Technical Architecture

The object based ‘n’ tier Client/Server architecture on which TROPOS is based is a strong combination of both industry and defacto standards.

TROPOS Clients

TROPOS clients benefit from a native fully integrated desktop environment written in Visual C++ that demonstrates tight integration via the Windows SDK to other desktop applications. OLE server and MAPI integration combine to give true dataflows with corporate messaging systems and commonly used desktop tools like word processors and spreadsheets. Full on-line MS based help and on-line tutorials can be used for on-line reference or training. Web browser and Shop Floor Data Collection clients are also provided.
TROPOS Integration

TROPOS has full integration capabilities at both the client, web server and server levels. From the client the user can embed TROPOS transaction objects in popular desktop development environments or application of their choice. Standard TROPOS functionality can be combined with specialised applications like multimedia or imaging. This functionality combined with ODBC open access for relational databases allow for rich Interfaces delivering the ultimate in customised functionality. Server integration is enabled by a comprehensive suite of server based facilities. Integration here incorporates validation, security and business rules as if the user was using TROPOS on-line.

For the developer a set of tools are available to assist in the rapid development of custom interfaces. These tools include the TROPOS PC ‘SDK’ which can be used for the automatic development of applications on the PC in common desktop environments like Visual Basic, Visual C++ and Delphi and TROPOS Application Designer which can be used as an extension to Microsoft Visual Interdev to develop Web Applications and User Interfaces based on core TROPOS functionality and data. TROPOS Oracle Views assist in the development of the building blocks (database catalogues and universes) for industry leading report writing and EIS systems such as Cognos, Crystal and Business Objects.

Network Support

TROPOS has been designed so that information flows are optimised for WANs (Wide Area Networks). This ‘n’ tier architecture allows browser based connectivity across both the internet and intranets to be configured.

Client Tier

The choice of User interface is totally under user control. The packaged PC and Web Client provides a fully functional and well integrated User interface that gives access to all facilities within the TROPOS system .

The Open access API enables for integration with user developments and embedded integration with the user’s favourite applications. Tools like TROPOS Application Wizard assist the developer in creating custom interfaces with the minimum of coding. Even though all features of TROPOS are available to the Open access API, If required the interface can be restricted to only those

Application Tier

TROPOS is based on an ‘n’ tier client/server architecture. The Application Tier is designed as an open system for use on a variety of hardware and software platforms including IBM(AIX), HP(HP-UK and Tru 64) and Intel servers (Windows).

A comprehensive suite of facilities give an environment where TROPOS transaction monitoring, load balancing and transaction logging combine to give a robust and secure environment for execution of the TROPOS business rules.

System management of a TROPOS system or remote management of many TROPOS systems is available by using the TROPOS operator interface. This allows the operator to monitor TROPOS performance on-line and perform necessary tasks to keep the system available to the users for up to twenty-four hour, seven day operation.

Database Tier

Oracle is the prime database with open access enabled by SQL and ODBC. All of the security and recovery facilities of Oracle are used to give a totally secure, efficient and flexible server environment. Using the distributed features of Oracle and its two-phased commit protocol distributed databases in the correct networked environment are enabled.

By using the snapshot capabilities of Oracle, complex reporting requirements can be handled by data warehouses using Oracle or other databases such as SQLserver. portions of TROPOS that a user needs to do his or her job.