Extending CAFM over your web browser
The VisionFM Web Server is a powerful addition to your Facilities Department. It includes a complete, turnkey facilities web site which provides secure access to VisionFM facilities data and drawings over intranets or the internet, through the use of a web browser.
Installation
The web server can be installed on the same machine that hosts the VisionFM database, or a separate computer on the same LAN, but must be hosting Microsoft Internet Information Server 5, on Windows 2000 server.
While installing, the VisionFM Web Server sets up a web site called the UniversalWeb which comes completely pre-configured and designed to link directly with your VisionFM Enterprise database *. You will not need to know how to build a web site or write scripts with HTML in order to install or operate the site.
Creating Profiles
Before a user can access the site he/she will need to have a profile. A profile is a set of defined criteria which describes exactly who the person is and what data and tools they have access to. Profiles are created and edited in the VisionFM ENTERPRISE Client, using the User Setup form. Using this form, an administrator can assign the users login username and password to a user ID and company. More importantly, the administrator can choose the forms, queries, and reports a user will have access to when using the Web Server. The users profile is stored in the VisionFM ENTERPRISE database.
Accessing the site from a client
Once the profile is set up, a user can log onto the site from an Internet Explorer 5 (or greater) browser**. When the user logs on using the username and password set up in VisionFM ENTERPRISE, a live connection is established, and the dynamic web site creates a menu providing access to the forms, queries, reports, and drawings the user has been given access to by the administrator. In other words, it displays only the facilities tasks predefined for that user. Any form, query, report, or drawing created in VisionFM ENTERPRISE can be access through the site without any reformatting or editing, by simply adding it to the users profile.
The connection to VisionFM ENTERPRISE
When working through the Web Server you are always working with live information. As forms are completed the data is recorded directly to the VisionFM database.
The forms, queries and reports you see on the site were not rebuilt with HTML, instead VisionFM’s Web Server includes ActiveX controls that run the same forms, queries and reports that users run in VisionFM Enterprise. This means you can create custom reports or even design entirely new modules and still make them easily accessible to web users through the site.
Customizing
Clients can display their logos at the top of every page.
Security
A VisionFM Internet/Intranet solution means easy distribution of information while maintaining full control and security. Administrators can secure access to the site via Windows Authentication, or use VisionFM password security to filter users from being able to log into the system. As well, the site is fully functional using secure sockets for encrypting internet connections.
* The VisionFM Web Server will not link to VisionFM StandAlone.
**The first time a user accesses the site a small install is required, in order to load activeX controls.
Why not see for yourself?
We've set up a demonstration video to let you see VisionFM WebServer working over the web. Just click on the Icon at the top of the page.
