Advantage Systems

Business Decision Server

The Business Decision Server is a user defined "rule based" process that runs in the system tray. The server constantly monitors the data files in real time and performs tasks when conditions are met. For example a report can be generated and emailed to management when inventory on hand amounts fall below a certain level or notifying clients via email when their order has been shipped.

SQL Server Integration

Advantage Systems uses remote views, ADO and SQL Pass Through to connect applications to SQL Server depending on the requirements. Both ODBC DNS and DNS-Less connections are used as appropriate.

Cross Tab Data Entry Grid Support

Advantage Systems utilizes a modified version of the Microsoft Grid Control that allows for editing, sorting, searching and sub-setting data. Our custom Grid Class can be modified for Cross Tab Data Entry. For advanced implementations Microsoft Excel can be linked into your application.

Framework Architecture

Frameworks are the foundation of your application. A well written framework can save you an enormous amount of development time and will allow your application to be modified quickly to adapt to your business needs. Advantage Systems has done extensive research in the area of framework design and developed a robust scalable framework which is easy to maintain and can be expanded based on your needs.

Most frameworks, commercial and otherwise, try to cover every possible programming need to be everything to everyone. This creates application overhead and a steep learning curve, as the application contains thousands of lines of framework programming code that will never be used by your application. In most cases, coding is required to "work around" a default Framework behavior or interface design that is not desired.

The Advantage Framework has a light weight foundational core that allows various programming components to snap in. This approach allows Advantage System to deliver a framework that "exactly" fits your needs.

Microsoft Office Integration

Advantage Systems can implement the full power of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and Power Point into your application extending the capability and features available to you. For example data entry can be performed using Microsoft Excel and the information is saved into FoxPro or SQL Server. Then the information can be used to generate Power Point Presentations or Microsoft Word Documents that are emailed using Microsoft Outlook to managements and clients.

Barcode Scanning / Radio Frequency Tag Technology

If your application requires barcode scanning Advantage Systems is able to write most firmware application for the scanner include palm pilot applications along with the communication routines and Barcode Printing Programs. Our scanners support almost all barcode symbologies include Code 3 of 9 and UPC. For sophisticated tracking applications, Advantage Systems supports Radio Frequency (RF Tags), data capture access points and scanners to read and write to the tags.

Touch Screen Technology

Advantage Systems programmers have worked on numerous Touch Screen applications for recording medical information, point of sale and displaying catalog or products to potential customers.

Ad HOC Query Engine For Reporting

Advantage Systems has developed end users tools that simplifies the process of running reports by allowing users to pick and sort orders, record selection and report parameters at run time and save the information so the report can be run again without setting up the selections. For advanced applications a drag and drop WYSWYG drag and drop report designer is also available that supports Crystal Reports and Native FoxPro Reporting

Scheduling

Advantage Systems utilizes Microsoft Outlook Scheduling, 3rd party scheduling ActiveX controls and custom written FoxPro scheduling objects to implement day, week and month scheduling.

Custom Installations

Advantage Systems utilizes InstallShield to install both client and server applications. Custom Scripts can be written for commercial application to produce marketing billboards at install time, verify system requirements are met and produce trial versions of your application. Along with various installation options Advantage Systems includes Web Installs.

Data Recovery

The stability of Visual FoxPro tables, indexes and memo fields have drastically improved since the early versions of DBase. That combined with the fact Advantage Systems applications are designed such that tables and indexes are only opened when needed, further eliminates the possibility of a table header or index corruption occurring. Advantage Systems has developed stealth technology in the error handling routines to detect and repair table problems, in most cases, without the need to exit the application and the repair is completely transparent to the user.