mrc Press Release

m-Power delivers unmatched results at modernization competition

November 2011 Lombard, IL - By the time the dust settled at the modernization "Code Shoot-Out" competition, software tool developer michaels, ross & cole, ltd. (mrc) had done the impossible: Using m-Power, one mrc developer had proved that complete architecture replacement could be faster than screen-scraping.

At the recent CommonGB conference, mrc participated in a 24-hour modernization "Code Shoot-Out" competition. The rules were simple: Each participating vendor received the same green-screen application on day one, and were given exactly 24 hours to modernize the application.

While each vendor could choose their own modernization approach, the choice usually boils down to one of two options: Screen-scrape or replace the underlying architecture. Screen-scraping creates a modern-looking interface on top of the legacy app, and is generally believed to be the fastest approach. While replacing the underlying architecture is widely considered to be the most complete modernization option, it's notoriously time-consuming and difficult.

Given the short timeframe, most vendors opted for the fast, screen-scraping approach. The mrc developer chose to completely modernize the green-screen application with m-Power, from the interface down to the underlying architecture. While this method is significantly more complex than screen-scraping, mrc's developer still managed to:

• Completely modernize the application's outdated architecture, replacing it with n-Tier Java servlets,
• Complete a larger percentage of the original app in the provided timeframe than any of the other competitors,
• Enhance the original application with:
  • A mobile version of the app,
  • A web pivot table,
  • A web ranking report,
  • An extranet with advanced, user-based security,
  • A fully-featured intranet.

Despite choosing the more complex modernization approach, m-Power's total results (listed above) were unmatched by any of the other vendors. In doing so, mrc demonstrated that the notoriously difficult and time-consuming modernization approach (replacing the underlying architecture) could be accomplished faster than the "fast" approach (screen-scraping).

"mrc's tool [m-Power] goes beyond simple application modernisation," says Steve Bradshaw, Managing Director of Rowton IT Solutions Ltd., and moderator of the Code Shoot-Out. "It allows the user to take their existing application, add function, business logic and integration with other systems, then present the unified result in a single graphical interface. The results were excellent."

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For additional information about mrc or m-Power, visit www.mrc-productivity.com. Contact mrc via phone at 630.916.0662; via fax at 630.916.0663; via e-mail at mrc@mrc-productivity.com

About mrc

mrc's development tool, m-Power, is used to create business applications and can run on any platform that supports Java (e.g. OS/400, Linux, Unix, and Windows). Applications access DB2/400, Oracle, MySQL and MSSQL, or any combination thereof. Using these development tools, users create an endless variety of Java-based business applications from simple queries to reports, to complex custom enterprise systems and dashboards.

mrc was a recipient of the Apex Award for application development, is a long-time IBM Business Partner, and has been producing award-winning development software since 1981.

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