DATATRIEVE
Encyclopedia
DATATRIEVE is a database query and report writer tool that runs on OpenVMS
operating system as well as several PDP-11
operating systems. Its command structure is nearly plain English, and it is an early example of a Fourth Generation Language (4GL). It works against flat files, indexed files, and databases and uses record definitions stored in the Common Data Dictionary (CDD) or in RMS files to delimit the data in those files. Still used at many OpenVMS
installations. DATATRIEVE is a Trademark of Hewlett-Packard
.
DATATRIEVE was developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by a team of software engineers at DEC's
Central Commercial Engineering facilities in Merrimack and Nashua, New Hampshire, under database architect Jim Starkey
. Many of the project's engineers went on to highly visible careers in database management and other software disciplines.
DATATRIEVE adopted the wombat
as its notional mascot; the program's help file responded to “HELP WOMBAT” with factual information about real world wombats.
OpenVMS
OpenVMS , previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or VMS, is a computer server operating system that runs on VAX, Alpha and Itanium-based families of computers. Contrary to what its name suggests, OpenVMS is not open source software; however, the source listings are available for purchase...
operating system as well as several PDP-11
PDP-11
The PDP-11 was a series of 16-bit minicomputers sold by Digital Equipment Corporation from 1970 into the 1990s, one of a succession of products in the PDP series. The PDP-11 replaced the PDP-8 in many real-time applications, although both product lines lived in parallel for more than 10 years...
operating systems. Its command structure is nearly plain English, and it is an early example of a Fourth Generation Language (4GL). It works against flat files, indexed files, and databases and uses record definitions stored in the Common Data Dictionary (CDD) or in RMS files to delimit the data in those files. Still used at many OpenVMS
OpenVMS
OpenVMS , previously known as VAX-11/VMS, VAX/VMS or VMS, is a computer server operating system that runs on VAX, Alpha and Itanium-based families of computers. Contrary to what its name suggests, OpenVMS is not open source software; however, the source listings are available for purchase...
installations. DATATRIEVE is a Trademark of Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
.
DATATRIEVE was developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s by a team of software engineers at DEC's
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
Central Commercial Engineering facilities in Merrimack and Nashua, New Hampshire, under database architect Jim Starkey
Jim Starkey
Jim Starkey is a database architect who developed InterBase, the first relational database to support multi-versioning, the blob column type , type event alerts, arrays and triggers. He founded the web application development and database tool company Netfrastructure. The provides a brief history...
. Many of the project's engineers went on to highly visible careers in database management and other software disciplines.
DATATRIEVE adopted the wombat
Wombat
Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately in length with a short, stubby tail. They are adaptable in their habitat tolerances, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as...
as its notional mascot; the program's help file responded to “HELP WOMBAT” with factual information about real world wombats.