For Unix/Mac OS X, probably a single cron job that runs every few minutes that calls a script to see if anything needs to be run. On Windows, probably the same thing, just with the built in scheduler task.
Shawn, Will WebAuthorize work with the new version? (BTW: I got it working after much playing.) Randy
I agree with the PHP/mySQL option. Filemaker has just not kept up with the times. The decisions with OG have always come down to it's failings in the area of web interface. I've talked with many peer companies who have chosen other options because of this weakness. Being web enabled is so critical these days.
Sounds as though PHP/MySQL is going to be the future for OptiGold. Which I would support much as though I like FileMaker. If this is the case it would be good to understand, roughly (talking 3, 6 or 12 months), before we see the new version?
I've been hoping to get an odbc interface going, but this would be even better! Can we have it yesterday? ;-)
Shawn, First of all, how's it going? Been a long time..was good to finally meet you at WISPCon, hope you got some new customers there, I pushed Optigold the entire time I was there. (never got my commision check though?!?!). Anyway, my vote is for PHP/MySql. It's just much more mainstream now and would make integration with our setup much tighter and would mean I would have one less server to worry about here. My problem now is that we are merging with one of our competitors who uses Freeside. They are impressed with the feature set of Optigold but are much to use to having access to the source and have invested heavily in time with customizing the interface. Their interest in Optigold certainly perked up once I informed them you were considering moving to PHP/MySql though. Do you still not have a rough time frame in mind on the port? With the feature set that Optigold has now, I can imagine this would be a MAJOR undertaking and it's obviously going to take time. We have been an Optigold shop since almost day one..not sure how far back we go, but it has to be since 96 or 97? Would you be intersted in integrating some CLEC provisionioning systems? I think if you could work with us on integrating some of the features we could use as a CLEC I could convince them to stick with Optigold. Could be a chance for you to expand your market. On another note, if it doesn't go my way, is our Optigold License transferable? Pete Starnes President NEATO
My vote is for Mono/MySQL. It's opensource, compiled, flexible and will give you the ability to have both a web interface and a client runtime version. Scott
Well, Mono is nowhere near ready to be used for any sort of webdevelopment project. In fact portable net does a far better job running apps for me, especially with a GUI. Mod_Mono and the xsp server for asp.net are pretty pathetic (although the developers have admitted this, and are trying to come up with a better way), php is a much nicer choice at this time.
Hi Shawn, any idea on when the software would be released by date (expected). My optigold web currently is falling over very badly. regards zack
Well, if there isn't a time frame how can we (your customers) make a determination to stay or not based on vaporware? As you can see by the responses to this thread, this topic is very near and dear to our hearts... as it more or less runs our business. Thanks!
You would not be able to make a determination based on a projected release date (since there is not one).
I understand that. Let me remind everyone, that we have used OG for years, we really like it. It is a very good system. It has a lot of features and can do a lot of things, however, for years we have heard that "it is not possible, but might be when FMP 7.0 comes out". So this brings up a few questions about where we as a company want to go with our business. 1) How real is the 'possibility' of going to a more open system such as PHP/mySQL? 2) Are any of the features of FMP 7.0 going to be made available so that we might have better functionally that we are looking for in a system that is going to take us to the next level? (more open ODBC connectivity, more ability to refine reports) 3) Is OptiGold dead? Other than tweaks and minor changes, what new feature has OG offered lately... I am positive I am not alone when I say, we as a client, would be willing to pay for a major upgrade in a billing / provisioning / ticket system that will allow us to compete in todays market. As of right now, OptiGold is not that product. Thanks!
It's not a possibility, it's already happening. While there is not going to be a specific target date (doing that might lead to rushing it out the door just to meet a specific date), there will be live demos of the system at various points (some people saw where it was at over the summer for example). Optigold is not going to be rewritten for FileMaker 7, but the things you talk about will be available in the PHP version. The more "open" it can be made, the less work it ultimately is on our end. For example, there will be pre-defined credit card processors, reports, invoice formats, etc. But they are defined within a PHP file (which ultimately is a class). If you want to add another one, it's a matter of dropping a new module (really just a PHP file) in the proper directory. Originally it was planned to move to FileMaker 7. And ironically the fact that FileMaker 7 is so good is one of the reasons we are moving off it. Because in order to actually take advantage of it properly, it would require a complete rewrite from the ground-up (sure, you can convert the files, but that doesn't make it use anything new in FileMaker 7). So no matter what direction it was going to take, in order to do it "right", it would require a complete rewrite. Once that was established, it seemed like the logical time to evaluate if there was a better platform to do it on. The FileMaker based version of Optigold is not going to be receiving any "major" new features. Basically just minor features/fixes. Optigold development time is primarily being spent on the rewrite. So Optigold (the product line) isn't dead, but the FileMaker based version is just in maintenance mode at this point.
Awesome... I have a list of items I will post in "Feature Requests". Is there a beta testers group for the new version? If so please sign us up.. we will do whatever you need us to do in order to make the next version even better. Thanks Shawn...
I guess I am one of the very few people who is quite unhappy with this decision. I do understand but this will get rid of exactly the reason why I chose Optigold a few years ago. A Filemaker developer myself, I have played with several systems and have always come back to Filemaker for ease of use (and this, despite its sometimes glaring and obvious faults)...now, with Filemaker 7 having a true database engine for, in my eyes, the first time, I find it a great pity to see Optigold leave it. Pity. cheers eve (who joined the forum just to to be able to say my piece )