ICommander System Control Features Summary (ICMDR)

ICommander Menu, Control, and Security System: All applications function under control of the ICommander Menu, Control
and Security System. All programs in ICommander incorporate the program
management features provided by that System. The Control System functions
as an extension of the programs themselves and thereby enables functioning
in an unlimited number of environments.

The extent to which Security and Management Features are needed for each
site varies and those which are not applicable are disabled and ignored.
Minimal security requires User and Company ID's. The list below includes
most of the features available although only a few may be applicable.

The extensive features of the powerful ICommander System brings you a
complete Information Management Center. The System reflects an
innovative integration of high-end legacy systems functionality with
today's computing environment. The "Paperless Office" is a reality
with ICommander and the uses of the features of the Menu System itself are
only as limited as your ideas. That on top of outstanding accounting
applications already proven by twenty plus years of use.

ICommander is now also integrated with an Intranet (local restricted
internet) which is maintained as an extension of ICommander. Publish
reports and graphs for managers who will not take the time to learn how to
use ICommander itself. Use the powerful ICommander File Manager to build
web pages of links, email addresses, company reference resources, and all
types of communications that exist both within ICommander itself and on
the Intranet. ICommander creates the Intranet Web Pages for you
automatically so you do not need a "Webmaster".

ICommander continues to add features but it does not lose sight of its
primary focus of providing extremely powerful accounting systems with
internal controls and security thanks to the many years of auditing
experience of its primary architect who remains fully involved in current
development.

Access to ICommander System Control: ICommander System Control is restricted to those users who are trusted
to administer the system. Many of our customers allow only ICommander
Staff access to this, especially when remote access is available for
easy support from anywhere.

System-Wide Features of ICommander: Each ICommander Application System has many unique and powerful features.
The features discussed below apply to all ICommander Applications.

Multi-User: Up to 1,025 Terminals/Workstations
Location and Type of Terminal Stored in System
Specific Terminals may be Temporarily or Permanently De-Activated

Multi-Company: Unlimited (6-character code)
Name and Address Information Stored in System
Optional Industry-Type Menus per Company

Extensive Security and Management Features: User-ID (up to 15 characters) and Password
User Access to Systems
User Access to Companies for Systems
Options to Suspend or Lock-Out a User
Automatic Deactivation of User on Excessive Failed Password Attempts
Security Levels to Access Companies for Systems
Optional Passwords for Systems
Optional Authorization Codes for Companies for Systems
Optional Restriction of Access to Company to Specific Users
Security Levels for Individual Programs
Optional Passwords for Individual Programs
Hidden Menus with Control of Who Can Access
Option to Restrict Users to Specific Terminals
Option to Restrict ICommander User-ID to Specific Operating System User-ID
Restriction of Special Functions to Specified Users
Logging of Sign-On/Sign-Off
Logging of Access to Systems and Companies
Logging of All Security Breaches
Optional Logging of all Reports Printed
Optional Logging of Access to Every Program
Controlled Access to all System-Management Functions
User-Specific Sign-On Menus Option
User-Specific Application System Menus Option
Optional Access to Operating System for Selected Users
Multiple Levels of System Manager Privileges

Actual Manuals are the On-Line Help: Manuals Printed Using an ICommander Program
Updated Indexed and Page-Numbered Manual may be Printed Anytime
Extended by Extensive Online Topical Help in Help Menu Systems

Maintainable Menus: Option to Vary Menus by Work Group, Industry-Type, Company, and User
Easy Creation of System Menu Subsets
Customer-Specific Menus
Customer-Specific Menu Choice Overrides
Easy Customization
Help-Topic Menu System

Entry Screens: Multiple Fonts Available
Multiple Background and Text Colors Available
Easy and Fast Navigation
Use your Mouse Only when it is Helpful
Integrated Toolbar for Linux Servers
Screen Prints to Printer or File

Unlimited Reporting & Analysis: Extensive Number of Standard Reports in Every System
Automatic Electronic Storage of all Posting Registers
Automatic or Optional Electronic Storage of Any Report
Powerful Free-Form Data Extraction to Analyze Any Way you Want
No need for Third-Party Software for Reporting and Analysis
Export to Spreadsheet Software
Full-Page Viewing/Searching(Fast!) of Any Report
Option to View Reports as Web Pages
Drill Down from Displays of Summary Info to Full Details Automatically

Extensive Printing Options: Enhanced Printing for Laser Printers

Multiple Fonts Available
Color Text and Background Options for Color Printers
Report Files Automatically Converted to Attractive Graphic Reports
Option to Automatically Generate Title Page
Option to Insert Graphic Images
Print Logos and Letterhead on Invoices & Reports
Options for Greenbar and/or Grid on Any Report

