I hear you're porting your Salery application to U3 Mark, could you tell me a bit about that? Salery is a Revolution application?

Yes, Heather, Salery is created with Runtime Revolution. Revolution as the programming tool for Salery was a logical choice, since all necessary tools are readily available, including communication over the internet, multimedia capability and drag 'n drop. Without having to make the separate tools work first, we were able to focus completely on the idea of a web store for everyone.

So what exactly is Salery?

Salery is a simple, intuitive web store manager, which can be set up in minutes and helps you to keep track of all the items in your store and creates a web site for you. Salery users don't pay for advertisements, auctions and sales. Items in your store can be on-line as long as you like, without additional cost. You don't have to re-enter items in your web store every 10 days. You don't need to pay for additional server space, while you have a paid hosting service already. You don't need to spend hours on updating your on-line files, uploading pictures, checking obsolete and deleted yet unsold items with a browser-based interface. Instead, just update your store in 2 minutes and upload everything at once.

I see, and why is it so well suited to porting to U3?

U3 has a number of huge advantages. U3 provides the safety and mobility which is necessary for a web store. While you can modify your web store on any USB equipped PC with Windows 2000 or XP, your personal data are safe. As soon as you disconnect the U3 drive, it is impossible to steal your Salery password from your computer. Besides, experienced on-line traders know how important a short response time is and with U3 you can update your web store as soon as you sell an item, even while you are travelling. With U3 smart technology, you can access your web store at home, in the public library and at the air port, and know that your files are safe. You have your Salery picture library and your store database always at hand, while switching computers. Of course, you can still copy your files to a static PC when you come home and use Salery the way you always did.

How far have you got with the port?

We are currently modifying the Salery software to take full advantage of the U3 smart drive technology. This means that the Salery picture library has been moved to the U3 drive and we are currently adjusting all scripts connected to personal preferences and login data, which need to be stored on the U3 drive as well. Additionally, we are working with a young, very talented designer who is making a wonderful new customisable template for the on-line web store. Now we have to make some final adjustments, build the Salery standalone for U3 and do a few tests. We expect to release Salery for U3 early October.

Do you anticipate it being difficult to do?

No, a first test showed that it is rather easy to create a U3 application with Revolution. Basically, it is a two-step process. We just turned on U3 compatibility in the standalone builder and saved a standalone. The RunRev U3 Prototyper, which was already installed when we received our U3 drive, turned the standalone into a special U3 package. Anyone can download this package, choose Add Programs in the U3 launchpad and have it installed automatically.

Would you come back and report to us after you've completed the port, and let us know all about the process?

Of course, I'd be pleased to tell you more about my experiences with U3 after releasing Salery.

Thank you very much Mark! You can see Mark's website and try out Salery for yourselves.