Post on 14-Feb-2017
Dear Developer,
Omnis Studio provides fast, low cost development, an advanced and easy-to-use
environment, and a far greater return on investment than many other development
tools on the market. Omnis Studio is optimised for multi-tier, web-based
application development and allows you to integrate all your current applications
and data storage systems, regardless of platform, vendor or the complexity of your
information management requirements.
Whatever the future brings, Omnis Studio can integrate all the latest and newly
adopted technologies and standards, such as .NET, Web Services, Java, XML, and
Linux, allowing you to react quickly to new business opportunities and stay one
step ahead of your competitors.
I hope the information provided in this booklet will convince you that Omnis
Studio is THE right choice for all your future development projects, and that you
join the growing number of developers adopting Omnis Studio. The software
companies in this booklet have all used Omnis to create market-leading solutions
in many business sectors and have built their success on the power and flexibility
of Omnis Studio.
Thank you for your interest in Omnis Studio and
I wish you every success in your future business.
--Birgit Jaeger
Head of European Sales.
Raining Data Germany
WelcomeAbout TigerLogic
About TigerLogic
2
TigerLogic is our main holding company and is headquartered in Irvine, California, with regional offices in Germany, France andthe UK. TigerLogic is a software company that designs, builds and sells XML database and Rapid Application Developmentsoftware products to developers worldwide. For more information about TigerLogic, please go to: www.tigerlogic.com
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system or translatedinto any language in any form by any means without the written permission of TigerLogic.© 2008 TigerLogic Corporation, and its licensors. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Contents
3
Introduction
Welcome: About TigerLogic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
About Omnis Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Case Studies
General Management: ERP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 6
General Management: CRM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
General Management: Project & Asset Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8–10
Media: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11–14
Legal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Retail/Trade: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16–20
Services: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Manufacturing: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Finance: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Logistics: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Leisure/Travel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25–27
Not-for-profit: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Clients
Client List: Customer references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
The Team, What our customers say about Omnis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Products and Services: Consultancy & Training, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
About Omnis StudioA fast, low cost development tool
A Rapid Application Development tool forcreating enterprise and web applications
4
Omnis Studio™ is one of the most powerful and flexible RapidApplication Development (RAD) tools available today. OmnisStudio allows the independent or team-based developer to createe-business and information management solutions for companiesand organizations of any size.
With Omnis Studio you can develop and deploy applications for Windows, Linux, and MacOS X from a single code base. Applications developed with Omnis Studio are used insuch diverse markets as healthcare, education, government administration, financeand billing, customer relationship management, and many more. Omnis Studio allowsyou to create dynamic form-based, desktop or Web Client applications. Theseapplications can access all leading server databases including MySQL, PostgreSQL,Oracle, Sybase and DB2, as well as SQL Server and other ODBC and JDBC compliantdatabases.
Perfect for Web Development With the powerful Omnis Web Clientplug-in, customers, clients or stafffrom anywhere in the world mayinstantly access and use the data youwant them to see.
Ideal for Networks Run sophisticated solutions withconfidence. Omnis Studio will scaleperfectly either as traditionalclient/server, or in a multi-tierenvironment. Omnis Studio is theanswer in single user start-ups orenterprise level organizations.
StableWith over twenty five years ofdevelopment to its credit, Omnis Studiohas the pedigree to deliver fast, secureperformance.
ProvenWith hundreds of different solutionsand thousands of different customersaround the world, Omnis Studio hasproven its worth.
FastAs a 4GL RAD tool, Omnis Studio withWeb Client can be built intosophisticated business solutions in afraction of the time it would take with a3GL (e.g. Java).
Universal Data AccessYou can access virtually any datasource, on a network or via the web.Omnis can connect to Oracle, DB2,Sybase, or Informix directly, or otherdatabases via JDBC or ODBC.
Truly Cross-PlatformWhether you’re using Windows XP orVista, Linux, or Mac OS X, Omnis Studiolets you develop and deploy on themall simultaneously, either over a LAN orthe Internet/intranet, and withoutrecompiling your application.
Your Applications will Run and RunThe robust, high performance OmnisServer provides full scalability,multithreaded database access, and fullload sharing, allowing you to deployyour web applications with completepeace of mind.
ahead of the curve
10 reasons whyyou should chooseOmnis Studio...
• Speed of development
• Windows, Mac andLinux development anddeployment
• Access to all leadingSQL databases
• Ground-breaking Webtechnology
• Proven track record, with1000s of market leadingsolutions
• Outstanding TechnicalSupport
• ComprehensiveDeveloper Program
• Strong DeveloperCommunity
• Expert Training andother Services
• Solid companybackground
General ManagementERP
Groundbreaking web-based ERP solutioncreated using the Omnis Web ClientWebPyramid is the first web-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system inItaly to be developed using the Omnis web client technology. It can be used onboth Local Area Networks (LANs) and the Internet with the same usability of atraditional Client/Server application. With its many functional areas, WebPyramidcan present multiple windows working in a standard web browser using only theOmnis web client plug-in. The breadth of functionality within WebPyramidprovides: stock management, purchase/sales order, logistics, complete financialmanagement (including accounts, invoicing, bookkeeping & ledgers, profit & loss,balance sheet, financial reports), company overview with statistics and graphicalreports, production/manufacturing management, project management, point ofsale, document management, email, personal & company calendar, webpublishing, e-commerce, and e-business.
The WebPyramid ERP system was developed in Omnis Studio using the Omnisweb client technology, and supports client access on Windows, Mac, and Linux viaInternet Explorer and Mozilla-based web browsers. The web frontend ofWebPyramid is currently available in Italian and on the server database side itsupports MySql, Sybase, and Microsoft SQL.
AAbboouutt WWeebbPPyyrraammiidd SSrrll:: WebPyramid Srl is a new companycreated as a spin-off from Next2Day Srl. The company createdWebPyramid ERP and now distributes the solution to VARs,System Integrators and Software houses who offer WebPyramidto end users ‘off-the-shelf’ or customised for their specificmarkets. WebPyramid Srl offers ‘on-demand’ software solutions(software as a service) on the Web, hosting applications anddatabases with the best warranty regarding security, availabilityand privacy.
"When we found out about the great Omnis web clienttechnology we decided to rebuild our old software. Wewanted to create an innovative application for bothLANs and the Internet. Thanks to Omnis webclient, we now have WebPyramid!" Fabrizio Ponti,manager of Omnis development, WebPyramid Srl. The WebPyramid ERP system was
developed in Omnis Studio usingthe Omnis web client technology,and supports client access onWindows, Mac, and Linux viaInternet Explorer and Mozilla-based web browsers.
"When we found out aboutthe great Omnis web clienttechnology we decided torebuild our old software.We wanted to create aninnovative application forboth LANs and the Internet.Thanks to Omnis webclient, we now haveWebPyramid!" Fabrizio Ponti Manager of Omnis development, WebPyramid Srl
WebPyramid SrlVia Dante Alighieri, 32Mariano Comense (CO), 20066 ItalyTel. +39 362,32.82.01Email: info@webpyramid.it Web: www.webpyramid.it 5
A while ago senex GmbH had reached a dead end with their ERP system ‘senex-wws’. The system worked perfectly well but could run under UNIX onlyand with a text-based user interface.
So the company searched for a development tool that
1. offered independance from the operating system – ideally it should be crossplatform – and so guarantee both flexibility and return on the investment forthe company and their customers,2. allowed object oriented, quick and easy development to help them torespond to the requirements of their customers, and3. provided database independance.
At that time they decided to use Omnis Studio because it achieved theirrequirements and it has a good price/performance ratio.
Initially they applied for a project to develop a standard test system with anintegrated test machine control for drugs in the chemical and pharmaceuticalindustries. The system had high demands for security and the methodology ofthe program development. “Thanks to the goodsupport by the Omnis Support team we have beenable – although being newbies to Omnis – to create aprototype quickly and to convince the customer on thisbasis. According to the rules of GMP (GoodManufacturing Practice) and of ISO 9001 we developedthis solution, for which the Omnis VCS was a big help,”said Dagmar Strobel of senex GmbH. The softwaresystem is called ‘tts11’ and is used today at well-knowncorporations.
Since that time they have completed the re-design oftheir business software ‘solution2’ in all essentialfunctions. Apart from the standard functionality of abusiness management solution, it contains a completeEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) including Bill ofMaterials, production planning, a Customer RelationshipManagement (CRM), a Supply Chain Management(SCM), an integrated quality management with aProduct Life Cycle Management (PLM), a standarddocument management, as well as many other easy touse features. By using object classes in Omnis and theuse of ‘design pattern’ concepts, senex have reached ahigh level of consistent functionality and layout in theirapplications.
Omnis Studio allowed developer to produce cross-platform solutions, quickly and easily
Management of items and products including - among many otherfeatures - a management of material classification codes such as DINstandards.
“Thanks to the good support by the OmnisSupport team we havebeen able – although beingnewbies to Omnis – tocreate a prototype quicklyand... the Omnis VCS was abig help.”Dagmar Strobelsenex GmbH
senex GmbH Rossbergring 1564354 Reinheim, Germany.Tel: +49 06162/ 9497-0E-mail: info@senex.de Web: www.senex.de
General ManagementERP
6
General ManagementCRM
7
Multi-featured CRM solution fully automatessales and other departmentsTarget Cross CRM allows you to manage all the activities concerning customersand prospects in a Sales environment or an entire company. It helps you toorganize e-mails, faxes, letters, appointments, phone calls, meetings, mailing-lists,sms messages, as well as business documents, all within one easy-to-use interface.Target Cross CRM also allows you to manage all sales quotations, orders, shippingdocuments, invoices, and price lists, whereby everything that sales staff will needis organized and concentrated in one place. Added to this, it has an internalpersonal organizer, a module to send and to receive email, and a link with VoIPswitchboard to make and to receive calls via the Internet. Target Cross CRM alsohas a link with Microsoft Outlook(R) that allows you to synchronize your mobilephone or PDA with your PC application and to share contacts. There is also thepossibility to send and to receive faxes within the system.
