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This article deals with the process of serialization in which database objects are converted to some external form. Most useful applications depend on information of a more permanent nature than that generated during a single execution. Hence, the lives of such master files transcend that of the execution of any of the applications that use them. Other applications involve the communication of messages between separate programs, often referred to as client and server. While the life of a message is often much shorter than that of a database record, the creation of both involves the use of some data format external to the applications that manipulate them.

The article reports developments related to computer software industry. Sun Microsystems Inc., AMD Corp., and other companies are teaming with the Environmental Protection Agency to cook up an Energy Star rating for the server. Information technology managers will theoretically be better able to plug energy consumption into their ROI equations. The foundation of information lifecycle management is differentiating the many flavors of data at the enterprise and matching each to the proper stripe of storage.

Software developers and testers are guided by different motives, pressures and perspectives. Developers are motivated to complete code quickly and accurately and move on to the next problem. Testers are required to quickly find and report problems within the system. In the course of a project, the more defects testers find and submit to developers, the less time developers have to work on them, and communication may break down. Members of the project team commonly start to rely on entering short descriptions and comments into a defect-tracking system as a means of communication. In this article, the author provides some techniques that can improve communication between testers and developers and help them in fixing problems faster. INSET: Face TO Face.

This article reports that Microsoft Corp. made its first concerted effort to court midsize companies with a Windows Server System promotion, following the success of its software package aimed at small businesses. Companies with 25 to 250 personal computers will be targeted with the new discounted offer for a single stock-keeping unit that combines three copies of the standard edition of Windows Server 2003, one instance of Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition and the workgroup edition of Microsoft Operations Manager 2005.

Features MC500 positioning system and azimuth and elevation assembly system by Daedal. Features of the systems; Functions; Usability; Operational tasks; Contact information.

Reports on the announcement of Intergraph Corp. that it has produced a line of standards-based workstations and servers and a new division to develop and market them. Features of the system; Usability of the system; Function and operation.