I have a list of names for the multivalue query language on the MV
Family Tree poster, but I did not do enough research to determine the
various names for DataBASIC. Without looking at my notes, I think
there was S-BASIC (S for Ken Simms IIRC) and then E-BASIC or another
letter, standing for someone else. Can you guys help me fill out this
list?

Prime Information --> InfoBasic (or InfoBASIC?)
UniData --> UniBASIC (or UniBasic? Yes, I could look it up, but will
do so later)
UniVerse
D3
Revelation
QM/OpenQM
Reality
jBASE
UniVision
Maverick
R83
Other old flavors of Pick and other MultiValue

Thanks in advance. --dawn

An update

dawn wrote:
I haven't gotten to these and the many other flavors from the past.
Any help is appreciated.

hI Dawn

Me again... :-)

I currently work for EDP Plc here in Milton Keynes. Next door to my
office are the "rocket scientists" who wrote and maintain UniVision.

I will be happy to try and help with information about UniVision
providing that it gives the product the positive promotion that it
deserves of course.

For over twenty years I have been a user and advocate of Pick (R83, AP,
D3). My employer was taken over by EDP Plc in summer 2000. During this
time I am frequently impressed with the abilities and quality of
UniVision. It is my belief that the UniVision product and more
importantly the team do not get the recognition they deserve.

Many thanks.


John Bend.





dawn wrote:

John Bend wrote:
Thanks, John. My previous contact with UniVision was Bob C who is now
at Revelation, so I'm pleased to know someone else there.

For starters -- what does UniVision call their flavor of DataBASIC?

Is EDP-Pic the name of the company that owns and maintains UniVision?
What is the name of the company you did work for that was taken over by
EDP Pic? Is EDP Pic in the UK? Who is the US distributor for the
product?

I often don't list them when enumerating current Pick flavors because I
don't have a lot of contact with the company or its VARs. Is EDP the
name of a separate company from EDP Pic? Is EDP perhaps an end-user of
UniVision too (perhaps like jBASE where there is one large company that
grew its own installation of Pick?)

And to you. Thanks in advance for your help getting UniVision on the
poster accurately. With the change in 2000, does someone else own
UniVision than before that change? Thanks. --dawn

Oops -- I got a heads-up so I put my glasses on and recognize now that
it is EDP Plc (not Pic as I typed below). So, that is the same company
that is indicated on my poster. Other than that, the questions are the
same. --dawn

dawn wrote:

Dawn-

R/Basic was for our DOS products, Revelation and Advanced Revelation.

For OpenInsight, our Windows/Linux product, we have something called
Basic+

Correct- Basic plus.

Thanks-

Mike Ruane
Revelation Software

On 27 Nov 2005 20:51:02 -0800, "dawn" <dawnwolthuis (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Dawn,

Back in S-Basic / E-Basic times (1973-74) there were two competing
development groups one at Microdata and one at Pick & Associates. Ken
worked for Dick at Pick & Associates, Tom Ells worked at Microdata.
There is also a story about the built-in timebomb that goes right along
with this. "Tick Tick" are the keywords.

John Bohner (obsolete_john)

obsolete_john wrote:
Thanks, John. Is there more to that story that you can tell us?

Is it the case that Microdata got the object code while Pick &
Associates got the source code from the law suit? I heard a story like
that, but did not research any lawsuits. Was BASIC part of that
settlement or did it come about later? In other words, did Microdata
end up with a BASIC compiler from the split and did they have only the
object code for some of it?

Do you know if Tom Ells is still living? Thanks. --dawn

Dawn,

This early Basic period was years prior to the "lawsuits". Lawsuits
between Pick & Microdata started in 1976. Yes, to my knowledge Tom
Ells is still alive. If you goto the microdata-alumni.org website,
click on the historical section and read through the narratives there.
There are some errors, but it is 90% accurate.

Ken developed the first Basic. I don't know if it was "given" to
Microdata (i.e. shareware, etc) or what, but the "executable" that was
distributed to the dealers had a time-dependant failure which Dick &
Ken inserted to protect themselves, in the case of not getting paid,
failed negotiations, etc. I don't know whether Tom Ells developed his
own Basic or if it was an enhancement of Ken's.

Chandru would know these details that occurred the year before I got to
the arena. When I wrote my first Pick Basic program in Oct. 1974 at
17911 SkyPark Circle, the Basic manual was about 20 pages of straight
text printing, no pretty formatting.

John Bohner (obsolete_john)

mikenot (AT) revelationnotdot (DOT) com wrote:
I find it interesting that Revelation call their version of 'Pick'
Basic BASIC+ ( Basic Plus ) because that was the name that DEC used for
their version of Basic under RSTS/E and VAX/VMS - and I was a Basic+
programmer long before I was involved in the MV world. That does make
me begin to feel a bit ancient - but we still used card sorters and
card punches when I started !

Regards

Godric