The Target Cross CRM product contains the “Pro-active” module which automatesall repetitive tasks and allows you to manage the smooth flow of information andtransactions: this feature informs staff of events automatically and enables theefficient operation of sales and other departments. “Our software goes beyond thelimits of traditional CRM software, by providing easy and secureaccess to all the information and resources a company needs torun effectively. It is very easy and quick to install and provides avery good return on investment,” said Mirko Seghetti, managerof Tek Service Srl, the developer of Target Cross CRM. More than130 companies in Italy are using Target Cross CRM as well asothers in Slovenia.
Stefano Bonato, technical manager of Target Cross CRMsoftware, explains why Tek Service used Omnis Studio for thedevelopment of their software: “We wanted tocreate the best and most stable software productand to keep the development time as short aspossible. Omnis Studio allowed us to do this,while allowing us to customize Target Cross CRMto the demands of every customer, but preservingfull compatibility with our standards.”
Target Cross CRM allows you toorganize all sales-related e-mails, faxes,letters, appointments, phone calls,meetings, mailing-lists, sms messages,as well as business documents, allwithin one easy-to-use interface.
“We wanted to create the
best and most stable software
product and to keep the
development time as short as
possible. Omnis Studio
allowed us to do this, while
allowing us to customize
Target Cross CRM to the
demands of every customer...”
Stefano Bonato
Technical manager
Target Cross CRM Software
Tek Service SrlVia Garbini, 15 37135 Verona, ItalyTel/Fax +39.045.581031Email: crm@tekservice.it Web: www.tekservice.it
General ManagementProject Management
8
Powerful and flexible project management solutionprovides success for Building contractorsMatrix is an advanced software solution, written in Omnis Studio 4, that allowsbuilding contractors to manage the entire planning and control lifecycle forconstruction projects. The program combines technical data with administrativeand accounting functionality and is easily adapted for different organizations andspecialists in the building and construction industry.
It has four top-level functional areas, namely Contract, Order, Building Site andBuilding Accounting, and allows the customer to configure the system entirely totheir needs while maximizing cost savings and profitability of constructionprojects. This level of customization allows a high degree of flexibility andefficiency during the entire construction project lifecycle. The software includesunique procedures that allow the progress of a live building project to bemonitored and managed on a day-to-day basis.
888 Software Products has developed their own components for Omnis Studiothat allow you to manage the complex task of ordering materials for constructionprojects. In particular, the Matrix product includes a very powerful Ganttcomponent that allows the complete management of projects from the start to asuccessful finish. The software has a multilingual and multi-currency interfacewhich allows the management of large or internationally basedprojects, which is essential for most medium and large sizedconstruction companies. The latest version of Matrix supports allthe current Public Works Regulations that governmentengineering departments have to comply with.
AAbboouutt 888888 SSooffttwwaarree PPrroodduuccttss:: 888 SP is a successful softwarecompany based in Rovigo, Italy, that specializes in thedevelopment of Windows, Mac OS X, Client/Server and Web-based solutions for the construction andgovernment sectors. “Omnis Studio technologyallows us to optimize our development time, andrapidly update Matrix to comply with all thechanges in regulations required by buildingcontractors. This has allowed us to create one ofthe most successful ERP solutions for theconstruction industry.” Sandro Pizzolato, SalesManager of 888 Software Products S.r.l.
The Matrix product includes a verypowerful Gantt component thatallows the complete managementof projects from the start to asuccessful finish.
“Omnis Studio technologyallows us to optimize ourdevelopment time, andrapidly update Matrix tocomply with all the changesin regulations required bybuilding contractors. This hasallowed us to create one ofthe most successful ERPsolutions for the constructionindustry.”
Sandro Pizzolato Sales Manager 888 Software Products S.r.l.
888 Software Products S.r.l.Via Combattenti Alleati d’Europa, 3545100 Rovigo RO, ItalyTel: +39 - 04 25 - 47 12 40Email: info@888sp.it Web: www.888sp.com
General ManagementProject Management
9
Successful business management tool delivers rapidROI for service-based, media and creative businessesIn a service-based company it is important to convert the expertise, ideas,imagination and talent of the people within the company into realisable assetsthat will generate revenues. It is just as important to have a software solution tomanage and assist the process of creating such intellectual capital for thecompany. One such solution is JobBag, a sophisticated business managementsolution designed specifically for service-based industries such as advertisingagencies, graphic arts, software development, or other professional services suchas public relations, architecture and engineering.
The common element in all service-based businesses is that they are doing jobs(projects) for their clients that they need to manage from start to finish. Theprocess of managing the job is often fast paced, complex and multi-faceted.JobBag clients can record, control and manage their business process, and thevalue that they create, from the point of “wooing” the client all the way throughto producing their financial statements – from Brief to Balance Sheet.
“Omnis has been the ultimate development tool for usto deliver what our clients demand – fast paced,responsive development to their requests forenhancements to JobBag, that gives them the systemto control their whole business process” said DavidBlaymires, Managing Director of Instinct Systems PtyLtd, developers of JobBag. “As Omnis has developed,providing more sophisticated development tools, theresult has been a richer, more comprehensive andvaluable system for our clients to use”.
“For example, we’ve been able to respond quickly tocomplex changes in the local regulatory environment,and take advantage of changes in technology thatallow our clients to document and communicate thesubstance of their business process via e-mail and PDFformats. This has increased the level of service to theirclients, improved the level of documentation andsubstantiation of the business process, and lowered thecost of making their business work. JobBag has beendeveloped in Omnis over more than 20 years. We havemade the move to Omnis Studio version 4 that willgive our clients an even greater edge.”
Omnis has allowed Instinct Systems to build a sophisticatedbusiness management tool that meets all the ongoing regulatoryrequirements and ultimately lowers costs for their clients.
"Omnis has been theultimate developmenttool for us to deliverwhat our clients demand– fast paced, responsivedevelopment..." David Blaymires,Managing DirectorInstinct Systems Pty Ltd.,Australia
Instinct Systems Pty Ltd220 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest NSW 2065, AustraliaTel: (+61 2) 8115 8000Email: david.blaymires@instinctsystems.com.auWeb: www.instinctsystems.com.au
General ManagementAsset Management
Omnis and Mac OS X deliver the best environment forFacility and Asset Management solution providerTMA Systems has been using Omnis since 1988 to build their FacilityMaintenance and Asset Management Solutions. Since that time TMAhas deployed its solutions to over 1,200 education, healthcare,corporate and government clients all over the world.
“We chose the Omnis Studio database development tools to create oursuccessful facility maintenance product because of its ability to supportApple's Macintosh Classic OS and OS X operating system as well asother operating systems,” said Gary Schaecher, President and Founderof TMA Systems, LLC.
“In addition, Omnis Studio provides us the flexibility and speed ofdevelopment required in our constantly changing business – we haveyet to find another tool that provides this.”
“Our Macintosh clients appreciate the fact our solution looks andoperates exactly like a Mac OS X application.”
As Paul Giessen, Assistant Director of Housingand Dining Services at the University of Tulsastated, “We run 25-30 Macintosh OS Xcomputers in our department because they areeasy-to-use, virus free and very stable.Combining the world's most stable operatingsystem with an advanced facilitiesmanagement tool like TMA, has mademanaging our facilities department mucheasier over the 14 years we have been usingMacintosh computers and TMA.”
Since 1988, TMA has built successive generations of Facility and AssetManagement software solutions using every generation of Omnis. Now using Omnis Studio under Mac OS X has allowed them to deliverone of the most powerful and feature rich management solutionsavailable today, on any platform.
“We chose Omnis becauseof its ability to supportApple's Mac Classic and OSX as well as other operatingsystems... Omnis Studioprovides us the flexibilityand speed of developmentrequired in our constantlychanging business – wehave yet to find anothertool that provides this.”
Gary SchaecherPresident and FounderTMA Systems, LLC
TMA Systems, LLC 5100 E. Skelly Drive, Suite 900Tulsa, OK 74135, USATel: 918 858 6600Email: sales@tmasystems.comWeb: www.tmasystems.com10
MediaResource & Project Management
11
Cross-platform Job Bag solution boosts profits andsaves time in fast-moving advertising sectorHeadquartered in Frankfurt, Germany with offices in England and Thailand, J+DSoftware AG designs, develops and markets 'Electronic Job Bag' software to themarketing and design industry in Europe and beyond. The system is basedaround a core 'Production' module that will track costs and relationships fromthe initial estimate right up to when the invoice leaves accounts. ProAdProfessional™ also contains modules for specialist Media Bookings, Resourceand Project Management, Fee Chasing, Stock Control all matched with apowerful reporting utility that gives agency management the 'inside track'regarding real-time business critical information.
Why we chose Omnis: "My main contact is with the advertising and marketingcommunity," said Stefan Dörrstein of J+D Software AG. "This market is uniquesince each company has precise and demanding requirements to be met usingProAd Professional™, and they must be met using both the Windows and MacOS platforms at the same time! This is where Omnis shows its true strength andvalue. As a business sector, the advertisingsector moves quickly, so as a key supplier weneed to be able to move quickly as and whenrequired. Omnis gives J+D Software just theright environment to respond."
