1. Introduction and Technology of the Attendance Enterprise Suite
Technology today and tomorrow
What do customers want?
Attendance Enterprise Suite
Web components
Technology & Attendance Enterprise
Welcome to the Attendance Enterprise: Selling the Solution training class. In this module we’ll cover an introduction and the technology that comprises Attendance Enterprise.
Read Slide.

2. Technology Today & Tomorrow
Internet / Intranet
Browser based workstations
High speed private networks
Wireless broadband
Application Service Providers (ASP)
Wireless applications
Before we get into Attendance Enterprise specifically, let’s talk about the technology of today and tomorrow and where Attendance Enterprise fits into that framework.
The technology of today largely involves the Internet. We all use it and value it as a source of information. Many traditional programs such as training, buying and selling, information retrieval, and face-to-face meetings are being replaced by transactions performed over the internet.
The technology we are starting to see involves privately funded large scale, high speed private networks. The wireless broadband is becoming more common. College campuses and airports are now setting up areas where people with a laptop and the proper wireless network card can connect to the Internet without plugging in a cable.
Many applications are now deployed through browser-based workstations. A browser-based application deployed over an intranet or the Internet is the ultimate thin-client. This is how the Application Service Provider (ASP) model was born.
Wireless applications are everywhere from PDA’s to cell phones that can send and surf the Internet.
Now all of this is well and good, but what are we getting at? How does Attendance Enterprise fit into the arena of the technology of today and tomorrow?

3. What Do Customers Want? 32-Bit Architecture Microsoft SQL
Thin client / browser-based
Web enabled
Scalable
In the context of the technology we’ve just discussed, what do customers want?
32-bit architecture – it is more reliable, flexible, and easier to upgrade.
Microsoft SQL – many customers are completely Microsoft shops and want that integration. Btrieve does not have the reputation of Microsoft based databases.
Thin client / browser based – browser-based workstations deliver software over the Internet or intranet making it easier for the customer to use the most updated version and no software is installed on the individual workstation.
Web enabled – customers want their employees on the go to be able to record their time over PDA’s, cell phones and/or over the Internet.
Scalable – customers want unlimited employee counts and reliable performance as those numbers grow.
What other things are customers asking for?
Take time to consider student suggestions. Write suggestions on a wipe board or flip chart. Address suggestions during next slide.

4. Attendance Enterprise
32-Bit Code
MS-SQL Server
Classic Workstation
All new (yet familiar) design
Modern Windows look and feel
Browser-based interfaces
LAN, WAN, Intranet, Internet
Thin-client
Scalable
In light of what customers are looking for and the future of technology, Attendance Enterprise was developed with the following considerations:
32-bit code – Attendance Enterprise is a completely 32-bit application.
MS-SQL Server – Attendance Enterprise was built on MS-SQL, the premier database today. A later presentation covers the advantages of MS-SQL and technical specifications. Microsoft has stated that MS-SQL never fails.
Classic Workstation – The main application has a new look and feel with familiar features. We call the look of the application a Modern Windows interface.
Browser-based interfaces use the thin-client that so many customers are looking for today. This interface can easily be deployed over the Internet or the company’s Intranet using their existing LAN or WAN. This also opens the door for ASP business, hosting Attendance Enterprise and databases for customers. This way the customer does not need to maintain or store the software at all.
Scalable – Attendance Enterprise can grow with that small company that hopes to be big some day. It can also fit the needs of very large organizations.

5. Attendance Enterprise Suite
Four Editions
To review, we’ve talked about the technology out there today and tomorrow, Attendance Enterprise and how it fits customer’s needs. Now let’s talk about the four editions of the Attendance Enterprise Suite.
The four editions are:
Attendance Enterprise Enterprise edition
Attendance Enterprise Professional edition
Attendance Enterprise Small Business edition
Attendance Enterprise Desktop edition
All products contain all of the same features. The main difference between them is employee count. When a change is made to the product such as an enhancement, it is all the same code therefore all editions get that feature. It makes learning the products and maintaining them very easy for us and for you.

