Network Computing

Synectics has been developing client/server systems since the mid-80s. We have extensive experience in the traditional development tools of Visual Basic, Powerbuilder, C++ and Delphi. We have worked with nearly all of the relational databases management systems including Oracle, Informix, SyBase and DB2. In recent years, we have expanded our expertise to include new three-tier and n-tier technologies such as Microsoft's transaction server and Wayfarer QuickServer.

Major Pharmaceutical Company
Synectics has worked with this client for over six years. Most recently, we worked on a data warehouse project-using Oracle RDBMS. We also developed an extensive network monitoring system using Oracle's Developer2000.

Major Electronics Manufacturer
Synectics has worked with this client for over eight years. Currently, we are developing an order process and invoicing system for business operations in China and Malaysia. The application is being developed in Oracle's Developer2000 and RDBMS.

Insurance Software Vendor
Over the last 15 years, this company has developed a unique annuity insurance administrative software package. This package is an IBM main frame based application utilizing COBOL, CICS/VS and VSAM. The software product is used by some of the largest insurance companies in the country. It manages their annuity products. Currently, Synectics is assisting in converting the mainframe based system to a true three-tier client/server system. The duration of the project is 12 months. Its goal is to create a rich GUI application in Visual Basic while maintaining all the business logic in COBOL.

For this project the client selected a number of development tools. First, they selected Visual Basic 4.0 and later upgraded to 5.0 for client program development. Next, they selected Microfocus COBOL for developing the application server programs. Lastly, they selected SyBase SQLServer as the initially supported RDBMS. Currently, the client plans to expand support to include Oracle, Microsoft SQLServer and Informix. The client program accesses the application server via OLE automation and Visual Basic's pool manager. The COBOL programs manipulate the RDBMS tables via ODBC.

The caveat of this project is that Synectics is able to maintain the fully interactive CICS/VS COBOL logic while passing off the screen handling to Visual Basic programs. The goal is to minimize the size of the Visual Basic client program by using ActiveX controls, convert the VSAM file-record oriented data access modulates to dynamic SQL and stored procedures and manage the COBOL DLL programs using OLE automation and Visual Basic pool manager.

Securities Trading Software Vendor
Synectics is enhancing an existing securities industry software package. The trading specialist desktop system is a three tiered client/server system where the application server executes trade orders and status changes for most of the largest trading floors in the country. The system operates on Windows/NT and was developed in Visual Basic and C++ using Wayfarer QuickServer to manage the network communication. Wayfarer also manages all network security and application server processes. Our current task is to enhance the system to enable trading future contracts and other options.

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