SAFE/8: More On SQL Server 2005 Performance Benefits!
Three months into the release of SAFE/8 we're really pleased with the reports we're getting from users. Typical replies have been:

'It feels like I'm using the single-user version of SAFE back in the old days---even on reports that used to take a whole coffee break to run.'

'The first time I ran a really long report, it took about the same time as before. So I figured that there was some marketing hype going on. Then I ran the same report ten minutes later. I was going to take a phone call but when I looked back at my desk the report was already done! I thought there was something wrong---it happened too fast.

Those are huge compliments. When we moved from our proprietary file system to SQL, it was a balancing act---we went for more uniform performance that scaled well for many users. Most things got faster. Some got slower. The operative word was balanced.

The Secret Is...
The programming we've done in SAFE/8 which utilises specific improvements in SQL Server 2005 are putting the 'Wow!' back, even on larger networks or really complex Queries. The trick is something called 'Automatic Parameterization'. Basically, it allows us to work with SQL Server to continuously optimise the database. As you run various reports or open various windows, SAFE and SQL Server 2005 learn about them and continuously re-sort the data and memorise the fastest ways to access information. So, as you run most functions, they get faster. And the more often you run a particular Query, the faster it will execute. In other words, SAFE is able to work with SQL2005 to prioritise which tasks you do most often and give those precedence!

Memory Requires Memory...
We all know the old phrase, 'It takes money to make money.' Well, in this case, it takes memory to improve SAFE's memory. In short, the more RAM you have in your server, the greater the benefits of Automatic Parameterization. Why? As you use SAFE, SQL2005 will put as much of it's history in RAM as possible---in essence, it queues up the Queries you run most often and keeps them in speedy RAM for instant access. The more RAM you've got, the more previous Queries it can keep queued up and ready to go. How much do you need? Well, now that decent RAM is going for roughly $100/gigabyte, we think it's reasonable to outfit a standard server with 4GB. This is especially true if you're using Ollie or WebSAFE.

And Speaking Of The Web...
The most dramatic speed improvements seem to occur for users who need to run reports in Ollie or WebSAFE. Frankly, we're not yet exactly sure why this is. But even the lengthiest reports (which sometimes drive users crazy in a web application where it's more difficult to gauge the progress of the report generation) do seem to resolve almost immediately on a web server with SQL2005 and adequate RAM.

Where It Doesn't Help...
These optimizations are not a panacea. For routine data entry, you might not even notice a difference (although you might if other users are running long reports---since those run faster, machines doing routine transaction entry are often less 'slowed down' in SQL2005. Also, the reason that we keep saying SQL2005 and not SAFE/8 is that you need both order to benefit from these new technologies. One without the other won't make a bit of difference.

In Conclusion...
SQL Server 2005 was five years in the making. It contains features that allow us to make SAFE/8 much, much faster than SQL Server 2000. After three months in production, we're starting to get the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from customers that confirm this in the real world. The price of the upgrade and more memory may not seem to give the most bang for the buck over other purchases you could make. However, if you canvass your users, both in the office and on the web, and start to add up the amount of time they spend waiting for various reports and queries, this may be the most cost-effective IT upgrade you will make this year.

Til Next Time!
 

Some Thoughts On The Recent News From GDX!
Obviously, the news over the past few weeks from Global Docugrafx has been disquieting. It seems like no one, regardless of size is immune to the various stresses that 'consolidation' has brought to our industry over the past decade. Some of our customers are taking over various pieces and our venerable competitor TopForm is once again being sold.

There are three things that stand out in our minds:

1. How little our companies seem to be worth when being sold off! At the end of the day, whenever a business doesn't succeed all the fabulous sales numbers seem to be forgotten and then you really find out how ephemeral is the concept of 'worth'. We've had the opportunity to 'purchase' various competitors over the years and it's interesting to think about what you're really buying when you take over a business. Many of you have purchased other distributorships (or are contemplating do so) and the gulf between what the company seems to be 'worth' versus what they can offer you can be as wide as the Grand Canyon. When we look at our business, really all we have are brains and customers. And you can't sell brains. (At least not yet!) So in the end, other than some office furniture, the only thing we've got going for us is you the customer base. That's a great reminder to always listen to what you want, since you're the only inventory we've got!

