V The use of modern software such as desk top publishing,
98. Recommended specification for the computer hardware equipment is included in Annex 5
6.1.3 Recommended computer software (a) Basic system features
99. It has been well established in chapter 2 above that the primary users of the regional data base are senior government officials, planners and executives at the national level and various experts, researchers, consultants and high level executives at subregional, regional and international level. Development in modern cost effective data/information dissemination tools currently being introduced at the various user level require the data base development to have highly flexible features.
100. In selecting the systems software and development tools the following basic features are considered.
Data import and export facilities
101. The system to be developed should provide a fully integrated data capture, processing and dissemination facility and should have facilities for data import and
export from/to 4th generation language applications and spreadhsheets such as Lotus
123 and dbase IV. Thus, the software shall include modules for transferring/receiving transport data to/from external application packages. The system should be able to offer high level of flexibility in accessing the transport data for use with other applications or visual view and ease of operation.Multi-level security
102. The system should provide security so that users as well as unauthorized operators are restricted to make changes to the data base. Specific functions can be
assigned to authorized personnel to undertake the updating and dissemination
operations. Similarly, users can be limited to specific modes of the data base. The system should provide complete ease of operation. The system should also be completely stable and must have the ability to recover from technical malfunctioningDOC/DBASE/PHASEIATRANSCOM/946 Page 41 without loss or damage to data with minimum operator intervention and thus restart/recovery procedures should be embodied in the basic system design.
CD-ROM Retrieval and portability
103. The system should incorporate data archival and retrieval facility which enables users to store information that would normally be printed, micro filmed or captured on micro-fiche. The system should have the facility to use latest write-once read-many optical disk technology (CD-ROM) for computer generated information storage and archival. This provides the ability to reduce the production of heavy volume of hard copy data and eliminates high cost of other retrieval media. The system itself should be portable across a number of environments and platforms.
User oriented service
104. The system shall operate in an on-line mode, which means information impacts the system from the moment it is input. As the result all reports reflect the latest position. On the other hand all data is held on-line, giving users instant access to appropriate files and functions. This allows users service to be maximized and at the same time allows data users to base their study or decision, if any, on the most up-to-date information possible. The system should also provide a link to an off-line support where data recorded in member States, subregional, regional and international organization can be sent to central data base and updated. Similarly latest version of data base as a whole or report version of the data base can be sent to users instantly.
Ease of use
105. The system should be user friendly and as such should be designed in such a way that maximum ease of use through use of action bars with pull-down menu's is utilized. It Should also incorporate screen presentation facility including the selection of the data items for input or display for specific transaction, the painting of the screen for selected information and colour selection. For experienced users, speed key combination should be available to by-pass the process of menu-selection, thus access to data is quick and easy.
Flexibility
106. The system should enable extensive use of parametrisation so as to tailor output to ones requirement. These parameters should allow users to define transaction types, screen formatting, input layout and report headings.
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Multi-lingual support
107. The system as a minimum should support a multi-lingual environment used in ECA.
User training
108. For optimum use of the system, there is a need to develop the necessary training module to be incorporated into the system. Training is often needed not only at the implementation phase but when changes arise within the team of experts assigned to undertake the job through new recruitment, job promotion or resignation. Having the necessary kit to train new staff or reserve staff means that organizational efficiency does not fall victim to illness or holiday leave etc.
109. The training module shall be stand alone system and should provide structured self paced training on-site with proper glossary of computer and transport data base terms. It should take users through the system and be able to explain what is happening at each stage of the procedure. It should also be able test the trainees knowledge and understanding of the various data base processes with question and answer sessions at the end of each course.
110. A cost effective solution to post implementation user training should be developed whereby system modules can easily be used at national, subregional and international level without the need to incur cost of travel and accommodations to either trainees or experts.
Ease of analysis and data transfer mechanism
111. The system should have sufficient room for analysis and report production in a wide variety of sequences and totalling. Similarly, the system should have a comprehensive data transfer capability allowing easy export and import of data.
Incoming data files can be imported into separate data base files in the receiving location and consolidated to the existing file as and when required.
Other tools
112. The system should provide a complete list of data dictionaries detailing file types, file layouts, data formats etc. for use by other developers and users.
(b) Recommended system software and other tools
DOC/DBASE/PHASEI/TRANSCOM/946 Page 43 113. In order to design and develop a system which satisfy conditions outlined in (a) above the consultants have made the necessary search to identify the basic development tools and would like to recommend the following:
■ Both the servers and workstations shall operate under a UNIX environment. The workstations shall be pre-loaded with latest versions of MS-DOS, windows and graphic software.
■ The basic software recommended include UNIX V.4-50 user
Novell netware 4.01-50 user Micro Focus Cobol UNIX Version C Compiler (UNIX Version)
Graphic software for use with scanner
(c) Recommended data base management information system
114. Four relational data base systems which can work in UNIX environment were selected and briefly analysed as follows.
(i) SYBASE: It is an open relational data base management system (RDBMS) specifically designed for distributed online transaction processing in heterogenous networks, dedicated server systems and mainframes. Main features include:
■ Scalable high performance
■ Server enforced data integrity
■ Adaptable graphical user interface
■ A programmable interface1 to 3rd generation languages such as
Cobol, C, Fortran allowing an integrated designing, development and integration of window based application■ The client/server interface facilitates the integration of other proprietary software and tools
■ The connectivity products and components allow application and data of any type to be linked and used together. These products include client/server interface, data base remote procedure calls, open server for CIC and open gateway for DB2 and similar products used as a gateway to mainframe environment.
(ii) Oracle: It is a relational data base management system offering all the necessary tools for system designing, data dictionary development tools and applications development tools. Main features include: