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More Data With a Better Pipe
Knorr Associates rewrites its
data-management app with .NET technology
to satisfy current customers—and attract
new ones.
by Edmund X. DeJesus
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Executive Summary
Company
Knorr Associates, creator of DataPipe software for acquiring and managing environment, health, and safety data.
Project
Rewrite DataPipe to handle a variety of third-party customer databases, support global non-English-speaking users, and provide a more universal interface.
Legacy
Windows version of DataPipe.
Solution
Use .NET tools and technologies to interface with databases, provide Unicode support, and create Web-based user interface.
Tools
• Visual Studio .NET (VS.NET)
• Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET)
• Visio Enterprise Edition
• ASP.NET
• COM+
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• Internet Explorer
Challenges
• Access incompatible databases, such as Oracle and IBM DB2.
• Support multiple languages.
• Hybrid thin-to-thick client for rich user interface. |
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The old rule of thumb says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." It's an especially good rule in computer development— and engineering in general—because it keeps you from making unnecessary updates to products that already work fine. The trick is to know when to ignore the rule. For example, if keeping a product unchanged costs you customers—or prevents you from gaining new ones—that's a hint that it's time for an update.
One such product is DataPipe from Knorr Associates Inc. (Butler, N.J.). Knorr, a company that acquires and manages environment, health, and safety (EHS) data for organizations, launched their product in 1979 as a Unix app, which later ran on the first PCs to collect and use data. This base product grew to include over a hundred modules to handle many aspects of EHS data collection, including waste, storage, recycling, medical tests, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.
As you can imagine, a Unix app running on PCs was a tough sell, so in the mid-1980s Knorr took a gamble and created a version for the recently released Microsoft Windows platform. This new model—a complete rewrite from the ground up—took advantage of the modular architecture and graphical user interface (GUI) Windows offered. That's how DataPipe was born, and its Windows incarnation has served Knorr well for over a decade.
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| Peter Singer, vice president of product development (left) and Norman Dotti, president of Knorr Associates, decided to improve access for global customers and enhance database connectivity by updating its DataPipe application using .NET technologies. |
With a winner like DataPipe, why change it? It's those customers: They always demand improvements to the products they use. For example, Knorr's customers wanted access to a variety of databases, such as Oracle, DB2, SAP, and PeopleSoft. Hospitals, factories, and other organizations with EHS systems to maintain often work with a multitude of databases, all handling separate pieces of the total picture. One reason for overhauling DataPipe was to acquire input from all those data stores and assemble it into a coherent whole.
In addition, Knorr began to serve a more global customer base. Organizations—including those either based in non-English-speaking countries or based in the U.S. but with global offices—needed their non-English-speaking users to use the same modules as their U.S. counterparts. The new DataPipe had to handle many languages—and multiple language character sets—to meet the needs of these global customers.
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