accpac erp architecture Brochure
Understanding the Benefits of the Sage Accpac ERP Architecture
5
Sage Accpac ERP
Technology
Technology
Embraces Industry-Standard Technology
New software technologies that interconnect software applications are among the most important
software technologies for a business application. The Microsoft
software technologies for a business application. The Microsoft
®
Component Object Model
(COM) allows multiple desktop applications to work together. For communication over the
Internet, Extensible Markup Language (XML) allows servers and Internet devices to exchange
information. For wireless devices, there is a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). To take
advantage of these technologies, a product must have defined contact points (or interfaces) into
which the technology can be connected. An architecture must define these contact points and
have a consistent way for the application to communicate with them. The issue is not that an
application can talk to a particular technology, such as COM or XML, but that the application has
contact points designed for any interconnecting technology that becomes a standard.
Internet, Extensible Markup Language (XML) allows servers and Internet devices to exchange
information. For wireless devices, there is a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). To take
advantage of these technologies, a product must have defined contact points (or interfaces) into
which the technology can be connected. An architecture must define these contact points and
have a consistent way for the application to communicate with them. The issue is not that an
application can talk to a particular technology, such as COM or XML, but that the application has
contact points designed for any interconnecting technology that becomes a standard.
Customizes Easily and Safely
Almost every business has special needs, so some degree of customization will always be
desirable. A variety of tools and techniques are used for this purpose, such as importing or
exporting information, adding optional fields, customizing screens and reports, writing macros
with Microsoft’s Visual Basic
desirable. A variety of tools and techniques are used for this purpose, such as importing or
exporting information, adding optional fields, customizing screens and reports, writing macros
with Microsoft’s Visual Basic
®
for Applications (VBA) language, and changing the core business
logic itself. A strong architecture shows itself not by the fact that a particular tool or technique
can be used, but that any tool or technique can be easily connected and used. Further, a strong
architecture enables the whole application to use this tool—every single component, not just
a select few. Can VBA intercept a few data entry fields, or can it drive the complete business
logic of an application? Can every database table be exported, or only a select few? Finally, it is
important that when a product is being customized, the core code and data are protected. The
best technique for achieving this is to employ objects whose functionality can be inherited.
can be used, but that any tool or technique can be easily connected and used. Further, a strong
architecture enables the whole application to use this tool—every single component, not just
a select few. Can VBA intercept a few data entry fields, or can it drive the complete business
logic of an application? Can every database table be exported, or only a select few? Finally, it is
important that when a product is being customized, the core code and data are protected. The
best technique for achieving this is to employ objects whose functionality can be inherited.
Deploys Flexibly to New Paradigms
Today’s products must adapt not only to new technologies, but also to new information
technology (IT) and business paradigms such as Online Hosting, which is a rapidly expanding
business and IT delivery model. An Online Host is a company that rents hardware and software
in a secure location, and supplies connections to personal computer devices in your business
in a one-to-many (single installation to many “renters”) manner. The Host also provides services
that maintain and manage the hardware and software infrastructure, alleviating the renter of those
often costly necessities. You may not want to use the services of a Host today, but it is important
that the product you purchase today can be deployed flexibly, not only to accommodate this
paradigm, but also to accommodate paradigms that will emerge in the future. A key deployment
factor is the ability to deploy a software product in multitier environments, with the same core
business logic able to run on database servers, application servers, or client machines. The
flexibility of Sage Accpac ERP even extends beyond Windows, allowing you to use Linux
technology (IT) and business paradigms such as Online Hosting, which is a rapidly expanding
business and IT delivery model. An Online Host is a company that rents hardware and software
in a secure location, and supplies connections to personal computer devices in your business
in a one-to-many (single installation to many “renters”) manner. The Host also provides services
that maintain and manage the hardware and software infrastructure, alleviating the renter of those
often costly necessities. You may not want to use the services of a Host today, but it is important
that the product you purchase today can be deployed flexibly, not only to accommodate this
paradigm, but also to accommodate paradigms that will emerge in the future. A key deployment
factor is the ability to deploy a software product in multitier environments, with the same core
business logic able to run on database servers, application servers, or client machines. The
flexibility of Sage Accpac ERP even extends beyond Windows, allowing you to use Linux
®
as a
database server. Flexibility of deployment is a sure sign that the underlying architecture is sound.
Scales Up as Your Business Grows
To scale, a program must perform well over a range of table sizes, transaction volumes, and
user counts. A business management software product must run efficiently over a wide range
of customer, vendor, account, item, order, and invoice sizes. To do this, a product must interact
efficiently with its database services. This means that the underlying architecture must be able
to take advantage of database-specific operations to tune the product’s performance. A stored
procedure is an example of a feature specific to Microsoft’s SQL Server
user counts. A business management software product must run efficiently over a wide range
of customer, vendor, account, item, order, and invoice sizes. To do this, a product must interact
efficiently with its database services. This means that the underlying architecture must be able
to take advantage of database-specific operations to tune the product’s performance. A stored
procedure is an example of a feature specific to Microsoft’s SQL Server
®
database that is often
used to tune performance. Using a product that supports multiple databases is another way
to ensure that you can scale. There are limits to how quickly certain platforms can process
transactions, and a fast-growing business could outgrow their current database technology. A
strong architecture offers database choice, can scale server platforms, and will also use individual
features of each database to provide maximum performance in any setting.
to ensure that you can scale. There are limits to how quickly certain platforms can process
transactions, and a fast-growing business could outgrow their current database technology. A
strong architecture offers database choice, can scale server platforms, and will also use individual
features of each database to provide maximum performance in any setting.