IBM Current
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Jensen-Jones Inc. |
| Products | Relational database, personal information management software |
| Parent | Jensen-Jones Inc. |
IBM Current 1.1 was a relational database and personal information management software featuring a graphical user interface built on Microsoft Windows 1.0, launched in 1990. Subsequently, Jensen-Jones Inc. updated the product and rebranded it as Commence, integrating functionalities comparable to those found in ACT! and FileMaker Pro.
Uses
The program enabled users to schedule meetings with various attributes stored across interconnected tables, such as venue, participants, assigned tasks, linked projects, document records, and notes. Venue selection was streamlined through a predefined list, removing the need for manual input.
Included were fundamental project management tools similar to Microsoft Project, featuring Gantt charts and milestone tracking displayed on calendars. Tasks could be delegated to individuals via scrollable lists and connected to projects through relational database links. While less sophisticated than contemporary solutions, the Gantt charts offered clear project visualization.
Current incorporated Microsoft Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) functionality along with options for importing and exporting files. Additional features consisted of outlining capabilities, mail merge utilizing its address book, and customizable color schemes for display.
The application launched with a calendar interface capable of showing daily or monthly views. It contained an address book designed as a digital analogue to traditional paper versions, including modem dialing support. Supplementary modules managed expense tracking tied to projects and organized to-do lists that could be associated with specific tasks or projects.
Remarkably advanced for its era, Current allowed customization of IBM-supplied reports and screen forms as well as creation of user-defined database fields linked via one-to-many relationships—for instance, associating several phone numbers with a single contact connected to multiple projects or organizations. The software supported complex data modeling beyond standard user requirements. Many data entries were automatically filled based on internal linkages, with users selecting from predefined lists. Support for images such as contact photographs was also included.
Development of the software was undertaken by Jensen-Jones, which later became Commence Corporation.
System requirements
Documentation dated June 15, 1990, specified a runtime environment based on Microsoft Windows 2.0 configured for single-application use, known as the "Windows Single Application Environment" (SAE). The minimal hardware specifications included an 80286 processor-based computer with 640KB of RAM, running DOS version 3.3 or newer, alongside an EGA color monitor.
Modern systems
The installation package utilizes file compression incompatible with current Windows operating systems. Nonetheless, if installed under Windows 3.1, the program can be compressed and transferred to Windows 9x or NT platforms where it operates correctly within the 16-bit WOWEXEC environment.
Although predating Windows 3 and TrueType font technology, the application remains functional on Windows XP. It employs a single system font for all interface elements and printing tasks, which may lead to display inconsistencies if the default font size diverges from those used in Windows 2.0.
When deployed on a network file server or accessed via a mapped drive, the software supports single-user network operation without complications.