Unibase by DMAC, Unibase Imaging, Release 8.3, Are Faster Than Ever

Unibase by DMAC and Unibase Imaging, Release 8.3, are the fastest 32 bit versions yet. The new release is compiled in Microsoft's Visual Studio 2005. The release is currently in quality assurance testing at DMAC.

Somewhere in the past year DMAC clients noticed that a Microsoft update caused Unibase by DMAC to slow down in the 32 bit version. DMAC immediately planned a switch to Microsoft's latest C++ compiler and integrated development environment hoping that the latest tools would enable DMAC to fix the problem. As soon as Microsoft finalized the Visual Studio 2005 in December 2005, DMAC's developers began porting and testing the new DMAC release.

As usual, after much sweat and tears, the speed problem was located in the low level interface to the operating system. Next DMAC adjusted code to fit the latest Microsoft approach.

So, upgrade to Release 8.3 of Unibase by DMAC and Unibase Imaging as soon as you can if you are using the 32 bit version of Unibase and want more speed.

For those following the upgrade path, Unibase by DMAC, release 8.2, will never make it out of quality assurance testing and initial beta users. Speed is so important to DMAC clients that Release 8.3 was started before Release 8.2 left beta testing. All of the improvements of the 8.2 release have been rolled into the 8.3 release. In addition DMAC clients have still had Release 8.1 upgraded with any fixes or minor improvements throughout the process.

As discussed in other articles in this newsletter, some new features not mentioned in prior news letters are as follows:

1. New G3 with strips decoding image support.
2. Total rework of i/o to minimize delayed write issues.
3. Kill Unibase by DMAC, Unibase Imaging with red x works.
4. Support of WebBase 2 with WebBase 2 licensing integrated.

For those users still using the 16 bit version of Unibase by DMAC and Unibase Imaging, Release 8.3 still supports 16 bit. With the speed improved, DMAC hopes it has removed the last user objection to moving to 32 bit for users who are purchasing new equipment. For those running old equipment, all DMAC can say is we will support 16 bit as long as we know how. The "gotchas" are going to be the 16 bit compiler won't compile, the new Microsoft Vista won't run 16 bit so we cannot test or something we have not considered. Until then ....#

DMAC Moves To Texas; Tries VPN In The Process

For us at DMAC the big news since the Fall, 2005 newsletter is DMAC's move to Marble Falls, Texas. DMAC's stockholders gave up owning their own building. DMAC gave up lots of floor space. But DMAC gained a lot.

Tina Kay is happier. And when Tina Kay is happier, everyone is happier. Tina Kay is now near her son, daughter and grandchildren. Fred Tarbox is happier too. Not only is he closer to his family, he now lives on Lake LBJ, has a boat (with operator), no hills to mow, no pool to clean, no snow to shovel, can walk to lunch as before, and is warmer all year.

For the first month or so after the move, DMAC tried out its VPN (virtual private network). By communicating with DMAC's Winchester office, DMAC developed metrics associated with running the network over 1500 miles of internet. DMAC's conclusion was that it did not work as well as expected.

Additional good news was that once he had visited Marble Falls, Mark Rix, DMAC's newest stockholder, decided that he would move his remaining Winchester office of DMAC to Marble Falls also. By the start of summer once again all of DMAC, except for its contract developers and support partners, is located in the same city and building.

DMAC will keep its three separate networks as part of its WAN so that DMAC can learn about issues with such things in as much as many DMAC clients have multiple networks as part of a WAN. The speed degradation caused by distance will disappear.

Another article in this newsletter discusses the successful switch to VOIP (voice over internet protocol) with a virtual pbx. The old main telephone number still should work (540-667-4695). The new general telephone number is 830-265-4551. The new fax number is 830-693-0988. The inbound watts line number remains the same 888-667-4695.

All email addresses remain valid. For those who use snail mail, the new street address is
Data Management Assistance Corporation
705 1st Street, Suite 104
Marble Falls, Texas 78654

Thanks to all clients who supported and encouraged this move. Special thanks to those understanding clients who put up with support slowed down by the actual move the first week of May. #

DMAC Switches To VOIP Virtual PBX Successfully

DMAC now runs with a VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) virtual PBX. Clients probably notice the new options for voice mail and direct extensions.

For the first few months after the move, DMAC could answer the phone in either Winchester, Virginia or Marble Falls, Texas. Now everything is located in Marble Falls, Texas but the phone system cares not.

Hopefully DMAC's clients have seen nothing but good from this upgrade. At least no one has complained to DMAC about the phones.

Internally, the new system has many other features. In addition to personal voice mailboxes, DMAC employees now have email's sent to them when they miss a call or have a voice message. In addition each of us at DMAC can modify our individual station settings as needed through our Web browser.

For example, when Mark Rix brought his office from Winchester to Marble Falls, he had his extension forwarded to his cell phone.

DMAC is trying to stay modern. We at DMAC try new things; so do our clients. This is good.#

DMAC Attacks the Big Red X; X Works Right in Release 8.3

For years Data Entry did not allow keyers to use the mouse. Slowly as more and more keyers do what they want anyway, DMAC is learning to support the mouse in an intuitive way. This past winter, with several client's help, DMAC went after closing a window running Unibase by DMAC or Unibase Imaging with a mouse the way our clients wanted it to behave.

Now in Release 8.3 all of the testing and comments have created clicking on the Red X which should produce what the keyer wishes.

So when you are in data entry in Unibase by DMAC and click on the Red X, the batch is closed, the user is logged out, and everything is left as if the user did whatever was necessary to leave Unibase by DMAC under the old rules.

And likewise DMAC's people think you get the right response for the Unibase Imaging and the Main Menu when you click on the Red X. But if the response is not what you expect - let DMAC know. #

Microsoft's Delayed Write Error Bears Watching

While no DMAC client has specifically told DMAC of problems with delayed writes and Unibase by DMAC or Unibase Imaging, DMAC is waiting for the first report.

This problem is sorta like Avian Flu or Mad Cow Disease; DMAC does not think it will go away until a cure is found. Developers are aware that the problem can attack almost any software environment. The fix is not easily discerned. And Microsoft operating systems are not going to change to help developers solve the problem.

The problem comes from the ways in which security can be enforced on a network. Some user opens a file on a server, then the Microsoft environment no longer allows that user to use the same credentials. Even if the user gets new credentials, the file cannot be accessed. In fact in some cases the file is closed by Microsoft.

While waiting for the first complaint, DMAC has been experimenting with various techniques to solve the problem. The first DMAC client who wants DMAC to work on the problem will have to beta all the possible solutions DMAC has considered until one solution works in all cases.

Obviously, the easier solution would be to convince network and server support people it is their problem and let them fix the problem. But….#

Mark Rix Joins Tina Kay And Fred Tarbox As A DMAC Stockholder

Mark Rix, DMAC's Century Products Group Vice President , joins Tina Kay and Fred Tarbox as a major DMAC stockholder.

Mark is an electrical engineering graduate of George Mason University. Previously he served nine years in Texas Instruments' software/custom hardware development group.

Mark has handled the Century Products at DMAC since 2004. Now Mark will also take over the direction of the quality assurance program and testing of Unibase by DMAC and Unibase Imaging in addition to the Century Products Group.

As DMAC looks at the upcoming Microsoft VISTA operating system and the continued need for quality multi-user software environments, DMAC is making changes now to better provide for its clients and grow with the expanding niche it serves.#