2. It's important to stay focused. We live in a culture of growth. Our public companies get regularly pounded by investors, not for losing money, but for not matching quarterly expectations! This creates an environment of constant stress to 'make the numbers' as opposed to actually having long term goals. In other words, the larger a company, the less likely it may be that long-term strategy is able to be brought to bear. What a paradox! You as a smaller company, probably have a much greater chance of creating a plan that you can stick to than the 'majors'  which used to cause everyone to shake in their boots. Small can be better. In our case, we've been able to maintain ten percent growth pretty much every year for twenty one years. Every year. Unlike other software companies, we haven't gone for the gusto. We consciously limited ourselves which seemed like a completely insane strategy (The number of phone calls we've gotten over the years about not doing enough marketing and so on is pretty long!) The good news is that, after twenty one years, we all have jobs! And, we have a debt-free company with a business plan that is realistic into the next decade. Let's hear it for stability. No it doesn't get you rich. But it's cheaper than Xanax.

And by the way, purchasing a competitor doesn't seem that great to us either, unless they have a technology that we need. Such technologies don't usually come from competitors. So, we'd be purchasing someone else's customer list. Then what? Continue to support a competitor's product? (A product we think isn't as good as what we do?) Or do we 'encourage' users into migrating to our system 'for their own good'. Ridiculous. If they didn't want to migrate before, why would they want to now? In short, buying a competitor would be no different than buying another completely different business--say a tangerine distributorship. We've got enough on our plate doing what we do.

3. It's not a bad idea to stay independent. We sort of feel bad for TopForm. They've been bought/sold several times since we entered this market. They always seem to land on their feet---and they have always maintained that they are autonomous regardless of their parent company, but the appearance it has created of being owned by a competitor has driven many of their customers to our door. Now, as we've said, we've had the chance to grow quickly, either by 'partnering' with larger players like Pro-Forma, or by purchasing a competitor's assets. 'Partnering' has never felt like a great idea to us. Again, the appearance factor is disconcerting. As Hugh likes to say, 'If I always have to remind people that I'm independent, am I really independent?'

What Does It Mean To You?
There's a common practise in software development called a Post-Mortem. You look at a program after it has crashed in order to learn not only about why it crashed, but also to glean important data about how to make general improvements. This article has been some thoughts we've had as we've done a thumbnail post mortem of GDX. There's a lot to learn from the failure of such a large company, regardless of the size of your company. DMIA has quite a lot of information to help you in your own post mortem and we encourage you to study this material thoroughly as part of your business planning.

Til Next Time!

Ciaran's Corner: Q/A: Check Notes And Other Form Details!
Q: I've seen check writing systems where you could put a little one or two line memo at the lower left of each check. This is very handy when sending payments to companies that we deal with infrequently. Maybe we could put the invoice number we're paying for example. Is this possible in SAFE?

A: It sure is. However, the feature is turned off by default since it requires your checks to be specifically able to print this information---in other words, the dreaded form re-design charge! (It's not that painful---$55 is all it takes.)

OK, so assuming that your checks have been tweaked to allow for this, how do you turn this feature 'on'? SIMPLE.
1. Go to Files|Settings|Company and click on the Global Options Browse.

2. Locate on the Parameter column for DisplayNotes. The Module should be "WindowAP:GetAmountToPay'.

3. Change the value to 1 and save.

4. Now go to the Bills Browse and tag any Vendor Bill for payment. Et Voila! Below the amount to pay field will be a Notetaker for adding your notes specific to that check. (If you tag multiple invoices for a given vendor, they will all share the same notes---remember, the notes are attached to the check not to the Vendor Bill.)

5. To view your notes after the check run, open the Check Register, locate the check, right click and select View Notes. You'll now see two sets of NoteTakers: a) The usual Internal Notes, which no one outside your company sees, and the Memo Notes, which are what printed on the check. One final note: once you print the check and confirm the check run you may not change the Memo Notes.

Til Next Time!

Ciarān Marron
Technical Support Manager
cm@suntowersystems.com

THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Suntower Systems on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Suntower Systems must respond to change in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Suntower Systems and Suntower Systems cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions:
1. All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included.
2. All copies must contain Suntower Systems' copyright notice and any other notices
    provided therein
3. This document may not be distributed for profit.

End of E-News From The Suntower, Volume VIII #15