The Opera Alternative
August 14, 2007
Security flaws have long plagued Internet Explorer (IE), the market-dominating web browser from Microsoft. IE won the early browser wars, not only because it was free and bundled with Windows, but because it had some features and capabilities that its only real competitor, Netscape, didn’t have. But the behind-the-scenes programming that makes those features possible is the very coding that also leaves wide gaps in IE’s defenses against viruses and malicious scripting. Among several browser alternatives for Windows users, the Opera browser stands out in functionality and integration, and is gaining a wider following as a safer surfing alternative to Internet Explorer.
To be sure, there are other browsers such as the one from Mozilla and their newest release, Firefox. There are several flavors of IE “overlays”, which use the core IE programming for web page display, and thus aren’t any safer than the original IE. (You should of course always use anti-virus software to protect your PC, regardless of browser. Many viruses arrive as email attachments, and opening those on a Windows-based PC will cause problems). Among non-IE browsers, it seems to be down to a two-horse race between Mozilla and Opera.
C++ Function Templates
August 13, 2007
C++ Function templates are those functions which can handle different data types without separate code for each of them. For a similar operation on several kinds of data types, a programmer need not write different versions by overloading a function. It is enough if he writes a C++ template based function. This will take care of all the data types.
There are two types of templates in C++, viz., function templates and class templates. This article deals with only the function templates.
There are lot of occasions, where we might need to write the same functions for different data types. A favorite example can be addition of two variables. The variable can be integer, float or double. The requirement will be to return the corresponding return type based on the input type. If we start writing one function for each of the data type, then we will end up with 4 to 5 different functions, which can be a night mare for maintenance.
C++ templates come to our rescue in such situations. When we use C++ function templates, only one function signature needs to be created. The C++ compiler will automatically generate the required functions for handling the individual data types. This is how a programmer’s life is made a lot easier.
OLAP, An Alternative Technology Over Spreadsheets
August 13, 2007
Are Spreadsheets Robbing your Enterprise of Competitive Advantage?
‘90% of "average" companies are not confident that their forecasts and reports are accurate and reliable’
In a recent study, 81% of FD’s cited that their highest priority is the accuracy of revenue and earnings forecasts while 63% complained of inadequate budgeting and forecasting systems .
The modern FD is coming under increasing pressure from all sides to produce more robust, meaningful and accurate financial information. This is driven by a variety of factors:
- Internet technology is creating new business models that require innovative financial models
- The emerging business environment is creating more competition that requires information based on dynamic competitive scenario analysis
- The recent accounting scandals and the regulatory response to those require a higher level of data integrity and accuracy.
All stakeholders within the enterprise are requiring more analysis, based on complex models in shorter time periods, with accuracy and the ability to explain anomalies within the data presented paramount to the successful management of the enterprise.
It is interesting then that a survey of 2000 companies on financial best practices by the Hackett Group revealed that two-thirds of "world-class" companies and 90% of "average" companies are not confident that their forecasts and reports are accurate and reliable. Why?
Microsoft CRM Customization: Integration with Third Party SQL Application/Database
August 12, 2007
Microsoft CRM ? Client Relationship Management package from Microsoft Business Solutions was initially designed to be customizable with Microsoft Visual Studio.Net and one of its programming languages ? C#.Net or VB.Net. You can use ADO.Net, Web Service, Transact SQL scripting and stored procedures, deploy such SQL Server tools as Linked Server to all ODBC/OLEDB compliant database, including ORACLE, Sybase, Ingress, DB2, Unidata, Pervasive SQL, Ctree and even Lotus Notes/Domino.
In this small article we would like to give you the clue on programming the integration with SQL third party Database.
First ? use Microsoft CRM SDK to initiate communication with Microsoft CRM, we have it in C#:
String[] arr1 = coll.AllKeys;
int loop1, loop2;
for (loop1 = 0; loop1 0?1:arr1.Length); loop1++)
{
String[] arr2 = coll.GetValues(arr1[loop1]);
for (loop2 = 0; loop2 < arr2.Length; loop2++)
{
strAccountId = arr2[loop2].Replace("}",null);
strAccountId = strAccountId.Replace("{",null);
}
}
if (Page.IsPostBack==false)
{
// Server should be set with the name of the platform Web server
string Server = ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings["ServerName"];
// VirtualDirectory should be set with the name of the Microsoft
// CRM Virtual Directory on the platform Web server
Microsoft Navision Integration with Microsoft RMS - Overview for IT Specialist
August 11, 2007
Microsoft Business Solutions Navision serves both European and American megamarkets. It was originally written by Denmark-based Navision Software in its own proprietary language C/SIDE (Client/Server Integrated Development Environment). Currently Navision is supported on two platforms - Navision native (C/SIDE) database and on Microsoft SQL Server. In this small article we would like to give you the clue on Navision integration with Microsoft Retail Management System - Microsoft RMS.
Legendary Strength of C/SIDE database - the history of Navision design reveals the primary goals to have its own proprietary database with the built-in features of database transaction integrity. As far as database is proprietary - Navision can manipulate its and tune it to serve its application. You can have users use the system heavily and suddenly shut down the power - when power is back on - Navision will be in the same good shap. The second goal was to provide robust graphical interface.
