Table of contents

3 Internet catalog

3.1 Functional description

3.2 Features

3.3 System requirements

3.4 Technology

3 SQLCat Internet catalog

Parts catalogs in the Internet SQLCat is an extremely fast database solution for publication of parts catalogs in the Internet. SQLCat is based on SQL Server and Microsoft Internet Information Server.  Automatic catalog publishing SQLCat is an all-automatic tool for publication of SPCat spare parts catalogs (=> 2) on the Internet. An extended version which will also publish PDF files, hierachical HTML files, OEM manuals and electrical documentation is currently under development.

As an SQLCat administrator you operate a convenient user interface to create a hierarchical structure on top of your own document types. You administer any number of user accounts and assign the required access rights for the published catalogs and manuals.

3.1 Functional design

The following schematic diagram illustrates the functional design of SQLCat:

SQLCat Console

SQLCat Console is used for administrative access to SQLCat functions. It empowers the catalog author to do the following:

• Create hierarchical structures (e.g. customer's name, project name, etc.) under which catalogs can be imported
• Import catalogs produced with SPCat right from the Windows file system
• Create and administer user accounts
• Assign access rights for users or user groups on an object level

The console has been developed using Microsoft Visual Foxpro, just like SPCat.

SQLCat Database

SQLCat Database has been developed for MS SQL Server. It stores all catalog data:

• Parts lists
• Graphics
• Drawings
• Catalog configuration
• User accounts
• Security settings

It can be accessed from SQLCat Console as well as from SQLCat Application Server via an authenticated network connection using ODBC. In order to speed up complex operations, parts of the query logic are stored right on the SQL Server as "stored procedures". 

SQLCat Application Server

SQLCat Application Server has been developed for Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS). The information stored in the SQLCat database is published by the application server via ASP pages (active server pages). In an ASP page, the application server establishes a connection to the SQLCat database. The data reqired for presentation are queried by the database server, processed in HTML, and then forwarded to SQLCat Frontend (web browser).

If the catalogs to be published contain confidential data, the entire communication (incl. transmission of catalog drawings) between web server and web browser can be performed encrypted via SSL. The performance of the overall application is only slightly reduced in this case.

In general, Application Server and Database Server can be installed on the same server (physically).

SQLCat Frontend (web browser)

SQLCat has been optimized for Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 and later, but it will also work with most web browsers available today from other manufacturers.

The pages displayed to the catalog user in the frontend consist of ordinary HTML with embedded JavaScript. The display of the tree structure is based on a Java applet. The Java applet has been optimized for display of very complex and extensive tree structures. To this end, only data of currently visible parts are called from the application server during run time. This enables fast and convenient navigation with the mouse even in catalogs containing thousands of nods and hundreds of thousands of parts.

3.2 Internet catalog features

Administration

• User accounts
• Access rights
• Document structure

Import / export of SPCat catalogs

Archive functions

• System hierarchy
• Drawings
• SPCat configuration

Functionality

• User authentication
• Navigation / tree structure
• Search
• Basket
• Connectivity to ERP systems (SAP Internet Sales via OCI interface)

3.3 System requirements

SQLCat Frontend

• Web browser with activated Java and JavaScript
• Optimized for Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0
• Tested with Firefox 1.5 and 2.0, Opera 6.03, Mozilla 1.0, Netscape 6.02

SQLCat Server

Software

• MS Windows 2000 Server, MS Windows 2003 Server
• MS SQL Server 2000, MS SQL Server 2005, MS SQL Server 2005 Express Edition (limited use)

Hardware

• Server with 512 MByte RAM, 1 CPU PIII (minimum),
  1 GByte RAM, 1 CPU P4 (recommended)
• One harddisk (minimum, disk space depends on database size),
  2 physically separate harddisk systems, RAID 1/5 (recommended, disk space depends on database size)

3.4 Technology

SQLCat has been developed eclusively for Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft SQL Server is one of the fastest database servers currently available for the PC platform. In addition, Microsoft SQL Server offers best availability and scalability.

For further information on Microsoft SQL Server refer to:

• TPC-C Benchmark (article written in English)[1]
• SQL Server Fast Facts (article written in English)[2]

External links: