Future Developments

R5 Sovereign LAW is an upgrade which moves the existing product from proprietary Sage technology to a Microsoft based system, whilst at the same time extending the range of Sage accounting products with which it will integrate – thereby offering the best of both the Microsoft and Sage worlds.

The upgrade is achieved using the Sage R5 conversion tool and runs in connection with the Sage R5 System Manager to replace the existing runtime system and provide the following benefits:

Microsoft Visual Studio based application with Windows XP ‘look and feel’
Utilises Microsoft SQL Server 2005 data store
Modified data structure (relational database which operates more efficiently in SQL than the previous hierarchical structure) and additional fields for items such as email addresses
Improved screen presentation, including more use of tabs and reduction in number of menus
Improved data access capabilities via the SQL data store mean that external applications (such as MS Word and Excel) can be used to extract data in real time (eg. letters to clients could take address direct from the database)
Improved procedure for setting up Client and File records via the Database ‘Curator’
Improved on-line time recording programs with standard windows ‘look & feel’ and operation
Preservation of core Sovereign LAW functionality
Main client database and accounting functionality from current Sovereign LAW system will be carried forward into new R5 system
Link to either Sage MMS or Sage Line 50 accounting system

Sage R5 technology is used in the successful Sage Construction family of products.

The Accounting options..............

Sage MMS
Sage R5 Sovereign LAW

Both Sage MMS and R5 Sovereign LAW applications are windows-based but run using Microsoft SQL server data store.

Sage MMS(Mid Market Solution) is Sage's latest mid-range business solution and a successor to Sage Line 100. It is now the flagship Sage product and, in terms of functionality, is in advance of Sage Line 100 and even the current Sage Line 50! Built on the .NET platform, it is a powerful accounts and trading solution with unrivalled usability and customisation capability. Sage MMS will be the financial ledgers side of things.

Sovereign LAW itself will be converted using the Sage R5 conversion tool and run in conjunction with the Sage R5 System Manager. Sage R5 breathes new life into the Sage Retrieve 4GL application by converting it into R5 Sovereign LAW - a Microsoft Visual Basic project with Windows XP "look & feel" using a SQL server database.

[For more information about Sage MMS, visit the Sage website www.sage.co.uk/productsandservices/home.aspx and select the link to Products and Services - Accounting Solutions -Sage MMS.]

Sage Line 50
Sage R5 Sovereign LAW

For customers who do not wish to make the investment in the complete Sage MMS and/or MS SQL server systems, then Curat Lex will provide the option of linking R5 Sovereign LAW with the existing Sage Line 50 accounting system.

R5 Sovereign LAW can run using SQL Server Express with a link to current version of Sage Line 50 Financial Controller.

[For more information about Sage Line 50, visit the Sage website www.sage.co.uk/productsandservices/home.aspx and select the link to Products and Services - Accounting Solutions -Sage Line 50.]

The technical jargon........

Sage R5 is a conversion tool that can be used to ‘convert’ existing retrieve 4GL code into a Microsoft Visual Basic application with Windows XP ‘look & feel’ based on MS SQL 2005 data store.

Curat Lex have been associated with the company who have produced this R5 product since 2002. This company is similar to us in that they have developed a software solution (but for the construction industry rather than the legal profession) based on Sage 4GL and then converted it using the R5 tool. This company was ‘bought out’ by Sage (in April 2004) who now own both the Construction software product and the R5 tool. “Sage Construct” is now selling very well in an expanding market. Since this time, the R5 tool has been in continuous development by Sage.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is not an operating system in the sense that it’s an alternative to Windows; MS SQL server is a highly scalable relational database. Basically, it’s a place to store your data. It provides improved performance, reliability, security and accessibility (ie. data can be extracted directly into other external applications such as MS Excel, MS Word etc). Both Sage MMS and Sovereign LAW R5 store the data in MS SQL server.

MS SQL Server 2005 Express is a free, easy to use, redistributable version of SQL Server 2005 designed for building simple data-driven applications. Developers can design schemas, add data, and query local databases, all inside the Visual Studio 2005 environment. If developers need more advanced database features, then SQL Server Express can be seamlessly upgraded to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server.

Microsoft .NET is the Microsoft strategy for connecting systems, information, and devices through Web services so people can collaborate and communicate more effectively. .NET technology is integrated throughout Microsoft products, providing the capability to quickly build, deploy, manage, and use connected, security-enhanced solutions through the use of Web services.