Thank you Robert.
--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Robert Brown <robertb_versa@...> wrote:
From: Robert Brown <robertb_versa@...>
Subject: Re: [Vantage] Upgrading form ver 6.10.541 to ver 8+
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 4:32 PM
Business process management: Exactly what you describe... Little Progress 4GL programs (essentially custom workflows) waiting for a system event to occur (or announce to the system it is about to occur) that then take some action (either pre process or post process of the business object method that triggers them).
They are server based so the client applications don't suffer the response time (think hourglass) overhead of processing as they do when the equivalent is done via a VB.net customization (in the client app).
--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Bill Jackson <fujijapman@yahoo. com> wrote:
From: Bill Jackson <fujijapman@yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: [Vantage] Upgrading form ver 6.10.541 to ver 8+
To: vantage@yahoogroups .com
Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 2:23 PM
 Thank you Robert. Good info, please forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what 'BPM's' are? I'm guessing Business Process Methods, or similar. Are they custom routines that run similar to 'triggers' ?
--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Robert Brown <robertb_versa@ yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Robert Brown <robertb_versa@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Vantage] Upgrading form ver 6.10.541 to ver 8+
To: vantage@yahoogroups .com
Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 1:42 PM
We started on 8 so I can't speak of 8 relative to 6.
The one thing on your list I would warn you to be cautious of is customization. .. The customization editing environment just might be the weakest I've seen in 15 years. (Lacks all kinds of things you'd expect in a code editing environment: step in/out capability, watchboxes to see what your variable values are doing, a language HELP FILE). It is low rent for sure.
General observations about customiziation itself (versus BPMs): VB customizations can routinely stop working (sometimes with no error message to the user in many cases). If you are actually trying to imbed or enforce business rules in your code, that is not good. BPMs would probably be a better method to obtain that goal. (Another editing environment and language to learn.)
Because of the look of tools the editor environment provides, it is also pretty tough to produce efficient code that doesn't signficantly slow down the application (if you are doing a lot of custom processing).
If all you want to do is change the layout of your forms (or add new custom and/or hide existing forms/tabs/fields) to better fit your business needs, it is MORE than adequate for that.
Rob
--- On Sun, 9/28/08, Bill Jackson <fujijapman@ yahoo. com> wrote:
From: Bill Jackson <fujijapman@ yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: [Vantage] Upgrading form ver 6.10.541 to ver 8+
To: vantage@yahoogroups .com
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 10:05 PM
 A couple of things come to mind right away, the Product Configurator is more robust in version 8 , also having just one crystal report as the 'default' for everyone is an issue.
 Minimum customization capability of screens is also an issue, I have to use the VB Forms for customizations that really belong on the 'main' screens.
 Again, I'd appreciate even a 'general' assesment of the upgrade.
--- On Fri, 9/26/08, Robert Brown <robertb_versa@ yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Robert Brown <robertb_versa@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Vantage] Upgrading form ver 6.10.541 to ver 8+
To: vantage@yahoogroups .com
Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 4:34 PM
It might be more productive if you tell us where 6.1 is felt to be holding you back (or is inefficient - or is just plain incapable and forcing you to do things 'outide the system' to some detriment).
Then you would get focused feedback on what you already feel are your probable change drivers.
Rob Brown
--- On Fri, 9/26/08, Bill Jackson <fujijapman@ yahoo. com> wrote:
From: Bill Jackson <fujijapman@ yahoo. com>
Subject: [Vantage] Upgrading form ver 6.10.541 to ver 8+
To: vantage@yahoogroups .com
Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 3:27 PM
We are a small-to-mid size manufacturer, about 100 people at the home base/manufacturing plant plus satellite sales offices, running 'multi-company' .
I've been tasked with exploring pros/cons of upgrading to ver 8+ , we build custom machinery components, as well as some standard products. We use the Product Configurator, we have the CRM Module and Advanced BOM.
I'm looking for brief answers from those, ideally in a similar business situation, that have upgraded or are in the process of upgrading.
What was the primary motive to upgrade?
What was attractive about ver 8 ?
What does it do that ver 6.1 doesn't?
I do know that the Configurator is much better.
Thanks in advance,
Bill J.
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