NEMUG Newsletter
June, 2002, Articles
Nominations for New NEMUG Board
Nominations for NEMUG officers and board members were presented at the beginning of the meeting. The slate of candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee were all nominated, seconded, and elected. The officers elected were:
| Chairman | Marilyn Paterno |
| Vice Chairman | Heidi Pepe-Laird |
| Secretary | Larry Van Cura |
| Treasurer | Ben Bishop |
The board members elected were:
| Ken Wagner | 2 year term |
| Joe Crisafulli | 1 year term (to fill the vacancy from Heidi's new post) |
| Ben Hurley | 2 year term |
May Meeting: Features of Cache 5
At our May 14, 2002 NEMUG meeting Bill McCormick, Web/Objects Support Manager at Intersystems, gave us a summary of the new features of Cache 5 which was introduced at the 2002 Intersystems Developers Conference (DevCon). CD's with the Cache 5 Development Kit were available at the meeting. These were the same CD's that were handed out at DevCon. DevCon updates will be on Intersystems website soon. Intersystems goal is to release the final beta version of Cache 5 this summer. Cache 4.2 on the CD is actually Cache 5.
We have a file containing the sample code that was discussed in this meeting. Email Ben Hurley (bhurley1@partners.org) if you would like a copy of this file e-mailed to you.
Changes to the database
Enterprise Cache Protocol (ECP) replaces Distributed Cache Protocaol (DCP). ECP is optimized for the new database engine and current large scale systems. ECP supports 2KB and 8KB block formats.
Docbook - Online Documentation
Docbook is an application (composed of a directory of classes) that serves reference documentation to you using Cache Server Pages directly from the database. It uses standard formatting with Synopsis, Description and Example Code sections for each entry. This online documentation is computer searchable. Users can use the classes used for docbook to create their own documentation. The documentation has extensive sample programs and a comprehensive index. Documentation content uses XML standard.
Introduction to the new Studio
The new studio application is a routine editor and graphical debugger. It is an integrated environment that handles creation of classes (Architect has been eliminated), routines, CSP pages, and web services. It uses a project as the container for all components in a namespace. Cache Objectscript (M) can use curly braces as code block delimiters. Object dots can be used in routine and global names.
Debugging
The Cache 5 debugger has watch points, step-over's and step-into's.
Building a class with Studio
Bill displayed and explained the procedure for creating classes in Studio.
Cache Basic
Cache can use the Basic syntax for code in lieu of Objectscript. In this Basic variables do not have to be declared and variables are scope as private to procedure blocks as is typical in basic. Basic can access globals directly. An application can be composed of both Objectscript and basic but the two can not be mixed in the same routine.
XML projection
Cache has built-in support for XML in objects which is coded by inheriting from the XML Adapter class. It handles XML projection automatically. An XML document can be transformed into one or more Cache objects and Cache objects can be transformed into an XML document.
Web Methods
Bill showed us an example of a web service, Heart Monitor, which allows you to monitor a computer network remotely. Cache can act as a SOAP server.
CSP enhancements
Full functional support for "Including" files within a CSP page is provide in Cache 5. uses <!-- Include key word. <!-- Include file >.
Bitmap indices
This new type of index delivers large performance gains for certain queries.
$Bit functions
These are provided in Cache 5.
Other Items
Cache 5 automatically manages object life by deleting objects that are no longer referenced, similar to Java.
~ submitted by Ben Hurley