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Preface: Preface
First of all, I want to thank you for purchasing this book. I know you didn't have to, but I hope you'll find in it answers to questions you might have, as well as comments that will lead you to a better understanding of this product and how to use it in your environment.
I've been using Informix products for close to ten years and during that amount of time I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly as far as their products and services are concerned. I can honestly say that things have never been better for Informix, their product lines, and services. Sure, I wish they hadn't shelved the 4GL product, and I would have really liked to see NewEra achieve its potential; but 4GL is still a useful, viable product and there are a number of choices for PC- or web-based application tools you can use and connect to a database instance. The engines though are another story. They have never been better, or more fun to use. No other competitor has better technology to handle any need you might have in a database environment. Whether you consider OnLine Dynamic Server, OnLine Extended Parallel Server, or the newly released Informix-Universal Server—you'll have the right tool to get the job done. Each one uses, at its core, the same powerful multithreaded libraries and other technologies that lead the industry not only in terms of raw performance, but also in flexibility, stability, scalability, and extensibility. It's actually fun to know I've got a big hammer to bring to bear.
Although it may not look like it, this book is the result of just over a year's worth of 3 am mornings. I am amazed that it's actually being published because somany times I just wanted to chuck the whole thing. Now that's it's almost done, it really feels good.
I have a great deal more respect for those whose books I've read in the past—especially from Informix Press. Their efforts established the publishing process I benefited from when writing this book. I didn't write this book alone though; many others made significant contributions or provided support. Cathy Kipp originally got me into this with a couple of strategic phone calls and the re-assurance that I might actually make minimum wage for my efforts. Mark Taub, the Acquisitions Editor at Prentice Hall, exhibited a tremendous amount of faith in leaving me alone for the better part of the project when I know he probably wanted to find out if I was even remotely close to being on schedule. My thanks to Cathy, the-copy-editor-with-no-last-name, for taking what I thought was a pretty good manuscript and cleaning it up to make it more readable. Finally, sincere appreciation to Joanne Anzalone, my Production Editor at Prentice Hall. She was very patient as well as firm, but willing to help a first-time author understand what was happening. Throughout the whole preproduction process, she made me feel as though what I had submitted was important and deserved to be handled well. Thank you to all.
On the Informix Press side, Sandy Emerson was tremendous. She helped refine the manuscript and advocated on my behalf inside Informix for material included in the book as well as on the disc. She too wanted to make sure this book was handled well, and that I felt it was worthwhile to have written it. Future Informix Press authors will undoubtedly have a good experience working with her.
Special mention and appreciation also needs to be made to Nancy Twomey of Informix Software. That the interview with Gary Kelley ever occurred, and then could be published, is, in no small way, due to her efforts. She opened the door for me to talk with him and provided the administrative support after the interview to prepare the transcript. After Gary left Informix, there were many inside Informix who wanted the interview removed from the book, but she was an effective and fair advocate of both sides of the issue. Nancy's "good people," as she would say; she's honest, fair, calls them as she sees Ôem, and always willing to help out any way she can.
There are many others who had an impact on this project. Byron Goodwin, my boss at Associated Food Stores, has been very supportive and understanding as I've come stumbling into work at various hours, and needed time off for this, or IIUG business. Gary Kelley spent a good deal of time talking with me about a wide range of issues concerning Informix's technology although he had no clue who I was or if I would treat the conversation fairly. John Lengyel provided some excellent technical detail on several topics. Brett Backman was kind enough to write the Foreword. Angela Sanchez allowed me to include several TechNotes articles, in html, on the CD-ROM. Chris Williams and Lester Knutsen reviewed much of the early version of the manuscript for technical accuracy. Any mistakes in the book though, are mine and mine alone. Lester, Gavin Nour, Kerry Sainsbury, Tim Schaefer, Jack Parker, Valentin Carciu, and Jonathan Leffler provided tools and utilities. Christine Shannon, the Informix User Group Liaison, and the members of the IIUG Board of Directors were patient and understanding when I dragged my feet dealing with their issues while I paid more attention to writing this book. There were others who simply offered encouragement; it was always appreciated even if they initially reacted with surprise and amazement. Thanks to one and all.
In closing, to my parents who taught me to love learning and always strive to do my best, even if "you're just digging a ditch!" My wife, Catherine, who has put up with more than any wife should have to, and this book is only the latest "chapter." Thanks for loving, and living with a tired grouch "who has no life." Finally, I don't think my kids really understood, until the end, what was involved in writing this book. Nonetheless, they let me hog the computer, they chewed me out for staying up "way past your bedtime, Dad," they worried and fretted about the deadlines as much as I did, and, as only a child can do, they prayed for me and my success. My love to all of you.
Carlton Doe April, 1997