conNExS-0.6.README: README file of conNExS rel. 0.6

/*
	
    conNExS.c  : link an MSQL db to a  NExS spreadsheet
                 version 0.6 Jul, 31st 1996
                 (C) 1996 Gian Paolo Ciceri
                 gp.ciceri@pn.itnet.it

    Usage: conNExS [-h host] database

*/

ACKNOLEDGEMENTS:
To David J.Hughes (bambi@Hughes.com.au) for mSQL.
To NExS people, for their excellent (and well-documented) API.
To speis (rubini@foggy.systemy.it): he gave me a 0.99p13 Linux SLS
distribution four years ago.

FEATURES:
This is only a small utility to connect a NExS spreadsheet to a mSQL database,
in order to perform some queries.
Since the communication is handled by X messages (thanks to the NExS API), you
are able to do some client server games.
For example, you can connect spreadsheet running on different machine (and
DISPLAYing on your X display) with your conNeXS server, that in turn (via
mSQL API) can connects to different mSQL db on the network. 
Have fun (and let me know if these features are really useful forr you).

USAGE
The idea is to run conNExS in an xterm as server. Then look at NExS.
In a moment you should be able to see another NExS menu, with the same name
as the database you're connecting to: you'd be able to do some SQL queries to
the database, now.
Only observe that, the query answer set will be put starting from the right 
cell respect to the one current selected.
I suggest to write the query in a cell, and keeping it selected to invoke the
Send Query... option of the new menu. In this manner the query will be put in
the dialog box, so you can easily send it to mSQL (and you don't loose your
changes).
Drop Server will end conNExS.

CURRENT LIMITATIONS:
Well, I've heard some commercial software people saying their software have no
limitations but only features. 
By contrast, my software has only limitations, no features: in fact 
I've originally planned conNExS to be able to reach the light speed 
and to defeat Michael Jordan in a 1-to-1 basketball match.
As you see, for the moment I've some problems yet, but in a short time... 

To be serious, the biggest hard-coded limitation is the maximum
query time length, that is 10 minutes: 

#define MAX_QUERY_TIME 600

If your want, modify it and recompile. In a future release, you'd able to
pass this number as an initialization parameter.
 
Please contact me freely if you have problems.

DISTRIBUTION POLICY:
I'd like to do some GPL software, but since mSQL is now shareware, and
NExS spreadsheet is commercial software I suppose that I cannot do this.
So I deliver it as freeware (but do not assume that this policy will
continue forever), provided that this note will be reproduced.
If you want to send me an e-mail of remarks, suggestions or simply let me 
know you've read this, I'll be happy.


INSTALLATION NOTES.

I've a put binary copy of conNExS, compiled on my fine 2.0.10 linux box.

make         - rebuild the utility. 		
make install - copy conNExs binary into /usr/local/bini.

If you want to rebuild all from scratch, do:

make clean   - clean distribution