Immediate Benefits

Although ZonePro SQL is a couple of months off there is already a benefit available for existing ZonePro customers. As I mentioned in the last post my trial project was putting my customer database on-line. In the next new release of ZonePro customers will be able to access some of the information from that database. In the Installed Modules screen there will be a "Check Maintenance Status" button that will query my on-line database and tell you your current maintenance status including your annual fee amount, when it is due, and when it was last paid. Pretty cool, eh? That same screen will also be able to check an on-line database to find the current module release levels and then automatically download any updates that are available!

First Success

My trial project while first learning how to use SQL Server is the database application I use to track customers. It keeps track of contact names, addresses, products installed etc. The thing that impressed me the most when I first moved the databases to the internet is that there was no noticeable lag time difference between accessing SQL Server locally and accessing it on the internet. This was great news. The last thing I want is customers twiddling their thumbs waiting for the next property record to load. I don't want to create the wrong impression: using SQL Server databases is not as fast as using local FoxPro databases. But using SQL Server on the internet is just as fast a using SQL Server locally. As least in my environment. And that is all I could hope for.

ZonePro the Sequel (Oops, I meant SQL)

This new journal is where I will discuss the development issues concerning ZonePro SQL. ZonePro SQL is a new version of ZonePro that will store all of it's data files on the internet rather than on the customer's local network or PC. The advantage, of course, is that you'll be able to access your ZonePro information from anywhere you have an internet connection. We're going to use a smart-client approach, which basically means there will be a program on your desktop for ZonePro SQL that looks and behaves more or less the same as ZonePro 32. I am very excited about this new project but there are many decisions to make. I'll discuss a lot of those decisions here and welcome any input customers have.