A: No, we do not require Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007).  If you have a properly licensed version of Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008, then you are entitled to use Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 at no additional cost (please see the Microsoft Website for details).

Q: What version of SharePoint does RADS® require?

A: RADS® is an extension of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 with Service Pack 1 (WSS 3.0 SP1).  Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 with Service Pack 1 (MOSS 2007 SP1) runs as an extension to the same version of Windows SharePoint Services.  Therefore, RADS® will run with both WSS 3.0 SP1 and MOSS 2007 SP1.

Q: Are there any issues of running RADS® with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server?

A: There are no known issues of running RADS® with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server; both our extensions and the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server extensions can co-exist.

Q: Why did R-Squared choose to extend SharePoint rather than develop from scratch or use something else?

A: There are two reasons: first, we did not wish to re-invent the wheel.  This latest incarnation of SharePoint from Microsoft is one of the most powerful platforms that exists today for the development of web applications.  Out-of-the-box, it provides check-in/check-out version-controlled document handling, data storage and presentation, data filtering and reporting, audit trails, site/list/data item level security, management of users and groups, support for “Content Types” and, of course, integration with other Microsoft Office Products and other enterprise applications.  The second reason we chose to extend SharePoint was because it has a robust mechanism to support third-party extensions to the platforms without requiring any changes to SharePoint itself.

Q: Is RADS® 21 CFR Part 11 Compliant?

A: Yes, our system can be fully validated and is an extension to SharePoint from Microsoft.  Please see http://www.microsoft.com/office/showcase/2007/cfr/tech.mspx for more information on SharePoint and 21 CFR Part 11.

Q: Do you provide user manuals?

A: In addition to the standard SharePoint online help, R-Squared provides a user guide that is customized to every configuration we deploy. This is provided towards the end of the deployment when we are nearing finalization of the system configuration.

Q: How long does it take to deploy RADS®?

A: The deployment time for RADS® depends on a number of factors.  A client taking an off-the-shelf configuration can be deployed in days; however, most clients opt for some level of configuration to be performed by R-Squared.  Consequently, deployment times can vary from a few weeks to a few months depending on the configuration changes and, mostly, the time taken by the client to review the configuration changes.

Q: Can RADS® be hosted by R-Squared?

A: Yes, RADS® can be hosted by R-Squared or by third-party vendor of your choosing.  We also provide remote administration options for servers not hosted by R-Squared.

Q: What are the hardware requirements for RADS®?

A: As an extension to SharePoint, we have no hardware requirements beyond those of SharePoint.   RADS® can be deployed any way in which SharePoint can be deployed; this means that RADS® can be deployed on a single-server environment using SQL Server Express, if desired.

Q: What other enterprise systems can be integrated with RADS®?

A: As an extension to SharePoint, we integrate with a number of other enterprise systems.  Instead of re-inventing the wheel, customers that have a mainstream Enterprise System (e.g., SAP) are encouraged to examine some off-the-shelf integration options that are available for SharePoint.  With that said, we have enabled the RADS® platform to extend the base integration capabilities with the use of our Data Cube and External/Search Query fields. We have other integration options that we can also discuss with you, but we also support integration through customizations.

Q: How many users can access RADS®?  What server restrictions are there?

A: We have no restrictions on the number of users within RADS®.  Our license is not sold by user but by servers and configurations.  RADS® can also be used to extend an unlimited number of other SharePoint instances within your organization without incurring additional cost (with an appropriate license).

Q: Does RADS® require an application deployed on the client?

A: As an extension to SharePoint, we do not require a client-side application.  Any user with a web browser can access the application, although the user experience may vary depending on the browser that is used (more information is available on the Microsoft Website).  The full user experience is available to anyone with Internet Explorer 6.0 or later. As a SharePoint extension, users with Microsoft Office Applications can also access and store data within a RADS-configured SharePoint site.