Why we continue to use Omnis: because it isan easy-to-use rapid 4GL developmentenvironment. It provides for many nativedatabase connections which has the advantageof quick data access times. Notwithstanding thefact that Omnis is a true cross-platformenvironment saving the need for separatecoding on Windows and Mac environments in-house. This is before we have mentioned thatOmnis supports object orientation, messagingand multi-language screen design with versioncontrol which means we can control thedevelopment process. And, with the externalcomponent interface we can interact with otherprograms like Microsoft Word™.
Omnis is a true crossplatform environmentensuring that Windows andMac versions of productssuch as ProAd™ behaveexactly the same, deliveringthe same powerfulfunctionality and dataconnectivity that clientsdemand for their business.
"..the advertising sectormoves quickly, so as akey supplier we need tobe able to move quicklyas and when required.Omnis gives J+D Softwarejust the rightenvironment to respond." Stefan Dörrstein, J+D Software AG
ProAd™ was developed by:J+D Software AG, Max-Planck-Straße 6c 63128 Dietzenbach, Germany Tel: +49 (0) 6074 / 82650Email: info@jd-ag.comWeb: www.jd-ag.com
MediaERP & Omnis Conversion Tools
12
Developer Successfully Migrates leadingDutch broadcaster to Omnis StudioIInnttrroodduuccttiioonn:: TROS is a public radio and television broadcaster in the Netherlands and for 40
years has focused on the popular Dutch music scene. As well as its broadcasting activities, it
is a leading TV guide publisher and music event organizer. Back in 1990, two students
started to develop administration tools for TROS, which later became a full ERP application
managing many of the business activities for the broadcaster. Out of this development
activity, the company VDA Informatiebeheersing was created, which over the intervening
years has become a leading supplier of ERP and CRM solutions to Dutch media companies,
with around 45 employees and over 100 customers, and accounting for over 2bn Euros of
the Dutch media market.
TThhee eevvoolluuttiioonn:: The ERP solution from VDA, called POP, has over 30 modules for the
administrative processes for mainly television and radio, as well as related activities on the
internet and live events, plus financial management. Additional access is given to users and
external applications via Java, using XML and SOAP, which supports adding & retrieving
information, viewing radio and television schedules, reporting use of material, searching
material, and so on. The successful use of the application is not limited to TROS, with more
than 10 Dutch broadcasters and production companies using the application. The
application started life on Omnis 3 and the Omnis datafile, but with the later addition of an
Oracle database, was upgraded to Omnis 7.
MMoovvee ttoowwaarrddss OOmmnniiss SSttuuddiioo:: In the last few years, with many changes
in the Mac and general IT markets, there was a big need to convert the
ERP application to Omnis Studio. Given that VDA had many other Omnis
7 applications (known in the Omnis community as ‘classic applications’),
they decided to create a complete environment for converting Omnis 7
applications to Omnis Studio, based on the conversion tools provided
by Omnis. Three experienced VDA Omnis developers worked on this,
resulting in a conversion environment with a successful conversion rate
of 99%, including the conversion of V2 DAM (Data Access Module) code
to the new DAM interface in Omnis Studio v3/4. The conversion
modules were implemented at TROS during 2005, and by the
beginning of 2006 the ERP application was fully converted. Now with
more than 60 users, TROS is successfully using the application in Omnis
Studio for the latest version of Mac OS X.
CCoonnvveerrssiioonn sseerrvviiccee ffoorr ootthheerr OOmmnniiss uusseerrss:: Based on the success with
TROS, VDA decided to make their conversion environment available to
other Omnis developers, and several successful conversions have been
undertaken in Europe and the US. For more information on this case
study and for a special white paper on their conversion service, contact
Rick Hagen at VDA: rhagen@vda.nl
The application created by VDA allows broadcasters andmedia companies to manage assets and customer accounts.The application started life in Omnis 3, then converted toOmnis 7, and was later successfully converted to OmnisStudio using conversion tools created by VDA themselves.
“Three experienced VDAOmnis developers worked on[our conversion project],resulting in a conversionenvironment with a successfulconversion rate of 99%,including the conversion ofV2 DAMs... by the beginningof 2006 the ERP applicationwas fully converted.”
Rick HagenVDA Informatiebeheersing
VDA Informatiebeheersing BVSeinstraat 32, Postbus 22941200 CG HilversumThe NetherlandsTel: +31.35.655.44.33Email: info@vda.nlWeb: www.vda.nl
MediaResource & Project Management
13
Advertising agencies and service based companies need to manage the relationships with
their customers and all their current jobs easily and effectively. The software systems
required to support the management of this information need to be flexible, easy to use,
and very reliable. ADJob Nordic AB has built such a system using Omnis Studio which now
supports ad agencies across Sweden.
The ADJob Business System makes it possible for ad agencies and service companies to
manage their jobs, time sheets, purchase orders and client invoicing. The system also
supports CRM, as well as the estimating and planning process. The top of the line ADJob
module seamlessly integrates project management with a complete accounting system.
Ad agencies and other service companies tend to use Mac OS X, while an increasing
number use both Mac OS X and Windows based PCs. Since the ADJob system is built
using Omnis Studio, a cross-platform development tool, ADJob Nordic AB are able to offer
their customers a choice of either Mac OS X or Windows, or a combination of platforms,
including Linux for server based systems.
“The main advantage of developing in Omnis Studio is that we only develop on one
platform. The exact same code will run on both Mac OS X and Windows without any
modifications. Once the entry level was passed, the speed of programming is now really
fast and we enjoy a very short time to market,” said Mats Olsson, Managing Director of
ADJob Nordic AB, Sweden.
“Using the Omnis Data Bridge allows us to deliver a solution for sharing data that is more
reliable than traditional file sharing. This method of sharing data is well suited for the size
of company within our target market,” continued Mats. “In addition, the Solo Omnis
Developer Partner Program has made it possible for us to achieve a
business plan that is long term, profitable and affordable for our target
group. The quality of our own tech support is also enhanced by the
backup of the German RD Support Team.”
The ADJob system was developed in Omnis 7, but migrating to Omnis
Studio has made it possible to reduce the time to fix a minor bug from
one hour to a couple of minutes. ADJob has also found that deployment
and distribution of their application built on Omnis Studio is much easier
and quicker than previous versions of Omnis. In addition, the size of their
main library file was reduced from 50 MB to 5 MB due to the object
oriented programming techniques in Omnis Studio.
AAbboouutt AADDJJoobb:: Founded in 1973, ADJob Nordic AB is a Swedish company
that started as a screen printing shop, but in later years migrated into an
ad agency. Based upon real life experience, they started to develop an
application built in Omnis 3 to manage their own agency. ADJob Project
was successfully launched to other agencies in 1987 and today they are
serving 350 active companies with approximately 2000 end users.
Cross-platform Omnis solution manages Jobsand Costing for Swedish ad agencies
ADJob Nordic ABHäggelundsvägen 17 523 38 Ulricehamn, SwedenTel: 0321-261 20Email: info@adjob.se Web: www.adjob.se
The ADJob solution can beused by Ad agencies onMac OS X and Windowsclients, accessing the samedatabase application.
“The main advantage ofdeveloping in Omnis Studio isthat we only develop on oneplatform. The exact samecode will run on both Mac OSX and Windows without anymodifications. Once the entrylevel was passed, the speedof programming is now reallyfast and we enjoy a very shorttime to market.”
Mats OlssonManaging Director ADJob Nordic AB, Sweden
LegalWorkflow & Case Management
Omnis solution makes managementof Law Firms easy and efficient All businesses need to collect and store information that is created within theircompany, relying heavily on software systems to manage that information. Inparticular, Legal firms and other service based companies need to manageinformation regarding all the jobs performed for each customer, includinginformation about time and project management, job costing, invoicing, andgeneral customer management. These tasks can be handled using separateprograms, but increasingly are managed using one complete software solution.Italian developer SoftLab has created such a system called EasyLex which is acomplete management solution for Law Firms.
EasyLex allows many standard functions including the tracking of all case activitiesand communications with clients, full case management with automatic interestconflict check, as well as workflow control and fast planning of standardprocedures. Together with the important features required to manage a legalcompany, EasyLex has many other standard functions that increase the easy-of-useand efficiency within the system, including daily/weekly/monthly and Gantt groupcalendars, full document management for any kind of case documents, integrationwith outlook and mail for email acquisition inside the document management,mailmerge with MS Word and the integrated oWrite (a word-processing componentfor Omnis), invoicing and accounting functions, timesheet management, and evenSkype dialling and SMS delivery. EasyLex complies with all the necessary standardsincluding ISO 9001:2000 Quality Control for Non-Conformities tracking andprocessing, and includes marketing analysis and business graphics for looking atways to increase turnover.
EasyLex has been developed in Omnis over a numberof years, and is one of the market leaders in Italy withmore than 5,000 users. In 2008 it received an awardfrom TigerLogic as the best Italian Application writtenin Omnis Studio, while back in 1999 it won the MacWorld Award as the best Italian Mac Application.
"We chose Omnis Studio because of its multi-platformcapability, its ability to integrate external functionalitysuch as Windows DLLs and Java, as well as its flexiblemulti-database access technology. It would have beenimpossible to expand our application to cope with thepressing requests for changes and customizations fromour customers without Omnis Studio. In this area,Omnis Studio proved to be much more productivethan other IDEs such as VB or .Net", said Roberto Targa,CEO and founder of SoftLab.
About SoftLab: SoftLab was founded in 1989 byRoberto Targa and has a staff of 13 people.
