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UNIT-e Research & Development Microsoft Technology Day Stephen Cain (System Architect)
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Disclaimer This presentation shows a number of areas of Research and Development which are currently taking place or have recently been undertaken in Capita F&HE. Some of the technologies demonstrated have already been embedded into UNIT-e solutions. Some may be included in future development plans whilst others will not make it past today!
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Key Principles - Platform Database Independence Security Consistent across sites, platforms & applications Above and beyond database level security Configuration Driven Pick lists & lookups Reports Labels Layout Search Toolset Availability Web publishing Reporting Services & SharePoint etc Information Interface
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Key Principles – Clients Horses for Courses SMS, Email in Windows Services Workflow in SharePoint Thick Client Resource Manager, II, Student Manager etc Reporting in Crystal (over MDBs) Smart Client Attendance Grid Room Booking Browser Columbus Online Services Some parts of HR Reporting Services SharePoint
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Database Manager (Users) Move some code to II Significantly improved performance Modernised layouts Improved validation Good platform for enhancements e.g. Improved LDAP integration
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Database Manager (Users) Demo
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UNIT-e Technical Roadmap - History VB 6.NET Online Services Drop Online Services (COM) Information Interface over API Information Interface (.NET) IB.NET Drop IB COM XML Exporter II Enrolments Add Rules Engine XML Importer
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Key Principles - Evolution 64 bit operating systems on client and server Multi Core processors Large scale implementations NLB, Clusters, etc Improvements in browser based UI technology Ajax, Silverlight Increased desire for browser based applications (inc mobile devices) Increased complexity and rate of change for business rules Increased demands on security and audit More links between and within institutions Capita aware of issues raised by new tools Move to using tools for longer periods internally before release to customer Reduce implementation & training overhead by looking at web access/hosting
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Report Generator Re-Write (PDP 2010) Move code to.NET code base Support new OS inc 64 bit Replace legacy COM components IB.NET & Excel Move towards support for UNICODE Reduce upgrade overhead DMST Improve some aspects of application performance Provide developers with appropriate platform for future development
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Add Validation and Defaulting A rules engine was added to UNIT-e 4.11 built upon the.NET Framework 3.0 the Rules libraries. Rules take a series of (usually) basic inputs, perform simple calculations on them and provide outputs. This is in use in 2 UNIT-e applications in 2009 and will be rolled out elsewhere in 2010. For example: If (student.dob>1/1/1990) ErrorCount++;
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Rules Engine – Examples This can be used to set error messages If (student.dob>1/1/1990 | student.dob<1/1/1980) setError (“Outside date range.”); or default information ModuleEnrolment.Reference=Module.Reference;
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Rules Engine – Designer Demo A 3rd party UI can sit over these rules and provide a friendly designer. Alternatively Capita may build one.
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Rules Engine – Potential Integration Data access layer validation and defaulting Business controllers user customisation of execution paths Add to II Condition Delete, Read Only, Create Cascade Changes UI validation Replace hard coded functions like statutory validation Easier testing Easier to implement changes
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Mobile Devices Ubiquitous mobile devices Consumer driven No standards Multiple platforms Expectation of availability Student and Staff Security Issues Access to network Personal data Easily lost or stolen Also bring benefits Better access to information Record changes as they happen 3G and Wi-Fi mean good access
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Information Interface in the Browser ASPX, AJAX & Silverlight under review Important to address some issues with existing II Need to rebuild II apps for each platform Reach alternative client platforms Improve options for “hosting” UNIT-e Ensure pain free migration path Match control set Tabs, ListViews & TreeViews etc Use for in house applications first
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II in the Browser Demo
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Deploying II to the Web – Cluster
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UNIT-e Technical Roadmap - Projected Add Rules Engine XML Importer SIF Agent Report Generator (.NET) 64 bit support for Application Servers Windows 7 Support (TBC) Rules Engine Designer (TBC) Information Interface in the Browser (TBC) Security Review (LDAP etc) Support Dublin for Workflow( TBC)
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Questions
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