What is WBI?

[clk430]

Instead of upgrading to 8.0, the consultants are saying we need to upgrade to WBI? Boca?

 

[clk430]

Anybody have any experience with Informatica?

 

[SeriesConsumer]

User defined functions" -- I am really curious what they will offer. Hope it will have a better quality as the debugger of 8.0. "enhancements to the user interface" certainly means "make Ctrl-F5 work" ;-)

We were already very happy if they fixed the rule editor (i.e. not scrolling the current line to the top most window position). But probably that's just another "feature" we're not aware of its benefit.

 

[BocaBurger]

User defined functions = if it's not in the functions and expressions reference guide and you need it, write it yourself (using correct syntax and calls) and you can use it in your map, just like a native function.




BocaBurger
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The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[janhes]

What language can you write it in?

 

[BocaBurger]

Don't know yet. Hopefully English



BocaBurger
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The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[SeriesConsumer]

Rather sounds like writing dreaded C Code just like today, except that you wouldn't have to use the awkward EXIT() syntax. Sigh. Why can't Mercator be as easy extendable as other tools? Obviously there are serious restrictions within the engine preventing that, but actually Mercator could provide much more usability as of today by just modifying the compiler slightly and leaving the engine untouched. There are (at least) two areas where compiler enhancements would help a lot:
1) Introduce a LET statement for local variable binding to simplify rules
2) Introduce macro facility (think of something like TRIM(X) -> TRIMLEFT(TRIMRIGHT(X))
Both is rather easy to implement and, again, would not force the engine being modified.

 

[BocaBurger]

Great ideas. Contact Support and open enhancement requests.
New management could be more open than before IBM bought product.

Have detailed requirements, decription and business case would help alot.

Send e-mail so they can copy & paste into the enhancemet request.





BocaBurger
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The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[SeriesConsumer]

Well, I have already proposed that to our account managers more than two years ago. Then, again, during the 8.0 beta because we were very disappointed not seeing any significant improvement in the design studio. You will understand that I am not keen on being ignored one more time.

Someone else may open an enhancement request based on my proposals (they are open source ;-) but be prepared finding people not understanding what you are talking about.

 

[BocaBurger]

More than 2 years ago, the company was Mercator. The beta info might be in the works, the beta was not for new features to be added but to test what was built. 8.0.1 is bug fixes.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[janhes]

Is there an enhancement wish list published anywhere? I have submitted enhancement requests in the past and heard nothing more about them after they went to engineering for consideration.

 

[BocaBurger]

Only in the internal tracking system.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[SeriesConsumer]

So what? Even if two year ago the company was named Mercator I would have expected my enhancement requests not being discarded completely. Actually I haven't seen a significant difference in either Mercator, Ascential or IBM being the company owner -- account managers always tell you "oh, brilliant ideas", "will propose that to internal bla bla bla", "you'll hear from us" and so on. Sadly nothing ever happened. I could even give you internal numbers of the enhancement request but I doubt that this would change anything. All in all I have the impression that Mercator/Ascential/IBM does not really care about user's problems.

 

[BocaBurger]

Post the numbers on the Dev net site. There is a new management group for DS TX in IBM. Call your sales person and complain to them and have them complain up the chain. When they see $$$, sales people start to move.

If it's important to you, make some moise to IBM. Bring up the IBM core values.





BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[SeriesConsumer]

Boca, I am really appreciating your effort here. Unfortunately there is other support out there that has a completely different quality. I won't go into details further (this is a technical forum), but believe me that we have tried a lot (incl. complaints) to improve our situation. Currently it is a complete disaster, IBM isn't even able to give us a product roadmap. As other customers are complaining too, there hopefully will be an improvement in the future.

 

[BocaBurger]

Posted by CLK430:
From somebody regarding my questions:
- TX has a strong roadmap. In Q3 of this year we are planning to release version 8.1 which adds functionality such as greater codepage support, remote debugger, profiler over run maps, user defined functions and enhancements to the user interface. We are in the process of defining the following version of TX and it will be exciting. We do not have a public list of functionality yet. our vision is to continue to define TX as the best-in-class universal transformer for use anywhere enterprise - embedded within WebSphere, stand-alone, embedded in applications via C/Java/EJBs/SOA and as an powerful transformation alternative inside competitors integration platforms.

If you have to, escalate through sales. I know that many customer requested enhancements have been added over the years, but it was never stated: "This feature brough to you by XYZ Company" or even telling XYZ that their request has been answered.

You might consider posting enhancement requests on dev net:

http://developernet.ascential.com/home.php

I know that some developers read this.
If you go to any of IBM's shows that feature WebSphere, you can talk to the product managers directly.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!

 

[eyetry]

Gosh I've been gone for a long time.....

BTW wasn't DSTX called by a different name before it had the Mercator name? TSI or something?

 

[BocaBurger]

Company was TSI, product was still Mercator.



BocaBurger
<===========================||////////////////|0
The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword hurts more!