Monday, December 24, 2007
We completely redesigned the database; we wanted the capability to modify a person’s record, not a case.
Customer Success Stories Sr. Management Team Board of Directors Jobs Events Press Investor Relations Analyst Relations Worldwide Offices
Database Management Business Continuity Data Integration Analytics Data Warehousing Mobile Enterprise Modeling & Metadata Development Industry Solutions All Products A-Z Product Evaluations
Operator Services Brand and Content Services Enterprise Services Mobile Services A-Z
Consulting Managed Services Education Services
Support Technical Documents Product Manuals Newsgroups Solved Cases Case Management Downloads EBFs/Maintenance Product Download Center (SPDC)
eShop Partner Login eShop Try & Buy eShop Products A-Z Supported Countries Documentation Education
Sybase Business Intelligence Solutions - Database Management, Data Warehousing Software, Mobile Enterprise Applications and Messaging
About Sybase | Products | Mobile Services | Professional Services | Support & Downloads | Shop Online
Worldwide [change]
Argentina Asia Pacific Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Hong Kong Hungary India Italy Japan Korea Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Philippines Poland Portugal Russia Slovak Republic South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States
Contact Us | MySybase | Login | Shopping Cart - Buy Sybase Application Servers & Wireless Applications
view all search results
About Sybase
History
Employment
Job Opportunities
Benefits Summary
Value of Diversity/EEO
Rewards and Growth
University Relations
Supplier Diversity Program
Events
TechWave
Sybase Classic
Webcasts - Upcoming
Seminars
Webcasts - On Demand
Sr. Management Team
Board of Directors
Awards and Accolades
Press Center
Investor Relations
Industry Analyst
User Groups
Partners
CUSTOMERS expand
Customer Success Stories
Database Management
Business Continuity
Data Integration
Data Warehousing
Mobile Solutions
Modeling & Metadata
Development
Industry Solutions
Mobile Services
RFID Software
Customer Stories A-Z
Sybase Customer Success Brochures
Customer Reference Program
Customer Awards
CONTACTS expand
Contact Sales
Global Contacts
Sybase 365 Contacts
Expand All
About Sybase / Customer Success Stories / Success Stories / Texas Workforce Commission
email this
print this
Customer Success Story Gutter Spacer
Texas Workforce Commission
The Texas Workforce Commission, a state agency that oversees workforce development programs, needed to overhaul its popular client/server application to keep up with growth in size and functionality. Using Sybase® technology, it was able to re-architect and re-implement the application, reducing both the size and frequency of client releases.
Key Benefits
Bullet Graphic Reduces size of the client by more than 75 percent
Bullet Graphic Completed transition without added development costs
Bullet Graphic Decreases number of database connections with transaction pooling
Sybase Technology
Bullet Graphic Sybase Adaptive Server® Enterprise
Bullet Graphic Sybase EAServer
Bullet Graphic Sybase PowerBuilder®
Industry
Public Sector
The Evolution of a Successful Application
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the government agency overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers in Texas. To track benefit and retraining programs for unemployed workers and welfare recipients, TWC developed the TWIST application.
TWIST was originally developed as a two-tier client/server application with large Sybase PowerBuilder clients connecting directly to a Sybase database on the back-end. TWIST has been a successful application with a growing number of government users and nearly 2.5 million people entered in its database. However, the rules governing the services were somewhat fluid and sensitive to regulatory changes.
In many ways, TWIST became a victim of its own success. As more business rules were added to the client-side application, not only did it grow in both size and functionality, but it became increasingly sensitive to changes in the laws and procedures represented by the business rules. Eventually, the TWC was facing a situation where they had 10,000 users of a 45-megabyte client application needing a patch release every three to four weeks in addition to major quarterly releases. This frequent synchronization of 10,000 clients was bogging down the FTP site used to deliver the releases.
The short cycle of patch releases was sapping productivity; frustrated users were often running back versions of the software or spending far too much time getting the latest TWIST client to their desktop.
Sybase PowerBuilder to Sybase EAServer: A Natural Extension
To fix the client-side release issues while retaining TWIST’s core usability, TWC developed a multi-phase plan to move from a client/server version to a three-tier architecture built around an application server. TWC liked the Sybase PowerBuilder development environment and had a large library of existing Sybase PowerBuilder code. Their programming staff was comfortable and productive in Sybase PowerBuilder. Retooling their programming skills would have a negative effect on their ability to continue adding functionality to the system. Ideally, the selected application server would be able to leverage this existing investment in Sybase PowerBuilder talent and code.
