The Refresh Orlando Heirs

If you are a database designer or developer, you may be racking your brains trying to find the most suitable software to help you with your database design-related tasks. There are pretty many tools for designing and modeling database structures available in the market. However, the question is what features and facilities they offer, what the quality is, how easy-to-use (or complicated…) their interface is, how many databases they support and finally what the price and maintenance costs are.

Putting myself in your shoes, I can imagine how tired you can be of evaluating tens of database modeling tools that don’t live up to your expectations and if do, their price is not acceptable. (Believe me, I have the same experience…) Let’s face it, considering all the aspects mentioned above, the offer suddenly narrows down especially if your budget is tight…

I don’t want to make any marketing research or analyze all database modeling tools in the market. I’ve just wanted to draw your attention to one, quite inconspicuous db modeling tool - CASE Studio 2 (CS2). As a user of this software, I’d like to share my experience on this product with you.

This tool has been designed by Charonware, s.r.o., a software company established in the Czech Republic (member of European Union), and is really worth taking up.

The main CS2 features include particularly: Entity relationship diagrams (ER diagrams), automatic generating of SQL (DDL) scripts, generating of HTML and RTF reports and reverse engineering. CS2 allows users to create ER diagrams for more than thirty databases like Oracle, MySQL, MS SQL, Advantage, Interbase, Informix, Firebird and much more. Also, you can take advantage of the reverse engineering feature and load already existing db structure to CS2 very easily. After ER diagram is created, you are allowed to generate SQL scripts automatically.

Besides these main features, I’ve come across another great one - the possibility to customize the software as I need. Via the CS2 Templates Editor, you can modify system templates, import new templates that are available for free on Charonware’s website, or even create your own templates. CS2 also contains MS Scripting dialog for modifying the scripts.

This way you can customize generation of SQL scripts, modify design and content of HTML and RTF reports etc. This feature makes this product much more flexible and more responsive to each customer’s needs and requirements, which I really do appreciate.

Among other helpful features belong: export into XML format, support for text objects like triggers, procedures, views, sequences etc., Data Flow diagrams, Model conversion, Version Manager and more.

Information on CS2 can be found on Charonware’s website (http://www.casestudio.com). Except the free CS2 trial, there’s also a great range of online resources including support documentation, movie tutorials, add-ins, scripts etc.

My friend says: “When you feel like you’re working hard but not getting what you need, it’s pretty frustrating. I need a software that is stable, allows me to do just what I need, is easy to use and… that I can get at a good price!” - That’s it!

Taking into account the CS2 features, functionality and price (Apropos, Charonware provides free updates and free, time-unlimited technical support!), CASE Studio 2 comes out very well!

###

Thierry Brochot is a freelance consultant of database-related issues with a focus on designing and developing database structures.

When you buy a computer, it most likely comes with Microsoft Windows preinstalled.
And when you need a word processor, spreadsheet, or other software, you probably
buy it from a computer store. That software is vital. Without it, a computer is just an
expensive paperweight.

But you can find free and low-cost alternatives to commercial software. Free
software has been available for years but has never been so accessible to everyday
computer users. These
programs have long been the domain of, well, geeks - experts who were willing to
download huge programs from the Internet and who knew how to compile the
programs from source code. But free software is entering the mainstream, thanks to
faster Internet connections and easier-to-use installers that don’t require a degree
in computer science.

Free software appeals to those on a budget as well as anyone who simply wants
another choice. Examples of free software include GNU/Linux, an operating system
that replaces Microsoft Windows; OpenOffice, a word processor, spreadsheet, and
presentation manager suite; and The GIMP, an image editor
that rivals Adobe Photoshop. A PC with GNU/Linux preinstalled can cost hundreds
of dollars less than a Microsoft Windows PC.

Free software takes time and money to run, and Microsoft will eagerly tell you that
the total cost of ownership for GNU/Linux is umpteen times higher than Windows.
But advocates of free software say cost is not the only issue.

