November 27, 2002

Time is running out…Don't forget to sign up for our December classes!

SYNERGY/DE 8 RELEASED TO BETA TESTERS
Synergy/DE customers anxious to begin developing with the latest
features got started on November 18 with the beta release of Synergy/DE 8.0.

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SYNERGY/DE AND xfNETLINK COM 7.5 NOW AVAILABLE
Synergy/DE and xfNetLink COM 7.5.1f are now available for Windows, OpenVMS Alpha, SCO UNIX, IBM AIX, Compaq Tru64 UNIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, NCR 3000, Linux, SCO UnixWare, Sun Solaris 64-bit, and HP-UX 64-bit. Version 7.5.1f corrects miscellaneous bugs in Professional Series, Connectivity Series, xfSeries, and xfNetLink COM. Version 7.5.1f also includes support for terabyte ISAM files on Linux. The associated release note files are updated and contain details.

Download the patch today!
(Attention HelpDesk customers: Once you click on this link you will need to log into the Resource Center, at which time you will be redirected to the appropriate page).

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SYNERGY/DE TECHNOLOGY CENTER: SIGNING ASSEMBLIES VS. DELAYED SIGNING OF ASSEMBLIES IN SYNERGY/DE xfNetLink .NET
When you run a batch file to build an assembly, xfNetLink .NET generates public and private keys in a strong name key file (.snk file).

These keys will be used to sign the generated assembly when you build your project in the batch file or Visual Studio .NET. Signing a .NET assembly is required to install the assembly into the GAC (global assembly cache). Signing is also used for distribution purposes, such as when the CLR (common language runtime) checks a generated hash value associated with a signed assembly to determine that the assembly has not been tampered with.

If signing is not a concern for your application, you can simply use the defaults (i.e., do nothing in this regard). However, your company may decide to develop a policy for signing assemblies. In this case, you will need to do the following before running the batch file:

- Create your own .snk file using Microsoft's sn.exe utility, which is included in the .NET Framework SDK.

- Edit the batch file (xmlFilename.bat). This file includes a line that runs sn.exe to create the default key file.

- Edit the AssemblyKeyFile attribute in the AssemblyInfo.cs file to include your .snk file instead of the default file.

Depending on your workflow, it may be more convenient to use delayed signing. Delayed signing assigns the public key when the assembly is built, but enables you to delay the assignment of the private key until you are ready to distribute the assembly. If you are using delayed signing, you will need to use the name of the public key file for the AssemblyKeyFile attribute in AssemblyInfo.cs and change the AssemblyDelaySign attribute to "true."

For additional information, and for instructions on using sn.exe to create a key file, see the following Web sites:

- MSDN Library

- C# Corner.com

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, INC., NAMED TO DELOITTE & TOUCHE'S "TECHNOLOGY FAST 50" PROGRAM FOR THE THIRD YEAR RUNNING
Synergy/DE customer Distribution Management Systems, Inc. (DMS) has been named to Deloitte & Touche's prestigious "Technology Fast 50" Program for Connecticut for the third consecutive year. Rankings are based on the company's revenue growth over the past five years.

DMS' CEO, Joseph Greene, credits a desire to make use of leading-edge technology and share it with a satisfied customer base as the foundation of this growth. He said, "Our desire is to position our staff as the IT department for each of our customers. It allows us to understand our customers' needs, keeps us focused on product excellence, and helps our customers become leaders in their individual markets."

Read the entire press release.

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SUPPORT TECH TIP: RESET LICENSEE NAME WITHOUT CONFIGURING LICENSE MANAGER

QUESTION:
If you install the License Manager on a Windows or UNIX computer, and you misspell the licensee name, can you reset the name without having to reinitialize the License Manager with a "-k" string?

ANSWER:
Yes. To reset the licensee name (before you install configuration keys for Synergy/DE products):

For a license server (Windows NT/2000/XP), type:

lmu -r -ns <NewLicenseeName>

For a standalone license (Windows 98/Me or UNIX), type:

lmu -r

Note: If you have already installed product configuration keys, you will need a "-k" string to reinitialize the License Manager.

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SYNERGY/DE?
What do an Arkansas State Senator and a pharmacy application have in common? Believe it or not, Synergy/DE! Not only does Senator Percy Malone represent the 3rd Senate District in the state of Arkansas, but he is also the president and owner of W.P. Malone, Inc., a company that develops and uses the Synergy/DE-based pharmacy application, Exact Med.

WP Malone, Inc., includes a chain of Allcare Pharmacies, located throughout Arkansas. Each Allcare Pharmacy uses Exact Med for both retail and institutional operations, maximizing productivity and reducing human error through the system's bar coding technology. Exact Med includes a direct interface with ScriptPro's SP Central
Pharmacy Dispensing Management System, automatically faxes doctors for refill authorization, provides customers with an Adobe Acrobat PDF statement via e-mail, includes customer charge accounts, and reduces data entry by linking family members' information such as address and phone number records.

WP Malone has been developing and using Exact Med for 25 years, developing new elements to the pharmacy package and modifying existing elements as new requirements arise or as the pharmacy business changes. Carl Mecum, senior software developer at WP Malone, comments, "We are constantly working to further improve our software, and Synergy/DE helps us stay ahead of the curve."

Have an interesting story about Synergy/DE? Tell us about it! Don't worry, we'll do all the writing-just send your ideas to liz.marmins@synergex.com or give Liz Marmins a call at
+1-800-366-3472 or at +1-916-635-7300. If your story is published in Synerg-E-News, you will receive a Synergex polo shirt!

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SYNERGEX HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Please mark your calendars... Synergex will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER
… Don't forget to sign up for our December classes:

- Synergy Language Essentials class, December 2 - 6

- UI Toolkit Essentials class, December 9 - 13

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