This project is a client-server database application and web portal used by freight forwarding companies. Initially designed and built during 2007 by myself and one other developer, it went live at the start of April 2008. It has seen many changes since then but is still in daily use by around 100 users across 8 installations.
It handles all elements of the forwarding workflow including invoicing, job costing and includes document archiving & management features.
The client-side is MS Windows only and made up of 3 main components:The server side shares the SQL server with Cargoware F.M.S although W.M.S can be and is used by some users without the need for Cargoware F.M.S. W.M.S also has a small array of ‘services’ running on a backend server called SARK which is also a Qt application. This is a project in its own right and more details can be found on the SARK & SMART E.D.I page. The main elements to the server side overlap those of Cargoware but in summary they are:
- A Windows printer driver.
- A System Tray application for document management.
- The main MDI based client user application.
The Windows printer driver was build using Miscrosoft Studio and the two applications are written using Borland C++ Builder 2006, they connect to MySQL via ODBC and the System Tray application uses HTTPS to publish documents to a web server.
- An SQL Server (currently MySQL).
- The Apache Web Server running a PHP based data visibility portal known as Vision.
- A series of PHP and Perl scripts that carry out back end E.D.I, automated reporting and workflow alerts.
The web portal is a tool that allows the freight forwarder’s own clients to login and access real-time status and reporting from the data held in the SQL server. It includes consignment tracking, shipping approval workflow and custom reporting to name just a few of its features. This portal is still in daily use but is looking a bit dated and because of that is sparked the Web B.I Framework project.