“Free software means the users are in control,” says Richard Stallman, founder of the
not-for-profit Free Software Foundation. “Each non-free program has an owner, a
feudal lord in effect, who dominates the program and its users. The owners of non-
free software often impose changes on the users, changes meant to suit them, not
us.”

Free software advocates say there are two kinds of free: free as in “free beer” and
free as in “free speech.” They’re both good but for different reasons. The mantra of
the Free Software Foundation is “Free software’ is a matter of liberty, not price.”
Commercial software licenses - those wordy, legalese-filled documents that no one
actually reads before clicking “I Agree” when installing software - usually impose
strict limits: You can’t install the software on more than one computer; if it doesn’t
work the way you want, you can’t change it; and so on. Free software often has a
license too, but it’s far less restrictive. Users can amend the software to make it
better.

“The main advantage is the community of people who will continue to improve the
software on a voluntary basis, especially as it relates to security flaws,” says Irwin
Taranto, treasurer of the International Computer Users Fellowship of Rotarians. Case
in point is Mozilla Firefox, a web browser that’s emphasizes speed and
security. The program has taken a quick foothold amongst Internet users who are
tired of the security flaws in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Most free software can be downloaded from the Internet. The programs are
sometimes large, so a fast Internet connection helps. Some programs are sold in
stores. Many free software licenses allow others to sell the software. Although it
may seem ironic, free software users often opt to pay in exchange for value-added
features such as printed documentation, a CD installer, and technical support.

The next time you need software for your computer, you might consider free
alternatives. It may not be as free as free beer, but it can be as liberating as free
speech.

Copyright 2005 by Kevin Savetz.

Kevin Savetz is a freelance technology journalist who has written for more than 80 publications. He is the founder of FreeDownloadADay.com, which features high-quality free software. You can subscribe to the site’s Free Downloads newsletter, which is also free.

Outsourcing has become a controversial issue and a hot topic among presidential candidates this year. But have you stopped to think how your business can benefit from the efficiency, functionality and cost savings of outsourcing? If you have, you might find that, like many others, you are already outsourcing-and enjoying its benefits.

What is Outsourcing?

Outsourcing simply means “contracting out” various functions of your business. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be contracting out work to foreign countries because there are many American companies that provide outsourcing services i.e.. commercial printing services and cleaning services, among others.) The vendors who supply outsourced services may be self-employed contractors, consulting firms, temporary employee services or professional service firms. One common example of outsourcing is payroll processing. Other commonly outsourced functions that can be provided by professional services firms include:

• Succession planning

• Accounting and tax preparation

• Information technology (IT)

• Consulting (i.e. due diligence, business planning)

• Distribution services

• Pension management

• Manufacturing

• Assembly

• Staffing

• Grounds Maintenance

• Estate and income tax planning

Why Outsourcing Can Work for Your Business

Fortune 500 corporations are under the microscope for outsourcing thousands of jobs overseas to low wage workers, potentially leaving American workers out of work. But according to Forrester Research Inc., of the 2.7 million jobs lost over the past three years, only 300,000 have been from outsourcing. With that in mind, outsourcing means something different for family and privately owned businesses. With fierce competition affecting the margins of many businesses, companies are finding that they cannot afford layers of administrative overhead dedicated to operating their core business. They are realizing that outsourcing provides alternatives to doing everything for themselves. For example, if your business is distribution, there may not be a need to employ a large administrative overhead dedicated to support functions like those listed above. Companies that provide outsourcing services are able to invest more time and resources into the specific functions that generate revenue. Because of this, they can operate more efficiently and economically, which can help you compete more effectively than companies that do it themselves.

Information technology is a good example of this. The cost in personnel, benefits and training to keep pace in the rapidly changing world of information technology is prohibitive for most privately owned businesses. By outsourcing this function, management is free to focus its energies on the core aspects of the business-those that provide revenue-generating products and services-and leave the other areas to vendors who specialize in performing those functions.

