Chinese Input - Step by Step Instruction on How to Input Chinese Characters in English Windows XP
November 21, 2007
Enabling Chinese input is quick and easy, there are only a few steps you need go through to install the Chinese Language support and input method before you can type Chinese in your word processor or other program.
We have broken the steps to 3 different sections for your easier to read and follow. The steps are written based on Windows XP, and the configuration is similar with other version of Microsoft Operating systems.
Step I - Install East Asian Languages
Depending on the selections you choose when installing Windows XP, you may or may not have East Asian Languages installed. Follow these steps to check whether or not your computer supports East Asian languages.
* From Start -> Settings -> Control Panel
* Double-click Regional and Language Options
* Click on the Languages tab
- If “Install files for East Asian languages” under “Supplemental language support” section is checked, then you can skip to the step II.
- If the box is NOT checked, you need check on the box of “Install files for East Asian Languages”, then click Apply button to do the install.
Microsoft Great Plains - Payroll & HR Inexpensive Solution? Not Any More
November 21, 2007
Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions accounting package for the US market. You should probably expect some issues when you have software development company to be bought by big player - in this case Great Plains Software was bought by Microsoft (Bill Gates was a friend to Doug Burgum - owner and leader of Great Plains Software - Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise). We certainly have some influence level in Microsoft Business Solutions, but what happened is out of our decision level and this is really sad story.
OK. Let’s go to the story itself. Imagine - you are small company who serves to your clients as payroll/Humane Resources outsourcer. Old-days Great Plains Dynamics on Ctree or Pervasive SQL/Btrieve was excellent and inexpensive solution. You could have all your clients need installed on your home computer somewhere in Southern States, enjoying the sun and the niceties of California for k$2 per year with Great Plains software list price of around k$10 with unlimited number of Payroll/HR employees
20 Extra Hours Per Week: What Would You Do?
November 20, 2007
While I was in college, if you would have asked me what I would do if I had an extra 20 hours to spend in a week, the first thing I would have told you is that I would definitely NOT spend it studying. I actually would have gone down a long list of hobbies and activities I would like to do if I had the time. So when my co-workers asked me to find out what owners/managers of sign companies would do if they had an extra 20 hours per week, I was very interested in hearing the responses. What types of activities are sign shop owners doing with their spare time? Was there a common activity or hobby in the sign & graphics industry? Or would I hear several different responses?
The Results
Microsoft Business Solutions - Navision Customization: C/SIDE, C/ODBC, C/FRONT, XBRL
November 19, 2007
Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with Great Plains Software. Now Microsoft Business Solutions offers following ERP applications: Navision (former Navision Attain), Microsoft Great Plains (former Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise), Solomon, Axapta. Formerly Navision had strong positions in Europe. Now it is promoted in USA and Europe. Navision has pretty advanced manufacturing module.
We would like to give you: programmer, software developer, database administrator the orientation in Navision customization tools
- C/SIDE (Client/Server Integrated Development Environment) - The core of Navision is the C/SIDE. C/SIDE is the foundation for all the business management functionality of Navision. It is made up of five building blocks, called object types, which are used to create the application. These five object types are shared throughout Navision to create every application area, and give it a unified, consistent interface. This powerful language allows for the internal construction of new business logic and sophisticated reporting. Because of the internal nature of modifications it’s highly recommended that you develop all your code in "processing only" report objects and called from the native code base. By grouping all your code in logical units, upgrades and additional modifications are easier to manage.
- C/ODBC and C/FRONT - Both C/ODBC and C/FRONT enable you to easily use information from Navision in familiar programs such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. The Open Database Connectivity driver for Navision (C/ODBC) is an application program interface (API) that provides a way for other applications, such as the entire Microsoft Office Suite, to send and retrieve data to and from the Navision database through the ODBC interface.
- External Tool: Navision Developer’s Toolkit - The Navision Developer’s Toolkit enables your Microsoft Certified Business Solutions Partner to upgrade your Navision solution to the latest version. It is used to analyze and upgrade customer and vertical solutions
Reporting Options - Aside from the powerful internal reporting tool which requires an in-depth knowledge of C/SIDE to make it useful the other options are:
Builders Beware
November 18, 2007
Which Type of Shop Can Rely On A Home Built System?
Not all shops are at a disadvantage when it comes to building their own system. To determine which avenue a shop should take, owners must know what type of shops benefit from a self built solution and what type is better off purchasing one. Companies with a small number of people, where only 1 person estimates, producing very few quotes daily, with little to no re-orders, and selling a small number of products with few options, may do fine using Excel or a home built shop management system. But if and when one or more of these variables change, the need for a better solution increases and owners should look else where.
How Much Does It Cost To Build Your Own?