6. Attendance Enterprise Desktop Edition
Low cost, entry-level system
Up to 100 employees
$495 - $695 list price
Database engine included
Options
Employee Self Service (ESS)
Single-user system
The Attendance Enterprise Desktop Edition is designed to be a replacement for Attendance for Windows.
Low cost, entry-level system
Up to 100 employees
$495 - $695 list price
Database engine included (MSDE – limit to 2 GB. Can have about 5 years of history with 100 employees and won’t hit this upper limit.)
Options (for additional cost)
Employee Self Service
Single-user system (really are 2 users – 1 main user and a back up. System administrator accounts such as USER and AUTOTASK are not part of that count.)

7. Attendance Enterprise Small Business Edition
For the small business market
Up to 250 employees
$995 - $2,295 list price
Database engine included
Options
Manager Self Service (MSS)
Employee Self Service (ESS)
5 user accounts
The Attendance Enterprise Small Business Edition is designed for the small business market.
For the small business market
Up to 250 employees – this is really not a small business, but compared to the employee count possible, this is small.
$995 - $2,295 list price
Database engine included (MSDE - limit to 2 GB. Can have about 5 years of history with 100 employees and won’t hit this upper limit.)
Options
Manager Self Services (MSS)
Employee Self Service (ESS)
5 user accounts - System administrator accounts such as USER and AUTOTASK are not part of that count.

8. Attendance Enterprise Professional Edition
For the mid-range market
100 – 750 employees
$2,270 - $9,690 list price
Options
Manager Self Service (MSS)
Employee Self Service (ESS)
Up to 50 user accounts (10 standard)
Requires MS-SQL 7.0 or MS-SQL 2000 license
The Attendance Enterprise Professional Edition product is designed to replace the Attendance Professional basic network package.
For the mid-range market
100 – 1,000 employees
$2,270 - $11,370 list price
Options
Manager Self Services (MSS)
Employee Self Service (ESS)
Up to 50 user accounts (10 standard – additional accounts extra. System administrator accounts such as USER and AUTOTASK are not part of that count.)
Requires MS-SQL 7.0 or MS-SQL 2000 license. We assume that the customer already has a MS-SQL license or one needs to be purchased separately.

9. Attendance Enterprise Enterprise Edition
For enterprise applications
250 – 20,000+ employees
$10,600 - $334,000+ list price
Fully scalable
Distributed processing
Unlimited number of user accounts (25 standard)
Manager Self Service (MSS) included
Employee Self-Service (ESS) optional
Requires MS-SQL 7.0 or MS-SQL 2000 license
The Attendance Enterprise Enterprise edition is designed to meet the needs of the large organization.
For enterprise applications
250 – 20,000+ employees
$10,600 - $334,000+ list price
Fully scalable
Distributed processing
Unlimited number of user accounts (10 standard - additional accounts extra. System administrator accounts such as USER and AUTOTASK are not part of that count.)
Manager Self Services (MSS) included
Employee Self-Service (ESS) optional
Requires MS-SQL 7.0 or MS-SQL 2000 license. We assume that the customer already has a MS-SQL license or one needs to be purchased separately.

10. Web Components of Attendance Enterprise
Manager Self Service (MSS)
Employee Self Service (ESS)
We’ve covered the break down of all four products in the Attendance Enterprise Suite. We mentioned the web components, Manager Self Service (MSS), Employee Self Service (ESS), and the Wireless Web access. Let’s look at what is included in those components.
Manager Self Service is an alternate user interface for executing critical functions within Attendance Enterprise. You can view employee information, perform transactions, and make changes to time cards, schedules, and other information for employees you supervise.
Employee Self Service is an employee-based program that allows the employee to view information about their schedule, time card, benefits and perform transactions such as in and out punches.
A web site is created at the customer’s site is connected to the Attendance Enterprise database for the company. The web site is where Browser Based Editing and Employee Self Service is hosted.
Both Manager Self Service and Employee Self Service are covered in detail in later modules. This is a quick introduction to some of the features in those components.
Let’s switch gears a little bit and get into the technology that comprises Attendance Enterprise.

11. The Technology of Attendance Enterprise..

12. Program Construction Object Pascal using Delphi 32-bit
Microsoft COM (Component Object Model) design
Attendance Enterprise is written in Object Pascal using the Delphi development environment. This is important to note because Pascal uses binary equivalents of C++. As many of you know, anything written in C is known to be the fastest and most reliable software out there.
The product is completely 32-bit and strongly adheres to the Microsoft COM (Component Object Model) design. COM is a discipline defined by Microsoft as the best practices (similar conceptually to ISO quality standards) of software writing. It means that the software has a certain level of modularity, reusability, and maintainability.