Benefits of Outsourcing

Proponents of outsourcing cite a variety of reasons for “letting others do it.” Here are some of the most important:

Cost savings - By outsourcing functions that were previously performed in house, companies are often able to reduce their employee levels and related costs, such as recruitment, supervision, salary and benefits. By outsourcing a capital intensive function, you can also reduce the costs of equipment obsolescence and depreciation. A portion of your cost savings will go to the outsourcer, but outsourcing vendors have a tighter control of fringe benefits and run leaner overhead structures. They also know how to deal with vendors serving the function they are providing and therefore, are able to pass on to your company the benefits derived from bulk purchasing and effective leasing.

Quality of service - Because your company is the outsourcer’s customer, you will likely experience a “can-do attitude,” which may not always be exhibited by an in-house staff.

More capital funds - Outsourcing reduces the need to invest capital in non-core business functions, thereby freeing capital to invest in profit-making aspects of the business.

State-of-the-art technology - Outsourcers have to spend time and money on the most current equipment and on employee training to remain competitive. By outsourcing certain areas, you are assured of receiving the most efficient services and the latest technological advances within that particular function.

Price stability - By signing a contract to outsource, you will likely be able to obtain stable pricing, eliminating the future need to shop around. Stable pricing allows the company to budget operating expenses and capital purchases more accurately, while potentially preventing the likelihood of surprise expenses.

New business partners - Outsourcers clearly wish to be viewed as your business partner. And as a business partner, they share in the desire to keep your company operating at its maximum potential. Through this business partner arrangement, outsourcers are eager to introduce you to other outsourcers to assist in that goal.

More time to focus on core business activities - You cannot overlook this intangible benefit of outsourcing. If a company is to be successful and profitable, management is needed to spend time planning and directing the company’s business strategies and not wasting time worrying about managing certain administrative or ancillary functions.

Potential Drawbacks

As with every new system and procedure, you have to take the good with the bad. Critics argue that outsourcing creates too much loss of control, less flexibility, questionable savings and the risk of over dependence on too few vendors. Owners of family and privately owned businesses should understand that initiating an outsourcing arrangement takes considerable management time. Finding and selecting the right outsourcing company can take many months. And outsourcing companies need to be given overall directives and guidelines for what the company wants done, and therefore, some level of supervision by management will ultimately be needed. Also, if an outsourcer is replacing a function that has been historically done within the company, layoffs could very possibly affect employee morale and may cause talented staff in other core areas to leave for fear of job security. In addition, be cautious not to completely eliminate the internal ability to provide the basic product or service you offer. For example, if you are a manufacturer and you have outsourced the assembly of your product, be sure you can still provide a sample of a specialty order in-house if asked to by a customer. A delay of a product sample could cost you the customer’s business.

One of the biggest complaints by companies that have outsourced is that there has been a mismatch between expectations and reality. When an outsourcer is marketing its services there is usually much enthusiasm and talent dedicated to solving the problems that were defined at the outset. However, once the contract is signed, the outsourcer brings in its implementation team, which often lacks the same level of enthusiasm that the sales and marketing team had. Due diligence is necessary when beginning any new business relationships. It is best to get recommendations from current customers of the outsourcer or other reliable sources in your industry.

Careful Selection Is Key

By being aware of these drawbacks at the start of the outsourcing process, you can mitigate many of these and build outsourcing relationships that benefit your business. The key to successful outsourcing is careful selection of both the functions you outsource and the vendors you choose to supply them.