After evaluating several application servers, TWC ultimately selected Sybase EAServer. Not only was Sybase EAServer a world-class application server capable of handling their current and future server needs, but Sybase EAServer had the additional, unique advantage of natively running Sybase PowerBuilder code.
Using Sybase EAServer to Thin the Client
Once the team got up to speed on Sybase EAServer, Sybase PowerBuilder non-visual objects (NVO) and three-tier architecture, they were ready to make some fundamental changes to the application, both in the database design and in the location of the business rules.
“TWIST was originally based on a case approach where caseworkers focused on state programs and everybody worked independently,” said Chris Bohne, a lead contractor at TWC, who worked on TWIST. “TWC decided they wanted to become more customer-centric, where a caseworker can view an entire customer’s history by just looking at the customer record. We completely redesigned the database; we wanted the capability to modify a person’s record, not a case.
Bohne added, “The original system was designed around old state employment programs which no longer existed. Over the years, new state programs were squeezed in by modifying the database a little bit here and there. For the newest release, we made the decision to align the database architecture with today’s business model. We also took all the business rules that were on the client, moved them into non-visual objects, and did everything we could to thin out the client.”
By moving the rules from the Sybase PowerBuilder client to Sybase EAServer, the team was able to trim the size of the client by more than 75 percent; from 45MB to 10MB. The reduction in the client size would dramatically lighten the load on the FTP site as new releases were downloaded. Even more importantly, the need to continually update the client with patch releases diminished because the business rules moved from the client to Sybase EAServer.
Injecting New Life Into a Successful Application
By employing Sybase EAServer, the TWIST application was able to make the transition from its original client/server architecture to a three-tier architecture with a redesigned database. Without incurring the expenses of retooling the development staff or purchasing entirely new development environments, the transition was accomplished through augmenting the programmers’ skill set and the existing code base. This approach revitalized a highly successful application by creating a new architecture that invites new users and easily supports additional functionality.
“We have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of EAServer on AIX,” Bohne said. “We throw more users on the boxes and EAServer handles it well. We don’t see a significant increase in the load as we add more users.”
“We have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of EAServer on AIX. We throw more users on the boxes and EAServer handles it well. We don’t see a significant increase in the load as we add more users.”
Chris Bohne, contractor, Texas Workforce Commission
© Copyright 2007, Sybase Inc. - v 4.16
Home | Sitemap | Help | Feedback | Contact Us | Jobs | Legal | Privacy | Code of Ethics
Database Management Business Continuity Data Integration Analytics Data Warehousing Mobile Enterprise Modeling & Metadata Development Industry Solutions All Products A-Z Product Evaluations
Operator Services Brand and Content Services Enterprise Services Mobile Services A-Z
Consulting Managed Services Education Services
Support Technical Documents Product Manuals Newsgroups Solved Cases Case Management Downloads EBFs/Maintenance Product Download Center (SPDC)
eShop Partner Login eShop Try & Buy eShop Products A-Z Supported Countries Documentation Education
Sybase Business Intelligence Solutions - Database Management, Data Warehousing Software, Mobile Enterprise Applications and Messaging
About Sybase | Products | Mobile Services | Professional Services | Support & Downloads | Shop Online
Worldwide [change]
Argentina Asia Pacific Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Hong Kong Hungary India Italy Japan Korea Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Philippines Poland Portugal Russia Slovak Republic South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States
Contact Us | MySybase | Login | Shopping Cart - Buy Sybase Application Servers & Wireless Applications
view all search results
About Sybase
History
Employment
Job Opportunities
Benefits Summary
Value of Diversity/EEO
Rewards and Growth
University Relations
Supplier Diversity Program
Events
TechWave
Sybase Classic
Webcasts - Upcoming
Seminars
Webcasts - On Demand
Sr. Management Team
Board of Directors
Awards and Accolades
Press Center
Investor Relations
Industry Analyst
User Groups
Partners
CUSTOMERS expand
Customer Success Stories
Database Management
Business Continuity
Data Integration
Data Warehousing
Mobile Solutions
Modeling & Metadata
Development
Industry Solutions
Mobile Services
RFID Software
Customer Stories A-Z
Sybase Customer Success Brochures
Customer Reference Program
Customer Awards
CONTACTS expand
Contact Sales
Global Contacts
Sybase 365 Contacts
Expand All
About Sybase / Customer Success Stories / Success Stories / Texas Workforce Commission
email this
print this
Customer Success Story Gutter Spacer
Texas Workforce Commission
The Texas Workforce Commission, a state agency that oversees workforce development programs, needed to overhaul its popular client/server application to keep up with growth in size and functionality. Using Sybase® technology, it was able to re-architect and re-implement the application, reducing both the size and frequency of client releases.