Print Signatures on Checks Securely
Automatic Conversion of Reports into PDF Files
Line-Printer Printing is Also Supported
Printer Control String Facilities

Secure Remote Access via the Internet (Linux Servers): Proprietary Authentification Mechanism
Encrypted Communications
Simple Remote Printing
Optional Watch/Control of Other Terminals
Online Support by ICommander Staff from Anywhere
Secure Encrypted File Transfers
Access Your Home PC Securely from the Office
Access Your Work PC Securely from Home

Help Topics Menu System: Full Functionality of ICommander Menu System Dedicated to Helping You
Organize Information the ICommander Way
Text Documents
PDF Documents
Internet/Email Address Calls
Any Windows Program File Types
ICommander Blog (Web-Log Type of Communication/Information Sharing)

Powerful but Secure File Manager Function (Linux Servers): Makes the Power of Linux Available to Non-Technical Users
Explore ICommander and Shared Folders with ICommander Controlling Security
Build/Maintain Customer Relations Database
Build/Maintain a Storage Tracking System
Provide Inter-Office Communications with a History (better than email)
Create Project Tracking and To Do Lists
Securely Transfer Files to Remote PC via Internet
Manage Intranet Web Pages

Integrated Intranet (on Linux Servers): Automatic Conversion of Standard Reports to HTML
Automatic Conversion of Standard Reports to PDF for Intranet Access
Output any Free-Form Data Extraction to a Web Page
Use File Manager to Maintain Links and Automatically Generate Web Pages
Convert Menus to Web Pages
Shared Access to ICommander Help and Resources
ICommander CGI Scripts Combined with File Manager Allow Automatically

Building Web Pages for Images (Photo Gallery)

Add Notes about Photo Directories and Individual Photos via File Manager

HTML Basics Provided by ICommander when Desired

Schedule Standard and FFDE Reports for Automatic Transfer to Intranet Area

and Use ICommmander CGI Script to Automatically Build Web Page

Private Secure Pages, if Needed
Encrypted Remote Access to Intranet for Authorized Users
Many Free CGI Programs Available to Add Intranet-Only Functions

Event Calendar
In-Out Board
Document Management

System-Wide Features Affection use of Applications: Current Company being processed is always displayed.

Menu selections entered to reach current menu always displayed.

All reports may be printed immediately or sent to files for later
printing using a sophisticated printer control utility that enables
specifying different printers, selecting a range of pages, viewing
or archiving reports, multiple fonts and colors, automatic titles,
and graphic image inserts.

User-Specific Default Printer Options for Printer, Method, and Font.

All Reports may be Viewed/Explored before or instead of printing using
the powerful VIM editor which can find words or patterns almost
instantly, even in reports with hundreds of thousands of lines.

Archiving (stored in files on computer) of reports automatically at
user option with easy access to Archived Reports to View/Explore/Print.

Menu choices and program that created each report printed on the report.

Free-Form Creation of Tab-Delimited Files for import to spreadsheet and
database programs. Automatic totaling of amount columns and ability to
store definitions for re-use. All with option to instead create a text
file for exploration with VIM and/or to preview before creating for
spreadsheet import. Simple storage and retrieval of your parameters for
creating Free-Form files for re-use. Option for import to Access or
other database programs. Option to output as an indexed Web Page.

Manual sections applicable to menu you are on or the entry screen you
are in are instantly available for viewing and printing.

Any manual section may be accessed by topic at any time for viewing
or printing.

Send Screen Print to Report File for any Menu or Entry Screen.

Store Screen Prints for Creating Company-Specific Documentation.

Option to Add Company-Specific Documentation to System Manuals.

Option to Export Company-Specific Documentation to Remote Sites.

Various shortcuts are available for moving around the Menu System.

Site/Company Shortcuts may be added to point to Menus, Programs, or
Help Topics, with Optional Notes displayed when used.

Users May Create Shortcuts to Menus or to their own processing notes.

System-Wide Features Affecting Use of Applications, Continued: All files are checked for any possible corruption whenever accessed.

All file access errors fully explain the program name, internal data
filename, and path to the physical file on the disk causing the
problem along with the general and specific nature of the problem.

All error screens and significant messages are automatically spooled to
a current report file and to a history of all such screens.

All fields are validated for allowed data type and any field permitting
only certain values prompts you with allowed values.

Default entries provided whenever appropriate to speed up data entry.

Easy on-line Look-Ups of valid codes for entry fields from reference
files.

Pop-Up Menus of valid options for entry fields.