Microsoft RMS is SQL based application - this means that even C/ODBC is limited - Microsoft RMS is using alien database platform and we do not recommend you to use MS SQL linked server to address Navision native database. The good news is - you can deploy our custom integration tool, which imports transactions from MS RMS to native Navision Database.
Easy Guide to RAID Recovery
August 10, 2007
What is RAID RECOVERY?
RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. It is a method of combining several hard drives into one unit. This method offers fault tolerance (the ability of a system to continue to perform functions even when one or more hard disk drives have failed) and higher protection against data loss than a single hard drive.
Why do I need RAID RECOVERY?
RAID provides real-time data recovery when a hard drive fails, increasing system uptime and network availability while protecting against loss of data. Another advantage of the system is that multiple disks working together increase overall system performance. Any individual or company could benefit from having a RAID RECOVERY system in place.
Different Levels
There are several different levels of RAID available. Each level offers various advantages in terms of data availability, cost and performance. Your best bet is to assess your needs in order to determine which level works best for you. The most popular RAID systems are the following:
RAID 0 - Data striping (no data protection). The benefit of this system is that it offers the highest performance.
Microsoft CRM Customization ? Programming Closed Email Activity
August 9, 2007
Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft and attempt to get market share from Siebel, Oracle and others traditional Client Relationship Management System vendors. Microsoft CRM uses all the spectrum of Microsoft recent technologies: .Net, MS Exchange, MS Outlook, MS SQL Server, Replication, Indexing, Active Directory, Windows 2000/2003 security model, C#, VB.Net, HTML, XML Web Service, XLTP, Javascript to name a few.
Today’s topic is Activity of email type programming - you usually deal with these customizations when you improve Microsoft Exchange CRM connector. How do you create closed activity - this is the main discussion topic. We’ll use C#.Net coding
One of the roles of our Exchange Event Handler/Sink is creation MS CRM Closed Activity in handling incoming and outgoing email messages. The interaction with Microsoft CRM uses two approached ? using MS CRM SDK (handling inbound and outbound XML messages) and via direct access to MS CRM Database. Let’s first look at the Closed Activity creation algorithm:
1. First we need to understand the entity we need to create activity for: Account, Lead or Contact. The selection should use specific criteria ? in our case this is email address:
if ((crmAccount = crmConnector.GetAccount(mailboxFrom)) != null) {
Need of Document Management System (DMS)
August 8, 2007
Document Management or Enterprise Information Management is perhaps one of the most important of the enterprise solutions that will provide a solution to the various requirements of SOX. Several sections of SOX have a direct bearing on the manner in which the digital documents/records of the enterprise are created, reviewed, approved, stored, retrieved, transferred, and destroyed.
Knowledge Management: Document & Records Management
Estimates have been made calculating that a significantly large proportion (some say, more than 70%) of the documents owned by an enterprise are in digital format and might never be seen in hardcopy.
According to Gartner’s Editor in Chief James Lundy: Records management will become a top 10 issue for many CIOs in the coming year.
In the following, we will discuss the various sections of SOX that a document management solution might help in complying with.
SOX Sections:
Section 302: According to Section 302, the CEO and CFO have to personally certify the financial statements and disclosures made by the company on authenticity and accuracy. This requires a system in place that will make the CEO and the CFO confident that all the disclosures that the company makes are accurate and authentic. This can be done in two ways:
Microsoft CRM or Siebel
August 8, 2007
Siebel is traditional CRM market leader, however and mostly due to recession 200-2003, Siebel lost sizable portion of CRM market to new tiger, such as Microsoft CRM. Microsoft CRM s recent (2001) CRM answer from Microsoft and attempt top get market share from traditional vendors: Siebel, Oracle, Onyx. Now it is targeted to the whole spectrum of horizontal and vertical market clientele. It is tightly integrated with other Microsoft Business Solutions products such as Microsoft Great Plains, Solomon, Navision (the last two in progress).
We would like to give you Microsoft CRM selection advise, based on our MS CRM consulting practice, going back to its inception in 1999. This article is written in FAQ style for beginner level
1. What is your industry ? how strange it may look ? close to 40% of our clients or so-called orphan clients ? who needs help with Microsoft CRM customization are freight forwarding, transportation companies, who needs either improvement in Exchange-CRM connector or MS CRM integration with their freight forwarding system, where they would like to see on the fly resent shipment info. And also to mention freight forwarding companies are usually large (more than 50 CRM users)
Microsoft RMS Customization ? PO Items Receiving in Great Plains
August 7, 2007
Microsoft Retail Management (RMS) and Microsoft Great Plains are retail and accounting/ERP solutions coming from the same Microsoft subdivision ? Microsoft Business Solutions. There is often common need to do integration between the two. Despite the fact that both systems come from the same software development company ? the integration is not as simple as it probably should be.
In each case you have to use set of new Microsoft technologies: web service, SQL stored procs, C#, VB.Net programming, etc. In this small article we give you customization overview when you receive Purchase Order Receivings in Great Plains and automatically transfer them to the RMS Store Operations via web services. Plus we can push serial number info from Great Plains to Store Operations (there is no way to store serial number in Headquarters)
Item Transfer Trigger in Great Plains
Microsoft Great Plains is written in Great Plains Dexterity ? proprietary programming language and development environment, which has strong ties with SQL stored procedures and queries
When Items are transferred in Great Plains via the Item Transfer Entry window, the interface must recognize this transaction. This can be accomplished via two mechanisms:
