10-point plan for a future-proof Vertec installation

Vertec is highly customizable and open to individual business processes. Customization is of great benefit if used correctly. However, Vertec can also be “assembled”. The following 10 points list the most important areas to consider when maintaining a Vertec installation:

For an expert review of your Vertec installation, Vertec offers the Review package for future-proof vertec installations.

Point 1: Update vs. Stay on old version

Cloud Suite customers are not aware of the problem as they always work on the latest Vertec version. On-Premises customers, on the other hand, have to implement updates proactively. For security reasons alone, we recommend using only the last two major versions.

Updates are easier, the smaller the version jumps. This fact, therefore, speaks for regular updates. If several major versions have to be skipped, extensive testing is mandatory and thus drives up the effort.

If a module or technology is replaced, we usually publish the new feature with a major version. The replaced feature is then expanded with the next major version.

Frequently asked questions/arguments

Point 2: Web App / Cloud App vs. Desktop App

Whenever possible, we recommend you use the Web App or the Cloud App, instead of the Desktop App. Performance is significantly better, especially if in home office or doing other work remotely. There is not much need to still use the Desktop App: For instance, with COM forwarding, the extensions to a financial accounting system, can now be handled via Cloud App. In addition, the Desktop App will be discontinued in the future.

As well as improved performance, our cloud clients Web App and Cloud App also offer other advantages: They are much easier to install and provide better security.

Frequently asked questions/arguments

Point 3: Office reports vs. Legacy Office reports

Office Reports are based on a report definition in the form of Python code. Office reports are generated by Vertec on the server side and the resulting documents are delivered to the apps in Word, Excel or PDF formats. Office reports are powerful, cloud-ready and available in all full-featured apps. In addition, unlike legacy Office reports, they are independent of local installations of external programs (e.g. Word, Excel).

Legacy Office reports are no longer being developed because it is strongly recommended to work with Office reports. For more information, see The Vertec Reporting System.

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Point 4: Business Intelligence module vs. Excel reports

Excel Reports only run reasonably well if they are run via the Desktop App in a LAN. But, as described in point 2, the Desktop App should only be used in very specific scenarios. For evaluations, we provide the Business Intelligence Module. The BI measures are pre-calculated by Vertec and are therefore quick to use – and also cloud capable! What’s more, the figures can also be displayed in external BI tools or Excel via BI API, as well as directly shown in Vertec lists via OCL, and queried via Python. However, the figures are processed by Vertec.

Frequently asked questions/arguments

Point 5: Outlook App vs. Outlook add-in

The Outlook App is fully cloud-capable. The activity history of a contact can be used directly in Outlook. Another big advantage: Even without access to a file system, emails are visible in the full-featured apps thanks to the Outlook App. Further development in the area of Outlook will focus entirely on the Outlook App.

Frequently asked questions/arguments

Point 6: Low code customizing vs. Overengineering

Principle: Simplicity over functionality

Low code customizing in Vertec means using the standard functionalities as much as possible and adapting them only as much as necessary by means of own folder structures, customized lists and customer-specific reports. Customized features are implemented as close to the standard as possible and with little code or one of the free additional features is used.

The more custom functionality is implemented with lots of Python code, the more difficult it becomes to keep that code stable over the long term. It requires regular maintenance, which is time-consuming. Every unnecessary line of code has the potential to introduce new bugs in the future. Also, new features can cause problems in old code, and more code often means less flexibility. Therefore, you should only implement things that are actually needed.

Low code is more understandable and leaves less room for error. Another great advantage of low code customizing is that everything is local. Even if an OCL expression in a column is invalidated by a change to the overall system, it only affects that point. Event scripts, for example, are global, which means that they can be affected by any changes.

Alludes to: too much code:

• A lot of scripts and/or especially event scripts.
• Frequent use of vtcapp.disableevents(), which indicates that the self-built system cannot handle everything that happens. If the events are properly programmed, disabling them is nonsensical, as it deprives the object involved of the ability to control its own conditions.
• Long Login Event Scripts or login event scripts at all. These slow down or even prevent startup if they do not run cleanly.
• Code in an area that could be solved just as well or even easier with other means, such as the background calculations for liquidity planning using event scripts, where instead a (completely decoupled) BI generator or an Office report could be used.

Alludes to: bad code:

• No validation of whether a requested value is correct or exists at all.
• Lack of security when accessing external resources, if they exist at all.
• Event scripts that do not take into account that changes can come from non- not full-featured apps or without user interaction. For example, interface elements or dialogs are used without querying whether an interface is available at all.
• Variables that are not used or initialized.
• Forgotten subscriptions for Custom Renderers and List Controllers.
• No comments in the code, inform future “readers” about what this code does and why.
• Many commented-out rows in the code, with no indication of what they are used for.

Frequently asked questions/arguments

Point 7: Python vs. VB script

Python as a scripting language has many advantages over Vb scripts: For example, Python has a Module Concept with which business logic can be summarized. This is not possible in VB scripts and you would have duplicate code. Python is also superior to VB script when it comes to connecting third-party systems and Unicode. Furthermore, VB script cannot be sandboxed properly. For this reason, it is not available in the Vertec Cloud Suite and all on-premises customers should also consider not allowing VB scripts if they have their Vertec on the internet.

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Point 8: Secure vs. vulnerable

The Security of a Vertec installation should be a top priority. To get closer to the topic, Claudio Pietra showed a visual comparison to a medieval fortress, Dover Castle, at the 2021 Vertec User Conference.

The concept is simple. Multiple lines of defense are meant to make it harder for attackers to penetrate the most important areas. The outermost line of defense is strong passwords and 2FA. If an attacker crosses a hurdle, it is important not to give up the whole system. More hurdles need to be prepared.

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Point 9: Performant vs. too slow

Your Vertec is too slow? Then start the search for the causes with our Performance Analysis Tool. The tool can provide initial clues and provide solutions. Often even small adjustments can have noticeable, positive effects on Performance. Our support and also your Vertec advisor will be happy to help you with further analyses and improvements.

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Point 10: Using additional features vs. many hours of effort

We are packaging more and more industry and country features into additional features and offering them for free as downloads. Before you invest a lot of time into customizing a new Vertec feature yourself, take a look at the additional features list. Good to know: Of course, the features imported by additional features are just as customizable as the rest of Vertec.

Frequently asked questions/arguments