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                                                                   Exhibit 10(q)


                               FOURTH AMENDMENT TO
                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
                           ---------------------------


                  FOURTH AMENDMENT dated as of July 9, 2002 (this "AMENDMENT")
to the LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of July 17, 2001, as amended by the
First Amendment dated as of November 15, 2001, the Second Amendment dated as of
February 14, 2002 and the Third Amendment dated as of May 13, 2002 (the "LOAN
AGREEMENT"), between and among, on the one hand, the lenders identified on the
signature pages thereof (such lenders, together with their respective successors
and assigns, are referred to hereinafter each individually as a "LENDER" and
collectively as the "LENDERS"), FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, a California
corporation, as the arranger and administrative agent for the Lenders ("AGENT"),
and, on the other hand, FRONTSTEP, INC., an Ohio corporation ("PARENT"), and
each of the Parent's Subsidiaries identified on the signature pages hereof (such
Subsidiaries, together with Parent, are referred to hereinafter each
individually as a "BORROWER", and individually and collectively, jointly and
severally, as "BORROWERS").

                  WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested the Agent and the
Lenders to amend the Loan Agreement to, among other things, permit the
incurrence of certain unsecured Indebtedness, and the Agent, on behalf of the
Lenders, has agreed to such request subject to the terms and conditions hereof.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual covenants, agreements and conditions hereinafter set forth, and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                  1. CAPITALIZED TERMS. All capitalized terms used in this
Amendment (including, without limitation, in the recitals hereto) and not
otherwise defined shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Loan
Agreement.

                  2. DEFINITIONS IN THE LOAN AGREEMENT. Section 1.1 of the Loan
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

                     (a) The definition of the term "Bridge Loan" is hereby
deleted in its entirety.

                     (b) A definition of the term "Convertible Loans" is hereby
inserted, in appropriate alphabetical order, to read as follows:

                     "'CONVERTIBLE LOANS' means the unsecured term loans in the
         aggregate original principal amount of $5,000,000 to be made by Persons
         (other than a Borrower) to one or more of the Borrowers on and after
         July 9, 2002 (inclusive of the bridge loans made to the Borrowers on or
         about May 13, 2002 in the aggregate original principal amount of
         $1,500,000 that are being refinanced and/or replaced by such
         Convertible Loans) pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase
         Agreement dated as of March 7, 2002 by and among the Parent and the
         investors named therein, as amended by Amendment Number One dated as of
         July 9, 2002 and as further amended, modified or supplemented from time
         to time with the prior written consent of the Agent."


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                  3. CONVERTIBLE LOANS. Section 7.1(i) of the Loan Agreement is
hereby amended by (a) deleting the phrase "the Bridge Loan" set forth therein
and (b) inserting the following provision in lieu thereof:

                     "(i) the Convertible Loans, PROVIDED that the proceeds of
         such Convertible Loans are remitted by the makers of such loans
         directly to the Agent and applied by the Agent to repay the Advances
         then outstanding."

                  4. MITSUI INDEBTEDNESS. Section 7.1(h) of the Loan Agreement
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                     "(h) subordinated Indebtedness owing to Mitsui & Co., Asia
         Investment Ltd., a company established under the laws of Singapore,
         Mitsui & Co. Ltd., a company established under the laws of Japan, and
         MVC Corporation, a company established under the laws of Japan, the
         terms and conditions of which, including provisions subordinating such
         Indebtedness to the Obligations, are in form and substance satisfactory
         to the Lenders; PROVIDED that Borrowers may make scheduled payments in
         respect of such subordinated Indebtedness so long as (i) no Default or
         Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result
         therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the making of each such
         payment, the sum of (A) Excess Availability and (B) all of Borrowers'
         unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents is not less than $3,000,000."

                  5. MITSUI LIENS. Clause (l) of the definition of the term
"Permitted Liens" is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                     "(l) Liens in favor of Mitsui & Co., Asia Investment Ltd.,
         a company established under the laws of Singapore, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., a
         company established under the laws of Japan, and MVC Corporation, a
         company established under the laws of Japan, on the Stock of Frontstep
         (Singapore) Pte Ltd. that is owned by any Borrower to the extent such
         Liens secure such Borrower's obligations in respect of the Indebtedness
         permitted under SECTION 7.1(h) hereof."

                  6. CONDITIONS. This Amendment shall become effective only upon
satisfaction in full of the following conditions precedent (the first date upon
which all such conditions have been satisfied being herein called the "AMENDMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE"):

                     (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; NO EVENT OF DEFAULT.
The representations and warranties contained herein, in Section 5 of the Loan
Agreement and in each other Loan Document and certificate or other writing
delivered to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant hereto on or prior to the
Amendment Effective Date shall be correct in all material respects on and as of
the Amendment Effective Date as though made on and as of such date (except to
the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate solely to
an earlier date in which case such representations and warranties shall be true
and correct on and as of such date), and no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing on the Amendment Effective Date or would result
from this Amendment becoming effective in accordance with its terms, unless any
such Event of Default has previously been waived in accordance with Section 15
of the Loan Agreement.



