The SSiS web interface:
There are a number of pages with the SSiS web interface, which allows a user to view and edit the information contained within the SSiS database. On the main page, there is some daily information that will be useful at a quick glance, as well as an Address Book search portal.
They all function fundamentally the same way. Click on a menu option and you will be presented with a list, click on a description within that list, and you will be presented with the data from that record, ready to be edited.
As well as a "Next" (Next record) and "Prev" (Previous record) button on the bottom of the page, there are also 4 additional buttons. INDEX will take you back to the list, putting the record you just left at the top of the page. INSERT will create a new record, with the data in the boxes. It therefore behaves like a COPY button (IN Fact we may rename it copy in a future version). UPDATE will commit any changes you have made into the database, and DELETE does what it says, but in order to prevent accidental use, needs the "Tick to Delete" button ticked as well.
On the side menu are 10 options. Webmail is a link that can be programmed to connect to your webmail server. This link is optional, so if you don't see it, it might have been disabled.
The Address Book is one of the database tables that can be synchronised with a Palm type PDA. There are a 5 "phone number" fields, that can be of one of 8 types. By default, these are set on new records to Work, Home, Fax, Other and Email. There is a link that allows you to view a map using the post code as a reference, and four custom fields, which may have already been earmarked for data such as web page or accounts ID. All of the records excluding those marked private by others, are synchronised with your PDA. The address book will also link to an LDAP directory in the next version, allowing our favourite email client to access addresses directly.
Tasks is a To Do table. It can be prioritised by date and number. All of the records excluding those marked private by others, are synchronised with your PDA
Notepad is a simple page by page database table. It simply holds a page of text, and therefore can be used to share important information with your co-workers, including procedures, and staff tea & coffee requirements. All of the records excluding those marked private by others, are synchronised with your PDA.
Datebook is a calendar system that synchronises with your PDA. Different to the other tables, datebook only synchronises your own appointments, avoiding confusion. Alarms programmed in the web interface will be honoured by the Palm PDA, and will eventually trigger email and/or SMS messages as well, if wanted. You can also set repeat appointments, for yearly, monthly, weekly or even daily events. You can set the frequency (every 3 days), and end dates.
WWW Links is a world wide web favourites database table. Eventually you will be able to save your desktop favourites to it, and be able to import them back again when you move to a new computer. It also helps to share useful sites with others. This table does not synchronise with a PDA.
The Asset Register is a table that can be used by a compnay to easily track it's tangible assets. You can enter financial data, as well as location, status and assorted notes.
Categories is a system wide set of descriptors that will eventually syncronise with the PDA categories as well.
The System Admin link takes you to the area where you can set up PDA users, passowrds, etc. Please refer to the administration manual for more details.
The Documentation link brings you to the index page for these documents. Thank you for taking the time to read this document. It may be brief, but hopefully it will help you navigate your way around SSiS.
Writer's Note: This software was created to solve a problem faced by many small business. With little money to invest in large scale solutions, they often cannot afford the costs associated with what should be a simple problem, but has been made unaffordable by the bloat that goes into many these products to be affordable. SSiS aims to be the lowest common denominator, and therefore comments such as "xxx has more fields" or "xxx does this" mast always be taken in the context of the big picture. SSiS is aimed at being compatible with ALL the client appliactions we can support, but we will do it by using open, or at least properly documented, standards. It is a "jack or all trades, king of none". It is the small business's swiss army knife.
Marco van Beek, Supporting Role Ltd, ©2003 - Released under the GPL