Customer Profile
Associated Software Consultants (ASC)
7251 Engle Road  
Suite 300
Middleburg Height
Ohio 44130
Phone (440) 826-1010
1-800-628-4687
Fax (440) 826-1140
http://www.asconline.com

Associated Software Consultants, Inc. (ASC) designs and markets loan automation software for use by mortgage banks, commercial banks, credit unions, and community banks.

Our Solution
PowerLender is a stand-alone application developed using JDK 1.3. Swing API is extensively used to create GUI for the application. GUI components are developed by extending basic functionality provided in Swing components. Java Communication API is used to communicate with external systems and for Remote Printing.

Tools and Technologies

• Analysis and Design: Rational Rose 2001, Visio 2000
• Development tools: VisualAge for Java 3.02, JDK 1.3
• GUI: Swing API
• Interfacing with external systems: Java Communication API
• Printing: HP PCL, WMF (Windows MetaFile)
• Testing: Rational TestSuite 2001

Methodology
ESN has a well-defined Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model that takes an iterative approach in executing a project. Each build or milestone would have incremental functionality. Builds/milestones are scheduled so that obtaining specific requirements related to the build/milestone, revision of project documents, planning, thorough testing and bug fixing are carried out incrementally.

This approach mitigates risks in Project implementation, espESNally in implementing large systems like PowerLender.

One of the team members plays the role of a Quality Analyst. The main activities of a Quality Analyst are to review and update project documents, organize testing activities and conduct regular code reviews and code walkthroughs.

Designated Team Members work along with the Quality Analyst as members of the testing team continuously aiming to enhance the quality of the software delivered.

Benefits
ASC has saved 50% of their development costs in re-engineering UNI-FORM in addition to other savings in terms of maintaining it.

Situation
The goal of the PowerLender project is to re-engineer an existing product of ASC called UNI-FORM into the Java environment. UNI-FORM is a user-defined mortgage origination and processing system that is widely used by a number of financial institutions in the US. UNI-FORM was developed in NPL (Niakwa Programming Language) and provides for only a character based user interface. ASC decided to re-develop UNI-FORM in the Java environment to provide for long-term scalability and maintenance of the application, GUI capabilities and also to take advantage of Object Oriented Design Patterns feasible in Java. Another advantage was that the system would become platform independent.

PowerLender Features
The core modules of PowerLender with a short description of each is provided below.

Base Power Lender System — Loan Processing
This module allows creation of screens that are stored in XML format. Based on the loan type of a customer, screens are "played" so that customer data may be entered into the system
Data Interchange
Open Customer/Batch Processing
Data Interchange allows Power Lender to import loan data generated by other loan originating systems and export loan data so that mortgage agencies have the flexibility of operating with different loan origination and processing systems
Distributed Processing
Distributed Processing is useful to replicate loan setup data to branches and remote sites
Remote Print
Fannie Mae SBA
Java Communication API is used extensively in features like Remote Print and interfacing with credit bureaus such as Fannie Mae.
Laser Support Module
Laser Support module allows import and printing of forms and boilerplates in HP PCL and Windows Metafile formats
Legal Document Preparation
Legal Document Preparation is a module that attaches specific paragraphs to customer forms before printing these.
Payment Stream Calculator
Consumer Payment Calculator
Payment Stream Calculator and Consumer Payment Calculator are tools that generate accurate payment schedules

• supports a Multiple Document Interface (MDI)
• support for keyboard macros and scripts that help in faster data input and in batch processing
• generation of log images according to the configuration set by the administrators
• supports Btrieve database (which was used by UNI-FORM) but is also capable of accessing databases with JDBC drivers.
• application flow and generation of GUI is controlled by the GUI sub-system. GUI objects work with a set of classes that are classified as "Rules". These classes encapsulate the GUI Metadata and encapsulate database access. Database access is through a set of factory classes that can work with JDBC databases and Btrieve database.

• Definition of technology choices for the implementation. Creation of a strategy paper prior to commencement.
• Thorough study of requirements was carried out leading to the preparation of Software Requirements specification (SRS) and User Interface Design (UID).
• High Level and Detailed Design documents of the system are created using UML as the modeling language.
• Incremental and frequent Builds are sent to the client according to the Project Schedule. This helps obtain regular feedback from the client for each module.
• Coding and UI standards are strictly adhered to. Regular code reviews and walkthroughs are carried out by the Quality Analyst and senior members of the team.
• Unit, Integration and System testing are carried out by using test plans and test scripts.

Conclusion
Re-engineering UNI-FORM in Java using Object Oriented Design, has improved the application maintainability and scalability. PowerLender, being a platform independent GUI-based system is ultimately helping ASC in retaining their existing customers and gaining new ones.