Increase SBT Pro 5.0i user limit

[TecsolAus]

Hi, I'm very glad to find this forum!

We have been running various versions of SBT "for ever". (Remember dBase 2.4?) The current version is 5.0i, which was supplied as a replacement to a botched locally customised version in 1997 I think. (We're in Melbourne, Australia) We originally purchased the full source code, but the 5.0i version appears to be compiled only. (Any suggestion how to tell, there are lots of .prg files in the directory?)

The compliled version is limited to 5 users. How can we increase this? I understand SBT (and certainly the local reseller) no longer exists, so it's hard to buy a licence upgrade... How do owners of this software legitimally upgrade the licence these days?

We'll have to migrate to another system one day, but so far 5.0i is still doing its job, we can access the raw data for custom projects, and we've learnt enough about it to repair issues when they arise!

Any advice appreciated.

 

[mlefkowitz]

Until March 31, 2014 you can, with a bit of effort, upgrade to Sage Pro 2011, the current and final version of the Pro Series product line. After that, you are out of luck. SBT Pro 5.0 is vintage 1997-2000.

As for the source code question, yes, look for PRG files in the root and program sub-folders (GL, SM, AP, AR, IC, SO and PO, typically). If none, you probably have the compiled-only version.

Advantages up upgrading: You get to keep all of your data. Everything will convert with a bit of expert effort.

You get to keep all of your features. All features found in Pro 5.0 are in Pro 2011 (plus many, many new ones).

Flat learning curve for your users. Pro 2011 will be familiar to Pro 5.0 users.

Disadvantages: This is the final version of Pro. But you got 15 years out of the last version so maybe staying up to date is not so important to you.

You will get no support from Sage after March 31, 2014. But you got no support from Sage before today other than the promise of an upgrade. So maybe this is not so important as well.

Anyway, this is what I am advising my clients.

Matthew Lefkowitz
Lefkowitz Systems, Inc.

http://www.lefkowitzsys.com

 

[TecsolAus]

Thanks for the information Matthew.

Do you know the cost and procedure to do the upgrade? I'm also wondering about making a big change to OfBiz, but scared of the changes involved! I do want to keep using a common database format for the files.

This is a list of the source files from the SM directory:
Directory of T:\SM
G_FILTER.PRG SM.PRG SMBCAL.PRG SMCONV.PRG SMCS63.PRG
SMCV25.PRG SMCVPR.PRG SMFAPP.PRG SMFBRW.PRG SMFCOM.PRG
SMFDAT.PRG SMFDTY.PRG SMFFIS.PRG SMFINS.PRG SMFLOC.PRG
SMFPRO.PRG SMFRUL.PRG SMFTAB.PRG SMFUPR.PRG SMFUSE.PRG
SMFWKS.PRG SMFXLS.PRG SMIMEX.PRG SMPCLS.PRG SMREPT.PRG
SMSRES.PRG SMTCLB.PRG SMTCLF.PRG SMTCLR.PRG SMTCLS.PRG
SMTCLT.PRG SMTCLU.PRG SMTPAL.PRG SMTPER.PRG SMTPIN.PRG
SMTPME.PRG SMTPUL.PRG SMTPXG.PRG SMTPXL.PRG SMTRNX.PRG
SMTSNX.PRG SMTUGL.PRG SMTUPD.PRG SMTVDR.PRG SMTVER.PRG
SMTXUP.PRG SMXAPP.PRG SMXPMN.PRG SYABUT.PRG SYBUST.PRG
SYCADR.PRG SYCHST.PRG SYCINQ.PRG SYCLDG.PRG SYCUSR.PRG
SYCUST.PRG SYDFBW.PRG SYECFG.PRG SYEDBG.PRG SYELBL.PRG
SYFORM.PRG SYGRPH.PRG SYHDFT.PRG SYIHST.PRG SYITEM.PRG
SYLABL.PRG SYLKGL.PRG SYMEDT.PRG SYPOLL.PRG SYRLIB.PRG
SYRSET.PRG SYSCOM.PRG SYSCSP.PRG SYTKMN.PRG SYTXCR.PRG
SYTXRT.PRG SYTXTB.PRG SYVALR.PRG SYVALX.PRG SYVEND.PRG
SYVENR.PRG SYVHST.PRG SYVINQ.PRG SYWCOM.PRG
84 File(s) 5,953,365 bytes
0 Dir(s) 553,963,175,936 bytes free
As we have all the source files, and in theory an unlimited license, is it possible to change the user number setting? This would keep us going for another decade or so! I have Foxpro5, and have compiled some add-ons of our own.

Cheers, James

 

[mlefkowitz]

Looks like do have a source code license. But if it is showing 5 users, then that is all you have. SBT stopped selling unlimited user license with Pro 3.0.

To verify your user count, click the third button from the left on the button bar ("Technical Information"). In the pop-up window, you will see a "User Licenses" number. Is it 5? If so, that is what you have.

How many do you need now, and in the expected future?

As for cost, it is a function of modules and users. Which modules do you have and, of those, which do you want to keep?

Of your presumed 5 users, how many do you want to upgrade? All? Do you want to add more? How many?

There are new modules to consider as well. MessageMaster for email, RMA for returns, Product Accounting, Job Cost, three separate manufacturing modules a couple of smaller modules.

In short, there is a lot to consider before a reseller can provide a firm quote.

Matthew Lefkowitz
Lefkowitz Systems, Inc.

http://www.lefkowitzsys.com

 

[TecsolAus]

Thanks for the quick reply.
Yes, the Technical Information box says 5 users. I always understood that we had unlimited users when we bought the source code for 5.0i. We're a small business, and most of the time 5 users is OK, but every now and then we need another user or two. To 'future proof' for the life of this software I'd like a max of 10. I have just got the SBT client working on a Win8 machine.

If I was upgrading, we'd have to change the lot, so I'd be looking at 7 users.

We currently have AP, AR, GL, IC, PO, SO, SM. Job costing and manufacturing (Bill of materials) would be of interest.

cheers, James

 

[mlefkowitz]

I don't want to get expelled from tek-tips by soliciting your business.

Matthew Lefkowitz
Lefkowitz Systems, Inc.

http://www.lefkowitzsys.com

 

[TecsolAus]

I don't think the amount of advice and information you freely give constitutes soliciting!
Thanks for the background information.

 

[SBTBILL]

SBT has a user limit. VFP does not. As far as I know SBT keeps the user number in and FLL or other proprietary code that is hard to get at. In fact your original disk contains all the modules sold but the key only unlocks the ones you bought.