DECdecision, Version 1.1				SPD 25.G2.01

DESCRIPTION

DECdecision is a VMS, workstation-based, decision support application that 
runs under the DECwindows Desktop Environment.

DECdecision is comprised of four major software components: Access for 
ad-hoc database queries, Calc for analyzing financial and business data, 
Chart for generating business graphs, and Builder for recording and 
automating repetitive tasks across components.

DECdecision runs under the DECwindows X-Window environment and incorporates 
its common appearance and operation for pull-down menus, dialog boxes, 
windows, component cut/paste operations, and mouse pointing device support.  
Therefore, DECdecision has a consistent appearance across the entire 
product, shared with other applications (such as DECwrite) written under 
DECwindows. 

Features

DECdecision Access (Database)

Access is the database management component of DECdecision that provides 
distributed access to local and remote data, a simplified windowed approach 
to data query and manipulation, and personal database creation.

Access is comprised of:

oo   Data manipulation functions including "Show Fewer" for sub-setting a 
    data collection, "Show More" for expanding the collection, "Show 
    Unique" for displaying one instance of a value, etc., and "Sort" for 
    rearranging data in ascending or descending order by one or more 
    fields.

oo   Data editing including easy data entry, update and deletion, cut and 
    paste, "Undo" of last typed entry, etc..

oo   Calculate functions including Total (Sum), Average (Mean), Maximums and 
    Minimums by sub-groups of records, and Computed columns where a column 
    is based on one or more other columns or based on one column multiplied 
    by a constant value, etc..

oo   Public Folders for sharing databases in a workgroup and Private Folders 
    for personal databases.

oo   Data Protection Services including "Protection" for enabling or 
    restricting users to read or modify tables, and "Access Mode" to 
    determine how users can open a table (Read Only or Update).

oo   Draw Chart utility for automatically invoking and passing data to 
    DECchart.								   
    
oo   Record and Playback for capturing commands for use later.

oo   View Document utility for storing and displaying a reference within the 
    database to a DDIF document such as, a letter created by DECwrite or a 
    scanned image that has been converted to DDIF.

oo   Join function for combining other DECdecision tables, or a variety of 
    data files from other supported sources.

oo   Reference utility for creating and maintaining references to data         
    outside of Access includes: Rdb/VMS databases, DATATRIEVE domains, RMS 
    files and DBMS databases through DATATRIEVE, and IBMRO IDMS/RTM and DB2 
    files through VIDA. (RMS files, DBMS databases, and IBM data are read 
    only.)

oo   Simple Report generation using data from single or multiple data 
    sources. It provides the user with the ability to subset and sort data, 
    establish line and page control breaks, and save or print the result to 
    ASCII, PostScript (R) or DDIF formats.  DDIF Reports are used in 
    DECwrite.

DECdecision Calc

Calc is the major analytical component of DECdecision which combines its 
windowed spreadsheet interface for ease of formula and expression 
construction, a spreadsheet macro language, and mathematical, statistical, 
and financial functions.

Calc is comprised of: 

oo   Financial Functions including Future Value (FV), Internal Rate of 
    Return (IRR), Net Present Value (NPV), Payback analysis, Interest 
    calculation, Payments, etc..

oo   Mathematical Manipulations such as Absolute Values, Exponentiation, 
    Logarithms (Base 10 and E), Square Roots, and Rounding.
             
oo   Statistical Functions for calculating Mean, Counts, Maximums, Minimums, 
    Variances, Standard Deviations, and Sums.

oo   Trigonometric Functions for Sine, Cosine, and Tangent calculations and 
    transformations.
          
oo   Boolean Operators including And, Or, Not, and conditional statements.

oo   Constant Values which include E (2.71828), PI (3.14159), If for 
    conditional values, and NA (not available) for missing values.

oo   Date/Time Functions including calendar functions, weeks, years, today, 
    now, etc..

oo   Chart Function for dynamic updating of a chart. When values are changed 
    in cells the chart is automatically updated.

oo   Linking and Consolidating capabilities to combine several (local and 
    remote) spreadsheets into one master spreadsheet.

oo   Hide and Lock capabilities for protecting sensitive data. 

oo   Record and Playback for capturing spreadsheet commands for later use.

oo   A What-if Table is provided for performing analysis on different values 
    using the same formulas.

oo   An internal procedural programming language for the advanced user who 
    wants to develop a complex macro.					   

