Developing Web-Enabled Decision Support Systems Ravindra K. Ahuja Industrial & Systems Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville ahuja@ufl.edu

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Overview Introduction to Decision Support Systems Building a Web-Enabled Decision Support System Integrating DSS in Business Curriculum JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Decision Support Systems (DSS) A decision support system is an information system that assists the user in decision-making. Database Model Base GUI User Knowledge Base JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Developing Interactive Systems Practical decision making requires developing man-machine interactive systems. Input Data The Model Output, Reports User Interface, Re-optimization JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Importance of DSS Development Skills Help us package models and algorithms. Combine modeling with human experience Highly desirable for consulting jobs for students Useful for academics to get industry grants New consulting opportunities for faculty members JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

DSS Development Process Data Storage Mechanism MS Excel, Lotus 123 MS Access, Oracle, MS SQL Server, Dbase Data Manipulation Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Visual Basic .NET (VB .NET) Java, C/C++ Data Presentation VBA, VB .NET, MS Access, ASP .NET Java Applets JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Two Common Ways to Develop DSS Spreadsheet-Based Decision Support Systems Spreadsheets Excel features VBA for Excel Web-Enabled Decision Support Systems Databases Microsoft Access VB .NET ASP .NET JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Overview Introduction to Decision Support Systems Building a Web-Enabled DSS Integrating DSS in the Business Curriculum JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Components of a Web-Enabled DSS Users Database Application DBMS Databases Database Management System (Access DBMS) Developing GUI Web-Enabling the Application JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Data Modeling Systematically converts E-R Diagram into Relations Portfolio PID Name DateAdded Stock Company Symbol PORTFOLIO STOCK Type Has Quantity Details Object Data Model Relational Data Model JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Access DBMS: Developing Environment Access Environment: Facilitates development process. Main Menu Toolbar Database Window View Object Bar Table Objects JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Tables and Relationships Tables: Stores data Relationships Window: Relates data Database Tables Attributes JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Queries Queries: Processes data Table Pane Design Grid Query Output JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Data Manipulation using SQL Structured Query Language (SQL) is the most powerful and commonly used query language. Sample SQL Command: SELECT PorfolioID, Name, Type FROM tblPortfolio WHERE Type Like “Auto*” OR Like “Insurance*” JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Components of a Web-Enabled DSS Users Database Application DBMS Databases Database Management System (DBMS) Developing GUI (VB .NET) Web-Enabling the Application (ASP .NET) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 What is .NET ? .NET is a set of Microsoft software technologies for connecting information, people, systems, and devices. .NET Framework is a common layer between .NET applications and Windows OS. .NET Applications are VB / VC++ / C# programs written on .NET Framework. Windows Operating System Common Language Runtime (CLR) Class Library Other Components VC++ VB C# Other . Net Applications .NET Framework JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

VB .NET Developing Environment Visual Studio .NET is the Interactive Development Environment (IDE) for .NET applications. Design Window Projectile Simple forms with basic Excel manipulation Birthday Simulation Simple simulation with statistical analysis The Simplex Method Advanced forms and navigation Portfolio Management and Optimization Using the Solver Queuing Simulation Animation and advanced analysis University Student Information System Dynamic queries and forms JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Exploring VS .NET IDE Features … Create new/open existing projects. (Open the existing portfolio application.) Solution explorer lists all the files for the current solution. (Double click ‘Welcome.vb’ file to view its design.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Exploring VS .NET ID Features (Contd…) Design Window is the actual work place; displays form design and VB .NET code. (Double click anywhere on this form to open its code window.) ToolBox is a gazette of controls: forms building blocks. (Add a button and label controls to the form.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Exploring VS .NET ID Features (Contd…) Properties Window sets properties for controls and in a way their appearance and behavior. (Set Name, Text, Font, Back Color properties on these controls.) Menu bar and Toolbars are handy for supporting operations like save, run, add items. (Save the project and run the application.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

VB .NET Programming Language Like other programming languages VB .NET supports: Interaction with user (user input / output) Arithmetic, logical, and string operations Control structures Modules, Classes, Procedures, Methods Data structures like arrays A Condition B True False Loop Else If JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Programming…Interactive Process Event List VB .NET is event driven programming. (Double click the button control and add following code for its OnClick event.) Code window lists all the controls and their events for us. (Browse the combo boxes on top of the code window.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Programming...Interactive Process (Contd) Programming is even more fun now. Get all the help online as you code. Online tip IntelliSense Organize your code in nice and neat format using region feature of IDE. (Browse through to play with these features.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

ADO .NET: Database Connectivity ADO .NET structure makes is easy to: Connect to a database Run SQL queries against it Store and further process query results Add/Update/Delete records from database Databases Connection VB .NET Forms & Controls Data Adaptor (SQL Query) Datasets (Stores query output) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

ADO .NET: Database Connectivity (Contd..) Steps for querying a database and showing results on VB .NET form: Connect to a database (once for a project) Create a data adaptor with desired SQL statement Create a dataset to store query results Bind the control to the dataset Run the query by writing VB .NET code JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Connection, Adaptor, and Dataset Server Explorer makes it easy to connect to a database. (Connect to the Portfolio database.) Drag & Drop Toolbox assists in the creation of data adaptors, and data sets. (Portal form: Add an adaptor and a dataset to get the list of portfolios.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Binding Controls to Dataset We then bind controls to datasets to show query results on forms using property window for a control. (Bind the dataset created to the list box on Portal form.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Writing Code to Execute a Query? Next we run the query and display the data. It is done by writing 2 lines of VB .NET code. (Write this code for list box control on page load event.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

