After reading a number of posts, I am curious how even the people that say they are new to WebFOCUS seem to have all this knowledge. I have taken a 351 and 354, but it seems that what I am reading there must be something that gets you more understanding than just these two classes. Comments, please. THANKS!

J-NET,

Of course, taking courses is always a good start.
But don't forget that experience is built through using the product(s).
And if someone says that he/she is new to webfocus, then this may mean that they are new to the product or new to this forum. And the definition of new is also quite relative.
I myself have more than enough years of experience working with the product, but there are still areas that are new to me....
So, everything is relative.
Don't despair ..

One thing you will learn, especially from this Forum...is you need to understand the underlying Focus Language to really appreciate the product. Gui only gets you so far. If you can take another class - might try a core language one....or keep reading here.

As GamP says, it is relative, I've been using FOCUS, in raw coding format since the early 1990's. However WebFOCUS only the past few years and developer studio less than that. So am I new to WebFOCUS, could be. I learn something almost every day from this forum. Welcome aboard.

The other possibility is that the individual is an experienced (relative expression again) coder and has only recently moved into the WebFOCUS arena. Coders are predominantly logical thinkers and some manage the cross over fairly well, others do not. DP principles are very important in coding within any language and understanding data structure, logic etc. is a key skill.

T

I'm with Leah, I started with Focus in 1990. My first exposure to WebFocus was version 3.5 and I have experience through 7.1.3. The company I am currently with is on 5.3 and stepping back has been a shock. We will be converting to 7.6 as soon as we can get the logistics worked out. I can't wait. Every version has added so many new features that make your work faster and easier, but it also makes it a constant learning experience. The advice I would give you is attend the user forums if possible, open your mind to different ways thinking and don't be hesitant to open a case.

My experience has been, coding on mainframe in core language since the TableTalk days, dropped out for awhile when we moved to WebFOCUS in the 4.x version, then back into supporting WebFOCUS from version 5.3 through 7.6, both as an administrator and as a developer. I've found the best resource for learning the vast complexity that is FOCUS/WebFOCUS/iWay is through Summit, it beats the classes hands down, and you'll get your money's worth in technical knowledge, without a doubt.

But even after attending 3 summits, we still couldn't crank out a fancy WebFOCUS application using BID with user validation, adaptive javascript, OLAP-enabled, compound display with graphs, etc. like some of those Razzle-Dazzle examples.

This can be quite frustrating, and no matter how much one "just plays" with the product or watches the webinars, it doesn't come with a lot of intuitive grasp using the tools. The people at our user groups who have been able to do the professional-grade BI applications, the kind you see from the marketing glitter, have contracted with IBI professional services for on-site help in their development shop -- so in hindsight, I would speculate that getting an IBI field rep on-site for a specific application goal would be another highly-recommended path for training. I wish we would have done that, we spent a lot of time slugging through the classes and manuals and webinars and workshops. Those presentations that look soooooo easy to construct, actually aren't as intuitive to create as it seems from a distance. WebFOCUS has a lot of power but it is big and can be too complex at times. I sometimes nostalgically wish for the core language days when we didn't have to fight with "HTML Layout Manager" and "cross-browser javascript support differences". I can relate to your situation, J-Net -- but nothing beats having a knowlegable expert on-site with you to help cut through the complexity.

Regards,

-- Dan

University of Nebraska at Omaha
Prod: WF 7.6.2 Linux BID/MRE/DataMigrator

J,
you've bought the 4-manual documentation set? yes? hard copy..all available thru tech support on the ibi website...if you have your site code.. all downloadable ...but nothing beats hardcopy for studying.
We've all read at least one set..usually the set for the version we started with...for me it was...hmm..let me see...mainframe version 4, maybe..and the manuals were ... granite slabs with chisel marks.

quote:

the manuals were ... granite slabs with chisel marks

Too Funny...