The EasyLex solution by SoftLab has all the features to manage legalfirms, as well as many additional functions such as workflow andproject planning – such complex applications can be constructedusing the 30 or so ready-made components in Omnis such ascalendars, tree lists, tabs, and many types of list and grids.
SoftLab srl Via Maria Majocchi Plattis, 4 44100 Ferrara, Italy Tel: +39-0532-742893 Email: info@softlab.it Web: www.softlab.it
"It would have beenimpossible to expand ourapplication to cope withthe pressing requests forchanges andcustomizations from ourcustomers without OmnisStudio. In this area, OmnisStudio proved to be muchmore productive than otherIDEs such as VB or .Net" Roberto TargaCEO and founder ofSoftLab.
14
LegalWorkflow & Case Management
15
Abraxas Juris AGWartstrasse 12 CH-8400 Winterthur, SwitzerlandTel.: +41 (0)52 265 13 13Email: juris@abraxas.chWeb: www.abraxas.ch
Case management solution is marketleader for Swiss legal bodiesTThhee ssoolluuttiioonn ffoorr lleeggaall bbooddiieess:: The JURIS application is a comprehensive solution for legal
and administrative bodies including legal companies, law courts, and other public
administration bodies. It can manage all aspects of legal cases and workflow from start to
finish, as well as contacts (including a Twixtel interface, a CD based telephone book), full
document management, and full-scale financial accounting (debtors, creditors,
bookkeeping, report generator with customisable layouts). JURIS also incorporates
comprehensive security with views, rolls and profiles, plus it has a powerful information
retrieval system, called Findinfo, for searching all case-related notes and information. The
FindInfo-WEB module provides access to court decisions via the Internet, and is used by
the Administrative Court of Zurich (www.vgrzh.ch), by the Administrative Tribunal of Vaud
(www.ta.vd.ch) and the Canton of Tessin (www.sentenze.ti.ch). Abraxas Juris AG can offer
their customers a wide range of web solutions, while the objects and methods of JURIS
and FindInfo can be provided on an application server (mid-tier) for various front ends
including Omnis Web Client, Omnis Ultra-thin client, JAVA, and so on. The JURIS application
can be fully customised to meet the diverse requirements at each customer site. Multiple
languages are supported at runtime, and even mixed language installations are possible
since they are required by the federal government.
AAbboouutt AAbbrraaxxaass JJuurriiss AAGG:: Based in Switzerland, Abraxas Juris AG was founded in
1988 by brothers Martin and Roland Grah and today employs 16 people. About
half of the team work in IT, such as system analysis and programming, while
the other half provide customer care, including tech support, help with
implementation and project management.
Abraxas Juris AG has used most versions of Omnis, from Omnis Quartz & Omnis
5, right up to the present with Omnis Studio 4.x. The current version of Omnis
provides many possibilities for object oriented design, including the
implementation of JAVA applets to design their software for the management
of complex business cases. With their applications JURIS and FindInfo, available
in German, French and Italian, they are specialised in the Legal software market
in Switzerland catering for courts, bureaus of investigation, the penal system,
and prison administration. In Switzerland and in the Principality of Liechtenstein,
Abraxas Juris AG is the market leader for legal software with approximately 2500
installed users.
"We appreciate the enormous functional range of Omnis Studio which is very
well organised and easy to use. This allows us to focus our application
development on what the customer needs. And whenever we discover a
problem in our code, the excellent debugger helps us to quickly locate the error,
which means we don’t have to contact the Omnis support hotline very often,
even though it is phenomenal."
Sven Tiemann, Developer.
JURIS has a powerful information retrieval system,called Findinfo, for searchingall case-related notes andinformation.
“We appreciate theenormous functional rangeof Omnis Studio which isvery well organised andeasy to use. This allows usto focus our applicationdevelopment on what thecustomer needs.”
Sven Tiemann Developer Abraxas Juris AG
Retail/TradeOnline Trade Sales & Warehousing
Omnis enables leading trade distributor to focuson customer service and revenue growthPWS Distributors are a leading UK trade distributor of kitchen components tomanufacturers, retailers and installers of fitted kitchens. PWS offer a productrange comprising over 6000 ex-stock lines with an emphasis on good design,service, quality and innovation.
PWS have used Omnis since 1991 to enhance the capabilities offered byexisting off-the-shelf ERP and warehousing systems, integrate systems, introduceelectronic workflow and streamline business processes.
Omnis enables the company to focus on business requirements rather thantechnology, with true rapid development, problem free deployment, scalabilityand reuse through inheritance.
For almost a year PWS has worked towards replacing their existing ERP systemwith a system written entirely in house – a decision that was not taken lightly.Inevitably this required changes to the back end of the already successful real-time Java and XML based eCommerce solutions – with 2,100 users currentlyregistered.
Although originally intended to be handed to an outsidecontractor PWS decided to bring the project in house usingOmnis Studio. This combined building web service and APIbased frameworks to provide XML result feeds for enquiries,enabling the marketing department to design and controlthe front end, and a remote form plug-in to enrich orderentry.
The technology was soon proven when a pilot productsearch was put together and the oXML plug-in was utilisedto handle XML based sales orders.
Since its launch the new site's popularity has continued. Theinitial teething problems were surprisingly minimal and weremainly tuning issues.
Omnis Studio has made the process simple to manage,debug and maintain, and has spared time to make a fewenhancements along the way.
The application created by PWS Distributors Ltd allows theirtrade customers to source, compare, and order from over 6000products in one easy-to-use, web based environment.
“Omnis Studio has madethe process of replacing ourexisting ERP system simpleto manage, debug andmaintain, and has sparedtime to makeenhancements along theway.”
Andrew LumleySystems Analyst
PWS Distributors Ltd.P.O. Box 20, Station RoadAycliffe Industrial Park, Newton AycliffeCo. Durham DL5 6XJ Tel: +44 (0) 1325 505599E-mail: global@pws.co.ukWeb: www.pws.co.uk16
Retail/TradeOnline price comparison & Purchasing
17
ElectronicPartner is Europe's leading alliance of consumer electronics and electricalretailers, representing over 6000 service-oriented IT dealers, retail outlets and systemhouses in 12 European countries. To succeed in the highly competitive IT and CE retailmarket, retailers and system houses need up-to-date information about price andavailability of thousands of consumer and business electrical products, from more thanone hundred different suppliers. To help its members get this information, comTeam –the IT and TC sytem houses alliance of ElectronicPartner - built a software solution toinvestigate and compare daily prices from suppliers and to allow orders to be placedjust with a few mouse clicks. Using Omnis Studio and the unique capabilities of theOmnis Web Client, comTeam developed a system called TradersGuide which is nowavailable to all members of the comTeam alliance right across Europe.
The TradersGuide web application is accessible in any standard web browser andprovides detailed information about several thousands of products and greatlysimplifies the purchasing process for all comTeam members. They no longer have toobtain information from individual vendors, rather they have all the necessaryinformation in one place, and now comparing prices, checking availability and placingorders has been made very easy using the TradersGuide system. The individual users ofthe TradersGuide system very quickly realised the advantages of the new system: "Withjust a few clicks, the price and availability information that TradersGuide provides hasincreased the productivity of purchasing departments significantly", commented MartinCzialla, Managing Director of the comTeam system house in Remscheid, Germany.
The TradersGuide system is entirely configurable for each comTeam member. “Besidesthe personal design, our purchase order platform adopts the individual discounts ofeach member with the different suppliers and the availability inreal time. In this respect, every dealer can see his individualpurchase price,” explains Julian Riedlbauer, managing director ofcomTeam. “A comparable purchase order system with this rangeof functionality, performance and user-friendliness is notavailable today, elsewhere on the market as far as we know”.
Holger Küchenmeister, Senior Developer of comTeam on theTradersGuide development project, said: “The outstandingproductivity of the Omnis web client technology enabled us todevelop the TradersGuide website in a short time and withrelatively few resources. We would not have been able toachieve such high functionality and performance over the webwith any other development environment.”
AAbboouutt ccoommTTeeaamm:: comTeam is the IT solutions division ofElectronicPartner, Europe’s largest alliance of independentconsumer and business electrical product vendors. ComTeammembers operate independently, providing IT solutions andsystems support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)as well as public authorities. In addition, members of comTeamcan use the TradersGuide system to source and purchaseproducts for their own customers.
Omnis enables real-time, online price comparisonand purchasing for Europe’s largest electrical retailer
“The outstanding productivityof the Omnis web clienttechnology enabled us todevelop the TradersGuidesystem in a short time andwith relatively few resources.We would not have been ableto achieve such highfunctionality and performanceover the web with any otherdevelopment environment.” Holger KüchenmeisterSenior Developer of comTeamon the TradersGuide development project
ElectronicPartner GmbHMündelheimer Weg 40, 40472 Düsseldorf, GermanyTel: +49 – 211 – 41 56-76 43Email: hkuechenmeister@comteam.de Web: www.comteam.de
The Omnis web client technology allowed comTeam to build ahighly functional and easy-to-use web based purchasing andestimating tool for Europe’s largest electrical retailer.
Retail/TradePOS & Warehousing
18
Complete Retail and Distribution solutionpowers some of Europe’s top retailersCamì’s products cover all aspects of retail management, from Point-of-Sale (POS), to
warehousing, through to the accounting and back office support. This comprehensive
system is a complete management solution for large retailers and distribution companies.
The POS systems are totally hardware and platform independent and will run on virtually
any terminal, including the web, while the warehouse management software provides
advanced statistical functionality on all leading server platforms. The Palm add-on allows
users to manage the system using PDA/handheld devices integrated with laser sensors.
Camì are able to adapt their solution to the specific needs of customers, while providing
installation support and 24 hour assistance for all its customers.
