Mobilis Thick-Client Application Framework [download pdf]

Application Overview

Traditionally, Global 360 applications were built using ViewStar's Application Designer module. ViewStar workflow and scheduled tasks, as well as all customization to ViewStar applications, had to be done using ViewStar's proprietary language, Script. With the release of Global 360 Enterprise's BPI OLE object set, the applications and tasks used to interface to the Enterprise system can now be developed using industry standard programming languages, such as Visual Basic and PowerBuilder. By allowing applications to be developed using these languages, Enterprise applications and tasks can now interface with an endless number of other products, such as, Microsoft Word, Novell Groupwise, and Attachmate Extra, just to name a few. Practically any software application which has an OLE-compliant interface can now be integrated.


Benefits

• Management reporting - one of the biggest benefits of implementing an automated workflow is the ability to capture and monitor employee productivity. The framework automatically records the statistics necessary for management to accomplish this.  
• Rapidly create new applications - any developer familiar with the Enterprise's BPI interface and the framework can create new applications within minutes, and have a fully functional application. The support burden is also reduced through the framework because all applications will be built using the same framework.
• Leverage Visual Basic expertise - because the framework is written in Visual Basic, customers are able to fully support and extend framework applications without reliance on Global 360 Enterprise consultants.
• User Filters - ability to control user access to documents in queues with a high degree of flexibility.
• Attribute defaults - this inherent capability greatly increases throughput and indexing reliability.
• Production-proven - the framework is currently being used at several customer sites (e.g., Hibernia National Bank, Texas Secretary of State) and has been in production for a number of years.
• Reduces programming mistakes - as with any object-oriented programming language, Visual Basic provides developers with the ability to produce inefficient applications. For Global 360 Enterprise, this would be done through the misuse of the BPI objects. The framework reduces the opportunities for developers to make these mistakes by providing a framework which readily employs the use of all the BPI objects relevant to a workflow application.