The Attivo Blog

Run Macola Lean and Mean

Macola Progression SQL users that have been using Macola for a long time and have not regularly purged the database experience significantly slower processing and much longer times for report execution, invoice posting, GL subsidiary ledger posting, etc. The Attivo Group has developed a data retention utility for Progression SQL that allows the user to first archive all historical data into a separate database, and then purge their system using data retention guidelines.  In this way, NO data is lost. Using SQL tools, the program removes all data that falls outside of the date retention period.  In this way,  historical reporting and analysis can still be performed as required against the archived data, leaving the production database "lean and mean". The data retention process is rules-driven to allow a company to define which files (tables) need to be archived and how much historical data is retained in the production environment. For example, 2 years of accounts receivables invoices and payments may be sufficient for most queries. However, your company may need to keep 5 years worth of receivables information to support some contractual or legal requirements. Using the Attivo data retention utility, the company can have both. 

Designed for ongoing use

The system is designed for ongoing use, as well.  Once you define the data retention schedule, the utility will add any data records in the production company that do not already exist in the archive company, and then purge the production company of any transactions beyond the data retention period. This provides the ability for the company to perform historical trends and analysis without taking up the resources in the production environment. Daily processing will go faster since the database that is being accessed is smaller, and there are fewer records that the system will need to look through when determining what information is to be used for a given process.  Users have reported reductions of 40-60% in database size.  Data intensive processes such as MRP regeneration, invoice posting, subsidiary ledger posting to General Ledger, etc. post a dramatic improvement in processing time.  The associated database size reduction also reduces daily backup time, as well.

Save an incredible amount of time

Can this be accomplished using the purge processes already in Macola?  Absolutely.  However, the time required to purge each and every file using the native system tools will take hours and hours, spread over several days or weeks, since you can't purge the system while people are using it.  The data retention utility will accomplish the entire job within an hour or so.  That's a huge gain in productivity for a system administrator, and encourages and facilitates regular maintenance to keep your Macola system operating at peak performance.