January 16, 2003

OPTIMIZING xfODBC DATA ACCESS: FIND OUT HOW AT SPC 2003.
Have you incorporated xfODBC into your Synergy solutions, or are you considering doing so? At SPC 2003, you will hear about some of the common issues developers have encountered on their way to implementing optimized xfODBC solutions. You will learn how the developers resolved these issues, and you will also get some tips and important points to consider for implementing your xfODBC solution.

Register today* for the SPC conference of your choice:

United Kingdom: February 19-20
Providence, RI: March 3-4
Cleveland, OH: March 6-7
New Orleans, LA: March 11-12

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AIRLINE PRICE WARS—BOOK YOUR SPC TICKETS NOW
Now is a great time to book your travel to the SPC. Although we picked locations that were most central to the largest number of customers, we realize that not every customer is within driving distance of an SPC location. However, there are some great airfares available right now. Here are some examples of what we were able to find on the Web:

Atlanta - New Orleans: $118 RT
Chicago - Cleveland: $68 RT
Los Angeles - New Orleans: $198 RT
Baltimore - Providence: $78
Toronto - Cleveland: $126

Visit our Web site for a list of resources to help you with your airline arrangements.

Can't make the dates in the city nearest you? Pick another location! Featuring the best parts of a regular SPC but condensed into two information-packed days, SPC 2003 will repeat the same agenda at each of the four locations.

If you would like to extend your stay before or after the conference, we may be able to offer you the hotel's group rate beyond the conference dates. Please let Liz Marmins know as soon as possible if you are interested.

Click on the links below for information about each SPC destination.

http://www.birmingham.org.uk/
http://www.providencecvb.com/
http://www.cleveland.oh.us/
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/
http://www.neworleansonline.com/

^ Top

SYNERGY/DE HELPDESK SUPPORT TO EXTEND HOURS FOR CUSTOMERS
To provide you with improved service, we are extending HelpDesk Support hours. Beginning on January 20, your Synergy/DE HelpDesk Support team will be available from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST), Monday through Friday.

During core hours, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the HelpDesk Support team will be available as they are now: ready to receive your phone call, e-mail, Web form, or fax. Outside the core hours (from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., and from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), you will be able to leave voice mail, send e-mail, or send a Web form, and HelpDesk Support will respond to your inquiry as soon as they have finished assisting other customers.

We extended our hours in direct response to customer requests for "earlier availability." We encourage you to take advantage of this extended service.

Get more information about HelpDesk Support.

Find out what others are saying about Synergy/DE HelpDesk Support:

To acquire Synergy/DE HelpDesk Support, please contact your Synergy/DE Account Manager.

^ Top

DID YOUR MONA LISA ARRIVE?
If you don't know what we're talking about, you probably haven't received your 2003 Synergex calendar. Or perhaps you would like extras for those coworkers who are coveting yours. Please click here to order additional calendars (while supplies last).

^ Top

SYNERGY/DE 8 FEATURES FOR UI TOOLKIT USERS
Synergy/DE 8 will include a few UI Toolkit features that Synergy developers will appreciate. With version 8 you will be able to…

- Remove, modify, and reorder buttons after they are added to a UI Toolkit window or list.

- Get information about the UI Toolkit menu system (with %M_INFO), including information about menu columns, entries, lists, headers, and shortcuts.

- Implement scrolling text fields, by setting a field's view size smaller than its display size. The contents of the field will be scrollable up to the display length. (Windows)

- Control how a set of radio buttons will be arranged. (For example, you can now arrange them horizontally.) (Windows)

Take advantage of these UI Toolkit enhancements—start planning your upgrade to version 8 now. Synergy/DE 8 is scheduled for release in February.

See the debut of Synergy/DE 8 at SPC 2003. Register today.

Read the Synergy/DE 8 fact sheet for more information.

^ Top

RAY MANVILLE OF IBCOS IS THE WINNER OF THE HELPDESK SUPPORT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY!

Congratulations Ray!

In an effort to continually improve your Synergy/DE HelpDesk Support, we have implemented a customer satisfaction survey on the closing of each HelpDesk Support ticket. The response so far has been tremendous. Randomly selected from the 4th quarter 2002 respondents, Ray Manville is the third winner in our continuing survey contest, winning a $100 American Express gift certificate. The drawing of 1st quarter 2003 respondents will take place in April.

Not on HelpDesk Support? Find out why our supported customers say things like...

"As a HelpDesk Support customer I have access to fast and intelligent responses from the Synergex technical support team. I get the answers I need when I need them."

Pierre Giroux
Software Analyst
Corporate Express Canada

For more information about Synergy/DE HelpDesk Support, go to our Web site or contact your Synergy/DE Account Manager.

