ICommander has myriad ways to automatically create web pages for your Intranet.
You may publish almost any type of ICommander output in the form of web pages and then easily use the ICommander File Manager Intranet Location Tracking function to update any and all such pages in the appropriate location. If you do not want to maintain web page links to access such output, you may use an ICommander provided CGI Script to have just a single link pointing to where you are placing such output and then have ICommander automatically build an index web page for you.
ICommander integration with the Intranet also provides many other tools for
creating web pages that are totally unrelated to accounting. Additionally, you
may give Intranet access to various information you store via ICommander File
Manager and the flexible Help Topics Menu functions. The discussion below
covers many of the options available.
Generation of Web Pages by ICommander
- Automatic
Conversion of Standard ICommander Reports to Web Pages
- Any standard 132-Column ICommander Report may be viewed before and/or
in place of printing. This includes an option to view the Report as a
Web Page (either immediately or by first spooling and then selecting via
the ICommander Print Utility for viewing). This actually creates the Web
Page in your my_trfrs directory and defaults to deleting it after viewing.
Viewing a report as a Web Page will present the same options for greenbar
and grid effects as when reports are spooled to enable the generated web pages
to have the same effects as when printed using these options for ICommander
Enhanced Printing. Report examples on the example Management Information
Center use the combined greenbar and grid effects.
You may elect to retain the HTML File after viewing it either for your own
future reference (via the Intranet Explore Saved Free-Form Reports link
or via ICommander File Manager) or for publishing it to the Intranet.
If you wish to retain the HTML File created, you may then elect to publish
it to the Intranet by specifying the applicable directory. The location
may be the directory where a link on an Intranet Web Page points or to a
directory for all or selected such reports. If you do not want to create
Intranet Web Page links, an ICommander provided Intranet CGI Script may
be used to create a single link to the applicable directory with ICommander
then building a Web Page automatically that will present all report files
in that directory (and subdirectories, if desired). This will include any
"Alert Note" entered when the HTML File was created, an option to view
the report parameters to decide whether to click on the link, and optionally
a file of notes about the report.
Once you have transferred a report to the Intranet, ICommander records where
you placed it and will automatically default to transferring it to the same
location the next time you generate and retain it. A File Manager option
in ICommander General Utilities gives you access to the Intranet Location
Tracking Files to review reports setup for transfer. This is also where
you may add notes to Web Page Reports that you want to be available on the
Web Page index that ICommander generates.
If you know a report is going to a directory where the ICommander Intranet
Utility to automatically build a web page index will be used, the option
for an "Alert Note" when the HTML File is created may be very useful. Its
purpose is to get an Intranet user's attention about a particular report.
Most areas available to the Intranet are public (available to any user on
your Local Area Network (LAN)). If you wish to create one or more restricted
areas that require a username and password to access, ICommander Support
Staff will help you set this up. Currently this must be done as the Linux
root/superuser at the # prompt. We are investigating enabling Intranet
security as an ICommander System Control Function in the future.
- Automatic
Conversion of Free-Form Data Extraction Reports to Web Pages
- The same option in the ICommander Print Utility which may be used for
standard ICommander Reports also applies to FFDE Reports (so long as they do
not exceed 132 columns). The greenbar/grid effects are also now available
when a FFDE Report is created.
- Automatic Output of
Free-Form Data Extraction as Tables on a Web Page
- The preceding FFDE Web Page option applies when you create the FFDE as a
report. Additionally, any FFDE may be directly output as a Web Page. Your
selections will be in tables separated by your sort specifications with a
table of contents to all tables at the top of the page.
The direct output of FFDE information to Web Page Tables includes an option
for either Horizontal or Vertical Presentation. The Vertical Presentation is
very useful when the number of columns would cause Horizontal Tables to be
very wide and force much scrollbar use to see all the data. The Vertical
option solves that problem. It also provides a way to output read-only full
master file details (such as the Employee Master) for access by staff who
do not use ICommander.
