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Why Convert to SQL based (Justice) Systems

Here are some good questions from users that I think are of interest to everyone:

QUESTION: Why was Justice developed?

ANSWER: Because Access database table structures are proving to be very sensitive to different networks. Their instance of corruption is very high and nothing can be done about it. This gives users a lot of aggravation. Access tables require a heavy amount of data to be passed across a network every time a user requests information from a database. In contrast SQL tables, in actual tests, have proven to reduce network loading by a factor of one hundred. In other words, accessing and manipulating data in an Access table requires 100 times more network traffic than for the same kind of data manipulation when utilizing a SQL table. Because of the high network demands, Access has also proven to be unusable for RF or CDPD connections to mobile computers.

Another reason is that SQL table structures provide for higher levels of security and are designed to be "Industrial Strength" from the ground up, according to Microsoft. Larger departments have been pushing hard for SQL for a long time to have better connectivity with other city departments, it's the wave of the future.

QUESTION: How long can I expect the Justice system to serve my department?

ANSWER: The industry is fast going towards SQL, and away from Access for application programs of any size. Justice should last your department for 5-10 years (can't promise that of course), only wish SQL was available a couple of years ago. Future upgrades and enhancements to Justice will be free and are available to users from our web site for departments with maintenance contracts. This is a major change, but current users will be right at home. Justice is now a standardized nationwide system, no more agency by agency change this and change that. This has greatly improved performance, features, and reliability. I wish we could change our current users over at no cost, but it's just not possible because of the trendous investment we had to put forth to make this all possible.

QUESTION: How will Justice work with portable computers?

ANSWER: Because Justice is based completely on SQL, almost anything is possible. The wireless industry is rapidly changing and technology seems to evolve faster and faster. I suggest going to one of AT&T's web sites, search for "AT&T" for general information.

QUESTION: Is there any information on the fact that Microsoft won't fix these Access tables that I can print out, such as on the internet or any mailings, etc? Records people are asking me if we are sure it is a glitch that Microsoft is responsible for or if it could be something in our system that is not working with Access.

ANSWER: That's a fair question. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't recognize it officially as a "problem" because they say we are just trying to do to much with the Access tables or that there is a network problem. I basically agree, everything works fine for a few days and then all of a sudden the table is corrupted. Why? The code didn't change and different users experience different kinds of problems in different areas of the system. That makes a virtually impossible situation to code around. If the system will do something consistently, it can be controlled by coding. This is one of those types of problems that you just can't pin down, and Microsoft is of little help. They say it's our problem, and the answer is just to go to a stronger database, SQL. Easier said than done, and now they tell us, after a lot of people put faith in Access. Initially they said it was the up and coming thing, now they are not pushing it like they once did. They just might know something they are not telling us.

I think Microsoft got a lot of people to use Access initially to buy time to finish developing SQL. Just my opinion, of course, they are not going to admit to it. SQL has only really been available for full scale development the last few years. There are a lot of developers changing over to SQL. Would have been nice to have had SQL available initially when we started developing our Access based systems. As it was we used the best that was available at the time.

If I find something in print that documents Access problems, I'll let everyone know, When you are a big company you can get away with a lot. That's part of why Bill Gates has his lawyer's talking to Congress regularly.


QUESTION: Can't you just code around these problems?

ANSWER: The big problem for CMI with Access table structures is that the same code works differently at different departments. When something works day in and day and then all at once comes up with all kinds of strange messages, what changed? The code didn't! Different networks react differently and there is no one answer. Code won't fix that kind of a situation. If it would, we would have solved this issue a long time ago.

Using Access has been kind of like building a house in the sand, it's always something different, a shifting foundation that we can't control. It's been a nightmare for everyone in a way, that's the reason we are doing anything and everything we can to help get departments converted over to SQL. I have 3 years of programmer time invested in Justice and several thousands of dollars in training money (for example, $7,000 for just one of the courses) spent to make the new Justice system a reality. I wish I could convert everyone for nothing, but then we wouldn't exist. People don't realize the real costs involved.

As a result of all this, we now have a much better product, but the pressure has been intense and people will always question what happened. I'm not blameless, because I made the decision to use Access in the first place, but when the going got rough we didn't quit, and everyone will be better off because of that in the long run. On that we face tomorrow and hold our heads high. A lot of people have worked very hard at CMI to make this change over, I'm proud of every one.

QUESTION: Is there really a big difference between Access and SQL?

ANSWER: There are many reasons your department needs to go to SQL Justice. A big reason is that Access databases are proving to be easily corruptible, which you no doubt have experienced. Talk to anyone that knows computers and just ask them the difference between Access and SQL table structures. Network loading when using SQL (Justice) is literally 100 times less (by actual tests using our systems), compared to our previous Access based systems. There are numerous features available in Justice, because its based on SQL, that were not possible using Access. For example, Access does not have transaction logs that can roll back a transaction if its not completed properly, for whatever the reason, SQL does. Also, portable wireless mobile terminals are only possible in the SQL environment, because of the network loading required by Access.

Tom Muschamp