GUI Front End - refined details

[Richard Hane]

First, let me thank Rich, Mark, Bruce and others who commened on the original thread.

Let me comment on the a cople of items in the responses and the after refine what we and I are doing. Sound strange but I'll exlain the differnce between we and I.

Comments...
1. Our system is and will remain Windows.  When I said we could include *nix systems, I meant for the purposes of the discussion.
2. Realizing the above Reface is not an option for us as they are *nix based or at least where the last time I checked.  But I do agree nice program! *** fpTech are you listening! *** ; I go more in to that comment later.
3.   GUI is what is important, not the web.  I agree it would be nice but that would not happen for 3 - 5 years.  Anyone want to guess what will be available by then or what the web will be like? So security is not critical.

Refinements...  
Without going into too much detail I have three projects. As some of you are aware, I have been using fp is various forms since profile II on a RS Modl II with the 8 inch bay drives. That started in the early 80s at Radio Shack Computer Centers, then I owned my own company Yore Software for 13 years and the 9 years ago received the "offer I couldn't refuse" from my oldest customer (Deluxe Stitcher) to join them. I will be retiring from them in 6 years.

OK enough with history! Two of the projects are for Deluxe and one is for my (Yore) software.  At Deluxe we still use the plant managerment and scheduling software I wrote over 15 yrs ago in fp.  Even our high priced MRP software has not replaced it.  We need to expand to do visual shop floor / work order schedulng processes to make them more dynamic. filePro's 80 chr screen is a major PINA.  Also drag and drop movement of work orders, machine loading, routing changes would be major improvement.

The second project is one of those "it would be great if you could do this sometime" requests. I am sure you have heard of or may even use CRM programs like ACT! or Goldmine.  The concept of these programs are great but our written so tightly (some would argue poorly) that you are extrememly limited in what you can do outside what comes in the box. (see the recent settled law suit against ACT).  Writing a complete, fast & full feature CRM program in filePro would be a breeze; however once again the 80 chr screen is a problem.  One of the major drawbacks to ACT! is the extremely small amount of custom reports you can do.  I would add the report writer I wrote in fp 10 yrs ago to the CRM and all would be wonderful.  I might even get th office staff to like me even though they all report to me.

Finally, I mention the above plant scheduling above as well as my upcoming retirement in 6 years.  Several of you over the past 9 yrs have asked me if I would ever sell my mfg software. I have up to now declined; however, when I retire I may do this but to developers NOT end users.  This is an over 20 module program from estimating, o/e, purchasing, plant mgt, inventory mgt, job costing and all the accounting modules.  To bring this program in to the GUI 2000s will take several yrs.  This means I woul have to start soon for the retirement yrs.

OK, a short RANT to fpTech....
Where is your GUI front end.  For years people have been asking this.  It is obvious that this would greatly increase sales / profits.  Isn't that what you are in business for?  You can see the excitement when someone introduces a product like Reface.  I don't want to steal the sales bt really in the last 10 yrs have you even looked at this.  And please don't wave fileProGUI, it is a best a stop gap until you got the real program released.  What could your resources have been used for with a better ROI than this?  biometrics, please! And imagine if this new front end, program (whatever) was useable over the internet.  I really love filepro but I have to say I just don't understand you business plan!
RANT over

Thank you,
Rick Hane
Controller
Deluxe Stitcher Company
www.deluxestitcher.com
773-777-6500
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