Legacy Upgrade Case Study

The database to be upgraded was a desktop application running on Windows '95, which had been modified many times, and any future changes were considered too risky in case they resulted in problems with the business critical application. Ongoing application support was restricted to keeping the system running, and with all these issues combined the database was quickly labelled a 'legacy database'. Generation of complex reports was manual, and involved many man hours every month.

Creating a new database from an existing legacy database can often hamper the development process, with a preset database design that does not comply to the proposed future design requirements. However, by automating the link between the database and the front-end using the Arepo Platform, changes to the database were easily reflected in the interface. Database changes, such as the adding and removing a new field or table, simply required updating the meta-data and regenerating the front-end interface, often in a matter of minutes. This is one of the major strengths of our RAD techniques.

The upgraded online database was built with the following: -

• Migration of millions of records
• Name & Address lookups (Inspector calls)
• Management of notices and debts to chase
• Payments and refunds, and online payments
• Appeals processing, and online appeals
• Passenger correspondence and letter generation
• Financial and quality reporting
• Data archiving and backup

Over the course of this project, the database was developed to facilitate the sophisticated business logic required for the solution, as well as many requirements outside the actual detail of the original specification. These extra requirements were identified through the development life cycle. By utilising the proto-typing power inherent in our rapid solutions, we were able to respond quickly to feedback, developing a database which now not only meets, but now far exceeds our clients expectations.