SIGADT? (longish)

[Tim Ericson]

Last week I whined about Image B-Tree support in PowerHouse:
>
> Another example of our copious support dollars producing
> *nothing* for existing customers that are *heavily* invested
> in PowerHouse?


To which Bob Deskin was kind enough to reply:
>
> While I grant you that we're overdue for b-tree support, the
> 8.39 project (currently in development) does include b-tree
> support.

(thanks Bob!)

Then that thread evolved into "Cognos user conference and
ADT" (Application Development Tools aka PowerHouse), and there
was a little discussion about that:

Byron Welch hatched an idea:
>
> To some extent this is the chicken and the egg problem.  Over
> the last few years attendance at the ADT sessions has steadily
> declined.  We in the ADT community need to make a stronger
> showing.  One way we can so this is to spread the word about
> the powerhouse listserv.  If we can show a strong user community
> then it is easier to get Cognos's attention.

And John Pickering continued:
>
> If Cognos feels there is a need or a desire for an ADT conference
> then hold an ADT-only conference, obviously on a smaller scale.
> We're techies -- we don't need glitzy destinations and loud
> expensive parties -- most of us would be happier sitting in a
> cheap bar discussing PH and the system from hell (read that as
> shooting the bull). Personally I'd vote for Ottawa so we'd be
> close to "the lab" but I'd travel further if such a conference
> existed. But the content has to be there.

---------------------------------------------
This sounds promising!
(except for the not needing the party part!)
---------------------------------------------

And Brian Schalme voted:
>
> I would go for something like that! (An ADT-specific conference
> in Ottawa or anywhere that would justify the content.)

And so did Oran Shapitka:
>
> Two conferences would be great, one for application designers/
> developers, and one for people who like building reports all
> day, (BI).  Not everyone is adding reporting to a large ERP
> implementation.
>
> I'd come to Ottawa for a ADT conference.

Then Bill Michael:
>
> If there was an "all PowerHouse" conference, even if my employer
> wouldn't pay for me to attend, if they'd give me the time off I'd
> pay my own way! (Um. Assuming the cost was reasonable, and not
> the utterly ridiculous $950. Maybe $250. Which should be plenty
> for a much smaller conference, needing less space...)
>
> <snip>
>
> A $250 ADT-only conference at a Holiday Inn in Chicago or Ottawa
> will get a _lot_ more attendance than a $950 mostly-irrelevant
> conference at a fancy hotel in L.A.! A little publicity other
> than on the listserv would help, too - I haven't seen anything
> about this year _except_ what I've read here.

And Bob Deskin, too!
>
> Actually, the bar idea sounds good to me ;-)
>
> What do other people think? And don't get excited about this
> because I doubt there's much chance, but I'm curious. How much
> content would justify attendance? As I write this there's
> already a message from Brian Schalme expressing interest.

---------------------------------------------------------------

WOW!

This sounds a *lot* like the SIG3000 meetings that happen near
HP's Cupertino office (the MotherShip for the HPe3000).  These
are held every year (originally called Iprof) and the 2 to 3 
days are divided into meetings for each of the Special Interest
Groups (SIGs), and a couple combined meetings.  Various 'ballots'
are developed by each SIG, and the top vote-getters from these
ballots are combined into one 'System Improvement Ballot', which
is submitted to HP for further study, and usually implementation!
(I *am* simplifying here).

Low Cost.  Focused.  People of like interest.  No glitzy parties.
(well, there *is* a bar in the hotel!)

I can imagine a 'PowerHouse Improvement Ballot'.  What the *users*
think should be done to Quiz, Qtp, Quick, etc.  Maybe for each
platform/OS as well - like the B-Trees in MPE/iX.

I see this as an opportunity for Cognos *as well as* the users
to do something that just might make us all feel a little better!
Open up the lines of communication, etc.

Maybe those that *do* go to this year's conference can get
together informally (I'm thinking of going - hell, I'd even be
the chairperson for a SIG like this!)  If so, maybe we can talk
about another get-together the following spring - providing
there's enough interest, and Cognos supports the idea!

Okay, I've stuck my neck out - So what's the consensus?

 +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  My mind is my own, as are my ideas and opinions.
  My heart, body, and soul, however, all belong to others.       Tim.
 +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  Tim Ericson            tericson      DenKor Dental Management Corp.
  Sr. Systems Analyst     at denkor    503-526-4440 (my direct number)
    (& Systems Manager)     dot com         http://www.denkor.com
  Programming HP3000s since 1983!      Quality dental care since 1970!
 +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
  UDCs and Command Files:  http://www.denkor.com/hp3000/command_files
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