Business Computer Design, Int'l. Inc. (www.bcdsoftware.com) has unveiled a new general release of Catapult, version 7, following an extensive beta test cycle. Catapult, a PC and IBM i Client/Server application for automated document and report distribution, has been rewritten in a modern language. This has resulted in huge performance increases (15 times faster in most cases), a more modern and intuitive XP/Vista looking UI and it has strategically positioned itself for faster delivery of new features.
Catapult automatically distributes documents and reports (spool files or PC files) using distribution groups. It formats reports as PDF, RTF, HTML or as XLS spread sheets and the documents can be delivered via email, print, fax or archived to your network or to a secure web portal. Catapult saves you time, reduces your printing and mailing costs and improves customer services by delivering reports to your employees, clients and partners in the format they want.
Rewrite using Visual #C.NET increases performance
Catapult, originally written in Delphi in 1998, has been rewritten using Visual #C.NET, a widely used application development language. This has lead to staggering performance improvements. Catapult 7 processes files at a rate that's roughly 15 times faster than the previous release under real-world workloads ( see comparison graph ). Faster performance also reduces resource usage on the IBM i and the PC running the Catapult Poller which handles the report distribution.
Another reason for rewriting Catapult in a modern language was to take advantage of more modern controls and interfaces available in C# which for example improved the email process. Using a mainstream language that is widely used amongst the BCD development group for their other products makes it easier to transfer developer skill sets. All of this results in faster delivery of new features for Catapult customers.
Many new features were added to the redesigned Catapult Poller. There are now new scheduling options that give you more control over when the Catapult Poller runs. You can also now run multiple poller instances in completely separate environments that are independent from one another. More message handling was added to printing and faxing and valuable customer feedback helped improve printing PDFs.
More intuitive UI from complete redesign
At first glance, users will note that Catapult's GUI client, the Catapult console, has a modern Windows XP/Vista look and feel. This is because it has also been rewritten in Visual #C.NET. Catapult's main console window, as well as its configuration, spool file selection and viewing windows are now more intuitive and easier to use. Docking windows are now used for secondary windows such as the pending request and errors, the poller status and the history log making it much easier to see key components of Catapult all at the same time.
The Grab Rule Editor has also been redesigned to improve the process flow when creating new distribution rules, and to establish clearer links between related functions. Grab Rules are user settings that specify which spool files to download, how they will be distributed, and in what file format they will be distributed. In this release, the key steps are better organized and it is easier to navigate the many options that Catapult supports.
Availability
The full version of Catapult is available for free trials and can be downloaded at http://www.bcdsoftware.com/downloads/downloads.php. For more information on Catapult 7, please call BCD at (630) 986-0800, or forward your request via e-mail to
Catapult users enjoy a low cost of ownership. License fees range from $4,250 to $10,500 based on model and processor. Catapult delivers tremendous value as a stand-alone solution however it can also be tightly integrated with other BCD offerings, including Nexus Portal, EZ-Pickin's, Spool-Explorer, WebSmart, and ProGen Plus.
About BCD
BCD has received close to 40 industry awards, including eight for Catapult, for software excellence. They have 30+ years of experience in the IBM midrange marketplace. Over 30,000 copies of its software products have been licensed worldwide by over 10,000 organizations. BCD is a member of IBM's System i ISV Advisory Council and is an IBM Advanced Business Partner. All of BCD's key solutions are included on IBM's System i Developer Roadmap and are IBM Server Proven.
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