VB .NET Events and Data Retrieval Data retrieval (using adaptor and datasets) and VB .NET events can be combined together for interesting functionalities. (On selection of portfolio from list display its details in the data grid control.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 VB .NET Events & Data Retrieval (Contd..) Steps: Create adaptors and datasets and bind them to respective controls. (Bind to list box and data grid.) Execute a parameter query for second control on some event of first control. (Here we execute parameter query for data grid on selection change event of list box.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Add/Update/Delete Records from DB Data adaptor, dataset and their methods makes altering database very easy. (Add these one liners to OnClick event of respective buttons.) Me.BindingContext(DsInvPort, "tblPortfolio") .RemoveAt (lstPort.SelectedIndex) Me.BindingContext(DsInvInfo,"tblInvestor") .CancelCurrentEdit() OleDbInvInfo.Update(DsInvInfo) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Using VB .NET’s Advance Controls We can use advance controls like Check List Box, Trees controls for nice functionalities. (Use check list box to display list of stocks allowing multiple selections, then display data for all selected stocks in the data grid.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Using VB .NET’s Advance Controls (Contd..) We can use advance controls line Date Time Picker for professional looks. (Use this control to allow user choose year for performance graph.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 VB .NET and OOPS VB .NET is a complete Object Oriented Programming Language (OOPL). VB .NET with its Class structure now supports all three basic OOP principles: Encapsulation Inheritance Polymorphism What it is good for? Data hiding and data encapsulation Code reusability Split the development task into independent modules JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Other Supported Features Exception Handling: Preparing for worse!! (Browse through the code for portfolio form for Try... Catch ... End Try blocks.) Code Debugging: Towards perfection! (Press F5 and click for optimization, debugging window pops up, press F8 to step through.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Plug-in Optimization/Simulation Packages Some of the available options are: Optimization code using VB .NET language. (Illustrated next.) Use VB .NET to connect to C/C++ code. (Using DLL files or through flat text files.) Use MS Excel functionalities. For example, we can use Excel Solver functionality to solve small to medium size optimization problems through VB .NET. JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Portfolio Optimization Problem Optimization Code Results On Click User Input Dataset has Data From Database JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Working with Crystal Reports Crystal reports are used to produce professional quality reports/graphs to summarize information. (Plot the pie chart for the output of the portfolio optimization result.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Working with Crystal Reports (Contd..) Steps for displaying crystal report on VB .NET form: Have the data to plot in a dataset. (This might be from database or result of some operation like optimization.) Create the crystal report layout using “Report Expert Wizard” (Select type, fields, format etc. for graph.) Associate the crystal report and the dataset in VB .NET code. (This requires only 3 lines of code.) JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Working with Crystal Reports (Contd..) Dataset with data to plot VB .NET Code Chart Expert Wizard Final Graph JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

ASP .NET – Web Connectivity ASP .NET = Internet + HTML + VB .NET Knowledge of Web Terms and Internet Hypertext Manipulation Language (HTML) - for data presentation Visual Basic .NET (VB .NET) - code behind web pages, for data manipulation JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 How This Works? JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Developing ASP .NET Application Developing ASP .NET Application is very similar to VB .NET Application development. (Make Portal form of VB .NET application web-enabled using ASP .NET.) We use Web Controls and HTML controls for Windows controls used in VB .NET application. VB .NET code with minor additions can be used as ‘code behind’ for ASP .NET pages. HTML code is automatically generated by the Visual Studio .NET IDE. JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Overview Introduction to Decision Support Systems Building a Web-Enabled DSS Integrating DSS in Business Curriculums JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Teaching DSS Development Courses The University of Florida is currently offering two separate courses on DSS Development: Developing Spreadsheet-Based DSS Developing Web-Enabled DSS 3-credit courses Project-oriented courses JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Course Delivery Hands-on course Students bring laptops Instructor uses LCD Projector After basic topics from PowerPoint presentations are taught, we do in-class assignments. Weekly homework assignments. Students do semester-long team projects in which they develop full DSS applications. JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Outline of Web-Enabled DSS Course Part 1: (3 weeks) Database design principles Microsoft Access, Tables, Queries, SQL Part 2: (6 weeks) .Net Platform, VB .Net programming Language Windows forms and controls, Database connectivity Crystal reports Part 3: (3 weeks) HTML, ASP .Net, Database connectivity in Web forms Part 4: (2 weeks) Project work Developing and presenting DSS applications JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Web-Enabled DSS Textbook Abhijit Pol Ravindra K. Ahuja JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 The Book Outline Part I: Principles of Database Design Part II: MS Access: A DBMS Part III: DB Programming using VB .NET Part IV: Web-Connectivity using ASP .NET Part V: Case Studies JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Case Studies NASA’s Rocket Science University Student Information System TV Channel Project Airline Scheduling Portfolio Management Online Shopping JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Additional Course Material PowerPoint Presentations Review Questions and Hands-On Exercises Solution Manual for Instructors Student Team Projects Web Resources JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004 Another DSS Textbook Michelle M. Hanna Ravindra K. Ahuja Wayne L. Winston JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

DSS Development Workshop JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004

Additional Information Course material website: www.ise.ufl.edu/IT Workshop website: www.ise.ufl.edu/DSS Interested in course material? Please give us your card or email address. JULY 9, 2004 INFORMS TEACHING MS WORKSHOP 2004