NGT Information Technology Technical Discussion

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NGT Information Technology Technical Discussion

• Bob DeHoff
• Info Tech, Inc

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Topics

• Driving Forces
• Architecture, Platforms, and Deployment
• Security
• Interoperation with Client/Server Trnsport
• Migration
• Customization and Integration

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Driving Forces

• Same business requirements
• Clean slate architecture
• Incremental rather than Big Bang approach
• Frequent TTF user community review/feedback
• Unify data, business, and security models
  andlook-and-feel across entire project lifecycle
• Standardize on Microsoft .NET foundation
• Use web services to make integration easier
• Continue to support customizability
  extensibility

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Architectural Layers
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Languages and Tools
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Platform Components
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Server Size and Configuration

• Performance-related user stories starting this
  sprint
• Performance tests integrated into automated cycle
• Sizing/configuration guidelines to be developed
  based on testing results
• Scaling strategies also to be evaluated
• Simplest configuration
• Standard Windows clients
• All three layers on one middle tier server
• One database server

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Required 3rd Party Components

• Clients
• Internet Explorer 6 or Firefox 1
• PDF viewer browser plug-in
• Middle Tier
• Windows Server 2003
• .NET Framework 2, Internet Information Services
  (IIS) 6
• Oracle 10g or DB2 8 native drivers
• DBMS
• Oracle 10g or DB2 8
• Currently, vanilla DBMS configuration
• Subject to change based on various factors
• Scaling, 3rd party version changes, etc.

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Security

• User Authentication
• Built-in user authentication
• Optional authentication through ActiveDirectory
• User Authorization
• Role-base privilege assignment
• Access Groups
• C/S analog Control Groups, SM district hierarchy
• Individual Object Authority
• C/S analog SM Contract Authority
• Auditing and other security aspects
• Requirements still TBD

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Interoperation with Client/Server Trnsport

• Incremental NGT delivery
• Hybrid C/S NGT deployed during transition
• NGT interfaces provided to C/S modules that have
  not yet been replaced by NGT
• Probably based on existing flat file interfaces
• Reference data sharing (e.g., Master Item List)
• Unified in NGT, so no sharing needed within NGT
• Strategy for sharing with C/S during transition
  still TBD

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Migration

• Data
• All data from base C/S tables will be migrated to
  NGT
• Only support migration from latest C/S release
• RTF
• RTF will not be supported in NGT
• No plans for RTF migration utility
• PowerBuilder Customizations
• No plans for PB customization migration utilities
• Plan for DWR and materials template migration
  still TBD

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Customization and Integration

• Database Customization
• User Interface Customization
• Report Customization
• Documentation Customization
• Agency Extensibility
• External Systems Integration

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Database Customization

• Generic columns add as many as you need
• Any base entity, any standard data type
• Separately stored in companion table of base
  table
• Separation is transparent to UI and reports
• Add data validation constraints to any column
• Select from validation library provided
• Full configurability for generic columns
• Cannot decrease base validation constraints

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User Interface Customization

• Agency Level
• Change entity and column labels
• Hide base columns
• Set default field order
• Change visual style (color, fonts, etc.)
• Customize ASP.NET pages
• Settings and customized pages stored separately
  from base so updates do not overwrite
  customizations
• User Level
• Hide/show/resize list columns
• Change list sort order and filters

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Report Customization

• Standalone GUI report customization utility
• Change report layout and labels
• Add calculations logic based on available
  report columns
• All base and generic columns of report subject
  entities available for addition to report
• Customizations stored separately from base
  reports so updates do not overwrite
  customizations
• Reports unaffected by UI entity/column name
  changes
• Currently reports cannot access entities that are
  not included in the base report data set (e.g.,
  no SQL SELECT)

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Documentation Customization

• No features currently implemented
• Requirements still TBD

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Agency Extensibility

• Access to agency-developed extensions from NGT
• Including access security control
• No features currently implemented
• Backlog item
• Add invocation of an agency server-side custom
  process from any page (like C/S Custom Process
  feature)

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External Systems Integration

• Flat file interfaces provided by C/S will be
  provided by NGT unless determined to be obsolete
• Trnsport functions to be exposed for direct
  external access will be exposed through public
  web services
• Functions to be exposed will be based on
  requirements
• We need your integration user stories!

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Discussion