Design
& Development
One of the more specialized services provided by Infinity Focus is the design and development of custom coded online database solutions for a variety of applications like:
An online database gives you a bird’s-eye view of your data.
An online database is an organized collection of data hosted on a dedicated server on the internet. You can access an online database anywhere that you have internet access.
The online databases developed by Infinity Focus are fully platform independent, and can be accessed from desktop PCs running any operating system, laptops, smart phones and tablets.
The system is then used as a centralized information management system that allows multiple users to connect from anywhere at the same time.
Database Services
-
Database Design is the process of planning and developing a detailed and unique data model for a database.
The Database Design concept can be used as a global term to describe the multitude of different parts of the design of an overall database system. Principally, and most correctly, it can be thought of as the logical design of the base data structures used to store the data. In a relational model these are the tables and views. The term database design also extends to the overall process of designing not just the base data structures, but also the forms and queries used as part of the overall database application within the online database management system.
The database design process generally consists of a number of steps which are carried out by Infinity Focus:
Determining the data types to be stored in the database.
Determine the relationships between the different data elements.
Mapping interaction and behavior of data elements.
Designing a logical data structure based upon these relationships.
Building the actual database according to the design guidelines. -
The Database User Interface is the area where interactions occur between the database users and the database itself.
The main goal of Interface Design is to allow effective operation and control of the Database by the user.
In general, the goal of user interface design is to produce a user interface which makes it easy and self explanatory, efficient, and enjoyable (user friendly) to operate a database in such a way as to produce the desired result.
The inherent efficiency of the relational database model used by us means that the user only works on relevant data and minimal data input is required to achieve the desired output. A well organised, logical and intuitive menu design enables users to efficiently navigate around the database.
Efficient data input is only one aspect of a User Interface design. UI design also plays an important role in the database query process by enabling users to execute complex data query and filtering operations.
-
Custom Coding is an important step in adapting an Online Database to the client’s requirements.
For any complex application like an Online Database , there exists a need for scenarios, conditions, branching, and loops that are not necessarily part of the actual database itself.
Infinity Focus accomplishes this with the use of:
Customized SQL Statements
PHP Coding
JavascriptThis flexibility provided by the above technologies enables us to adapt your Online Database to virtually any scenario imaginable.
-
Lets say you have a head office in Nelspruit with branches in White River and Barberton. As business owner you will have instant access to all the information for the entire company. (Even if you are on holiday – you just need Internet Access on your PC, smart phone or tablet.) The online database can also integrate seamlessly with your website design.
The Nelspruit head office personnel will have access to their head office information, as well as the information for the two branches.
The personnel at each branch can see only their own data.
If someone updates data on the system and you log in a split second – you will see the updated information. Permissions and user groups can be adapted to virtually any scenario.
During the database design phase, the data structure and operation is adapted to suit your unique requirements. The system is dynamic with the ability to evolve and adapt to growing business requirements.
-
Some of the Online Database Features:
-
With an online database you have the ability to access your information anywhere on the globe where you have an Internet Connection.
-
An online database has full Cross Platform Compatibilty:
The system is accessible on a very wide variety of hardware platforms and operating systems: It runs on PC, Mac, Linux, Tablets and Smart Phones.
The only requirements are Internet access and a web browser…
-
Infinity Focus makes use of a Relational Database Model for its online databases. A relational database consist of multiple data sets organized by tables, records and columns. During the planning phase a well defined relationship is established between database tables, communicating and sharing information which facilitates data searchability, organization and reporting.
For this MySQL is used which provides an easy and efficient programming interface for database interaction.
A number of dependencies are possible:
- One to One: One table record relates to another record in another table.
- One to Many: One table record relates to many records in another table.
- Many to One: More than one table record relates to another table record.
- Many to Many: More than one table record relates to more than one record in another table.
The main advantages of using a relational database model are:
- Easy extendability, as new data may be added without modifying or changing any existing records.
- New technology performance, power and flexibility with multiple data requirement capabilities.
- Data security, which is critical when data sharing is based on privacy.
For more information see Access Control on the Features Menu. -
The system’s role based access control module provides different views and levels of control to management, employees and clients.
On the fly customization of users, groups and access levels allows the system to adapt to any scenario.
Each user has his or her own account with a unique username and password on the online database. User groups are created depending on the functionality required: for example “Project Managers”, “Human Resources”, “Administration” etc…
The following permissions can then be assigned per database table, for each of the groups:
- Add – The user can add new records
- Edit – The user can edit existing records
- Delete – The user can delete existing records
- View – The user can view records
- Print and Export – The user can print the records, or export them from the database
- Import – The user can import new data into the database
-
The relational database model eliminates data duplication. Where possible input forms make use of lookups to ensure accurate data entry by minimizing user error.
This contributes to a system that is both accurate and fast.
-
Custom reports, search facilities, charts and advanced filtering can accommodate any database query quickly and efficiently.
Reports and Charts can also be exported to a variety of formats like .PDF, MS Word and Excel.
Fully customized PDF documents like quotes and costing reports can also be generated by the Databases.
-
A variety of charts and graphs can be generated using data in the database.
All charts and graphs can be filtered by any data criterion with one or two mouse clicks. The resulting chart can be printed from the system or saved in PDF format.
-
Optionally, every transaction, login and edit on the database is automatically logged in an audit table.
This captures information like the username, date and time, IP address, and transaction details. In its simplest form it logs IP addresses, Usernames and Login Actions. For a more complete audit trail, logging of database actions like add / edit / delete operations can also be done.
-
Database encryption is the process of converting data, within a database, from plain text format into a meaningless cipher text by means of an encryption algorithm. The database encryption protects the stored data.
Database encryption is used to encrypt sensitive data like passwords, medical records, etc. on the tables, columns, or rows of a database.
Encryption takes place on-the-fly with all new data entered or imported being encrypted.
-
We support more than 25 languages and our online databases gives users the ability to choose their language when they log in. Languages Include:
- Afrikaans
- Arabic
- Bosnian
- Catalan
- Chinese
- Croatian
- English
- French
- German
- Greek and more…
-
Data can be imported from a variety of formats like:
- MS Excel
- CSV
- Tab Delimited
Online data can be exported as:
- MS Excel 5
- Microsoft Excel 2007
- Microsoft Word
- CSV
- XML
During the design process we have full control over the selection and order of fields to be exported. On the fly field mapping also makes it easy to import data where the table names or order do not correspond 100% to the format of the database.
-
Security for the online databases is handled with a very flexible and robust granular permissioning system:
- Online Database password protection
- Optional User self-registration, password reminder, and change password pages
- Flexible user groups and assigned permissions
- Control over dynamic permissions
- CAPTCHA protection
- Password and data encryption as well as validation of password strength