Camì is installed in many leading retail and distribution companies in Italy and other parts
of Europe including: Despar group (www.despar.it: Interspar, Despar, Eurospar) back and
front office management for large scale retail distribution (100 user); Euronics
(www.euronics.it) in Sassari, Alghero and Olbia, accounting and back/front office
management for large consumer electronics sales and distribution company (80 user);
Sovar Eurocash in Seveso, accounting management software, back and front office
management for cash and carry company; La Standa in Lugano (Switzerland); Commerciale
Brendolan (Selex Group) a Linux solution (800 users); and Alì Spa (Selex Group) a Linux
solution (600 users).
AAbboouutt CCaammìì:: Founded in Turin in 1991 by Michele Grande, in 1998
the head office was transferred from Turin to Como. Over the years
the company has broadened its services to include not only
commerce systems in general, but also applications specific to
various fields. Recently Camì has entered the internet services area
and participates in e-government projects. Using leading edge tools
and products Camì develops its software solutions with particular
attention to quality and performance.
Camì uses Omnis Studio to develop their solutions, which allows
their programs to run on various operating systems including
Windows, Red Hat Linux, Fedora Core Linux and Mac OS X.
Camì solutions support all the most popular database servers
including Sybase Adaptive Server, Sybase Anywhere and
Microsoft SQL Server.
Michele Grande, Camì CEO said, “We use leading technology
tools such as Omnis Studio to develop our software
solutions, which allows us to pay special attention to quality
and performance.”
Camì’s POS and Warehousingsolution is installed in manyleading retail and distributioncompanies in Italy and otherparts of Europe.
"We use leading technologytools such as Omnis Studio todevelop our softwaresolutions, which allows us topay special attention toquality and performance.”
Michele Grande CEOCamì Srl
Camì Srl Via S.Giuliano 122100 Como, ItalyTel: 031 3371998 Email: cami@camisoft.it Web: www.camisoft.it
Retail/TradePOS & Warehousing
19
Over the past decade, the UK home improvement market has seen significant growth across allsectors, from Do-It-Yourself (DIY) chains and retail builders’ merchants, to specialist suppliers ofquality furniture and bespoke fitted home interiors. Sharps Bedrooms is the leading fittedbedroom retailer in the UK home improvement market, and enjoys a reputation for an end-to-end customer service which incorporates an initial survey and consultation, the design andmanufacture of the bedroom, through to a finished and fully fitted product. The ability to delivera complete service is heavily dependant on their Midlands based manufacturing facility, whichrelies on several Omnis applications developed and maintained in-house for daily operations.
Sharps uses two mission-critical Omnis applications for managing customer surveys and thewhole manufacturing process. The first is a diary scheduling system developed to keep track ofappointments for the 50 or so specialist surveyors who visit customers across the UK. Surveyorsdiary considerations are complex with multiple input factors such as travel time, survey duration,holidays, and so on. "Omnis has allowed us to encapsulate all of this repetitive but necessarybusiness logic into a single, efficient centralised system that requires minimal resources tooperate," said Systems Developer James Welsh, responsible for all Omnis systems and technicalsupport for nearly 50 Omnis users within Sharps Bedrooms.
The second major Omnis system at Sharps is one that prints all cutting lists and product labellingfor factory picking. It has evolved over many years of development and is a critical part of Sharpsmanufacturing process. The system takes Bill of Material (BOM) information from a bespoke CADsystem and generates cutting and picking lists, plus product labels for the factory.Many detailed technical product rules are encapsulated at this point,including instructions on how individual panels should be cut depending ontheir colour and intended use. At all stages in the process, the data heldwithin Omnis is reused many times to make optimum use of the informationand avoid manual entry wherever possible. Sharps make good use of thebuilt-in reporting features in Omnis to distribute many ‘state of business’reports including product usage and range/colour mix statistics to all thosethat need it.
“The flexibility and power of Omnis affords us the agility to react to newproduct developments with limited developer resources at a speed thatsimply would not be possible in any other development environment. I oftenfind that code operations that would require many lines of code in otherlanguages can usually be achieved in Omnis more elegantly in just a coupleof lines, with no noticeable performance hit. A good example of this beingbuilt-in list sorting," said James Welsh.
“Coming from a background of Visual Basic development, I was impressedwith the unique combination of very powerful, yet simple to learn list baseddevelopment in Omnis, its robust runtime and development environment,built-in database and very efficient multi-user network usage. Omnis justworks straight out of the box and doesn’t seem to require the constantupdates and patches that plague other development environments.”
Omnis has been used by Sharps for many years, progressing from Omnis 7 through to the latestOmnis Studio 4.2 in use today. Originally selected for the value of its all inclusive features, and inparticular the built-in database and reporting facilities, the applications continue to evolvealongside Sharps’ changing business requirements and increased functionality available in Omnis
Omnis provides powerful manufacturing and schedulingsolution to leading UK fitted bedroom retailer
Sharps Bedrooms LtdAlbany Park, CamberleySurrey, GU16 7PU, United KingdomTel: 0800 789 789Email: james_welsh@sharps-mail.co.uk Web: www.sharps.co.uk
The Sharps system manages appointments with customersacross the UK and produces cutting lists and productlabelling during the manufacturing process.
“The flexibility and power ofOmnis affords us the agility toreact to new productdevelopments with limiteddeveloper resources at aspeed that simply would notbe possible in any otherdevelopment environment.”
James WelshSystems DeveloperSharps Bedrooms Ltd
Retail/TradeCustom Solution Provider
Companies that provide customised software solutions need to be able to respond toclients with a wide range of needs and budgets, often under tight time constraints. ForLogical Developments, who are based in Western Australia, their customers’ mainrequirements are reliability, value for money, and ease-of-use. Their clients come fromdiverse market areas throughout retail and trade including: point-of-sale (book shops andvideo hire), logistics, bus charter, driver training, accounting, manufacturing, andhealthcare. Some clients are single users, while others work across networks, takingadvantage of the cross-platform, multi-user readiness of Omnis Studio. Responding tothese diverse markets, while creating a successful software development company, istherefore dependent on using the right development processes and tools. LogicalDevelopments have been using Omnis Studio for many years and use it for most of theirdevelopment projects.
The powerful relational capabilities in Omnis enable Logical Developments to base manyof their projects on a dynamic modular system, which works as one seamless application.Clients have the option of buying an off-the-shelf package, or combining existingmodules, with customised modules added in to cater to their individual requirements.Adding further flexibility to this system is the extensive preference options and built-inReport Generator. Whatever the type of application, users value the minimal data entryrequirements, and consequently the resulting speed, accuracy and efficiency of thesystem. The speed and ease-of-use in the Omnis development environment means thatLogical Developments can offer clients the flexibility of on-going modifications as theirbusiness expands with fast turnaround of their requirements.
The reliability of the web interface that Omnis provides has allowedLogical Developments to extend the functionality of their products.For example, the web interface is an important component in thecalendar system they developed to work in conjunction with a client’smedical billing system, popular with specialists and hospitals acrossAustralia. Using the web interface, they developed a colour-codedappointment system which pulls patient information from the mainapplication and tightly integrates with it. The program’s flexibilityenables users to define resources, appointment categories, defaulttime-slots, appointment types with default durations. They are alsoable to import public holidays from the internet and appointmentsfrom other programs such as Outlook, Lotus, and Now up to Date.The system also allows appointment confirmation letters to be sent,using predefined templates.
A stand-alone Bookshop application created by Logical Developmentsallows student guild bookshops in several Australian universities tomanage stock and handle sales-on-commission. The shop can pulldown a student’s number and contact details from the guild’sdatabase, meaning accuracy and minimal data entry requirementswhile processing sales. An optional facility is an on-line item search,which can also provide students access to their contract using astandard web browser to check its status, including items sold, payments due, and so on.
Omnis allows developer to provide a broad rangeof custom solutions in many market areas
Logical Developments86 Coolgardie Street, Bentley Western Australia 6102Tel: + 61 8 9458 3889Email: sales@logicaldevelopments.com.au Web: www.logicaldevelopments.com.au
The combination of thick and ultra-thin clients in Omnis gives LogicalDevelopments the advantage of using a fully featured interface for theshop as well as online users.
“Omnis is the tool of choicethat allows us to takecomplex user requirementsand produce elegant, easy-to-use solutions.”
Paul Mulroney Head programmer, Logical Developments
20
ServicesServicing & Warranty management
The demand for freshly prepared and healthy food in convenience stores, smalltown/village stores and in the catering trade has grown over the past decade. There isalso a demand for this type of food in gas or fuel stations, which in many locationshave replaced traditional town & village stores. To keep this food fresh and lookinggood for customers, the demand for refrigeration, cold display cabinets, and highquality shop fittings in the catering trade, shops, mini- and supermarkets has alsogrown. There are several multi-national companies manufacturing such refrigerationand retail display equipment (Johnson Controls, Porkka), along with associated productssuch as air conditioning and climate control systems, and it is now a multi-billiondollar/euro business. As a result, there is a large and growing market for servicing,maintaining and repairing this equipment, and a corresponding market for software tomanage this type of service operation.
Kälte + Shop Service GmbH (KSS) is a service company working across Germany. SinceJune 2001 they have handled the entire order management and maintenance for theircustomers. One of their customers is Johnson Controls, a Fortune 1000 company, andKSS carry out all maintenance and repair work on their refrigeration, climate andelectronic devices installed in over 1,100 Shell gas and fuel stations across Germany.KSS is also in partnership with European manufacturer Porkka, who specialise inrefrigerators, medical chillers, freezers, as well as cold rooms for commercial use,carrying out all servicing and warranty management for them.
