The Root Office Systems division of Root Computers has used the X/Open Common Applications Environment to produce an indexed sequential access method for Unix. The resulting ISAM is very similar to that used by the Informix database manager, which is also X/Open-conformant, but Root claims faster performance. Using a Motorola 68010-based machine running Uniplus+ V.0 Root has produced benchmarks that show write-time and read-time improvements of around 30% compared to C-ISAM. The reason for this speed improvement is that X/ISAM uses a design that handles variable length records and frequently occurring key-words, which, says Root, leads to more efficient data storage. Root adds that its implementation includes audit trail recovery routines to allow automatic roll-back or roll-forward routines; cross-referencing of ISAM files; and a file consistency check. Although the X/Open group is pleased that Root has produced a product based on the standard, it has had nothing to do with it; nevertheless Root will be going after the X/Open manufacturers with it. Software houses will also be addressed by the Root sales force. The end-user price for a single-user run-time licence is about UKP75 but a multi-user licence could be as much as UKP600 – with discounts for quantity. X/ISAM has to date been sold to Apricot and to Infospec of Leeds.