The FFDE Web Page Table output also is placed in your my_trfrs directory and
defaults to not retaining the Web Page. This is to enable use for quick
analysis where the output has no continuing value. Publishing to the Intranet
is simply a matter of retaining the Web Page and specifying the Intranet area
Directory or Subdirectory. This works the same as the standard ICommander
reports wherein ICommander will track the location of any such transfer for
the default location on regeneration of the same output. This includes the
ability to include and "Alert Note" and to add Notes about the Web Page via
the ICommander General Utilities File Manager option for "Intranet Report
Publishing-Current Company/System".
- Automatic
Conversion of ICommander Reports to PDF Files
- Several methods are available for converting any ICommander Report in
the ICommander Print Utility into PDF Files. The most flexible is to
use a Windows PDF Writer (we use pdfFactory at ICommander Corporation) and
use the Anziowin Pass-Through Print Queue with the Anziowin Printer set to
point to the PDF Writer. Ask ICommander staff about the various methods.
Large PDF reports will take longer to load up on Intranet pages than actual
Web Pages. However, there are various advantages, including much simpler
download and/or transfer when that is needed. The PDF Form is also more
secure (if you have any concerns that a Linux user might try to edit a
Web Page file to change reported values [not easy to do]).
- ICommander File
Manager Generation of Web Pages
- The Intranet Links Page provided as part of the Intranet Starter Files is
an example of using File Manager to setup a directory containing URI paths
(websites, email addresses, etc.) and then having File Manager automatically
convert this into a Web Page and automatically transferring it to where
the Intranet expects it to be.
As in the case of the Intranet Links Page, subdirectories starting with a
4-digit number may be used to group entries into useful categories. The
Web Page Generation routine then uses this to build an index of the
categories as seen on the Intranet Links Page. Subdirectories may also
be added to group entries without generating an index. ICommander
Corporation uses this approach for customer email addresses where each
customer has its own subdirectory with individual email addresses for
contacts for each customer. In this case the Web Page Table of email
addresses will first be in order by customer and then by email address
within.
- Output of
ICommander Menus as Web Pages
- The Shift-F8 Menu on the ICommander System Selection Menu includes an
option for "Print Manuals and Other Documentation". That Menu Choice now
includes an option to output the ICommander Menus as Web Pages. These
Web Pages do not actually allow accessing the ICommander Programs but may
be useful for training and to acquaint non-ICommander users with the Menus.
- Creating a Photo
Gallery from File Manager Directories
- ICommander File Manager has many capabilities that make it a simple task to
setup a Photo Gallery. Notes may be entered about all photos in a directory
using File Manager Directory Notes. Notes about individual photos are entered
as File Manager File Notes. Both Directory and File Notes may contain HTML tags
to format your photo documentation nicely. The File Manager File Transfer and
Zip and Unzip Utilities simplify loading your photo images. The File Manager
Directory and File Actions allow you to rename, move, and copy files and
directories easily so you may keep adjusting as your content changes.
The Photo Gallery on the Intranet is automatically created by adding a link that
points to an ICommander developed CGI script with the starting directory for
your Photo Gallery appended to it. This may also be entered directly as a web
address in your browser. When ICommander Staff installs your Intranet, they
create several Web Directories which point to actual directories under the
ICommander centralized structure. Consult with ICommander Staff when you create
your first File Manager Photo Gallery about where to place it in order to make
it available to the Web Server. The File Manager starting path will be
different than the Web Directory starting path due to the Web Server having no
direct access to the ICommander structure. This is easy to adjust for in
setting up your link as you just omit part of the starting path. Other
directories beyond those initially implemented are easily added to the Web
Directory area.
ICommander has a similar CGI Script for generating web pages for other image
files. This web page was initially created using the Script available for
mapping Slide Images in a directory and subdirectories within File Manager. It
was then converted to a static web page so that it could exist independent of
the ICommander Intranet. Organization of this and the other topics was also
initially done via ICommander File Manager by having it create a table of links
to the various category directories and then to each topic web page in a table
for each category. The page you used to get here is that page as revised to be
a static page that could exist outside the Intranet.
We also have CGI Scripts for listing all images in any directory available to
the Web Server at full size. This is very useful when you have many images
accumulated in a directory and wish to quickly review to reorganize or update.