DECchart (Graphics)

Chart is DECdecision's integrated charting component that works directly 
with data from Calc, Access and external (DECgraph, ASCII, and Lotus WK1) 
source files. Chart has a Chartbook that presents the user with a sequence 
of predefined charts that can be further customized through legends, grids, 
titles, etc..  Chart offers a wide variety of 45 chart styles based on the 
following basic graphics styles: Line, Area, Bar, Column, Histogram, Pie, 
Scatter, High-Low-Close, and Combination charts.

Chart is comprised of:

oo   Graphic annotation - overlay: text, lines, rectangles, and arrowheads 
    anywhere on a chart for emphasis and customization.

oo   Color on-screen support - assign color attributes to: axis, baseline, 
    frame, grids, legend, tags, tick marks, column and bar fills, and 
    overlay objects. 

oo   Easy modification of chart attributes including: axis, baseline, data 
    values, frame, grids, legend, tags, tick marks, drop shadows, bar 
    spacing, and bar overlap.

oo   File flexibility: save data, chart style, chart overlay, and color 
    selections separately or save everything together.

oo   Selectable fill patterns, line patterns, marker types, and color 
    attributes.

oo   Easy to use worksheet interface for graphical "What If".

oo   Easy modification of text attributes - change: font size, family, 
    weight, and slant.

DECdecision Builder (Procedure Automation Tool)

Builder is DECdecision's cross component automation tool that builds 
procedures by recording cross-window operations (e.g., application 
invocation, data flow, and control flow) between components to produce 
automated procedures.  Builder has the capability of recording, storing, 
and playing back frequently repeated procedures performed by DECdecision's 
integrated components.

Builder is comprised of:
             
oo   Automatic Record Mode to automatically capture information flow and 
    command sequences.

oo   Manual Record Mode to choose non-integrated applications, tools and 
    arrows for data flows.

oo   Playback Mode to run the Builder procedure either viewed interactively 
    or in the background.

oo   Debug Mode to identify and correct errors in procedures constructed 
    with Builder. 

oo   Guide Utility for storing and viewing a description of a procedure.  

oo   Toolbox for storing connections to a non-integrated application such as 
    MAIL.  A non-integrated application is any application or program that 
    can be invoked from DCL.  Nonintegrated applications cannot be 
    automatically recorded by Builder.  

oo   Editing features including cut, paste, duplicate, and delete.
          
oo   Nesting capabilities to create embedded procedures within other Builder 
    procedures and for embedding Calc and Access procedures.

System-wide Features

Ease-of-Use

DECdecision features a control panel for convenient startup of the 
components, customization for modifying various characteristics of the 
DECdecision environment, and Help for a general overview of each component.  
In addition, DECdecision incorporates the use of Pop-up windows throughout 
the product for a quick listing of currently available functions, and 
accelerator keys and command line entry for experienced users. 

HELP

DECdecision offers the user two ways to invoke HELP. From the control 
panel, users can choose "Overview" to receive an explanation of each 
component.  Throughout each DECdecision's component, HELP can be invoked to 
obtain a detailed explanation of the specific function.