–

Paul Rich, Principal and Business Consultant

Siegel Rich Division of Rothstein Kass - Certified Public Accountants

About The Author

Paul Rich is a business consultant and specializes in assisting closely-held and family owned businesses in structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions, securing financing, rendering IPOs and private placement advisory services, assisting with succession planning and providing profit-enhancement business planning and executive coaching, among other hot button areas for small business owners.

http://rkco.com

prich@rkco.com

Anyone who has seen the movie’ Honey I shrunk the kids’ can imagine how useful compression can be. Compression, which has become anonymous with Zip files work
off the same idea only with a (add your joke here)’slightly’ different technology.
You will find a lot of data compression programs in use today and some are easier and have better features than others, so in this article I will talk about compression in general, but may through in a couple of examples for comparison.

The first thing you need to know is that there can be more than one compressed file; you can have an archive (a multiple of files). The main benefit of this is that the user can:
 Save valuable disk space
 Can send and receive files on the internet quicker
 Speeds up your processor
 Depending on the file compression program can reduce files as much as 90%

The user should also be aware that files can only be opened with the original compression program that compressed it. Think of this as a form of protection, if you will since this is like an encrypted file or archive. Adding a password is another way to insure files are safe from prying eyes and some compression programs let you do this at any level of compression or decompression with the associated commands (update,move,feshien,add). Only individual files can be password protected not whole archives.
Ever since the first personal computers (PC’s) came about people found how easy it is to load up there drives with programs and downloads that eat up much of there memory. That’s why developers created data compression programs in the first place, to free up hard drive space and increase processor speed.
There are a lot of data compression programs and they are not exactly alike because they use different data compression algorithms. One popular program, for example looks for repeating words or phrases and assigns them there own character or number value.

A lot of users don’t fully understand the more advanced features of their data compression programs so they are not really getting there full value. Syntax command lines are a good example of this confusion. There are four basic commands in syntax (the shape of a command line);
 Command: The task to be preformed like add, delete or update.
 Archive: the name of the archive.
 Switch or Option: lets user specify a file option like adding file directories for compression.
 File: name of file(s) to be processed.
A user can compress files four basic ways:
 Add files to archive - old files with same name are overwritten.
 Move files to archive - upon compression old files are deleted.
 Update files - makes sure you have the most recent file version.
 Freshen files - almost like update, seeks out the last modified file and adds it to archive.
The above commands have there basic functions but can do other things. Ex. the update & add commands can create and compress files and the Freshen command can create a new archive.
There are only a couple of data compression programs out there that give the user more than one compression method - PKZIP AND ARJ.
PKZIP has what they call an imploding method and a shrinking method; without going into great detail imploding uses less memory (90k), and is very through. This is the default setting. Shrinking is fast but uses a bit more memory (128k), works great for smaller files.
ARJ gives the user more options for data compression. It uses multiple settings (m1 to m4). This is a tradeoff of prosessing speed versus packing dentisy. There are 2 more options available here but test runs show no significant change in time or compression.
Even with experienced compression users, extracting compressed files with a newer version of a data compression program may prove difficult, so programmers created self extracting files (SFX) to enable beginners to easily use compressed files. This small program may be part of the original program or added after as a separate program.

I realize some of this may sound confusing and for that I apologize, and after all, people will compresses data using only the basic functions and be happy and content because it suits there present needs. In conclusion you can tell there are many options available when using any data compression program and it is well worth the time (got time on the week end?) and effort to learn some of the advanced features if you want to save some serious space on your hard drive.

Robert Hanania is a student of the internet, learning about home based businesses and computers. Robert is currently promoting his web sites. All are welcome to visit him at:
www.fileanddatarecovery.com
www.houseimprovementonline.net

IPMONTOR - NETWORK MONITORING SOLUTION

IPMonitor is a sophisticated network monitoring solution that allows network administrators, webmasters, and Internet service providers to monitor any networked device on the Internet, corporate intranet, or TCP/IP LAN and receive alerts immediately via audible alarm, message, e-mail, or third-party software when a connection fails. It is a powerful personal monitoring product delivering low cost, simplicity of operation, and round-the-clock coverage.

Main Features:

• System tray application - Runs as a system tray application automatically on startup.

• Comprehensive monitoring - Monitors up to 500 network devices or services simultaneously.