Shared ICommander and Intranet Information
The starter Home Page installed by ICommander has several examples of shared
ICommander and Intranet Information.
- Access to Standard
Help PDF's
- The lower right corner of the Home Page includes links to the same PDF
files available on the standard ICommander Help Topics Menu. This is
accomplished by making the directory where these files are stored available
to the Intranet.
- Access to News and
Events
- The News and Events link in the center of the Home Page brings up a browser
directory listing of all News and Events files. This makes the information
available to staff members who do not or cannot access ICommander but the
files are actually managed via an option on the ICommander Help Topics Menu.
- Exploration of
Shared Directories
- The Explore option on the Home Page Menu includes an option to explore the
Shared Samba Directory and a user's Saved Free-Form Reports. If you are
not presently using the Linux System's ability to make a shared directory
available to all ICommander Users, you should set it up. The Samba program
on Linux enables Windows users to access any shared directory via Network
Places and provides an inexpensive and fast file server. Any such shared
directory is included in the Linux backups.
The simultaneous access to a Shared Linux Samba directory from the Intranet
provides a quick route to subdirectories and files therein without needing to
go through Network Places. It also makes the Shared Directory available to
remote users, if the option discussed later to setup a tunnel through the
Internet to securely access the Intranet is put in place.
The Explore Saved Free-Form Reports points to the my_trfrs/htmlout directory
for a user with a login account on the Linux server. Both Free-Form Data
Extraction Web Pages and Reports converted to Web Pages are created in the
user's my_trfrs/htmlout directory. This is to keep the Web Pages private
to the user, unless it is elected to copy or move a page to the normal
Intranet area.
- Access to Other
Directories Maintained by ICommander
- Any area in ICommander Directories may be easily be made available to the
Intranet. This includes directories containing image files which may
be explored either as directory listings or using the ICommander tool
discussed on the Other Examples page to create a table with all images
displayed.
Graphs Generated by ICommander
The ICommander File Manager options available via the 90 General Utilities
Menu Choice #8 includes two options for creating graphs using the Ploticus
Graphing package which is installed on your Linux Server at the same time
that the Intranet is implemented. At present, you need to use File Manager
to copy example graph creation scripts to create new graphs and use Vim
via File Manager to create the data files used to create the graphs. There
are several examples of graphs which can be created on the example Management
Information Center pages.
Viewing a report as a Web Page will present the same options for greenbar and grid effects as when reports are spooled to enable the generated web pages to have the same effects as when printed using these options for ICommander Enhanced Printing. Report examples on the example Management Information Center use the combined greenbar and grid effects.
You may elect to retain the HTML File after viewing it either for your own future reference (via the Intranet Explore Saved Free-Form Reports link or via ICommander File Manager) or for publishing it to the Intranet. If you wish to retain the HTML File created, you may then elect to publish it to the Intranet by specifying the applicable directory. The location may be the directory where a link on an Intranet Web Page points or to a directory for all or selected such reports. If you do not want to create Intranet Web Page links, an ICommander provided Intranet CGI Script may be used to create a single link to the applicable directory with ICommander then building a Web Page automatically that will present all report files in that directory (and subdirectories, if desired). This will include any "Alert Note" entered when the HTML File was created, an option to view the report parameters to decide whether to click on the link, and optionally a file of notes about the report.
Once you have transferred a report to the Intranet, ICommander records where you placed it and will automatically default to transferring it to the same location the next time you generate and retain it. A File Manager option in ICommander General Utilities gives you access to the Intranet Location Tracking Files to review reports setup for transfer. This is also where you may add notes to Web Page Reports that you want to be available on the Web Page index that ICommander generates.
If you know a report is going to a directory where the ICommander Intranet Utility to automatically build a web page index will be used, the option for an "Alert Note" when the HTML File is created may be very useful. Its purpose is to get an Intranet user's attention about a particular report.
Most areas available to the Intranet are public (available to any user on your Local Area Network (LAN)). If you wish to create one or more restricted areas that require a username and password to access, ICommander Support Staff will help you set this up. Currently this must be done as the Linux root/superuser at the # prompt. We are investigating enabling Intranet security as an ICommander System Control Function in the future.
