HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Introducing HP ALLBASE/BRW
by Georg Bock
Computer Systems Boeblingen
HP ALLBASE/BRW is the successor of HP BRW/XL and provides, beside the
well known BRW functionality, access to HP SQL and several major
enhancements. HP ALLBASE/BRW runs on MPE XL in native mode with the
version number A.01.00. The HP BRW/V Compatibility Mode version is
A.02.20.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
HP ALLBASE/BRW will allow users to retrieve and format data from HP SQL.
In addition, this data can be combined with a number of data sources
already supported by BRW, which are TurboIMAGE databases, MPE and KSAM
files. Access to HP SQL will be fully integrated into the existing BRW
interface, so users need not be familiar with SQL. HP ALLBASE/BRW
provides complete BRW functionality for SQL data by itself or in
combination with other data sources.
Besides SQL Access, several major BRW functionality enhancements are
included in HP ALLBASE/BRW. These enhancements include: Use Items
Screen, the Global Function Screen and the Display of Editmasks on Define
Lines and Review Layout Screen.
The BRW/V Compatibility Mode version includes the enhancements listed
above, except access to HP SQL.
Features of SQL Access
* Data can be retrieved from HP SQL.
* Access to multiple DBEnvironments is provided.
* Data from HP SQL and from other sources can be combined.
* BRW Open Join and Merge functionality can be used to combine data
from HP SQL.
* BRW Parameter can be used to restrict the amount of data to be
retrieved from HP SQL.
* Records containing NULL values can be retrieved from HP SQL.
* Names up to 20 characters can be used.
* All HP SQL datatypes except the date and time types are supported.
* SQL Transaction Handling and Locking can be controlled by specifying
Transaction Isolation Level, Transaction Priority and Lock Level.
* HP SQL System Catalog is used as Data Dictionary, so no BRWDIC is
necessary for SQL access.
* HP SQL Access Authorization is provided by examining the System
Catalog.
* Remote access to HP SQL databases will be possible with ALLBASE/NET.
* Native language support is provided.
* HP ALLBASE/BRW retrieves data from HP SQL by passing a query.
Features of Use Items Screen
* Displays projected items of the Final Access Table, layout calculated
items and parameters.
* Items can be selected for positioning.
* A sequence in which the items will be positioned can be specified
(the default is an alphabetical order).
* Components of Array items can be displayed and selected.
* The list of items can be searched by an item name.
* Screen is accessible from Define Lines and Output File Screen when
running BRW/XL or BRW.
Features of Global Function Screen
* Centralized definition of BRW functions now available.
* Contains the same functionality as Table Function or Layout Function
Screen.
* Global functions can be used in every report opening the
corresponding Configuration File.
* Screen is accessible when running BRWSETUP or RSETUP to maintain the
Configuration File.
Features of Display Editmasks
* Up to now only placehoder signs (X or 9) were displayed on Define
Lines and Review Layout Screen to indicate the length of an item.
Now the editmask defined for this item is displayed.
Compatibility with HP BRW/V
* Reports specified with HP BRW/V can be executed by HP ALLBASE/BRW.
* Reports specified with HP ALLBASE/BRW can be executed by BRW/V if
neither access to HP SQL is specified, nor names with more than 16
characters are used.
* HP ALLBASE/BRW provides a verify mechanism to ensure that the report
can be executed by HP BRW/V.
Using the standard and competitive features of HP SQL and providing BRW
features not available in HP SQL, HP ALLBASE/BRW provides a strong
feature set to be a competitive product in the MPE marketplace.
The product is fully described in the updated ALLBASE/BRW Reference
Manual (P/N 35360-60002).