December 23, 2003

THE POWER OF xfSERVERPLUS: A CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY AT SPC 2004
Come to SPC 2004 in England, and see how the United Kingdom's leading Internet retailer of IT and technology products, dabs.com, recently re-engineered their Web site with Synergy/DE xfServerPlus and is processing £18 million ($30.6 million) of orders per month. In this session, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at this customer's online ordering process, as you learn about Web site design considerations and xfServerPlus integration. Don't miss out...Register for SPC 2004 today.

There will be a different customer presentation at each SPC location ... Stay tuned to Synerg-E-News to learn about the customer presentation at the location nearest you.

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SYNERGY/DE 8.1.5b NOW AVAILABLE
Synergy/DE 8.1.5b includes a number of improvements to the Synergy/DE UI Toolkit ActiveX list control to fix “flicker” and “repaint” issues. Version 8.1.5b also includes support for up to 650 fields in the Synergy/DE Repository (the previous limit was 500) and miscellaneous bug fixes in most products. (See the Support Tech Tip below for more information about the Repository field limit.)

See the release note files in HelpDesk Online for complete details.

Download version 8.1.5b today!
(You must be a HelpDesk Support customer to view the release notes or to download this version. After clicking on one of the links above, log into the Resource Center. You will then be redirected to the appropriate Web page.)

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THE SYNERGY XML API: EMPOWERING BUSINESSCRAFT TO PROVIDE STREAMLINED INTEGRATION SOLUTIONS
Based in Newcastle, Australia, Businesscraft Pty. Ltd. provides commercial accounting and mission-critical software systems to the manufacturing, service, and building industries. Builders, manufacturers, and engineering shops across Australia use the Synergy/DE-based Businesscraft Corporate Management Software (Businesscraft) to manage all aspects of their daily operations, including job costing, estimating, contracts, workflow, financials, and much more.

Businesscraft uses XML to import work order requests into their accounting software.
One of Businesscraft’s clients, Machine Monitor, provides machine monitoring and plant maintenance on a contract basis for mines and manufacturers. They use the Businesscraft application to process the high volume of incoming job orders they receive on a daily basis.

To read the rest of Businesscraft’s story, visit the Synergy/DE, XML, and Web Services microsite.
(Attention HelpDesk Support customers: After clicking on this link, log into the Resource Center. You'll then be redirected to the Synergy/DE, XML, and Web Services microsite.)

How is the Synergy XML API helping you simplify business-to-business transactions?
Let us know.

Get a real-world look at the XML API...Attend SPC 2004. Register today.

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SUPPORT TECH TIP: 500-FIELD MAXIMUM IN SYNERGY/DE REPOSITORY

Question:
In version 7.5.1, I was able to define a repository structure that contained 510 fields. Now that I have upgraded to version 8.1, I can no longer load the schema in, nor can I save changes to that structure via the user interface. What changed?

Answer:
Previously, there were instances in which the documented 500 field limit was not enforced. We improved enforcement of this limit in version 8.1.1 because the consequences of defining more than 500 fields was oftentimes unpredictable.

Although the maximum number of fields permitted in a structure was documented as being 500, in actuality you might not have been able to define that many fields depending on how many keys, relations, local formats, aliases, and tags were also defined. In fact, it was impossible to define the documented maximum of all definition types at the same time because they all shared the same 64k global data area, and 64k was not large enough.

In 8.1.5b, we changed the way these definitions are stored. Now, each definition type has its own 64k data area. Because of this change, we were able to increase the maximum number of fields to 650. Professional Series Workbench and the xfODBC dbcreate utility have also been modified to support the new maximum. In a future release, we plan to support 999 fields.

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PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…
In observance of the end-of-year holidays, Synergex will be closed starting at noon Pacific Time (PT) on Wednesday, December 24, all day Thursday, December 25, and all day Friday, December 26. Synergex will also be closed the following week starting at noon PT on Wednesday, December 31, all day on Thursday, January 1, and all day Friday, January 2, 2004.

If you anticipate needing our services on the days we are closed, please let us know as soon as possible so we can accommodate you.

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SYNERGY/DE NOW?
Helping a major water heater manufacturer produce 2,500 water heaters per day…

Giant Factories Inc., based in Montreal, Quebec, is the second largest water heater manufacturer in Canada. The company produces 2,500 residential and commercial electric, gas, and oil-fired water heaters per day. In 1997, Giant became the world’s first major water heater manufacturer to insulate its water heaters with eco-friendly water-blown GREENFOAM® insulation, which helps to protect the planet’s ozone layer.

Giant uses Logimpact Distribution Inc.’s Synergy/DE-based Manufacturing and Distribution software. For over 15 years, Giant has used this application to run all of their business operations. The Synergy/DE-based application includes a suite of modules, such as bill of material, inventory control, production scheduling, barcode labelling (manufacturing and packing), costing, order entry, invoicing, accounting, accounts payable, general ledger and financial statements, payroll, and customer service.

“By integrating all of these modules, we have reduced errors and improved data security for Giant and other customers,” said Alain Lavoie, president of Logimpact Distribution. “In addition, our Synergy application keeps inventory records up-to-date, which gives our customers a competitive edge.”

This Synergy application, which runs primarily on Windows, automates Giant’s entire production process. When a new production line begins, the operator enters the model number of the water heater into the Synergy application and starts the production line. The water heaters are built and placed on a transportation band that leads to the packing department.

While the water heaters are in the packing line, they are scanned by an optical eye connected to a PC running the Synergy application on Windows. The application produces a label with a unique serial number for each water heater in the line. As these labels are placed on the water heaters, the serial numbers are transferred to a Unix database using Synergy/DE xfServer.

When a water heater is ready to be wrapped for shipping, it passes through another optical reader, which is connected to another PC running the Synergy/DE-based application. This reader scans the barcode on the label and produces an additional label for the packing box and a warranty card with the serial number. This information is then updated in the Unix database to confirm that the water heater has been produced and prepared for shipping.

M. Derek Bell of Giant Factories exclaims, “Thanks to the flexibility and compatibility of Synergy/DE across multiple platforms, this entire process is possible!”

About Logimpact Distribution Inc.
Logimpact Distribution has provided custom software applications since 1979. The company has created Synergy/DE-based applications for courier businesses, municipalities, jewelry stores, and the manufacturing industry.

For more information on Giant Factories Inc., visit their Web site.

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SIGN UP TODAY FOR THESE UPCOMING SYNERGEX EVENTS

• February 26-27, 2004 SPC 2004-- Birmingham, England
  
• March 2-4, 2004 VisualSmart Sponsors DCI Show-- Chicago, Illinois
  
• March 11-12, 2004 SPC 2004-- Cleveland, Ohio
  
• March 15-16, 2004 SPC 2004-- Providence, Rhode Island
  
• March 18-19, 2004 SPC 2004-- New Orleans, Louisiana

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