In the early-mid 90's, I worked a lot with a development tool called "Forest & Trees." (it was a wierd name back then, too!)
It was aimed at developers building "Executive Information" / "Business Intelligence" systems.
It was really cool software because you could develop an application very quickly on top of an existing database.
Is anyone still using it?
I think I've heard of it. When we set out to develop an application building platform we had some of the same ideas - but on the Web instead of the desktop. Ours is called Inon Viewmanager but there are lots of others.
Maybe search for "business intelligence" and "RAD" to find them.
Forest & Trees itself, like lots of end-of-life software, was acquired by CA and you can now find it here.
(Part of) CA's business model is to keep supporting these old systems and raise the prices to squeeze the last bit of value out of the few remaining users who find it too much work to migrate their applications. So you might find it's very expensive if you want to buy a copy now. But worth having a look.
I've worked with F&T when working for the italian distributor and I fully agree with you, it was a wonderful concept with a very good implementation behind (for the time it was really impressive). Unluckily CA acquired the company and F&T basically terminated its usefulness and its evolution, like almost every tool ever purchased by CA.
We use to use F & T in a Medical IT Department environment. This would have been back in the 1999-2000 timeframe.
We used it to develop Exec Info systems. At the time it was a real nice package, very easy and powerful.
I lost track of it when I left the employer for another position.
Haven't heard of it until now while researching Qlikview.
My work using this tool and I am learning how to use it. We get data from SQL server and use it to format report for some reasons.
I still use it for to draw data from a modern SQL management package, amalgamate it with other data (mostly Excel) and publish results on an intranet site. It provides the core daily management information for my firm 9which employs about 350 people!).
The compilation comes from a variety of sources, and is well automated.
I am still writing SQl views in it almost daily as it is still a very powerful tool when there are high volumes of info.
Still a great Product!
Hi
My version is 6.51.18 so probably version 6!
We run a developer version (for me) and 4 run time editions for my team to run standard queries.
We still try and pay a small maintenance charge to Computer Associates, but to be honest they don't really know it exists any more!
My only suggestion is that you phone CA - If you are in the UK I might be able to dig out the name of our contact!
regards
john
My sources say
If you call Insight on 0800 443 333 and ask to speak to their CA specialist they will be able to help you
I hope this helps.
john
I am wondering if Forest and Trees is any relation to a product developed initially by Avyx Inc, which was acquired by Manugistics. It is used in a NASA application that I have include files but no source. I would like to find any version of the source (mine is 2.13) to try to recreate the system.
We bought our recent copies (V7) of Forest and Trees runtime and builder from a CA reseller called MSM, their number is 0870 300 6002 or i think you can email them on [email protected]