Revelation Plans to Unveil OpenInsight 9.0; New Release to be Featured in Fall 2008 Training

Revelation Software plans to introduce the next major release of OpenInsight in the fourth quarter of this year. OpenInsight, Revelation's flagship product, is a repository-based applications development environment that enables development teams to work collaboratively to design, develop, deploy and scale high-performance business solutions.

A key element of the 9.0 release will be Web OI, which has two important capabilities, Mike Ruane, president and CEO of Revelation, told DBTA. “It lets existing developers of OpenInsight applications take their existing forms and support routines and transfer them to the Web with a minimum amount of work,” he said. Additionally, he noted, “it lets them - from an entirely Web-based platform - design screens, tables, reports, etc., and build the Web-based application there that goes against the OpenInsight engine and database.” Other product features in OpenInsight 9.0 will include a new forms designer, as well as a new look and feel, said Bob Catalano, director of sales.

Revelation also announced its fall training class schedule, running from September through December. Courses range from Introduction to OpenInsight, to Advanced Topics in OpenInsight, as well as classes specifically focused on What's New in OpenInsight 9.0.

“In just counting programs that already exist in OpenInsight that we had to modify, we had over 3,600 different programs or entities that were changed,” noted Ruane. “In the Web OI product, because it is Web-based, we have a couple of hundred design templates, help screens, menus, examples, so it is an overwhelming amount of change. Unless someone actually spends time to show what is new, people will not know about it. And it is a lot more than we can show by doing an on-site road show or just a quick demonstration,” Ruane said. About two hours of the overview course on OpenInsight 9.0 will be devoted to Web OI, with more concentrated training classes to be held following the release, Catalano added.

Revelation also recently wrapped up its annual conference in Las Vegas. “We were a little concerned with the economy that the attendance would be down,” said Ruane. But attendance was “pretty much spot on” with last year, he said. And though some customers were not able to make the show because of scheduling conflicts, he said, “the amazing part is that probably a third of the attendees were people we had never seen before.” Next year's show is likely to be held in the spring or fall in Austin, TX, said Ruane. For more details on the Revelation's fall training schedule and a recap of the users' conference, go here.