Key Benefits
Bullet Graphic Reduces size of the client by more than 75 percent
Bullet Graphic Completed transition without added development costs
Bullet Graphic Decreases number of database connections with transaction pooling
Sybase Technology
Bullet Graphic Sybase Adaptive Server® Enterprise
Bullet Graphic Sybase EAServer
Bullet Graphic Sybase PowerBuilder®
Industry
Public Sector
The Evolution of a Successful Application
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the government agency overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers in Texas. To track benefit and retraining programs for unemployed workers and welfare recipients, TWC developed the TWIST application.
TWIST was originally developed as a two-tier client/server application with large Sybase PowerBuilder clients connecting directly to a Sybase database on the back-end. TWIST has been a successful application with a growing number of government users and nearly 2.5 million people entered in its database. However, the rules governing the services were somewhat fluid and sensitive to regulatory changes.
In many ways, TWIST became a victim of its own success. As more business rules were added to the client-side application, not only did it grow in both size and functionality, but it became increasingly sensitive to changes in the laws and procedures represented by the business rules. Eventually, the TWC was facing a situation where they had 10,000 users of a 45-megabyte client application needing a patch release every three to four weeks in addition to major quarterly releases. This frequent synchronization of 10,000 clients was bogging down the FTP site used to deliver the releases.
The short cycle of patch releases was sapping productivity; frustrated users were often running back versions of the software or spending far too much time getting the latest TWIST client to their desktop.
Sybase PowerBuilder to Sybase EAServer: A Natural Extension
To fix the client-side release issues while retaining TWIST’s core usability, TWC developed a multi-phase plan to move from a client/server version to a three-tier architecture built around an application server. TWC liked the Sybase PowerBuilder development environment and had a large library of existing Sybase PowerBuilder code. Their programming staff was comfortable and productive in Sybase PowerBuilder. Retooling their programming skills would have a negative effect on their ability to continue adding functionality to the system. Ideally, the selected application server would be able to leverage this existing investment in Sybase PowerBuilder talent and code.
After evaluating several application servers, TWC ultimately selected Sybase EAServer. Not only was Sybase EAServer a world-class application server capable of handling their current and future server needs, but Sybase EAServer had the additional, unique advantage of natively running Sybase PowerBuilder code.
Using Sybase EAServer to Thin the Client
Once the team got up to speed on Sybase EAServer, Sybase PowerBuilder non-visual objects (NVO) and three-tier architecture, they were ready to make some fundamental changes to the application, both in the database design and in the location of the business rules.
“TWIST was originally based on a case approach where caseworkers focused on state programs and everybody worked independently,” said Chris Bohne, a lead contractor at TWC, who worked on TWIST. “TWC decided they wanted to become more customer-centric, where a caseworker can view an entire customer’s history by just looking at the customer record. We completely redesigned the database; we wanted the capability to modify a person’s record, not a case.
Bohne added, “The original system was designed around old state employment programs which no longer existed. Over the years, new state programs were squeezed in by modifying the database a little bit here and there. For the newest release, we made the decision to align the database architecture with today’s business model. We also took all the business rules that were on the client, moved them into non-visual objects, and did everything we could to thin out the client.”
By moving the rules from the Sybase PowerBuilder client to Sybase EAServer, the team was able to trim the size of the client by more than 75 percent; from 45MB to 10MB. The reduction in the client size would dramatically lighten the load on the FTP site as new releases were downloaded. Even more importantly, the need to continually update the client with patch releases diminished because the business rules moved from the client to Sybase EAServer.
Injecting New Life Into a Successful Application
By employing Sybase EAServer, the TWIST application was able to make the transition from its original client/server architecture to a three-tier architecture with a redesigned database. Without incurring the expenses of retooling the development staff or purchasing entirely new development environments, the transition was accomplished through augmenting the programmers’ skill set and the existing code base. This approach revitalized a highly successful application by creating a new architecture that invites new users and easily supports additional functionality.
“We have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of EAServer on AIX,” Bohne said. “We throw more users on the boxes and EAServer handles it well. We don’t see a significant increase in the load as we add more users.”
“We have been pleasantly surprised with the performance of EAServer on AIX. We throw more users on the boxes and EAServer handles it well. We don’t see a significant increase in the load as we add more users.”
Chris Bohne, contractor, Texas Workforce Commission
© Copyright 2007, Sybase Inc. - v 4.16
Home | Sitemap | Help | Feedback | Contact Us | Jobs | Legal | Privacy | Code of Ethics
Labels: Conjunction Junction whats ur function?, Frauds, Liars, Mary Cano, modified or erased, OZ, TWC, TWIST, Twister, Watch this disappear
