Explain Progress® Database

ServiceShop is written in a powerful fourth generation programming language called Progress®. Fourth generation programming languages (4GL’s) have many benefits to both programmers and end users. However, in order for any program written in a 4GL such as Progress to run (i.e., ServiceShop), a “Database” version of Progress must be installed on the hard drive together with ServiceShop in order for ServiceShop to run. This database is installed automatically by the ServiceShop installation routines.

Periodically a new version of the database is released with new features and capabilities. Progress developers (such as GenesisFour) take advantage of enhancements to the Progress development language to make their product (such as ServiceShop) do new things that could not have been done using earlier versions of Progress (all to the benefit of the end-user).

The new version of ServiceShop is being developed on a new version of Progress. Within the near future GenesisFour Corporation will be running with Progress’s latest database, OpenEdge 10.1b. We will start by upgrading your database to Version 9.1e and installing a new version of ServiceShop. While there is a cost to you for the new database, ServiceShop will be upgraded at no charge to all supported customer.

4GL publishers such as Progress offer a Software Maintenance Agreement program for end users, (just as GenesisFour does). The Progress Software Maintenance Agreement offers you access to upgrades for no charge (whereas, if you were unsupported by Progress, you would have to repurchase the Progress database every time you needed a new version.

But unlike support provided by GenesisFour, Progress does not offer direct support to database licensees. Therefore, the main benefit to Progress Maintenance is the cost savings at the time when an upgrade is required by a new ServiceShop release.

Note: Progress Results® (a report generator), together with Progress Maintenance for that product, is no longer a product within Progress Version 9.1e and, as such, must be purchased separately. Any customers currently using Progress Results for custom reporting should do one of two things. Purchase Progress Results and Maintenance or request an enhancement of ServiceShop to include your report.