A Review of
Navision Attain
By J. Carlton Collins, CPA

Attain’s Underlying Technology

To help you better understand the underlying technology of an accounting software package, I highly recommend that you first read the following articles:

Underlying Technology - http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/topics/technology.htm 
Programming Languages - http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/topics/programinglang.htm  
Product Testing - http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/topics/testing.htm  
What is a 32-bit application - http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/topics/32bit.htm

Programming Language - Navision Attain is developed in C/SIDE. It is a 100% graphical environment that, like the application, has a graphical user interface. As far as programming environments go, Navision Attain is widely considered to be top notch. It is this underlying technology that lends the product to powerful customization. 

Database - Navision Attain runs on two separate databases - the native Navision database and the Microsoft SQL Server database. Navision charges the same fee for either database, but the company reports that approximately 80% of new Navision customers select the Navision database over the Microsoft SQL Server database. I believe that the reason for this is attributed to the stellar reputation of the Navision database, as well as the lower total cost of ownership associated with the Navision database. The reason the Navision database achieves a lower total cost of ownership is because it requires less on-going administration to maintain. The Microsoft SQL Server database is also an excellent choice, especially for larger Attain customers. 

The Navision database (formerly called the C/SIDE database) is a relational Database that scales very high. In addition, the integrity of the C/SIDE database is outstanding. Each time a transaction is recorded in Attain, a change is not actually recorded in the database until the write transaction is complete. The result is that you can turn off the power during heavy data entry and Attain's design will prevent the data from becoming corrupted. An article to this effect was published in the December 1996 Datamation. The article described how Triad Resources – a contract-manufacturing company in Campbell, CA. lost power with 20 users con-currently using the Attain system. When the power came back on, the Attain systems came back up with no problems. 

It could be argued that the Navision database is a proprietary database. Typically I frown on proprietary databases. However, Attain has earned both the Designed for Windows XP logo (in addition to older logos such as the “Designed for Windows 95 NT/95” and “Microsoft BackOffice” logos.) Further, the Navision database is extremely similar to Microsoft Access and the corresponding tool set is very similar to Visual Basic.  Navision Attain is also compliant with many industry standard products such as Crystal Reports, and Office  XP. The product also uses the Windows Print Manager for all printing – a widely adopted industry standard.  

Source Code - Attain is a 32-bit application. The product is highly customizable and Source Code is available.

Testing - The company has never revealed to me details about their internal product testing. However, I can report that Navision Attain has been one of the most bug free products, if not the most bug free product, I’ve worked with over the past five years.

Note - As an interesting technology note, Attain, and all its’ data, can be completely backed up – even when the product is opened.  In addition, the product can be completely customized even when the product is open and being used by others.  

______________

Read our Mission Statement
Read our Disclosure Statement
Read our Disclaimer Statement