IMAGE (database) explained

IMAGE is a database management system (DBMS) developed by Hewlett-Packard and included with the HP 3000 minicomputer. It was the primary reason for that platform's success in the market. It was also sometimes referred to as IMAGE/3000 in its initial release, and later versions were known as TurboIMAGE, and TurboIMAGE/XL after the PA-RISC migration.

IMAGE is based on the network database model, in contrast to most modern systems which are based on the relational database model. A SQL (Structured Query Language) front-end processor was later added, offering users the ability to run SQL queries on existing databases. This produced IMAGE/SQL, the current name.

Overview

IMAGE consists of several utilities along with an API (referred to as "intrinsics" by the HP documentation):

• DBSCHEMA - Compile a source schema layout. The source layout describes the tables (known as SETS) and columns (known as FIELDS).
• DBUTIL - Creates and performs maintenance functions on the database.
• QUERY - Generalized query tool for accessing any TurboIMAGE database.

The following is a sample list of the API calls used for application development. These calls are supported by HP's compilers: COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, SPL, PASCAL and C.

• DBFIND - Locates a record.
• DBGET - Retrieves a record.
• DBPUT - Adds a record.
• DBUPDATE - Updates a record.
• DBINFO - Provides information on the structure of the database.
• DBOPEN - Opens the database with a specified password to provide access rights to the application.

History

The significant highlights of IMAGE are:

• Originally released as IMAGE/3000 around 1972 as a $10,000 option, but later included free as part of the MPE operating system.
• Bundled with the HP Precision Architecture RISC Computers along with HP ALLBASE/SQL, a Relational DBMS, on the MPE/XL operating system.
• Several Fourth-generation programming language products (Powerhouse, Transact, Speedware, Protos) became available from third party vendors.
• New capabilities were added including the increase of storage capacity and increase of several internal limitations such as the number of SETS allowed in a database. IMAGE/3000 was renamed TurboIMAGE due to these new capabilities.
• HP provided a Third Party Interface (TPI) to DISC's OMNIDEX and Bradmark's SUPERDEX products.
• HP announced the end of life for the HP3000 which included TurboIMAGE.
• Marxmeier released Eloquence which is schema and API compatible with TurboIMAGE and allows TurboIMAGE applications to run on Microsoft Windows and HP-UX.
• Stromasys released an HP3000 emulator allowing TurboIMAGE applications to be run on commodity hardware.

External links

• http://www.robelle.com/library/smugbook/image.html
• HP Computer Museum 3000 Series II Documentation - 1976 Image manual PDF
• http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1986-12.pdf - Hewlett-Packard Journal "Data Base Management for HP Precision Architecture Computers"