• Global settings - Allows quick network resource configuration.

• Independent parameters - Allows all parameters to be set independently for each network resource.

• Maintenance mode - Permits you to temporarily disable monitoring of certain resources.

• Robust alerting - Alerts you to failures using a variety of techniques ranging from audible alarms to third-party software.

• Alert schedule - Allows you “fine tune” the alerting functions to avoid unnecessary alerting during an extended failure.

• Failure and recovery alerts - Alerts can be enabled for any combination of failure and recovery notices.

• Custom alerts - Allows custom alerts to be created for each monitored resource.

• Test alert configuration - Each alert type can be tested in order to verify that the alert is configured correctly prior to going live.

• E-mail notification - Allows e-mail notification via SMTP with the server of your choice.

• Custom messages - Supports keyword values and customized message information.

Avoid costly network downtime by using IPMonitor as your first line of defense. IPMonitor continually probes and transacts with network resources on timed intervals, to test their availability and responsiveness. If a failure occurs, IPMonitor automatically notifies you. The result? You are back in business faster!

About Software Developer:

Incorporated in early 2003 and headquartered in Haifa, Israel, Tsarfin Computing is a privately held company specializing in network diagnostic and monitoring software for the Internet, corporate intranets, and TCP/IP local area networks. Today its products and custom solutions may be found in businesses all over the world, including a large number of Fortune 500 companies, as well as in thousands of smaller ventures.

The company’s product family includes NetInfo, one of the most widely used network toolkits and a pioneer in the grouped network tools arena, and IPMonitor, a sophisticated network monitoring solution.

Product Requirements:
• Windows 98/ME/NT/000/XP
• Internet Explorer 5.5+

The developer’s web site:
www.tsarfin.com

Experienced, versatile freelance writer.
Strong research skills, clear and concise writing, compassionate journalism.

In today’s climate of business, CEOs and executives are cautiously optimistic about the economy and their company’s future growth. They realize that they still need to market to drive profitable growth and increase the company’s value, but the financial strings are being tightened. However, there is a clear growing trend for companies, regardless of size and industry, to outsource (or a term used not to long ago sub-contracting) an element of their business. Why does this trend continue to grow, and how do executives assess their needs? Outsourcing is not a passing fad, but clearly a paradigm shift that can change a business model for the better.

Outsourcing involves the use of resources outside of the organization to perform specific tasks required for the business. However, there are a variety of ways to use these resources, including business process outsourcing and co-sourcing. Business process outsourcing involves the selling off one part of the business to create positive cash flow and probable gains in productivity and quality. Co-sourcing involves retaining part of the service in-house, and off-loading or outsourcing a portion to a third party partner. This is the one we will discuss, and in our case the marketing function.

Companies often forget to ask the basic question: What business are we in? Too often the need to perform various functions and to keep a business running does not allow management to step back and ask this question. The answer should bring management to the fundamental product/service that generates revenue for this company.

In the book “Living on the Fault Line” (HarperCollins, 2000) by Geoffrey Moore, described an outsourcing concept. He says, all employees should be focused on core activities–that is, things that contribute to the company’s competitive advantage and increase shareholder value. The opposite of core is context–activities that do not contribute to competitive advantage. Context activities should be outsourced.

For example, your head of marketing was hired to develop and coordinate strategies, direct tactics and their implementation, to generate more sales leads by new customers, while maximizing the loyalty and profitability of current customers. That is their “Core” function. However, over time they have developed a talent for public relations and as a result have become the communication manager of the company. They edit the company website, makes changes, etc. These responsibilities (those of PR Manager) can be described as “Context.”

This is how most companies handle the “Context” with respect to positioning, messaging, and public relations, three tasks for marketing. A similar example could be used for any marketing tasks. It is not their core responsibility and yet, they take it on. The problem with “Context” is that it often takes on a life of its own and begins to obscure what the “Core” should be. The example above was selected because it represents what actually happens for most small to midsized companies. What management needs to consider is the effect that “Context” has on productivity, return-on-sales, ROI and the general operation of the business.