Import and Export Capabilities

DECdecision includes import and export capabilities that assists the user 
with transferring files to and from popular application formats.  
DECdecision utilizes the Compound Document Architecture (CDA) converter 
architecture to interchange data with these application formats.  The 
following lists the converters shipped with DECdecision:  


Import Capabilities
                                               Access    Calc	   Chart
Formats:
     						 	   
ASCII Tabular					  x	   x	     x

WK1
(Lotus 1-2-3TM V2.0 and V2.1 files)		  x	   x	     x

CALCGRD
(VAX DECalc V3.0A,
VAX DECalc-PLUS V3.0A)				  x	   x	     x

DIF (Data Interchange Format)			  x	   x	     x

Export Capabilities
                                            Access         Calc

Formats:

ASCII Tabular					  x	   x

WK1
(Lotus 1-2-3 V2.0 and V2.1 files)		  x	   x

Additional converters are available through the VMS CDA Converter Library. 
Refer to the System Support Addendum (SSA 25.G2.01-x) for further 
information.
         
Relationship to DECwrite

DECwrite is a compound document processing application that allows VMS 
users to create and format documents which contain text, graphics, images, 
and supported application data.

Reports generated within Access, Calc, and graphs from Chart can be 
incorporate into DECwrite through the use of DECwrite's LiveLink utility.  
In addition, DECwrite can read DECdecision's Digital Document Interchanged 
Format (DDIF) report files directly.

Documentation

DECdecision Installation Guide and System Management Guide

DECdecision Overview

DECdecision Calc User's Guide

DECdecision Calc Macro Guide

DECdecision Access User's Guide

DECchart User's Guide

DECdecision Builder User's Guide

Converter Reference Guide

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

VAX, MicroVAX, VAXstation or VAXserver configuration as specified in the 
System Support Addendum (SSA 25.G2.01-x).

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

For Workstations Running DECwindows: 

VMS Operating System (and necessary components of VMS DECwindows)

For PC DECwindows Interoperability:

DECnet PCSA Client for DOS V3.0 - PC DECwindows Display Facility V2.0 (SPD 
55.07.xx) and VMS Services for PCs V3.0 (SPD 30.50.xx).  For more 
information, refer to the DECwindows Interoperability Compliance Matrix 
Software Product Description (SPD 01.25.xx).

Refer to the System Support Addendum  (SSA 25.G2.01-x) for                    
availability and required versions of prerequisite/optional software and 
for information regarding components of VMS DECwindows.
  
ORDERING INFORMATION

Software License: QL-VW3A*-**
Software Media: QA-VW3A*-**
Software Documentation: QA-VW3AA-GZ
Software Product Services: QT-VW3A*-**

*   Denotes variant fields.  For additional information on available 
    licenses, services and media, refer to the appropriate price book.

SOFTWARE LICENSING 

This software is furnished under the licensing provisions of Digital 
Equipment Corporation's Standard Terms and Conditions.  For more 
information about Digital's licensing terms and policies, contact your 
local Digital office.

LICENSE MANAGEMENT FACILITY SUPPORT

This layered product supports the VMS License Management Facility.

License units for this product are allocated on a user/activity basis.

For more information on the License Management Facility refer to the VMS 
Operating System Software Product Description (SPD 25.01.xx) or the License 
Management Facility manual of the VMS Operating System documentation set. 

For more information about Digital's licensing terms and policies, contact 
your local Digital office.                              

SOFTWARE PRODUCT SERVICES

A variety of service options are available from Digital.  For more 
information, contact your local Digital office.

SOFTWARE WARRANTY

Warranty for this software product is provided by Digital with the purchase 
of a license for the product as defined in the Software Warranty Addendum 
of this SPD.

(R)  IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines 
     Corporation.
(R)  PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc.
(TM) HPGL is a trademark of Hewlett-Packard Corporation.
(TM) IDMS is a trademark of Cullinet Software, Inc.
(TM) Lotus 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation.

(R)  The DIGITAL Logo is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment 
     Corporation.
(TM) DATATRIEVE, DBMS, DEC GKS, DECchart, DECdecision, DECprint, DECwindows, 
     DDIF, LN03R, LVP16, PrintServer 20, PrintServer 40, PrintServer 
     40 Plus, RMS, Rdb/VMS, VAX, VAXserver, VAXstation, VIDA and VMS are 
     trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.

April 1990
AE-NE61B-TE

