No large up-front investment:  MvCaTs can "reengineer" one screen at a time and attach it to your existing character-based menu.  This method makes it MUCH easier on your budget.  And we can usually produce one or more screens per week so there won't be any "jet lag" while awaiting "the big reveal".

No data conversion required:   There is no need to "normalize" your powerful three-tiered data files to accommodate a conversion to Windows.  AccuTerm GUI easily deals with your multivalued data.  This fact alone will save you a great deal of cash.

No costly retraining needed:    The learning curve for AccuTerm GUI is virtually nil.  Any User who has worked with a Windows application will be able to navigate an AccuTerm GUI screen with ease.  And MvCaTs Version Control enables User Preference.  Individual users can decide whether to run the OSV (Original Screen Version), the reengineered CBI (Character Based Interface) version, or the GUI (Graphical User Interface) version based on a control flag.  Both the CBI and GUI versions will have a layout very similar to the OSV.  A simple generic Application Name will be attached to the character-based menu.  When a user chooses that menu selection, Version Control checks User Preference then runs the preferred screen.  And with Version Control, we can reverse the rollout of a new screen version in a matter of seconds if something unforeseen occurs that would require the new version to revert to development.

Get the best of both worlds:       Programmers write AccuTerm GUI code in 100% MultiValue Basic, but the screens run in Visual Basic and C.  They have the complete "look and feel" of Windows applications.  MvCaTs takes existing character-based screen code and "reengineers" it to share most of the code with the GUI side by parsing into "GUI-friendly" subroutines for validation, data retrieval, file updating, etc.  These subs are also called by the event-driven GUI side to "do just one thing" based on the object the user clicked.  Changes to source code in the CBI subs are automatically reflected on the GUI side, reducing maintenance cost and time.  And changes to the online help for CBI prompts are automatically reflected in the GUI help hint balloons.  How cool is that!

Keep data entry staff happy:    Personnel who are accustomed to rapid data entry via "green screen" tend to be resistant to the thought of a GUI upgrade.  So they should be quite pleased to learn that after MvCaTs reengineers a screen, they can choose to run the CBI version instead of GUI if desired.  The CBI version, which shares its subroutines with GUI, will look the same as the OSV (but will have a screen border to act as a "container").  It will perform the same and use the same commands as the OSV.  But as an added bonus, we can attach our Ticker Tape Text Editor to any non-GUI prompt.

Get two for the price of one:     Our CBI & GUI entry screens are written to include an INQUIRY flag so that one screen can handle both Maintenance and Inquiry.  Simply by passing a special flag from a menu and placing a few "hooks" in the code, a Maintenance screen can do "double duty" as an Inquiry screen.  Then both stay "in sync".  This feature alone can add up to significant savings, not only during initial development but also later, when upgrades are requested.

Screen Print capability:             Where applicable, we automatically include a Screen Print command button on GUI screens & menus to provide a convenient "snapshot".  The OSV and CBI versions already have this capability by clicking the "Print screen" icon in the AccuTerm window toolbar.  But when a GUI screen is run, the AccuTerm window itself is minimized so the "Print screen" icon is not available during a GUI session.  We thought it would be nice to have this feature on the GUI side as well.  As an added bonus, this feature allows the user to select a printer rather than automatically "dumping" to the user's default printer.

Web Browser Secure Access:   AccuTerm's Internet Edition provides secure access to your character-based applications by clicking a link on the web browser.  So if you have been looking for a way to let your customers place their own orders online, look no further.  Click here to learn more.

Facelift -vs- Funeral:                Over the years, we've all heard the now well-documented horror stories of companies such as PG&E, GM, Ford Motor Credit, Reynolds & Reynolds, and recently, the 23 store jewelry chain Shane Co., who tried, at great cost and often unsuccessfully, to leave PICK in order to "go GUI".  But why throw out the baby with the bath water when we can breathe new life into your old code?  Then you can retain both the Legacy code and database you already have so much invested in and that have run your business reliably for so many years.  Perhaps all you need is a system upgrade to make you fall in love with PICK or RPL all over again.  If so, we can help you find the right system to suit your needs and budget.