TOBI FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

What needs and challenges are addressed by TOBI?

  • Provides a comprehensive and integrated information system for planning, management and evaluation of goals, objectives, performance and resources.
  • Works with a variety of data, databases and other data sources, such as MS Access, MS SQL, Excel, XML, dBase, and text files.
  • Works in different modes, including: standalone (e.g. laptop computer), workgroup or enterprise workstation configurations.
  • Supports Enterprise Information Integration, data analyses and data visualization.
  • Requires no computer programming or database expertise for typical users.

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Who are TOBI's target users?

The primary target users of TOBI range from:

  • Business owners and executives
  • Program and project managers
  • Contractors and consultants
  • Startup Enterprises
  • Small Businesses

In addition to the primary users, TOBI provides functions common to all users, especially those who need to accumulate, manage and efficiently reference large amounts of data.

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What specific tasks can TOBI help project managers accomplish?

  • Track goals, objectives, performance measures and KPIs
  • Manage projects, schedules and work assignments
  • Track personnel and time allocated to each project and task
  • Track budget and expenditures for each project
  • Allocate resources and assets for each project or activity
  • Track ongoing project schedules, status, and accomplishments
  • Display executive summary of projects in Scorecard/Dashboard
  • Flexible ad hoc search and query for “what if” questions
  • Create presentation quality reports, charts and graphs
  • Forecast budget, costs, personnel, resource and time requirements

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What business functions does the TOBI suite serve?

  • Project Management and Labor Allocation
    • Projects
    • Tasks
    • Resource Allocation
    • Performance Measures
  • Accounting & Financial Management
    • Accounts
    • Financial Projections (Budget)
    • Payables and Receivables (Commitments/Obligations)
      • Invoices
      • Quotes
      • Purchase Orders
    • General Ledger
    • Payroll
  • Enterprise Resources Management
    • Service Contract Management
    • Product Line Management
    • Assets
    • Inventory
  • Customer Relationship Management
    • Leads
    • Opportunities
    • Customers
    • Actions
    • Incidents
    • Ratings
  • Business Directory and Personnel Management
    • Business/Organization Directory
      • Partners
      • Vendors
      • Home/Branch Offices
      • Departments/Divisions
    • Personnel/Human Resources Directory
      • Contacts
      • Employees
      • Partners
      • Vendors
  • Time and Documents Management
    • Events Calendar (meetings, conferences, etc.)
    • Electronic References (word-processing documents, files, images, etc.)
  • Data Harvester: Electronic Data Interchange
    • Export
    • Import
  • Strategic Planning and Performance Management
    • Goals
    • Objectives
    • Key Performance Indicators

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What are some scenarios for which TOBI can be used?

  • Management information system for a small-medium businesses
  • Budget and resources forecasting (option to import data from enterprise databases)
  • Linking project, personnel and budget data from various sources
  • Ad hoc query for “what if” questions
  • Chart, graph and report generation for presentation and publication
  • Enterprise goal/objective/performance tracking and Dashboard/Scorecard
  • Document management, conferences and meetings management

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What are the different configurations or modes of operation for TOBI?

TOBI is a self-contained single-user software package. It installs on standard desktop and laptop PCs and does not require the use of servers. TOBI allows the creation of unlimited number of databases for use in any of the following modes.

  • Private single-user database mode. A user may create any number of private databases on his or her workstation. The user has a complete set of management/administrative data in his/her private database and may perform all data entry, analysis and report generation on the same computer.
  • Workgroup/departmental database mode. A database may be created in a shared folder on a network file server to allow multiple users to access the same database.
  • Distributed database mode. Multiple private and/or departmental/workgroup databases are linked using TOBI’s Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) procedures to form a single enterprise database. TOBI includes a utility program called ‘Auto Pilot’ which can be configured to run on a dedicated network workstation to automatically transfer data between multiple TOBI databases or to consolidate data from multiple databases into a single enterprise database.

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How does TOBI access data in other TOBI databases?

You can access data in other TOBI databases in one of two ways.

Connect and log into any TOBI database on your local drive or on a network drive.  Your authorization to the database and the functions/data you are allowed to access is determined by the Database Administrator/Owner who created your used ID in the database.

Use TOBI’s Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to connect with other TOBI databases and extract data into your own TOBI database.

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How does TOBI access data from other (non-TOBI) databases (e.g. Oracle, Sybase, DB2, MySQL)?

