Performance Software Ltd, formed in 1986 as a result of a management buyout from Systime Computers, has released a new version of its Systel on-line transaction processing system for DEC VAXes. The company says that productivity and performance of Systel has doubled over the past two releases, and Version 4.2 includes support for DEC’s symmetric multi-processing hardware, and an interface to both DEC’s relational database and Software AG’s Adabas. Other enhancements include a more effective cluster management process, resulting in less time consuming resource protection, and the database editor has been developed into a user interface to cut the time spent on applications development. The Systel proprietary fourth generation language has also been enhanced by a template and is now compatible with DEC’s language sensitive editor. Performance Software has traditionally targeted its software products at medium to large VAX users, and its client list includes British Rail, British Telecom, the Midland Bank, American Airlines, and The London Hospital. The last is currently working with Performance Software and Software Sciences to develop an integrated hospital administration system in response to the government’s recent White Paper on the National Health Service, and the Resource Management Initiative. Systel 4.2 has an entry price of UKP8,000 rising to UKP100,000 for the new VAX configurations, and as with all version of Systel, is backward compatible. Performance Software has signed a contract with the US software house, Programmed Intelligence Corp, to become the sole UK distributor for VAXes of its report writer and query generator package, Intelligent Query. It uses a pick-and-point method to facilitate query generation, report writing, graphics, data extraction, and reformatting. The menu-driven modular package works with DEC’s relational database and RMS databases, and has a user interface with on-line help features. The expected user profile of Intelligent Query is broadly similar to that of Systel, and it has an entry-level price of UKP2,000.
