with other products. Please contact us regarding the specific products in which you are interested. Systems houses, consultants and resellers should contact R.O.I. Syngineering to discuss potential opportunities for savings and shared revenues. Prices include first year's maintenance, which entitles you to telephone support (twelve hours per year), regular updates and a discount of 50% on upgrade prices for new releases. New releases will generally be priced at the market value of the new features introduced. Customers on support may obtain upgrades for 50% of the price differential between their current and new releases (or at no charge if prices do not increase). After the first year, maintenance charges are 25% of the price of an unlimited use license (currently $1,250).
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