Outsourcing allows companies to focus their resources and control their head count. This form of operations allows the company to hand over full responsibility for the outsourcing function within clearly defined management guidelines and then monitor the performance. When you break down the costs of a full marketing department internally, versus the cost of outsourcing with an external partner, the business case begins to tip in favor of not allowing the “Context” to conceal the “Core.” The following elements would be common to build out a high-quality and stable relationship in a typical small organization with gross sales revenues of $20 million.

Description Annual Salaries Outsourced Cost
Marketing Director $120,000 NC
Marketing Manager $75,000 NC
Marketing Assistant $40,000 NC
PR Manager $80,000 NC
Program Budget $1,000,000 $900,000
Outsourcing Fees NA $150,000
Total Approximate Annual Cost: $1,350,000 $1,050,000

(The costs above are average for mid-sized companies.)

Consider the example of a high performance marketing partner that offers you results, flexibility, and reduction in staff and overhead. Companies can typically have equal if not better results, while maintaining product and service quality for a fraction of the cost by turning to an expert in sales and marketing. And what is the cost of a bad hire? The commonly referenced cost of a bad hire is 2.5 the times annual salary. In most small to mid-sized organizations, marketing can be outsourced while they focus on the core.

Cost is clearly the most popular reason for outsourcing. However, strategic reasons such as improving company focus on core business and improving quality are next.

Why companies decide to let “Context” take over and drive the business can usually be attributed to lack of information. Many businesses and marketing specialists believe that by keeping everything internal the sales growth is more efficient. It’s hard to find sales and marketing experts that have years of experience and are all aligned with the top line growth objectives. Companies who are not using marketing as part of their “Core” focus usually do not have the teams of marketing experts to handle the needs of their marketing. As a result, the “Context” begins to take over leaving less and less room for the “Core.” So, is it worth “controlling” all of your marketing functions? Is this an area of your business that is core to your success? Probably not.

It is important for a company to focus on the things that add value and make it competitive. If you build software, stick to doing those things that help you to build better software, and outsource all those things that can be outsourced. The more focus you place in “context” areas, the harder it becomes for you to do your “Core” well. When you take into account the cost of what it really takes to do it right, the business case cannot be ignored.

George Schildge is the president and CEO of Matrix Marketing Group Inc., a full-service marketing firm that specialize in helping small to mid-sized business-to-business firms grow profitably and build their business through effective growth planning and marketing. He can be reached at press@matrixmarketinggroup.com or www.matrixmarketinggroup.com or 86.456.9100.

George Schildge has over 20 years of marketing and operational experience in the high-tech, computer hardware and software, and medical fields. George’s experience includes working at Sun Microsystems, CoCreate Software, Baan Business Systems, IBM and several start-ups. During these affiliations he gained experience in developing, launching and managing a company’s business and marketing strategy and operational plans for products and services. Working on numerous high-tech firms, he has helped companies bridge the gap between technology and branding.

As a senior executive at these major high technology firms, George has gained expertise in the areas of marketing strategy, product development, organizational development, international marketing and distribution, interactive marketing, brand management and integrated marketing communications. He has a track record of ramping multiple products and firms to profitability and has extensive knowledge of computer and high-tech markets and trends.

Many software and hardware producers take pride in the exponential pace of technology change, but for users and consumers of their products and services the rapid technological obsolescence often means increased costs, frustrations, and unfulfilled promises. Corporate America expects to make capital investments in goods and facilities that should last five, ten, even twenty years, but only an eighteen-month lifetime for computer software and hardware investment is not uncommon.

Lowering the costs to develop new software solutions or extending the lifetime of software applications are two complementary approaches to addressing technological change. These goals can often be met by taking a declarative strategy when designing software systems independent of the programming methodology employed.

Issues with Imperative Programming