Managing reality in Information Systems - strategies for success
Systems Modelling Ltd. http://www.sysmod.com
Welcome - Eurois at YahooGroups
Update for Software Developers from BASDA
A Technical keyboard tip
The Euro in the news - inflation, consumers, out-countries
Microsoft Passport & MCP risks
BadTrans and Goner
File Formats
18 Web links in this newsletter
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As we run up to the final phase of EMU, I'd really appreciate your feedback on the newsletter so far. What has been most valuable to you, what you like to continue to focus on in 2002?
Because I am sending this out as plain text, I have given the web links in the text, after each article. You will also find them all in a convenient launchpad list on http://www.sysmod.com/index.htm
Patrick O'Beirne, Editor
Are you sure your software applications can support all the requirements for the business changeover to the euro? Get an independent assessment on their "compliance" or "euro-readiness" with our euro software certification service.
With the likelihood of a referendum in the UK and moves by both Sweden and Denmark to reconsider joining EMU, BASDA feel it is time to review their standard. There has been a lot of interest from software developers in preparing their software applications for the possible introduction of the euro. BASDA held an EMU update seminar for our members on Monday 3rd December http://www.euro.fee.be/articles/november2001/4.asp
A Technical keyboard tip Many people in Europe use
keyboards pre-printed with the US-101 layout. The downside
to using the "US International" is that it needs
so-called 'dead' keys - they don't respond until Windows can
see what you type next. This web site describes a general
purpose tool (Keyboard Layout Manager) to create customised
keyboard layouts, to extend the range provided by Microsoft.
http://www.klm.freeservers.com/loader/index.html
They provide a simple but frequently requested example -
"add the euro symbol to the standard US 101/102
keyboard" - without all the undesirable 'dead keys'.
I have added more links to recent news articles on the euro to my main EMU/Euro page http://www.sysmod.com/emu.htm
Unsettling preparation messages from IT firms
No computer/IT company in a recent survey gave
itself the highest possible rating for the state of its euro
preparations. The palpable concerns of the companies in this
sector should "give us all cause to assess our
contingency plans," comments europartnership which
carried out the survey of 320 organisations.
http://www.euro.fee.be/articles/november2001/2.asp
Analysis and statistics: http://www.europartnership.com/products/euro_survey_november01.htm
http://www.euro.fee.be/articles/november2001/3.asp
Trading with the Eurozone - The preparations that
non-Eurozone companies should make and the risks that they
run if their Eurozone trading partners are not ready to
operate in the euro from 31st December 2001 http://www.euro.fee.be/archive/be/tradingeurozone.pdf
Euro induced inflation?
Fears that the switchover to euro coins and banknotes next year might lead to higher inflation in the euro-area by allowing companies and retailers to push through hidden prices rises are so far proving exaggerated, analysts in Frankfurt have said. Full story: http://www.eubusiness.com/item/62218
On the other hand:
The imminent switchover to euro banknotes and coins on January 1 is leading to perceptible increases in the prices of a number of goods in Germany, the Bundesbank said last week. Price increases were "clearly perceptible," particularly in the case of food items, the German central bank said in its November monthly report. Full story: http://www.eubusiness.com/item/63985
Irish state companies in outrageous attempt to rip-off
consumers by rounding-up
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/cgi-bin/NGoto/9110536
Sunday Telegraph
"Dublin Bus will round up some of its prices when
the euro is introduced next year, even though ministers have
denounced the practice in the private sector. Government
policy is that prices must be rounded down on conversion. A
spokesman said the increase in city fares would be needed to
balance out a drop to the nearest five cents in the cost of
intercity bus tickets. Overall, the company will suffer a
£100,000 loss as a result of the changeover. It takes about
four seconds to pay a bus fare, but Dublin Bus estimates
somebody paying in both euros and pounds could take 15
seconds. Early next year an average 30-minute bus trip could
take an extra 15 minutes while passengers fumble with their
cash."
A word to the wise
Because Ireland is the only country where the NCU is heavier than the euro (a proxy for the UK therefore), there is a window of opportunity on a small scale for shoppers in the first week of Jan 2002. If they shop with small shops that may not be clued in, but who use scanners on pre-packed items where the price is embedded in the label, they may be able to buy prepack fruit, cheese, etc originally priced in IEP, now 21% cheaper when charged in euro.
Pictures aplenty
If you're lookin for graphics and posters for training material, visit the Mediatheque at the Official site of the Commission http://europa.eu.int/comm/mediatheque/photo/euro_en.html
In Brief for the DUKS :
(Denmark, UK, and Sweden, in case you were wondering!)
Survey shows Danes warming towards euro Full story: http://www.eubusiness.com/item/62368
Britons will remain wary of euro despite cash launch: economists Full story: http://www.eubusiness.com/item/62374
Sweden should join euro if Britain does: Swedish PM Full story: http://www.eubusiness.com/item/64494
"Managing the Euro in Information Systems: Strategies for Success", Addison Wesley 1999, ISBN 0-201-60482-5. The accompanying CD has software, fonts, web links, and europapers. The book is aimed at IT managers and business executives. It covers history, regulations, business strategy, I.T. strategy, project planning, conversion methods, and case studies. 11 chapters, appendices, 368 pages.
Book description and ordering: http://www.sysmod.com/maneuris.htm
"C++: An octopus made by nailing extra legs onto a dog."
http://www.silicon.com/a48973
Read your boss's CV online, thanks to Microsoft...
silicon.com discovered another loophole in a Microsoft website; anyone who has
access to a Microsoft Certified Professional's MCP number, acquired on passing
the exam, can enter that person's MCP site, which includes personal details
such as qualifications. That follows on earlier stories where Microsoft
admitted that 'Passport is not secure enough'
A Bad Trip for BadTrans
My PC is protected by Dr.Solomon's A-V, and using Eudora keeps out those
viruses aimed at Outlook. But I'm receiving several copies a day of BadTrans.
I now have a filter set to automatically send an email to the originator
warning them they have it. I have to edit the "To:" address as the virus puts
an underscore before their address. An advisory from MessageLabs says
"BadTrans.B makes use of a Microsoft exploit, meaning that it can be executed
simply by reading/previewing it in Microsoft Outlook - it is not necessary to
double click on any attachment. In addition to this it also uses an unusual
and potentially devastating trick of replying to unread messages in the
recipients in-box. The next time Windows is loaded the virus will further
spread by replying to unread messages across additional Outlook folders. The
virus also drops a password stealing Trojan KDLL.DLL previously identified as
Trojan.PSW.Hooker. The trojan component uses key logging to send confidential
information (passwords, credit card details etc.) from infected computers"
http://www.antivirus.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_BADTRANS.B
Wait, there's more...
A high risk virus called Worm_Gone.A
http://www.antivirus.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM_GONE.A
By comparison, the BadTrans virus was only medium risk!
http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileFormatA/0,289933,sid9,00.html
"Every File Format in the World" This is a list of file name extension or
suffixes that indicate the format or usage of a file and a brief description
of that format. They don't really show the file format itself here as many
formats are proprietary.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROVERBS
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will go
wrong, is the one that will do the most damage.
Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
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Patrick O'Beirne
Copyright 2001 Systems Modelling Limited, http://www.sysmod.com . Reproduction allowed provided the report is copied in its entirety and with this copyright notice.
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Patrick O'Beirne, Editor
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"Praxis" means model or example, from the Greek verb "to do". The name is chosen to reflect our focus on practical solutions to IS problems, avoiding hype. If you like acronyms, think of it as "Patrick's reports and analysis across Information Systems".
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