Lotus Approach is for professionals who need to analyze, report and manage business information. It offers breakthrough usability, connectivity, outstanding power, analysis capabilities and cross-product integration. It is integrated with Lotus Notes to deliver transparent, fast access to Notes database files formatted as NSF. You can distribute forms, notes, worksheets, mailing labels, charts and crosstabs through Notes mail. Productivity features of Lotus Approach include notes normalizer, dialog editor, Notes R5 compatibility, save to APT file, DB2 compatibility, queries, action bar, infobox, SmartMaster applications, find assistant, PowerClick Reportwriter, crosstabs, charts and drill-down. Internet capabilities include save as [APT file] to the intranet/Internet, automatic generation of HTML pages, publish to the intranet/Internet and one-click Internet link. Connectivity features cover Notes R4 PowerKey, fully transactional database support, DB2 BLOB support, support for SQL back end error message, DB2 QMF support, high-performance data access, pass-through SQL and OLE [object linking and embedding]. Customization solutions include LotusScript control of sort and find functions, automated Approach and LotusScript macro generation and LotusScript programmability.
IBM Lotus Smart Suite enables you to convert formats of your files from earlier versions of Lotus SmartSuite and other applications such as Microsoft Office Filters that allows document changes between Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3, PowerPoint and Freelance Graphics, and Microsoft Word and Word Pro. It provides Windows XP support, InstallShield for Windows Installer and desktop applications co-existence. It has enhanced Microsoft Office compatibility including MS WordArt. It enables easy and quick customizable installation using MSI [Microsoft Software Installer]. It has less downtime, and administrators will experience fewer support calls. These improvements will help reduce desk inquiries and total cost of ownership. It caters to the needs of both the enterprise and the users. It covers desktop productivity functions that make it cost-effective. It increases employee productivity. It enables exchange of documents between different applications.