SQL Overview
PERFECT FIT 7 uses FILE SHARING technology to store data in the “Native Data File” (df1)
PERFECT FIT 8 uses Structured Query Language (SQL) technology to store data in the PostgreSQL Database.
File-Sharing PROS:
cheap
easy to setup
inexpensive to program
easy to move data files
the proprietary data structure is hard to hack.
File-Sharing CONS:
slow on large data files
subject to corruption due to network failures
ODBC Access is Read Only
At one point the technology will no longer be compatible with modern computer systems
Training and support are more difficult
PERFECT FIT 8 PROS
Fast – A 1-minute report over the network will take 1 second using SQL.
Reliable – No user diagnostic reports are needed.
Network independent – Data survives low-quality connections, including WiFi.
Works over a VPN – Database can be on a remote server with PF installed locally at any location.
Data can reside in the cloud and users can have PF on their desktop or laptop computers.
Provides full desktop experience while remaining mobile.
Platform independent – Windows and Macintoshes can connect at the same time, no remote desktop needed.
Improved integration – Open structure and universal language make it easier for other programs to read and process data. (Think Shopify, and other e-commerce platforms).
Live backups – Backup while users are connected.
High security – Users cannot copy or delete the data file.
Improved forward compatibility with new operating systems.
PERFECT FIT 8 CONS
More Expensive than File Sharing, increased development costs.
Increased server maintenance and a higher level of server responsibility if SQL Data is installed locally.
Technology
The difference in technology can be explained this way.
Using 2 computers, think of 1 as the server hosting the data, and the other as the client, where the user sits.
With File sharing, when the client does a complex search, such as Customer Memo Contains the word “sold”, all the customer records and all the fields (data) must be sent over the network to the client computer, and then the client computer filters out the customers to view. This creates lots of network traffic. The network becomes a bottleneck.
With an SQL database, the database is “smart”, as it is a program running on the server. The database receives the instructions to find all customers with the Memo Containing the word “sold”, and only the ones that match these criteria are sent back over the network to the client computer. The actual filtering, or processing, happens on the server, and less data is sent over the network, thus making it much faster. The Inventory Status report is amazingly fast.
There is way more than this, but when moving from a file-sharing database to SQL this explains the major reason for speed improvement on reports.
Processing (inserts, edits, updates, etc.) happens on the server, not over the network. If the network connection is faulty, a process will complete once started. This dramatically reduces the chances of data file corruption.
Interface
Omnis Studio can connect to either a DF1 or SQL database. This has enabled us to use the same user interface for PF7 and PF8. The learning curve is minimal. We have also taken this opportunity to clean up and improve many of the windows in PF. Unnecessary buttons and commands have been removed, and there is greater use of Tab Panes and Dropdown lists. If anything is missing that you need we want to hear about it!
Price
We are moving into a more modern method of selling software; Software as a Service (SaaS). We are charging PERFECT FIT 8 on a monthly basis, payable quarterly. This includes all support, upgrades (including major upgrades), all standard modules, backups of the data in the cloud, and all cloud services, and monitoring of data integrity.
Evaluation
We require that existing users run in an evaluation mode before going live. We want to make sure that all your critical operations and forms work smoothly before running in real-time. We will review with you some of the things to look for. We also want to see the operations and preferences you are using to see if they can be improved. We are open to making changes and adding features to PF8.
PERFECT FIT 8 is the future.