Over the course of a year, KSS handles approximately 10,000orders and coordinates more than 250 service companies. Thislevel of business results in about 50,000 transactions, requiring apowerful data management system. When they first started inbusiness, KSS tested and used various database programs, butnone of these products was able to satisfy their exactrequirements. In January 2005, they decided to use a MySQLdatabase and chose Omnis Studio to build the application fordata entry, order management and reporting. The MySQLdatabase and Omnis are hosted alongside a web server andsupport the complete management of their business and theorder entry by their customers. “An important factor for us was that we were able to develop theapplication for desktops and the web using a single developmentsystem. This reduced the development time and effort for ussignificantly. The user interface and the forms in the web versionlook the same as the desktop version and work exactly as thedeveloper intended them to. And if, for any reason, we want tochange the database, with Omnis we know we can, and keep theapplication and the user interface without changing a thing,“ saidRobert Maier, Managing Director of Kälte + Shop Service GmbH.
It’s interesting to note that Robert Maier is not a professional software developer, butusing Omnis Studio, as well as training and consulting provided by Raining DataGermany, he was able to develop a solution to manage his business.
Omnis allowed service company to build their ownweb solution for managing retail refrigeration
“Omnis provides great flexibilityin creating forms and reports.This flexibility, and the speedwith which modifications andenhancements can be made,were the determining factor forus in choosing Omnis. We makemodifications andenhancements to our system allthe time and it’s very easy to dothis ourselves with OmnisStudio.“ Robert Maier Managing Director Kälte + Shop Service GmbH
Kälte + Shop Service GmbHRauentalerstrasse 2476437 Rastatt, GermanyTel: +49 - 72 22 - 8 11 45Email: info@kaelteshopservice.de Web: www.kaelteshopservice.de
The flexibility and ease-of-use of Omnis allowed KSS to build theirown solution, and enabled them to create exactly the sameinterface for end-users on the desktop and the web.
21
ManufacturingAsset Management & Costing
World-class manufacturer relies on Omnis to deliverhigh-performance IT solutions across the companyDuPont Performance Coatings is recognized as a world-leading manufacturer and supplierof high-performance liquid and powder coatings for automotive, industrial andmaintenance applications, as well as high-performance speciality products for digitalprinting, adhesive bonding, and electrical insulation markets. Their mission is always tocreate exceptional value for their customers through innovative solutions, an ethos whichinspires their IT group to create innovative solutions to IT problems.
Omnis applications are used day-in, day-out to help run various segments within DuPont.Their R&D and Regulatory groups rely on an Omnis 7-based raw material system, whichmanages physical property, chemical composition and regulatory information. AnotherOmnis 7 application prints batch cards for manufacturing sites in the USA, an integral stepin the process of manufacturing product. Their formula management system provides abridge between the R&D and Manufacturing organizations. This Omnis Studio application isused by chemists and product formulators to develop new products. When formulationsare ready for production, the necessary information is transferred to SAP for manufacture.
In a company as large as DuPont, several different technologies are used within the ITorganization. They are often asked why they don't standardize on a more mainstreamproduct, such as Visual Basic or a Java-based environment. "The answer is simple," saidBrian O'Sullivan, Senior Systems Specialist with DuPont, "we can't argue with the results ofour Omnis development. Our Omnis applications are more feature-rich and easier to usethan other applications developed in alternative technologies. Our small team ofexperienced Omnis developers has consistently completed projects in less time than largerteams working on comparably complex systems using other development tools."
The Formula Management system has gone through severalmodifications since its inception as a terminal-host applicationin the 1980s. The current Omnis Studio incarnation waslaunched in September of 2002, and is accessed via Citrix byusers in over 10 countries throughout North America, Europeand Asia. Users noticed a significant step forward in usabilityand features when they moved from terminal-host to Omnis 7,and were again favorably impressed with the increased featureset with the move to Omnis Studio.
As part of their Studio-conversion effort,DuPont have rebuilt their Omnis 7application architecture to better fit thefeatures offered by Omnis Studio. The extraup-front design time is now payingdividends as they are able to add newapplication modules much quicker than everbefore. The Formula Management system (above)
provides a gateway to the whole worldwidesystem. The Cost estimation tool (left) helpschemists develop products that are cost-effective as well as high-performance.
"We view Omnis as a keypart of our toolkit inproviding innovativesolutions, and have reliedon its ability to deliverfunctional systems on-timeand on-budget since themid-1990s."Brian O'SullivanSenior Systems SpecialistDuPont PerformanceCoatingsPhiladelphia, USA
DuPont Performance CoatingsPhiladelphia, USATel: 215 539 6504Email: brian.a.o-sullivan@usa.dupont.comWeb: www.performance-coatings.organd www.dupont.com22
FinanceAccounting & General Management
23
When you are running a small or medium sized business (SME), you need a good andreliable accounting and general management software system, to allow you to focus onthe core activities of your business. You need to comply with various accounting rules andcompany regulations, but above all you need a system that takes care of all theadministration tasks and removes some of the stress of running your own business. Thereare many accounting and general management software packages for large businesses, butfinding an easy-to-use and affordable system for small and medium sized businesses is notso easy. Often this market is satisfied by small independent software houses, like JustSoftware, who understand the challenges of running a small business.
Just Software has been supplying accounting and general management software to smalland medium sized companies for many years, first with a system called Cockpit and morerecently a package called Dave. Cockpit was developed in Omnis 7 and caters for smallcompanies, while Dave is developed in Omnis Studio, using FrontBase as the back-end SQLdatabase, providing financial and general management for medium sized companies. Bothpackages are cross-platform running under Mac OS 9 and the latest version of OS X, as wellas Windows and Linux, while Dave provides remote access to some of its functions.
Dave consists of different modules that are fully integrated: Dave Accounting is a completeaccounting system with general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, VAT, and Intrastat;Dave Order Administration manages document workflow within your company, includingorders, deliveries, invoices, inventory, and sales statistics; Dave Communication (CRM) storesall the communication between your company and your customers, including phone calls,e-mails, letters, faxes and is accessible from every other Dave module; Dave Serviceadministers all service related issues including repairs, replacing of components, workinghours, and warranties; and Dave Invoice generates invoices.
“A large part of our success is based on the right choice of thedevelopment environment that we made. Thanks to Omnis wedeveloped products that are reliable, user-friendly and easy tomaintain. And what's really important to us, being able to developon one platform and deploy on all other platforms: all Macplatforms, all Windows platforms as well as Linux,” said GuidoKestens, Managing Director of Just Software.
AAbboouutt JJuusstt SSooffttwwaarree:: Based in Dilbeek, near Brussels in Belgium,Just Software is a small software development company with 10employees. They provide accounting and general managementsoftware to small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) with over2,500 companies using their software. Most of their sales are forstandard applications, but they do undertake some bespokedevelopment projects if it is related to their core expertise.Although they do not specialize in a particular vertical market, theytend to sell to printing and media businesses, ICT-dealers, as wellas distribution and import/export companies. They do not useresellers, rather they sell directly to their customers.
Multi-platform, web-enabled Omnis solution provideseasy financial and commercial management for SMEs
“I have used Omnis since1985, starting with Omnis 2on Apple II, then Omnis 3, 5and 7. My company is nowusing Omnis Studio on MacOS X and Windows. In allthese years, I have neverneeded to move to anothertool. Omnis has alwayssatisfied the needs of aprogrammer.” Guido Kestens Managing DirectorJust Software
Just Software bvba Stationsstraat 266 B-1700 Dilbeek, BelgiumTel: +32 2 567 21 71 Email: info@justsoftware.be Web: www.justsoftware.be
LogisticsDistribution & Fleet Management
The logistics industry is a highly competitive market and one which is very sensitive tocosts and changes in local and global economies. Increasingly, distribution companiesand businesses of all types are outsourcing their logistics requirements which is drivinggrowth amongst third-party logistics providers. To enable this expansion, logisticscompanies require flexible and easy-to-use software solutions that allow them to runoperations more efficiently and enhance their service offerings. One such solution isFreedom, created for the logistics industry by Catalina Software using Omnis Studio.
Freedom is a logistics package tailored to the Same-day courier and chauffeur industries.It covers all business functions, including initial job booking (via telephone or web),scheduling the job, communicating with the driver (including two-way data), trackingthe vehicle, invoicing the customer, and paying the driver. The unique selling point ofFreedom is its flexibility, or "freedom of choice", whereby the user has a high degree ofcontrol over how the system behaves and how information is displayed. For example,users can design, store and reuse transport planning windows, they can change the sizeand content of each “component” on windows, as well as defining complex rulesconcerning how items are displayed in the real-time street level mapping.
The flexibility of Freedom allows users to drill-down multiple levels and easily navigatethrough different elements of a job, vehicle, customer account, and so on. The auditingfeature in Freedom is rated highly by users. Whenever users modify or carry out specificactions on data records (jobs, drivers, vehicles etc.), an audit is maintained of the actionperformed, by whom, along with the date and time. This proves invaluable in providinggreat customer service and enables Freedom users to minimise support calls.
All Freedom customers are signed-up to the Freedom developmentpartner programme, which provides ongoing development and therelease of new versions of Freedom - and all customers upgrade tothe latest version. For a monthly fee, customers never have an "out ofdate" system, so never have to fund a large capital outlay for a newsystem. The average size of a Freedom customer is around 150vehicles and 20-30 users. The largest customer operates over 1,000vehicles, with 250 Freedom users and a throughput of over 10,000transport jobs per day.
