Tools

Microsoft BackOffice provides a consistent development environment. The same Win32 and OLE component software technology is shared between the client, the server, and the server applications. This consistency lowers development, support and training costs. Over 250 development tools and over 120,00 developers for OLE. C, C++, Visual Basic and VBA from Microsoft can all be used to develop solutions that leverage the processing and can be partitioned during development to offer optimal performance on the client and server once deployed.

Leverage over 1000 off-the-shelf applications and tools to build or buy customized solutions more quickly and with greater flexibility. This allows existing applications, thousands of general purpose and vertical Windows applications, to be implemented to meet business demands. Use wide of off -the-shelf tools and applications on both the client and the server for faster deployment and greater flexibility.

• Important client-server development tools from Powersoft, Gupta and Texas Instruments.

• More than 1,000 new 32-bit Windows applications, including hundreds of vertical market applications in key industries.

• Leading Windows NT Server-based applications in all major application categories including applications from AT&T, GIS, Cincom, Computer Associates International Inc., Dun & Bradstreet, IBM Corporation, Informix, Inc., Lotus Development Corporation, Oracle Corporation, SAP, Software AG, SYBASE, Inc., Unisys Corporation, and XDB.

Support for Microsoft's strategic object technology (OLE 2) and standard API set (Win32) means your investment is protected in the future.