Ross: Your square peg, round hole analogy is pretty accurate. GP seems to be the next step for quickbooks users.
The package that they're migrating from is Results from Microdata from the early 1980's. I still have 4 other clients using Results as well as a mixture of other Order entry packages/homegrown. While I can itemize a few shortcomings of Results, it has stood the test of time because it's still being used. Each of my 4 other Results clients have taken their copy and evolved it in their own localized versions. What absolutely impresses me is that none of these 4.5 clients have used *all* of the originally installed features of Results. They use many and have added many of their own. But the core design of Results remains true and someone got it very correct back during its rollout. Add to the fact that the developers didn't have a 4GL to think of, had 50MB 64K 1Mhz machines and had to watch the compiler meticulously display those line-by line asterisks during compiling. Plus, those programs were pretty long as well, didn't have INCLUDES and didn't have the open CALL concept that everyone else has. Not to mention the original 32 K record (program) size file structure. Only 1 of my Results clients remains on the older MCD box and oddly enough, he has the 2nd most sophisticated deviations of my 4.5 clients. The others are either on R90 or UD. I think the greatest oversight in all of MV is the inability to re-compile the existing source code to a GUI equivilent. I'm smart enough to realize how tremendously difficult that would be. But I know that a major reason for my current dilema with this UD/Results guy going to Great Plains is the visual aspect of it. People taste with their eyes and most IT 20-something guys have never seen anything decent on a character-based screen so they relegate it to the sophistication of command-line DOS. While they have made an incorrect conclusion, their voices speak loudest. And since they hold the keys to the contemporary services: email, web sites, network admin etc, their opinions may carry more weight. One of my other clients is bouncing back and forth with a proposal of mine for a $10K new module and the concept of ROI comes into play. How in the world could this MV-to-GP client justify the ROI on all the extra time and expense to shift to GP. Mark Johnson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ross Ferris" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U2 Users Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:31 AM Subject: RE: Crystal Reports Hmmmm, We spent 3 years developing a product (CrystalLynx) that allowed us to work with Crystal - it automatically "normalized" the data for you, so I think it would be fair to say that "we used it for a while" - and you are right, I don't want to go back (to Crystal). Typical square peg/round hole stuff, because it DIDN'T understand mv all that well - or maybe it was just us ! and I surely didn't like ODBC performance (and reliability on D3 platforms). CR is obviously a good product - #1 in it's field, but these days there ARE products available that work with mv data in a native format, and give CR a good run for it's money ! Ross Ferris Stamina Software Visage – an Evolution in Software Development >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On >Behalf Of Mike Randall >Sent: Saturday, 17 April 2004 5:41 AM >To: 'U2 Users Discussion List' >Subject: RE: Crystal Reports > >Crystal is indeed a very fine product. It is a banded report writer with a >multitude of programmability. Multivalued data is indeed a pain in the >neck. Normalize the data 1st and you'll find Crystal a joy to use with >output, features and polish that MV can't come close to. The 'problems' >that your users are facing can be addressed with Crystal code (VB syntax or >Crystal's scripting syntax). After using it a while, you'll never want to >go back... > >Mike R. > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On >Behalf Of Mark Johnson >Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 2:51 PM >To: U2 Users Discussion List >Subject: Crystal Reports > >One of my clients wants to connect Crystal Reports to their UD database to >apparently give greater access to the data that they sometimes deem as >hidden and only accessable through me. > >This client converted to Great Plains 6 weeks ago (SQL based) and their CR >experts were struggling with duplicating some of the more mundane reports >that already exist in UD. A monthly sales tax summary (by jurisdiction) >took >the GP guy 3 days futzing with CR using GP's data. > >How much trouble are they going to get in trying to use MV'd data from the >UD system (ODBC) if they have so much trouble with more 'normalized' data. >Everyone seems to think that CR is a magic pill and once attached to a SQL >database, the sophisticated reports simply roll off. > >I'm trying to strongly propose a data warehouse concept whereby the day's >sales data gets exported and updated into their prior application for the >sake of the multitude of existing, proven reports in MV. If these guys took >3 days for a simple tax report, how can CR fabricate temporary tables for >the sake of these consolidated sophisticated MV reports? > >I'm just interested in hearing of some experiences. This client is too >stubborn to go back from GP and may even disregard their entire MV system >completely. I really have nothing to lose if I insult them. > >Thanks in advance. > >-- >u2-users mailing list >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://www.oliver.com/mailman/listinfo/u2-users > >-- >u2-users mailing list >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://www.oliver.com/mailman/listinfo/u2-users > > >--- >Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.658 / Virus Database: 421 - Release Date: 9/04/2004 > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.658 / Virus Database: 421 - Release Date: 9/04/2004 -- u2-users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.oliver.com/mailman/listinfo/u2-users -- u2-users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.oliver.com/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