The direct output of FFDE information to Web Page Tables includes an option for either Horizontal or Vertical Presentation. The Vertical Presentation is very useful when the number of columns would cause Horizontal Tables to be very wide and force much scrollbar use to see all the data. The Vertical option solves that problem. It also provides a way to output read-only full master file details (such as the Employee Master) for access by staff who do not use ICommander.
The FFDE Web Page Table output also is placed in your my_trfrs directory and defaults to not retaining the Web Page. This is to enable use for quick analysis where the output has no continuing value. Publishing to the Intranet is simply a matter of retaining the Web Page and specifying the Intranet area Directory or Subdirectory. This works the same as the standard ICommander reports wherein ICommander will track the location of any such transfer for the default location on regeneration of the same output. This includes the ability to include and "Alert Note" and to add Notes about the Web Page via the ICommander General Utilities File Manager option for "Intranet Report Publishing-Current Company/System".
Large PDF reports will take longer to load up on Intranet pages than actual Web Pages. However, there are various advantages, including much simpler download and/or transfer when that is needed. The PDF Form is also more secure (if you have any concerns that a Linux user might try to edit a Web Page file to change reported values [not easy to do]).
As in the case of the Intranet Links Page, subdirectories starting with a 4-digit number may be used to group entries into useful categories. The Web Page Generation routine then uses this to build an index of the categories as seen on the Intranet Links Page. Subdirectories may also be added to group entries without generating an index. ICommander Corporation uses this approach for customer email addresses where each customer has its own subdirectory with individual email addresses for contacts for each customer. In this case the Web Page Table of email addresses will first be in order by customer and then by email address within.
The Photo Gallery on the Intranet is automatically created by adding a link that points to an ICommander developed CGI script with the starting directory for your Photo Gallery appended to it. This may also be entered directly as a web address in your browser. When ICommander Staff installs your Intranet, they create several Web Directories which point to actual directories under the ICommander centralized structure. Consult with ICommander Staff when you create your first File Manager Photo Gallery about where to place it in order to make it available to the Web Server. The File Manager starting path will be different than the Web Directory starting path due to the Web Server having no direct access to the ICommander structure. This is easy to adjust for in setting up your link as you just omit part of the starting path. Other directories beyond those initially implemented are easily added to the Web Directory area.
ICommander has a similar CGI Script for generating web pages for other image files. This web page was initially created using the Script available for mapping Slide Images in a directory and subdirectories within File Manager. It was then converted to a static web page so that it could exist independent of the ICommander Intranet. Organization of this and the other topics was also initially done via ICommander File Manager by having it create a table of links to the various category directories and then to each topic web page in a table for each category. The page you used to get here is that page as revised to be a static page that could exist outside the Intranet.
We also have CGI Scripts for listing all images in any directory available to the Web Server at full size. This is very useful when you have many images accumulated in a directory and wish to quickly review to reorganize or update.
- Access to Standard Help PDF's
- The lower right corner of the Home Page includes links to the same PDF
files available on the standard ICommander Help Topics Menu. This is
accomplished by making the directory where these files are stored available
to the Intranet.
- Access to News and Events
- The News and Events link in the center of the Home Page brings up a browser
directory listing of all News and Events files. This makes the information
available to staff members who do not or cannot access ICommander but the
files are actually managed via an option on the ICommander Help Topics Menu.
- Exploration of Shared Directories
- The Explore option on the Home Page Menu includes an option to explore the
Shared Samba Directory and a user's Saved Free-Form Reports. If you are
not presently using the Linux System's ability to make a shared directory
available to all ICommander Users, you should set it up. The Samba program
on Linux enables Windows users to access any shared directory via Network
Places and provides an inexpensive and fast file server. Any such shared
directory is included in the Linux backups.
The simultaneous access to a Shared Linux Samba directory from the Intranet provides a quick route to subdirectories and files therein without needing to go through Network Places. It also makes the Shared Directory available to remote users, if the option discussed later to setup a tunnel through the Internet to securely access the Intranet is put in place.