Pop-Up Descriptions of abbreviations on summary display screens.

All entries permit aborting the entire screen when needed--confirmation
of each entry is required before storing on disk.

Entries are updated to disk files interactively. You never risk loss of
data from failures to save.

Programs may be gracefully terminated by an Interrupt Key in the event of
problems.

All entry routines permit printing various edit lists to verify your work
before updating or posting to permanent data and history files.

All files are essentially unlimited in size so history is retained until
you elect to purge it.

Physical management of files including regaining disk space when records
are deleted is accomplished automatically.

Minimal use is made of Function Keys to enhance learning curve and to
enhance entry speed in repetitive functions.

Common Exit and Abort Keys used across all systems.

Screen Displays of selected information are provided for nearly all
Master, Data, History, and Entry Files.

"Secret" Menu Choices to Access Documentation, Printer Control Utility,
and ICommander Utilities (also available via F1-Key at any Menu).

Messages may be sent to one or all other users.

Accounting Controls: Out-of-Balance conditions are recognized at all applicable points and must
be resolved before updating to permanent data and history files.

Invalid Account Numbers are recognized and must be resolved before
updating to permanent data and history files.

Inter-Company/Inter-Fund Balancing Entries are automatic based on
parameters you provide.

All Systems access a common chart of accounts (whether that be ICommander
G/L or a "Chart for Sub-Systems Only" that is provided when the
G/L System is not in use).

Account Number Entry when multiple components are involved uses a dot or
period between components to minimize need to move away from ten-key pad
in order to maximize speed and efficiency of entry.

Account Number Entry when multiple components are involved includes
short-hand entry method for zero components including entry of Object
Account only when all other components are zero.

All Systems store a Posting History to track totals processed. In A/R,
A/P, P/R, and Inventory this takes the form of an on-line
reconciliation of the current system balance of Receivables, Payables,
Total Payroll, and Total Inventory including a feature that analyzes
future-dated transactions to provide an automatic reconciliation to the
related General Ledger Account Balances.

Complete Audit Trail of all Transactions affecting Permanent Files.

Solid Internal Controls.
System Designed by a CPA with Extensive Audit Experience.

Master File Changes Logging has always been in place in the Payroll System
for Employee Information but has now been extended to ALL Master Files.

Control of Physical File Locations: Program Files
Data Files
Work Files
Print Files
Archived Reports
File Utilities Execution Trail
System Control Files
Private Working Directory Option
Shared Directories with Windows PC's on LAN

System and File Management Utilities Provided by ICOBOL Runtime System: File Reliability Checking
File Reorganization and Recovery Utilities
File Statistics Utilities
File Conversion Utilities
File Usage Analysis
File Management Tools
System Resource Utilization Analysis
Physical and Logical Device Configuration
Terminal and Keyboard Attributes Management
Configuration of System Resources to Match Hardware Capabilities
Control of Location of System Files
Management of Printer Queues
Watch Facility
Client/Server File Sharing

The ICommander General and Management Utilities Menus implement most
commonly used ICOBOL Runtime Tools via ICommander Menu Choices.
Sophisticated utilities automatically create and store scripts or batch
files that document the processing and store logs of results.

Background System-Wide Features: All Data Files are ISAM (Indexed Sequential Access Method) Format which
permits accessing records either randomly by specifying the Key or Index
to the record or in sequential order of the Keys or Index to the entire
file.

Physical disk space is allocated dynamically (automatically as needed up
to the total disk space) for each file as records are added.

Data Files may be transferred between different operating systems (Windows
to Linux/Unix or vice versa).

Program Object Code Files are identical on every platform.

Status and use of all Terminals/Workstations may be queried at any time.

Automatic Drive Letter Switching on Windows Networks when Master PC is
also used as a Workstation.

Updates Installed via ICommander System Control Menu Choice.

Remote Site Export/Import Systems.

Linux/Unix Only Features: ICommander File Manager

Any ICommander Report can be automatically converted into a PDF File with
1, 2 or 4 ICommander Report Pages per PDF Page.

File Sharing Provided by Samba Avoids Need for Expensive File Servers
Private user directories shared out to user Windows system
Shared Directories/Folders with full or limited access.

Linux/Unix access to Windows Printers.

Windows access to Linux/Unix Printers.

X-Window Session on PC using VNC Viewer can be initiated via ICommander.

ICommander Authentication Gateway for Secure Remote Internet Access.

Printing to Remote Printers via Internet is the same as printing locally.

File Transfers of Tab-Delimited Files, PDF Files, and Spool Files to
remote PC available via ICommander Utility Menu Choices.

An online Chat/Talk Session can be initiated with any other user.