Using TOBI’s Electronic Data Interchange utility, Data Harvester, you may access MS Access, MS SQL, Excel, XML, dBASE and comma delimited text files and extract/import data into your TOBI database. Support for Oracle, Sybase and DB2 will be available in future versions of TOBI. Note, however, that it is currently possible to use an intermediate data format such as XML, Excel, dBASE or Comma Delimited Text to interchange data between TOBI and these unsupported databases.

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How do you export data from a TOBI database?

Using TOBI’s Data Harvester you are able to export all or selected columns from any table in your TOBI database into MS Access, MS SQL, Excel, XML, dBase, Html, or comma delimited text files.

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Can TOBI access or exchange data with Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel)?

Yes. TOBI may be fully integrated with Microsoft Office Outlook, thereby enabling individuals to communicate data, reports, calendar events, contacts and tasks back and forth with employees, business partners and customers regardless of whether an end user has a TOBI license or not.

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Can TOBI access or exchange data with other accounting, payroll or management databases (e.g. Oracle, Peachtree, QuickBooks, Microsoft Project)?

This is possible today through the use of intermediate common data format, such as XML, Excel, dBASE and Comma Delimited Text.

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Can TOBI be accessed by a web browser?

A Web version of TOBI is under development and targeted for release during the first quarter of 2008.

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Can TOBI be used with handheld devices (e.g. Palm, PocketPC, BlackBerry)?

A PDA version of TOBI is under development and targeted for release during the third quarter of 2007.

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What computer language is TOBI written in?

TOBI is written in Visual Basic and uses the Jet SQL database engine (MS Access) to store its data.

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What is the database format of the TOBI database?

TOBI uses the Jet SQL (MS Access) database engine.

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Can other software applications access the TOBI database? Does TOBI have an Application Programming Interface (API) or System Development Kit (SDK)?

TOBI does not make available APIs that allow other programs to access its data or functions directly. For certain applications, however, the use of TOBI’s import/export functions, may be the preferred method for extending TOBI’s capabilities and integration with other applications.

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What is the version history of the TOBI software and database (when released, features)?  What is planned for the next release?

The TOBI V1.1.0 is available as a standalone package with support for private, shared and distributed database configurations. A web-based Enterprise version of TOBI is under development and is scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2008. The standalone version will continue to be enhanced and supported and new versions will be released every three months.

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Are there known issues (bugs) with TOBI?

All known bugs as of the date of this publication have been resolved. To alleviate future discovery of bugs, TOBI includes a feature by which most errors are reported in a log file.  The log file is accessible for viewing from the TOBI Help menu.  If any errors are reported in the log file, the user is encouraged to mail the log file to TOBI for resolution.

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How do I obtain software patches and upgrades for TOBI (download)?

TOBI fixes and upgrades will be made available for download on the XenLogic website.

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What technical support is provided with TOBI?

Owners of a single license of the TOBI software will be able to receive free of charge the following support:

  • Report problems/questions through the XenLogic website.
  • Download fixes
  • Direct telephone technical support services on a per user basis are available for purchase.

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Is training available for TOBI (single user, system administrator)?

One-day training classes are made available in areas where demand is sufficient in terms of number of participating users.  Please email us at info@xenlogic.com for scheduling and pricing information.

On-site training classes are also available for businesses with 10 or more participants.  Please email us at info@xenlogic.com for scheduling and pricing information.

Live web-based training seminars are widely available to TOBI users. Please email us at info@xenlogic.com for scheduling and pricing information.

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Is consultation available for how to use TOBI for enterprise information integration and report generation?

Consultation for the installation and configuration of TOBI for enterprise distributed database processing is available. Price and description of these services are assessed on a per-contract basis. Please contact us at info@xenlogic.com.

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What are the computer systems requirements for TOBI software/databases (different configurations)?

  • Windows 2000 or XP with SP2
  • Minimum 128MB RAM
  • Minimum 800 x 640 screen resolution
  • 120MB free disk space
  • Mouse or other pointing device

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How is TOBI licensed?

The TOBI software product is priced on a per license basis. Services are priced per user. Volume discounts are available. See below for more information.  Please contact us at info@xenlogic.com for more information.

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Is there an evaluation or demo copy of TOBI available?

Yes.  Click here to download a 30 day free trial and evaluation copy.

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