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Re: Continual charge for maintenance releases??? The Golden Key



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Hi All,

 >The only problem with the online patches was confusion over your 
numbering system with the different >versions of the program.  At the 
time the updates were published on the web, you were calling both the 
 >EOD and the Real Time versions by the same name and version numbers -- 
no wonder there was >confusion !!! 

This reminds me of IBM's legendary "Golden Key". The story concerned a 
series of mainframe computers which could be upgraded to ever more 
powerful models; i.e. you started out with a model that supported 50 
terminals or so. As your firm grew the computer had to be extended to 
accomodate more terminals.
After handing over the dough an IBM 'technician' came by and required 
the keys to the computer room. He then entered, locked the door behind 
him, and after he came out, presto you had a bigger & faster computer. 
Hence the Golden Key.
In the present case I assume the real time & eod versions are really the 
same program with an internal switch to set the 'version'. This is a 
common and sound practice as it greatly streamlines program maintainance 
- we do it ourselves. Hackers pay attention: Don't think you can hack it 
because 'switches' of this kind are nearly always set at compile time.

Kind regards & Happy Trading,
Jan Willem Roberts