Having created a development framework in Omnis as the basis forFreedom, Catalina Software have been able to deploy a number oflogistics applications built on the Freedom framework, extending theirproduct portfolio and increasing profit margins. The frameworkenables very rapid development, re-use of code and provides a triedand trusted foundation for many projects.
AAbboouutt CCaattaalliinnaa SSooffttwwaarree LLttdd:: Catalina Software specialise in softwarefor the Distribution & Logistics industry, covering a wide variety ofbusiness activities from warehousing to manufacturing, and HGVs tolimousines. They are specialists at integrating their products withother systems such as vehicle tracking, distribution planning andpostcode/address lookup systems.
Omnis delivers fast development andprofitability for logistics solution provider
Catalina Software LtdMaltings Studio, 34 Bridge Street, Downham Market Norfolk, PE38 9DH, United KingdomTel: +44 (0)1366 386611Email: sales@catalina-software.co.ukWeb: www.catalina-software.co.uk
In Freedom, users can design, store and reuse transport planningwindows, they can change the size and content of each “component”on windows, as well as defining complex rules concerning how itemsare displayed in the real-time street level mapping.
“By using Omnis Studio todevelop and supportFreedom, Catalina Softwareare able to leverage fasterdevelopment and easier on-going support - Omnis Studiois key to the profitability ofour business.”
Graeme WhitingManaging Director and founder of Catalina Software Ltd.
24
Leisure/TravelOnline booking & Back Office support
The travel industry is highly competitive with many different suppliers on the high streetand on the Internet, all competing to satisfy the needs of the leisure or business traveller.Tour operators and travel agencies need to provide their customers with new and excitingtravel offerings while remaining very competitive on price. They also require a high levelof automation and data processing, using many different internal and externalapplications, to make their business efficient and profitable. Above all, travel companiesneed to be flexible and innovative to stay ahead of their competitors. Therefore, travelcompanies need software systems that are powerful and adaptable to change, to supportbusiness flexibility, and they need IT partners who can react quickly to the demands ofthe travel industry. Online Travel is such a company, and their number one position in theSwiss travel market is proof of their strength in software development and customersupport.
Online Travel AG is based in Zurich and has built up an impressive suite of applications forthe travel market. Using Omnis Studio they have created solutions to support all aspectsof the travel business including CRM for operators and agents, online booking for holidaypackages, hotel and flight reservations, back-office support, and so on. Omnis is also usedto integrate other distributed systems and databases typically found in travel companies.Two of their applications are developed exclusively with Omnis Studio: ‘TO Online’ is aback-office solution for tour operators, while ‘Agent Online’ is a back-office solution fortravel agencies. Being the biggest independent software vendor for the travel industry inSwitzerland, Online Travel AG has built up a very strong market position with a relativelysmall team of developers by using the rapid development capabilities ofOmnis Studio.
TO Online enables tour operators to store details about travel agents, aswell as hotel and flight information, plus it allows operators to book travelproducts using standard industry channels and the Internet. TO Onlineintegrates well with other systems, such as accounting software andreservation systems, and it allows operators to import and export data. Interms of functionality and underlying code, Agent Online is very similar toTO Online, but they are configured differently for different segments ofthe travel market.
Online Travel has been using Omnis Studio for many years, and they havenever regretted their decision to adopt Omnis as their foremostapplication development tool. “For us, Omnis Studio is the ideal productwith the depth of functionality to solve complex problems, while offeringa simple and easy-to-use development environment that even a non-ITliterate person can use to create specialist business solutions,” said Rudolf Bargholz, ChiefSoftware Developer and joint Managing Director of Online Travel Services AG.
“With Omnis Studio, we are able to react quickly to changes in the market and we canadapt our products to meet customer requirements quicker than our competitors. Formost of our deployed sites, we use Omnis Studio 3.0.1 which is a very stable release, butwe use Studio 4 for all web development and are planning to migrate to Studio 4 in the
Omnis allows developer to become leadingsolutions provider in Swiss travel market
“The Omnis development andruntime environments continueto work year after year,providing support for newoperating systems andadvances in computingtechnology such as XML andthe web.”
Rudolf Bargholz Chief Software Developer andjoint Managing Director Online Travel Services AG
Online TravelJenatschstrasse 1CH-8002 Zurich, SwitzerlandEmail: services@onlinetravel.chTel: 00 41 44 204 6006 Web: www.onlinetravel.ch 25
LeisureRecipe Management software
Omnis allowed developer to create award-winningrecipe management software for Mac consumer marketEver bought one of those applications that you need for use around the houseor a small business that just does one or two little things? Then find out youget what you pay for and it falls horribly short of your expectations?
Our US based company, TheDataManager, Inc., was formed to create solutionsthat fill the void of quality in low cost (under $100 US) applications. The goalwas simple – take price off the table and over-deliver on quality.
It didn't take long after the first developer release of Mac OS X to realize thiswas the environment that would finally bring computing to the vast consumermarket. What development tool do you use to allow you to meet that goal, yetis affordable to deploy? Well, to do it right you need a robust database, and,since it's a very big market, you need cross platform. Didn't take long to settlein on Omnis Studio. Cross platform; OS X compatible; should exceed any usersneed for storage and speed; a price point that allows deployment and anengineering group at Mitford House that continues to keep extending andpolishing Studio.
Omnis Studio and OS X allowed us to create an application that looks like itcame from inside Apple ñ it was even modeled similar to iApps. Thisapplication touches many of the Studio features and wasdeveloped to be able to take advantage of multiple usersas required. We have also been able to deliver this as asingle icon, double-clickable application under OS X.
The first product we released, TheRecipeManager, wasperfect. OS X is easy for users, even new ones. Theindustrial strength of Studio has allowed us to create arecipe management tool with features that have neverbeen seen before – yet still be easy to use. Affordable tools,before Studio were very limited in their abilities. Apple likedit as well and, since the release of TRM in January of 2004,have sold over 6,000 copies worldwide through the Applestores and the Apple Store web site.
To find out more about TheRecipeManager, visit our website at www.TheRecipeManager.com.
Omnis Studio has allowed TheDataManager Inc to produce a fullyintegrated recipe management program for Macs and PCs thathas sold well through Apple stores and online.
“Omnis Studio and OS Xallowed us to create anapplication that looks like itcame from inside Apple®...The industrial strength ofOmnis Studio has allowedus to create a recipemanagement tool withfeatures that have neverbeen seen before – yet stillbe easy to use.”
Larry BarcotCEO and Founder ofTheDataManager Inc.
TheDataManager, Inc.26907 Country Meadow LaneKennewick, WA 99338, USATel: 509-627-3481 Email: larry@TheRecipeManager.comWeb: www.TheRecipeManager.com26
LeisureLive Web & SMS race results
The World Enduro Championship (WEC) is the world championship series for enduro, apopular form of off-road motorcycle sport in which a number of stages are raced in atime trial against the clock. The WEC is run by the Fédération Internationale deMotocyclisme (FIM) and consists of six two-day events across Europe, plus one in the USAand another in Canada. This sort of event is not technically a race, but is in fact a time-keeping event, therefore capturing and storing the time-keeping data is critical. Gettinglive timings and results during the event is also essential and adds to the excitement ofthe sport.
For the past two years, all timing and results for the WEC have been handled by InfomegaRace Results, a long-term Omnis developer based in Athens and specialist in motorsportsolutions. Infomega manages results for all Greek Championships including events forAuto, Moto, Kart racing, and MotoCross, and they have been awarded the contract forWEC in 2007 as well. The system they created and use now to manage race results iscalled iRally, but it began life back in the early 1990s as “Rally Master” when Infomegawere the official race results contractor for the Greek Acropolis Rally.
The original application was written in Omnis 7 (1.4), and although it’s still running in itslatest incarnation (Omnis 7.3.8.3) as iRally, it has evolved into a fully automated timingand results system running under Windows XP, with many new technologies added inrecent years. The current system captures, via serial ports, times andcompetitor IDs from transponders fitted on each vehicle, and all datafrom remote Special Stages and Time Controls are sent to centralprocessing using 3G/GPRS data cards resident in remote laptops. Thesystem also has automatic web updates at user-defined intervals andlive SMS messaging to anybody who has signed up to receive theservice, such as race teams, support crews, the media, event officialsand spectators. iRally can also send live results to commentator'smonitors, the open-air digital score boards, and to the event website(www.wec-live.com), using FTP commands and a combination of 3Gdata cards and SMS gateway. Each of the connected laptops can runmultiple copies of Omnis and all share the same Omnis database.
AAbboouutt IInnffoommeeggaa RRaaccee RReessuullttss:: the company been heavily involvedwith time keeping and race results processing since 1983 (alwayswith Omnis). The company has three main partners and about 10part-time assistants, covering all races, rallies and hill climbs in theCar, Motorcycle and Kart Greek Championships. Major internationalevents include Acropolis Rally (WRC), Elpa Rally (ERC), SuperMotoEU Championship events held in Greece as well as all the currentWorld Enduro Championship events. They have extensiveexperience with TV coverage, working with SuperSport cablechannel in F3 races and with results posted on-line over theInternet for major events. They use the iRally race results solution forall motorsport events that they manage and it is also being soldinternationally.
Omnis application delivers live Web and SMS raceresults for international motorsport events
“I still can't believe what I havedone with Omnis all these yearsand it still amazes me with itsflexibility even with all newstate-of-the-art transponders,decoders, live web updates andinterface to the SMS gateway Ihave added to the latestapplication. Kudos to RainingData for keeping Omnis 7 aliveand kicking for guys like me,” Nick AndritsakisChief Omnis developer withInfomega Race Results.
