It is with mixed emotions that I make the announcement that the last transaction in HR-1 here at Dell took place today. Of course I could have said the same thing a couple years ago when we went live with SAP (while keeping HR-1 live), but it seems a bit more likely this time around. Unfortunately for SAP, after a few days, the winner of the race was HR-1, and SAP was decommissioned. Then began the process of finding an alternative replacement for HR-1, one which satisfied the goals of the user community. By this time, HR-1 had, undeservedly, I think, received a tarnished reputation. Many were eager to replace HR-1, but none could agree on a good candidate. After much discussion and "backing and forthing" as I like to call it, a product called Seeker was chosen. Thus began the monumental task of normalizing all the HR-1 data.

Two years later, we have finally arrived at the brink of achieving the goal. Phase I of Seeker has been in production for some time now, surviving as a parasite on HR-1, receiving a full dump of data nightly. Open Insight became the go-between, normalizing the HR-1 data into Oracle tables. Data changes were effected in HR-1. Interfaces to myriad other systems, internal and external, remained in HR-1.

Now, as we face a final deadline of 11/15, I and my colleagues face headlong the task of last minute modifications and testing of these very interfaces, like Don Quixote attacking the wind mills. The task is certainly daunting, and if I had anything to say about it we would not proceed. However, I am but a pawn in this game, which proceeds relentlessly to its goal, squeezing deftly between time pressures of requirements gathering and testing on the one hand, and Y2K on the other.

Let me hasten to interject that HR-1 went through a thorough round of testing for Y2K testing and even survived an audit, the luck of the draw, with flying colors. We went through the certification because we knew there was a chance HR-1 would have to (get to?) serve us through Y2K.

At 8PM Central, I completed the final download of data files from HR-1 to Seeker. This closes for me a long chapter in my career. The door is not completely closed yet, but once closed will spell my scarcity on this forum. I will always look back on my time with Arev and with you all here in this forum with fondness.

I bid you all fare well, and I mean that in every sense of the term. Those that wish to keep in touch may wish to note my email address, lights@onr.com

P.S. I will post a followup after the door is firmly closed (on the 15th) or re-opened.

Victor Engel

Victor,

Your postingsin these forums, and in Compuserve before here, demonstrates your willingness to assist. You have been generous with your expertise, to the benefit of dozens of other developers. Your contribution will be greatly missed.

Good luck!

Steve

Ive always seen you as an integral part of the Revelation Forum from Compuserve and beyond. Thanks for being part of it.

All the Best

Claude

Victor:

As I've followed your endeavor over the past year I must agree with everyone that your input will be missed. Have fun focusing on a new future!

Bryan

Victor ..

You will be sorely missed. You have always been a breath of fresh air and a fountain of good info. Good luck and pop back in now and then.

Don Miller

C3 Inc.

I came to the ARev part of this discussion late in the game.

All I can say is that I soon learned that Victor's answers were always valuable - ANYTIME I saw a response by Victor, I looked at it even if it did not apply to me or my clients at the time. THANK YOU.

Yoy will be missed. Jim Eagan

The door is open again. I can't say I'm surprised. We are still going forward with a Seeker implementation in the near term, but HR-1 has been reactivated. The new date has not been announced. It may be just a few days or a few weeks. Meanwhile, I'll lurk here as long as it's up.

I'm sure I speak for the rest when I say that we're grateful for as long as the door is open.

Now a question from ignorance: Is your only exposure to AREV through your employer? Will you not use AREV for any personal or side business purposes? It seems such a waste to see one of the stalwarts disappear like this.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions

The King is dead! Long live the King.

Give me ARev or give me death!

Welcome back Victor. Funny how people always try to convert and move to the latest and greatest but sooner or later come back to something that actually works.

akaplan@sprezzatura.com

Sprezzatura Group

Does this mean you have to return all the going away presents?

I may use it down the road, but there currently are no plans. One of my weaknesses in the past is my narrow area of expertise. I will use this as an opportunity to broaden my skills. After I am satisfied with that, I may dabble back into Arev, but I don't want to be distracted to much from honing my new skills.

No. I'm just not opening them yet .

Today is the first day of running in a live environment with Seeker and HR-1 decommissioned. Not only that, the HR-1 Demise cake invitation has been sent out. HR-1 will continue to be available for historical purposes. Along those lines, what kind of testing has been done with Windows 2000? We plan to be going live with Windows 2000 next month, and I need to know whether to specify that a legacy system be left in order to access HR-1.

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