The Explore Saved Free-Form Reports points to the my_trfrs/htmlout directory for a user with a login account on the Linux server. Both Free-Form Data Extraction Web Pages and Reports converted to Web Pages are created in the user's my_trfrs/htmlout directory. This is to keep the Web Pages private to the user, unless it is elected to copy or move a page to the normal Intranet area.
- Access to Other Directories Maintained by ICommander
- Any area in ICommander Directories may be easily be made available to the Intranet. This includes directories containing image files which may be explored either as directory listings or using the ICommander tool discussed on the Other Examples page to create a table with all images displayed.
Graphs Generated by ICommander
The ICommander File Manager options available via the 90 General Utilities Menu Choice #8 includes two options for creating graphs using the Ploticus Graphing package which is installed on your Linux Server at the same time that the Intranet is implemented. At present, you need to use File Manager to copy example graph creation scripts to create new graphs and use Vim via File Manager to create the data files used to create the graphs. There are several examples of graphs which can be created on the example Management Information Center pages.Adding a simple ICommander Entry Screen for Graphing Parameters is planned for the future along with the ability to use the FFDE Programs to automatically create the file containing data to be graphed. This will enable using the FFDE Programs to automatically generate the graph image file and optionally publish to the Intranet.
Remote ICommander Users and Generated Web Pages
If you work with ICommander from outside the Local Area Network (LAN) by using the Anziowin tunnel through the Internet and validation of your PC's network card serial number, you automatically have a way to download the Web Pages you create to your PC.You will need to install a small set of files on your remote PC in order for this to work. The installation creates the directory structure that the ICommander Programs expect to be there and installs various image files that the Web Pages use. Once this installation is done, any time you output a FFDE to a Web Page ICommander will recognize that you are not on the LAN and will automatically download the Web Page to your PC and then have your Web Browser open in from your local hard drive.
This same automatic download applies to the various methods for automatically generating Web Pages. Additionally, you may use ICommander File Manager to transfer any file in a File Manager Directory to your PC. File Manager has extensive File Transfer options that let you download single or multiple files to your PC or to upload to a File Manager Directory on the Linux Server. This includes automatic installation of utilities needed to zip and unzip files and other handling on the PC.
Secure Remote Access to the Intranet
If you need to access the Intranet from outside the Local Area Network (LAN) securely (with all data transmission encrypted),you need to create a tunnel through the Internet in order to do so. ICommander has free software that may be installed on your remote PC to create this tunnel. It is the same concept as using Anziowin to access ICommander remotely. However, the Anziowin tunnel does not currently support the type of tunnel needed for the Intranet access.If you need to access the Intranet this way, please contact ICommander support to help you install the necessary software and to setup scripts to automate creating the tunnel.
Insecure Remote Access to the Intranet
ICommander has also developed a way to access your Intranet via the Internet without using the secure "tunnel" noted above. This involves recording the actual Internet Address of your Linux Server in a file on the remote PC and then using a special address in your browser that lets your Linux Web Server know that you are using this method. This method is insecure from the standpoint that data transmitted is not encrypted (which is what the tunnel accomplishes). It is reasonably secure, however, in that you do not use a real Internet Domain Name so it cannot be accessed like a normal Internet page. Also, if someone on the Internet were to attempt to access by entering the actual IP Address, that won't work either.Due to the lack of encryption, we disable file downloads from any area where confidential files would be available on the LAN. File Manager may be used when there is a need to download such files.
Summary
If you managed to read through all of the above, it is obvious that ICommander is now very integrated with the Intranet and that you can easily use the various ICommander tools available to create and manage most of the content you want.We are also working towards enabling user requests from Intranet Web Pages to be transmitted to ICommander for creation of reports or displays made available in the form of Web Pages. The Management Information Functions presently in place are static from the standpoint that managers may access the information you make available from time to time.
The new user request functions will make this dynamic wherein a manager who
does not use ICommander may use the Intranet to request information about
a Vendor, Customer, etc. and have that information immediately presented.