Press Release

Automate Microsoft Access Maintenance Tasks with Total Visual Agent

VIENNA, VA – April 1, 2005 – FMS, Inc. announced the release of Total Visual Agent 2003, the next generation of its popular Microsoft Access/Jet database maintenance and scheduling tool. Whether written in Access, Visual Basic, C++, or Visual Studio .NET, Microsoft Access databases need to be periodically maintained to optimize performance.

Total Visual Agent simplifies the database maintenance chores to ensure these databases run smoothly. Easily schedule and execute tasks to optimize performance, recover unused disk space, and prevent data corruption through automated backups, compact/repairs and other maintenance tasks. For 24/7 situations where a database is always open, data extracts are available to backup the data. Rolling backups are available to keep multiple copies of backups over time.

Maintaining a complete audit trail for every action, Total Visual Agent allows administrators to manage an unlimited number of databases across a network with email alerts if errors are encountered. Tasks can be scheduled to run hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or just once. Administrators can manage individual databases and specify the tasks for each, or specify a set of tasks to apply to a group of databases or directories.

Total Visual Agent 2003 includes many new features:

• The option to run the program as a Windows NT Service. This service runs without a user logged on to the computer, providing increased security and automated restart if the machine crashes.

• Support for Microsoft Access 2003 and previous of Access.

• New user manual and online help file to support the new features.

"It was technically challenging to run allow Total Visual Agent to run as an NT service while maintaining its own Jet security and that of the databases being managed," said Luke Chung, FMS president and founder. “With this new feature, system administrators can centrally manage Access/Jet databases with the security levels, uptime, and ease of maintenance they require.”

"I often use this wonderful tool to schedule complex management reports to run in the middle of the night. Total Visual Agent runs the reports when no one is in the system,” says Alison Balter, an author of the Mastering Access 2003 series of books. “This means that the processing involved in creating the reports does not degrade the performance of users trying to get their jobs done during the day...the reports are ready and waiting for the users when they arrive at the office in the morning."

Total Visual Agent has won numerous industry awards over the years including Readers' Choice Awards for "Best Middleware and Data Connectivity", "Best Best VB Add-in" and "Most Useful Peripheral Tool".

Licensing and Pricing

Total Visual Agent is licensed on a per developer basis.

Single seat is $299; 5-seat $899.

Larger quantity discounts are available by contacting FMS, Inc. Total Visual Agent can be purchased directly from FMS, through most corporate resellers, and international distributors. All FMS products offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

About FMS

Founded in 1986, FMS is a privately held software firm located in Tysons Corner, Virginia. FMS is the world’s leading developer of products for Microsoft Access developers, and a top vendor of products for the SQL Server, Visual Studio .NET and Visual Basic communities. With tens of thousands of customers in over 100 countries, FMS customers are comprised from a variety of public and private organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100. Committed to innovation and quality, all FMS products are developed by an in-house team of experts including several Microsoft MVPs, published authors, and frequent conference speakers. FMS is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a Microsoft Independent Software Vender (MSDN ISV), an Intel Early Access Program member, a member of the Association for Competitive Technology and a member of Visual Studio .NET Integration Program (VSIP).

Return to Main Press Release Page