^ Top

ANNOUNCING THE 4th QUARTER WINNER OF OUR ANNIVERSARY CONTEST!
Roger Gaudette of Vigie Informatique 2000 Inc.
Company anniversary date: October 1980

Congratulations Roger, and best wishes to Vigie Informatique 2000 Inc., (www.vigie.com) who celebrated their anniversary in October. Located in St. Laurent, Quebec, Vigie Informatique has been a Synergy/DE customer since 1989. The Company's Synergy/DE-built LIVRE is an accounting software package for bookstores and publishers.

Do you know when your company's anniversary is? If you do, enter our Anniversary Contest! Every quarter we'll draw from the companies celebrating anniversaries during those
months, and the winner will receive a $100 American Express gift certificate. Good luck and Happy Anniversary!

^ Top

SYNERGY/DE TECHNOLOGY CENTER: Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003*
In November, Microsoft introduced the Windows .NET Server 2003 family. Last week, they announced a new name for the server: Windows Server 2003. Release Candidate 2 is available for customers to preview. Microsoft says that this new server "takes the best of Windows 2000 Server technology and makes it easier to deploy, manage, and use." It also incorporates .NET functionality, including

- The Microsoft .NET Framework

- The Microsoft XML Web services platform

- Deep integration of Microsoft .NET Passport with Active Directory® service

- Native support for SOAP-based XML Web services

- Full integration of the COM+ component architecture with XML Web services through the .NET Framework

Although the .NET Framework will run on Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003 incorporates the .NET functionality out of the box. So with Windows Server 2003, there will be no need to download or deploy additional software.

Microsoft recommends that customers who are deploying Windows 2000 Server continue with those efforts. Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 are designed to coexist in the same environment, so customers can also choose to begin evaluations of Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server 2003 RC2 is available now, and the final release is scheduled for April 2003.

Synergex is testing Synergy/DE on Windows Server 2003. We are addressing some installation issues that would prevent you from installing Synergy/DE 7.5 on this new server. We will send an announcement when we have certified a Synergy/DE version on Windows Server 2003.

For more information about Windows Server 2003, visit Microsoft's Web site.

*(Editor's Note: The above information is from Microsoft's Web site.)

^ Top

SUPPORT TECH TIP: ERROR RETURNED TO ASP PAGE
Q: Why am I getting the error "Cannot set default value for VT_DISPATCH type" when I run my ASP page? The error occurs on the method call.

A: This error occurs when the object being called has not been set. Make sure the object has been instantiated correctly. If using an array of structures, remember that an instance of the object must be created for each element of the array. So if you have an array variable that is dimensioned for two elements, your FOR loop must be dimensioned from 0 to 2.

^ Top

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SYNERGY/DE NOW?
It's backing the largest media-based aid organization In the United Kingdom!

Broadcasting Support Service (BSS) is a not-for-profit organization specializing in providing information to the public. With subjects ranging from social, health, educational, and public service issues to those of a more entertaining or commercial nature, BSS provides a vital link between their clients and those they serve, whether they be customers, supporters, the general public, viewers, or listeners.

BSS uses Gould Hall Computer Services' Synergy/DE-built OSCAR (Orders Sales Costing And Reporting) system, which was designed for companies that manage the fulfillment of orders and the storage and distribution of materials for many clients. OSCAR enables BSS Distribution to handle the management, reporting, and production processes for the following services:

- System management for Granada TV's successful program "You've Been Framed," which airs humorous video clips submitted by viewers. For instance, OSCAR serves up information to customers who call the BSS contact line and want to find out exactly where their video is in the selection process. Approximately one thousand videos per week are entered into the OSCAR-run database. OSCAR also enables the "You've Been Framed" system to produce a unique barcode label and reference number for each of these videos, enabling the tracking of the video through each stage of the selection and eventual returns process.

- Requests for program support literature for shows such as "Changing Rooms," "Ground Force," "Neighbours From Hell," and "Son of God."

- Online purchases on Channel4.com.

- Fulfillment of support materials for adult training courses via "Learn Direct."

OSCAR has enabled BSS Distribution to expand the portfolio of services it offers to clients and empowers them with a greater control over the delivery of these services.

"We chose Gould Hall after evaluating what software was available for our market place," says Bill Balance, BSS Operations Manager. "The bespoke system they are developing for us allows us to rapidly and efficiently react to our client's needs and requirements."

Note: Gould Hall's OSCAR system also manages donations given to Ethiopiaid and the Brooke Hospital for Animals. These donations are processed through OSCAR via credit or debit cards, checks, postal orders, direct debits, and so forth.

^ Top

Subscribe to Synerg-E-News.
To view past headlines from Synerg-E-News, see the Synerg-E-News Archive.