Single-User, Multi-User or Enterprise — You Decide

All of ReliaSoft’s Synthesis desktop applications have been designed to be “connection aware” and adapt automatically to single-user, multi-user or enterprise configurations depending on what type of data repository you’re connected to. There’s only one version of each application to buy and install… then you can decide how you want to use it.

Better yet, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Take advantage of the simplicity of a single-user application when you’re working independently on a particular analysis, but share data and analysis results with colleagues when you connect with the enterprise repository… all using the same software tool!

Single-User

If you want the software to function as a single-user application, simply use the built-in functionality to create a standard database or Synthesis file and begin working on analyses just as you always have in prior versions. You can save the file wherever you wish, transfer it to your laptop, send it by e-mail, etc. But now you can:

• Save your analyses from all Synthesis applications together in the same data file. When you’re working on one type of analysis, you won’t be overwhelmed by the data stored for other applications… but that information will be available when you need it!

• Manage analysis projects more effectively. All of the Synthesis applications allow you to save more analysis projects together in the same file and provide built-in tools for managing data. So even if you’re still working on your own, it will be easier than ever to find and build upon lessons learned from prior work.

Now in Version 10, the new Synthesis file format (*.rsf10) emulates the file saving behavior of a document-centered application (such as Excel or ReliaSoft Version 7). These files are similar to standard databases except that they can only be used by one person at a time, and changes are not saved until you choose File > Save or Save As.

Multi-User with a Standard Repository

If you want the software to function as a multi-user application but you’re not ready to establish the IT infrastructure and support required for a more robust database platform, you can place any standard repository file in a network location that’s accessible by other users. With this configuration, you can:

• Assign different permissions per user and/or per analysis. For example, a particular user might have read/write access to all projects owned by her department, read-only access to projects owned by other departments, and no access at all to projects designated “confidential.”

• Use configurable categories to manage analysis projects. Authorized users can establish categories and sub-categories that are used to organize a large number of analysis projects stored together in the same shared repository.

(This approach is not recommended if you suspect your network connection and/or hardware may be unreliable, as it may result in database corruption. For more information, see http://www.ReliaSoft.com/support/rs40010.htm.)

Enterprise

When your organization is ready for a more robust platform that can store more analysis information in the same database and supports access by many more simultaneous users, then you may choose to establish a database server with Oracle® or Microsoft SQL Server®. (Of course, licensing, support and maintenance for these enterprise database platforms are not included with Synthesis.)

• Both the “express” (free) and standard versions of Oracle and SQL Server are supported. Once your organization has established a database server with Oracle or SQL Server, you can use an easy built-in utility to create a new Synthesis enterprise repository.
• Connection files make it easy for all system users to log in. Once the enterprise repository has been established, convenient connection files make it easy for authorized users to connect.