TRIM Frequently Asked Questions

OVERVIEW

TRIM, a robust performance monitor for ADABAS and NATURAL from Treehouse Software, Inc. (TSI), includes a Real-time Monitor, which provides sites with hundreds of statistics on-line in real-time to quickly find and eliminate performance problems.

Since the product's inception in 1983, prospective customers have sent us their lists of requirements for performance monitors. Although these questions date back several years and many of the product's features have been enhanced, they may be helpful during your evaluation. While evaluating TRIM, keep in mind that TSI employs a full-time development staff to ensure that the product's features are constantly enhanced to meet the needs of sites everywhere. For information on the latest release of each product, visit our Products and Services page or contact TSI.

TRIM QUESTIONS & ANSWERSTable of Contents

Compatibility	Tutorial/Help Function
Quality Assurance	Upgrades
Support	Year 2000

Compatibility

Question:	Is TRIM compatible with ADABAS 6?
Answer:	TRIM is fully compatible with ADABAS 6, including support for two-byte (5-digit) Database-ID numbers (DBID), File Numbers (FNR), and Response Code (RSP) field.
Question:	Will TRIM be compatible with and utilize our existing security software (RACF) to control access to the monitor, its functions, and limit the databases and files it may monitor?
Answer:	If the site uses Treehouse Software's SECURITRE product, TRIM will provide this type of security through RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret, and will access its security information via SECURITRE. For more information about the other functions and benefits of SECURITRE, contact Treehouse Software.
Question:	Can we use TRIM with our existing products without impairing their functionality? Can we operate TRIM without additional hardware or software?
Answer:	TRIM will coexist with any other ADABAS user-exits, any other ADABAS/NATURAL performance monitor, etc. TRIM does not impair the functionality of any Software AG product, including REVIEW.

Quality Assurance

Question:

Does TSI have a quality assurance program in place for TRIM?

Answer:

Treehouse Software has always considered product quality an important issue. Every product undergoes testing in-house before being shipped to BETA test sites. Following thorough BETA testing, the product is made available for general release. More recently, Treehouse Software is improving its Quality Assurance program. Our Quality Assurance staff continuously improves our Standard Quality Procedures to monitor and control the quality of each release. Formal standards and policies are evolving for BETA testing to ensure that each release is properly tested. Our goal in developing these procedures is to prepare the company for the strictest internationally recognized standards, including ISO 9000.

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Support

Question:	What type of support does TSI have for TRIM?
Answer:	Treehouse Software maintains a 24-hour, 7-day support system. Technical personnel are on call around the clock to solve customer problems.
Question:	We are seeking a vendor that is dedicated to support of their product. Does TSI employ full-time developers to maintain and enhance TRIM, and make it possible for customers to speak directly with product developers to discuss problems and enhancements?
Answer:	Treehouse Software has considered TRIM to be an important, strategic product since it was introduced in 1983. Any TRIM customer or prospective customer wishing to speak to a developer only needs to call Treehouse Software. Often, the developers speak with current and potential customers to discuss the value and implementation of intended enhancements to evaluate how users would prefer these enhancements to be implemented.
Question:	If necessary, is TSI willing to travel to our site to assist in the installation and setup of the product? Does TSI offer training in the use of the product?
Answer:	Treehouse Software's technical representatives are available to visit customer sites to assist with the installation, training, and setup of TRIM, if needed. Most sites, however, find that TRIM requires little or no formal training, and that the installation can be quickly and easily accomplished using in-house resources.

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Tutorial/Help Function

Question:	Does TRIM provide on-line tutorial/help functions? Are they menu-driven? Do they provide an "expert" mode? We are looking for user documentation that is clear and precise. Can we fully implement and use TRIM without expert (senior programmer level) knowledge or additional training beyond that which is provided at acquisition time?
Answer:	TRIM is completely menu driven and provides the ability to traverse the system using PF-Keys or four-character screen names. On-line help screens display information about the current function or identify the data entry requirements for a particular field. The TRIM documentation is under constant review for clarity and accuracy.

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Upgrades

Question:

Is TRIM designed/structured in a way that allows for the activation/implementation and deactivation/removal of the product upgrades without significantly disrupting production facilities?

Answer:

Conversion from one version of TRIM to another generally requires a simple INPL of the Real-time Monitor NATURAL modules and a reinstallation of the TRIM ADABAS user-exits. The Production database will have to be brought down and up to make the new TRIM version active in your Production environment, but this can be done overnight at another non-prime date or time. The removal of TRIM from your system will also have no disturbing effect on Production, should you choose for some reason to do this. Simply tell ADABAS not to load the TRIM ADABAS user-exits and delete the TRIM modules from your system. When ADABAS is brought up, TRIM will be gone.

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Year 2000

Question:	Can we use TRIM during the Year 2000 and beyond?
Answer:	TRIM offers full year 2000 support. TRIM has been tested with the system (MVS) IPLed to dates in 1999, 2000, and 2001.