Re: HTML and PDF Reports

["Bradley V. Stone" <bvstone@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> The fact of the matter is that if an RPG shop is
> in tune with
> technology (as Nathan is) then it can be realized there is very little RPG
> can't do.
>
> Do you agree with that last paragraph Dave?


I don't think it's so much agreeing with it, but understanding RPG really
has little to do with it.  It's understanding the simplicity of outputting
dynamic data (HTML, XML, JavaScript, etc) and then really knowing how to use
it to it's fullest potential.

I mean, look at all the RPG CGI apps your or I have created.  Mostly using
CGIDEV2 or eRPG SDK.  Down at the core you're looking at really a handful of
APIs used to write to standard output, or read from a web page.  Quite
simple actually.

It's the understanding of how to use the markup language and it's tools that
make a web application successful.  I don't need a huge toolset to do that.

The lifecycle of most of my customers usually goes like this:

1.  They try a screenscraper/webfacing tool.  Hate it.
2.  They try Websphere or a similar tool.  Hate it.
3.  They contact me and say "show use what RPG can do".
4.  15 minutes later they're sold.  Their programmers love it and start
hammering on the HTML, JavaScript and CSS tutorials all over the net excited
about what they can do.

RPG is dead.  Yes, we've been hearing that for years.  *yawn*

Brad
www.bvstools.com