13. User Interface Microsoft Outlook frame design
Design elements identical to Microsoft Office
The user interface is based on the Microsoft Outlook frame design. Design elements such as toolbars and shortcuts are identical to those found in Microsoft Office.

14. Database Microsoft SQL Server (7 or 2000) ADO (Active Data Objects)
Attendance Enterprise uses Microsoft SQL Server (7 or 2000) for data storage. ADO (Active Data Objects) are used for communication between the application and the database provider. ADO is used to adhere to the security already defined by Windows operating systems. Essentially, if a security switch is defined in the operating system (such as encrypted communication) all other software packages using ADO, such as Attendance Enterprise, automatically line up with that security definition.

15. Security MS-SQL Application Roles MS-SQL Accounts
NT Authenticated User Accounts
Network optionally encrypted
Attendance Enterprise tables are protected through the use of MS-SQL Application Roles, MS-SQL Accounts or NT Authenticated User Accounts. Application roles are what Attendance Enterprise uses to talk to MS-SQL and login to the database. An application role is never a user, but is a login used by an application. Because a user is never directly accessing the application, the data is more secure. Essentially with Attendance Enterprise, if you are not ProFrame.exe, you cannot login to the database in MS-SQL. If you attempt to set up an ODBC connection, you must have a user and login to access the database tables.
Network traffic is optionally encrypted by MS-SQL. Information coming in and out of the MS-SQL server can be transported in another protocol such as IPX, Named Pipes, or TCP/IP.

16. Background Operation Tasks executed as background processes
Status window is displayed
Multiple operations run at once
Time consuming operations such as communications and reports are executed as background processes. Status windows similar to MS-Windows print queues are employed to provide user feedback. Multiple operations can be launched simultaneously and are executed in a separate thread.
A thread is a path of execution used to complete a task of some sort. Using separate threads when multiple operations are launched allows for overall smooth operation from the background to the foreground. What this means in practice is that any operations you perform while tasks are running operate smoothly and without interruption.
Using separate threads allows Attendance Enterprise to be easily scalable without interrupting normal operation of the software.

17. OLE Automation Summary Sheet easily copied to Microsoft Excel
Any Summary Sheet data presented within Attendance Enterprise can be easily copied to Microsoft Excel. This is done by using OLE automation. The old technology used for this type of setup was a DDE link. Remember that you had to specify the path and filename ahead of time in order to effectively link to Microsoft Excel with Attendance Professional. OLE Automation automatically launches Microsoft Excel and populates the sheet with the Summary Sheet information.
Using OLE Automation represents another way that Attendance Enterprise closely adheres and fits with other Microsoft products. All other Microsoft products are OLE automated.

18. Server Based Execution
Multi-tiered configuration
Many processes performed at central Windows 2000/NT Servers
Attendance Enterprise is available in a multi-tiered configuration. Many lengthy processes can be off-loaded onto central Windows 2000/NT Servers for faster processing.

19. ISAPI Browser Component
Uses ISAPI component for all Browser clients
Information maintained without cookies
MSS and ESS maintain individual thread pools and connection management for best possible IIS scalability
Attendance Enterprise implements its own ISAPI component for all Browser clients. Client state information is maintained without the need for browser cookies. Utilizes POST technology meaning that employee information never becomes part of the last URL visited. There is no HTML to maintain and special add-ons such as Front Page extensions or ASP (Application Service Provider) support.
Supervisor access and Employee Self Service each maintain individual thread pools and connection management for best possible IIS scalability. Using thread pools for IIS allows many users to connect to the web components at one time and have a smooth, consistent response. Essentially, by maintaining those individual thread pools, as more processors are added to the IIS server for example, the better and faster the performance of the web components.

20. Attendance Enterprise Suite
A product customers want
Using today’s technology
Preparing for tomorrow’s technology and growth
At InfoTronics we hope that the Attendance Enterprise Suite is the product customers want. We’ve made the most of today’s technology and are prepared for tomorrow’s technology changes and customer growth.