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                     (b) DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS. The Agent shall have received on
or before the Amendment Effective Date the following, each in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and, unless indicated otherwise, dated the
Amendment Effective Date:

                         (i) counterparts of this Amendment, duly executed by
         the Borrowers and the Agent; and

                         (ii) such other agreements, instruments, approvals,
         opinions and other documents as the Agent may reasonably request.

                     (c) PROCEEDINGS. All proceedings in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Amendment, and all documents incidental
thereto, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its special counsel,
and the Agent and such special counsel shall have received all such information
and such counterpart originals or certified copies of documents, and such other
agreements, instruments, approvals, opinions and other documents, as the Agent
or such special counsel may reasonably request.

                  7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the Borrowers
represent and warrant as follows:

                     (a) Except as previously disclosed in writing to the Agent:
(i) the representations and warranties made by such Borrower herein, in the Loan
Agreement and in each other Loan Document and certificate or other writing
delivered to the Lenders on or prior to the Amendment Effective Date shall be
correct and accurate on and as of the Amendment Effective Date as though made on
and as of such date (except to the extent that such representations and
warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date in which case such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of such
date); and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the Amendment Effective Date or would result from this Amendment
becoming effective in accordance with its terms.

                     (b) Each of the Borrowers (i) is a corporation, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of
organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform this Amendment, and to perform the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby,
and (iii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing
reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

                     (c) The execution, delivery and performance by each
Borrower of this Amendment, and the performance by each such Borrower of the
Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, (i) have been duly authorized by all
necessary action, (ii) do not and will not contravene such Borrower's charter or
by-laws, any applicable law or any contractual restriction binding on or
otherwise affecting it or any of its properties, (iii) do not and will not
result in or require the creation of any lien or other encumbrance (other than
pursuant to any Loan Documents) upon or with respect to any of its properties,
and (iv) do not and will not result in any suspension, revocation, impairment,
forfeiture or nonrenewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval
applicable to its operations or any of its properties.


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                     (d) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or agency or other
regulatory body is required in connection with the due execution, delivery and
performance by such Borrower of this Amendment, or for the performance of the
Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

                      (e) This Amendment, the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby,
and each other Loan Document to which such Borrower is a party is a legal, valid
and binding obligation of such Borrower, enforceable against such Borrower in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
equitable principles or by or subject to any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally.

                  8.  CONTINUED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT. (a) Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and are hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects, except that on and after the Amendment
Effective Date (i) all references in the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement",
"hereto", "hereof", "hereunder" or words of like import referring to the Loan
Agreement shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended by this Amendment and (ii)
all references in the other Loan Documents to the "Loan Agreement", "thereto",
"thereof", "thereunder" or words of like import referring to the Loan Agreement
shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

                      (b) The Borrowers hereby acknowledge and agree that this
Amendment constitutes a "Loan Document" under the Loan Agreement. Accordingly,
it shall be an Event of Default under the Loan Agreement if any representation
or warranty made by the Borrowers under or in connection with this Amendment
shall have been untrue, false or misleading in any material respect when made.

                  9.  COSTS AND EXPENSES. The Borrowers shall pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Lender Group (including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and charges of counsel to any member of the
Lender Group) in connection with this Amendment.

                  10. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of this Amendment by telefacsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of
an original executed counterpart of this Amendment. Any party delivering an
executed counterpart of this Amendment by telefacsimile also shall deliver an
original executed counterpart of this Amendment but the failure to deliver an
original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and
binding effect of this Amendment.

                      (b) Section and paragraph headings herein are included for
convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment
for any other purpose.

                      (c) This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York except to the extent governed
by the Bankruptcy Code.

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                  11. THE BORROWERS, LENDERS AND THE AGENT EACH HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE LENDER GROUP IN THE
NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written.


                             FRONTSTEP, INC.
                             an Ohio corporation


                             By:  /s/ Daniel P. Buettin
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Daniel P. Buettin
                                 Title: Vice President and Chief Financial
                                        Officer

                             FRONTSTEP SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC.
                             an Ohio corporation


                             By:   /s/ Daniel P. Buettin
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Daniel P. Buettin
                                 Title: Vice President and Chief Financial
                                        Officer

                             FRONTSTEP CANADA, INC.
                             an Ontario corporation


                             By:   /s/ Daniel P. Buettin
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Daniel P. Buettin
                                 Title: Vice President and Chief Financial
                                        Officer

                             FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                             a California corporation, as Agent and as a Lender


                             By:   /s/ Trent A. Smart
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Trent A. Smart
                                 Title: Vice President





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