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DEG software was founded by Peter Ladstätter and is based in Innsbruck, Austria. Work began on the DEG system in 1996; the first version was created in Lotus Approach 96! Since then, much development has taken place. During the last two years the system has been updated to the latest Approach version and been undergoing a testing programme at over twenty sites. The final version was released in August 2001.

The complete DEG system comprises twenty Approach modules and over fifty databases. Most of the development had been completed when Peter Ladstätter asked Northwind to assist with a number of technical issues before the application could be released.

We were asked to help in several areas:

• user environment and security.
• e-mail integration.
• code performance and reliability.
• packaging and distribution of the application.

We made extensive use of LotusScript and the Windows API (Application Programmers Interface) to provide functionality that is missing from the Approach design environment. This included:

• Detecting and setting the screen resolution.
• Modifying the Windows System menu.
• Determining local system settings such as the date format.
• Finding the location of executable and other files on the local system.
• Running external applications and pausing the Approach thread until they have completed.

The DEG system has a backup utility written in Approach. The original version ran a zip utility as an external program to perform the archiving but this method was not sufficiently robust and the zip utility didn't have a redistribution licence. Our solution used the DBFPack ActiveX DLL to compress the databases and a third-party ActiveX control to create a zip archive. By placing these operations within the Approach procedure, successful execution could be verified at each stage of the process. 

Early DEG versions used dBase passwords to protect sensitive files such as the user account database containing logon passwords. However, it was necessary to remove dBase security when, for performance reasons, some macro procedures were converted to LotusScript and dynamic SQL. Northwind developed the algorithms and encryption/decryption layer in LotusScript so that passwords are stored in the database in encrypted format.

Other solutions required the creation of add-in modules in the form of LotusScript classes or ActiveX DLL's. For example, DEG includes a module which allows creation and bulk-mailing of promotional material to the customer database. Northwind wrote a LotusScript class, named OLMsg, to automate Microsoft Outlook and provide the Approach module with e-mail capability. Over the year that followed there were several enhancements to OLMsg until it outgrew LotusScript and eventually became the OLServices ActiveX DLL.

We wrote an ActiveX DLL to enable the default printer to be changed when the DEG system loaded. It became the starting point for PDXPro, our advanced printer management library.

We provided a complete solution to the packaging and distribution of the DEG system by creating an installation program in standard Windows format, suitable for CD-ROM or internet download. The package is security protected and performs custom functions such as detecting the version of Approach and installing the appropriate Lotus Service Pack where necessary.

In addition to providing ready made solutions, Northwind transferred knowledge and source code, enabling DEG to take these technologies forward into future releases of the DEG system.

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