Lotus Domino Implementation and Development: Infrastructure ? Present and Future
November 17, 2007
Domino server is a buffer between the operation system and the application. On the other hand Domino server ? consists of the services which support development processing and executing of dynamic, secure applications for Internet, Intranet, or Extranet. Domino server role is to provide functionality both: within and between Domino-applications. Domino services interpret codes and elements of application and execute them over actual operation system. Each service is specially optimized for its specific role when Domino is activated for effective functioning of the whole application.
As far as the application interacting with services, and them in their turn ? with operation system - Domino applications are transferable or platform independent. There are two categories of Domino services: applied and system. Applied services provide functional size to the application. Any application needs user authorization mechanisms, agents execution, views indexing, etc. Considering above mention, such the services are named applied services.
System services provide functionality allowing the applications work in the environment. Domino Catalog keeps information about users and dedicates paths connection between applications. Routing enables applications interconnection. Replication provides applications data synchronization. Notes Client working with local database (without Domino server) performs dedicated Domino services itself, and so brings Domino functions locally, easing up the server workload. Notes Client does not support the same level of limitation and security as the server does.
Microsoft Great Plains version 8.5: Upgrade, Customization, VBA, Crystal Reports - Highlights
November 16, 2007
Microsoft Great Plains is one of the Microsoft Business Solutions family ERP products: Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Solomon, Small Business Manager. MBS also has Microsoft CRM - Client Relation Management software and Microsoft Retail Management System (Microsoft RMS)
Microsoft Great Plains 8.5 is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2005. It is usual practice when you here announcements and then you are notified about software release delays. Expect first the version to be released for US market and then you can expect Spanish and Canadian French version. Satellites or third parties are usually released in the following six month period.
From our Microsoft Business Solutions insiders we could give you the rumors we have heard
? Version 8.5 seems to be rather a big service pack to version 8.0. Let me give you some historical review. Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics of version 7.0 was merged with Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics and this was basically a foundation of Microsoft Great Plains version 7.5
? Microsoft Great Plains version 7.5 was the last version for legacy database platforms: Pervasive SQL 2000 and Ctree. Version 8.0 and higher are available on MS SQL Server and MSDE only
QuarkXpress Tips: How to Move Content Between Print and Web Layouts
November 16, 2007
Since its release in 1987, QuarkXpress had made an immediate impact to computer enthusiasts. QuarkXPress introduced precision typography, layout and color control to the desktop computer, and delivered those features to designers at a fraction of the cost of proprietary typesetting systems. Quark software programs had been widely utilized to create, design and manage their documents such as books, catalogs, brochures, packaging, newspapers, magazines and online materials.
At present, Quark maintains its industry leadership with a product line that ties together traditional print publishing with enterprise content management, personalization and tools for creating collaborative, cross-media workflows. Regarding enterprise content management, I have here a brief description about moving or copying content between print and web layouts. Here are the ways to achieve this.
First, change the layout medium type in the Layout Properties dialog box (Layout > Layout Properties). Next, drag items between projects. Then, copy items from one layout and paste them into the other. Drag items into a library, and then from the library into a layout. It is important to note that if you convert a box from one type of layout to another, some of that box’s attributes may no longer apply. However, they are saved with the box. Say, a text box in a web layout is set to export in JPEG format. If you convert the layout to a print layout, the “export as JPEG” setting is ignored. But if you drag that box into a different web layout, it will still remember the "export as JPEG" setting.
Review on QuarkXpress 6.0
November 15, 2007
After almost two decades of existence, Quark has become the basic building block of any print designer’s toolkit. It has deservedly gained a reputation for reliable printing, offering consistent and dependable output that prevents costly mistakes. Now you can confidently add that tool to your Mac OS X workflow, because QuarkXPress 6.0 is available now and runs beautifully under Mac OS X.
In this latest version, QuarkXPress 6.0 gains a new appearance and a new window menu that lets you quickly navigate between open files. But you’ll love being able to launch as many programs as you want, knowing that if one of them misbehaves, it won’t interfere with your QuarkXPress document. And with the advanced virtual memory in Mac OS X, other programs won’t impede your work by hogging valuable memory. Connecting it to scriptable applications such as FileMaker Pro gives you an automation workflow simply not available on Windows. But it doesn’t merely run on Mac OS X, it also offers significant benefits over previous versions of the software.
Know-how in Microsoft Publisher
November 14, 2007
For those who still don’t know, Microsoft Publisher helps computer users to easily create, customize and publish materials such as flyers, brochures, catalogs, newsletters and websites. It provides tools to create professional and compelling marketing materials that will help you take your business further. With professional page layout and text tools, you can build a strong visual identity for your product or company.
As a part of this article, I’ll be tackling few simple tips that you have to know once you’re new to this software program. These tips include creating a publication using a wizard and using the quick publication wizard with a blank publication. Don’t worry, learning Microsoft Publisher is easy. You just need to be patient and dedicated if you really want to apply what you know about it. Hope you enjoy doing these tips on your own, too.