Infomega Race ResultsN.Maltezou 39, 174 55Alimos, Athens, GreeceEmail: info@infomega.gr Tel: +30 210 9818309Web: www.infomega.gr 27
Not for ProfitEducation & Development Program
28
The whole continent of Africa faces many difficult challenges connected with regionalconflict, poverty, and major health issues. A key factor in overcoming some of thesechallenges will be the education and empowerment of the people of Africa, so they canbuild a stable and sustainable future for the continent. One of the UN's top developmentgoals is to provide education for every child in Africa, so anything that can be done to helpAfrican children in this respect is a good thing.
One project, The Ambassadors Girls' Scholarship Program (AGSP), provides 30,000scholarships per year to girls, in eleven countries in sub-Sahara West Africa. Girls account for55% of the 40 million children in Africa who do not attend school because of economichardship or other adverse circumstances. The scholarship program allows girls to attendschool and includes mentoring programs for the children, which contribute to the socialand educational development of the students and their communities.
International Education and Training Corporation (IETC) is a commercial consulting firmspecializing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) for domestic and internationaleducational projects and contracts with private businesses, non-profit organizations and forthe public sector. In partnership with World Education Inc. (WEI) and USAID, IETC ismonitoring and evaluating the Ambassadors Girls' Scholarship Program. In order to collectand analyse data for the scholarship program, IETC has developed an application calledFieldLink using Omnis Studio and employing the so-called ìUltra-thin Clientî (HTML based)web development capabilities of Omnis.
“Using Omnis Studio means that revisions to FieldLink can be accomplished with a shortturnaround time and submodules can be deployed when they become available, withoutwaiting for a major version release,” said Jim Pistrang, CIO for IETC, who has been creatingsolutions in Omnis Studio for many years. “The application is highly scalable in terms of thescope of the functionality, the volume of data, and the number of concurrent users. Thesame system is used by data entry clerks and high level governmentofficials. Data entry windows accept a high level of detail, which in turnallows for a powerful and flexible reporting environment.”
FieldLink's unique ultra-thin client access via a standard web browserallows for efficient access in the field, even with low bandwidth dial-upconnections and old computers, typically found across Africa. Access todifferent functions in FieldLink is controlled by user ID and password. Theapplication runs 24/7 on a high-speed server with a permanent internetconnection, while database and system backups are accomplishedwithout any down time. The Omnis Ultra-thin Client and applicationServer structure is well suited to deploying applications in suchchallenging environments such as Africa.
AAbboouutt IIEETTCC:: International Education and Training Corporation (IETC)creates customized on-line interactive database solutions that allowclients to track, manage, and analyse quantitative and qualitative data forprivate and public sector research and educational programs. Access iscustomized allowing different stakeholders key information whileprotecting privileged information. Reporting is decentralized at the fieldlevel while data is automatically analysed and synthesized for policy leveldecision makers..
Omnis ultra-thin client solution manages educational program in remote parts of Africa
IETC30 Boltwood Walk Amherst, MA 01002, USA Tel: 413-253-4440Email: info@ietchome.com Web: www.ietchome.com & www.jpcr.com
The FieldLink solution uses the so-called Ultra-thin clienttechnology in Omnis: this allows you to interact withyour Omnis based application server using standardHTML containing form fields and buttons, or an imagemap interface.
“Using Omnis Studio meansthat revisions to FieldLinkcan be accomplished with ashort turnaround time andsubmodules can bedeployed as soon as theybecome available withoutwaiting for a major versionrelease”
Jim Pistrang
CIO for IETC
Client List
29
With over 5000 developers and millions of end users throughout the world, Omnis Studio is thechosen application platform for many small, medium and large companies. The following is a smallselection of our clients.
Access Accounting Ltd, Colchester (UK) –accounting and financial management software forSMEs
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Unterricht,Kultus, Wissenschaft und Kunst, Munich(Germany) - State Ministry of Education, Culture,Sciences and Arts of the State of Bavaria
Bernhard-Nocht-Tropeninstitut, Hamburg(Germany) – leading German institute for tropicalmedicine, runs web portal for international medicalquestions for travellers in Germany www.gesundes-reisen.de
Bertelsmann-Springer Schweiz AG, Zurich(Switzerland) – publishing company, sells electronicexams for driver´s licences in Switzerlanddeveloped in Omnis
Bundeswehr (Germany) – German Army, differenttechnical maintenance applications developed inOmnis
Cegedim Logiciels Médicaux, (France) –Mediclick application for management of Medicalpractices
CNRS (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique),(France) - French research center
comTeam/ElectronicPartner GmbH, Dusseldorf(Germany) - leading European alliance of consumerelectronic and IT retailers
FT Business Ltd, London (UK) – leading providerof financial information and publisher of ‘TheBanker’
Molkerei Alois Müller GmbH & Co., Aretsried(Germany) – “Muller Milk”, one of the biggestproducers of milk, joghurt, fruit drinks etc. inEurope, run their entire production in the Germanheadquarters with Omnis
Ogilvy & Mather GmbH Werbeagentur, Frankfurtam Main (Germany) – German subsidiary of one ofthe top 10 advertisement and marketing agencies
School Management Solutions (Part of the RMGroup), (UK) – the UK’s leading provider of ICTservices and information management systems forschools
SITEL GmbH (Europe) - Call centres in 25countries for many of the Fortune 500 companiesworldwide
SNCF (France) - French railways, for their internalassurance
Tieto (Europe) - provides consulting, developmentand hosting for its customers. With over 15,000experts, they are one of the largest IT servicesproviders in Europe
Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH, Berlin(Germany) - Vivantes owns over 100 hospitals,medical institutes and 8 specialised health centresin Germany with over 13,500 employees
What our customers sayabout Omnis Studio...
“I am using Omnis Studio for avery successful ultra-thin webapplication for the followingreasons:- 1. I needed to develop somethingFAST and I knew the tool (Omnis)very well.2. I needed well-structuredreadable code and a good VersionControl System.3. I needed a great debugger.4. I needed a language with greatlist-handling capabilities and easyaccess to a SQL database. The project has been successfuldue to the ease of coding andtesting and debugging in Omnis.”
Jim PistrangJP Computer Resourceswww.jpcr.com, USA
"One of the big advantages in Omnis, I find, is the speed of
deployment when making changes to your application. Normally
it is easy to create an application framework, but making changes
to the framework is, at least in the case of our app, the part of
development which consumes the most time. A development
environment that minimizes turnover time is a real plus. I have
also found that the number of developers of a Studio app is
almost always less than when using other development
environments... ...Another aspect of Omnis I have always been
able to rely on, is that in just about all cases I was able to find
workarounds to problems and was not faced with completely
unsolveable problems. No development environment is perfect,
but Omnis Studio comes pretty close when it comes to creating
database frontend applications."
--Rudolf BargholzChief Software Developer and joint Managing Director of Online Travel
Services AG, Zurich, the leading software development company for
the travel industry in Switzerland.
30
ahead of the curve
The TeamIn Hamburg and Munich
From left: Klaus Schrödl (Munich office), Götz Krija, Birgit Jäger, Dr. Michael Hufschmidt,
Nadja Golly, Andreas Pfeiffer, Mike Boller.
Products & Services
31
Consultancy & TrainingRaining Data can provide talented and experienced developers to help you plan,build and finish your solution on time and in budget. Using Omnis you can expectsignificant cost savings, but when you contract one our expert consultants, you willsave even more time and money and be assured that you have a world-classsolution. Our consultants can help you prototype your solution to find the bestsolution to your particular business problem. We can help you with coding adviceand standards or carry out most of the programming for you. Plus, if you have an oldOmnis application we can help you convert it to Omnis Studio taking advantage ofits new features and web capabilities such as Web Client, the multi-threaded serverand the new data access modules.
In addition, we provide training courses that will help you learn Omnis Studio andenable you to write better application, and quicker too. Our courses take you throughcreating an Omnis application and show you all the techniques and shortcuts youneed to create market-leading applications. See www.omnis.net/training for more details.
We will help youget your solutionwritten in recordtime...
Omnis conferences & Trade showsThe Omnis developer community organise a number of technical conferencesaround the world that provide an excellent opportunity for you to learn aboutOmnis in a sales-free environment. The focus for the Omnis developercommunity is their own portal EurOmnis (www.euromnis.org) which providesinformation for the annual conferences and other events. The weeklongdeveloper conferences provide a good mix of in-depth technical sessions,presentations and social events. Developers comment that the knowledge gainedat these conferences is worth the time and fees many times over, and that theyare great fun too!
Raining Data attend many IT trade shows & conferences in Europe and are veryactively gaining new Studio developers. In particular, we attend CeBIT in Marchand SYSTEMS in October as well many specialist shows and IT relatedconferences. We exhibit alongside our developers and partners who demonstratetheir own solutions. We look forward to seeing you on our stand!
Omnis conferencesare intense learningexperiences...
and fun too!
Components and Third-party productsThere are a number of components or plug-ins available for Omnis Studio thatextend its power and functionality while greatly increasing the development anddeployment options available to developers. Raining Data provides a number ofcomponents for Omnis, while there are many third-party developers who providea whole range of components for many different business functions such asproject scheduling, word processing, and extending the Omnis language. .
The OOmmnniiss WWeebb SSeerrvviicceess (OWS) component lets you integrate Web Services intoyour Omnis applications, or create your own services from Omnis code. TheooXXMMLL component is an external component that allows you to manipulate andcreate XML documents in Omnis Studio and incorporate the management of XMLdata into your Omnis applications. Look on wwwwww..oommnniiss..nneett for further details.
Extend the powerand flexibility ofOmnis Studio withyour own or third-party components...