Desktop Application
From TrackerProducts Wiki
Setting up and Using the the Desktop Application
The desktop application is an installable program that is designed to give you a way to collect item information when you are at a location that does not offer access back to the primary system. For police that may be a crime scene, for others it may be a client location. In either case, for whatever reason, you are prevented from logging in to the primary application from your web browser. Suggestion: If at all possible try to get access to the primary application web interface; you will have more functionality than the desktop app.
The Desktop Application is not, and can not, provide all the functionality that the web interface provides. In all reality, it is a tool that provides limited functionality to some of the features that you have in the main system. It is kind of like Outlook web access versus the actual Outlook product. The web access is nice but you will have a lot more features in the primary application.
Over time this software will be further developed to provide as many of the functions you enjoy in the web system today as possible.
Technical Notes (For IT or Advanced Users)
The Desktop App is a .Net windows program with a SQL CE back end. All information about customization and how the program should work is downloaded via XML file when the desktop first sync's with the main system. That XML will define every field and every drop down menu value that the application offers to the user. Users will then create case / person / item level information which will be saved in the SQL CE dbase. Upon sync, a XML file is generated and uploaded to the server for processing. The user will then login to import that information to the main system.
Desktop Software Installation
To install the Desktop Application, go to ftp://ftp.trackerproducts.com and download the following two files (or click the links below).
- Install the SQL Compact Edition software. Select all the default options during installation; nothing special is required.
- Begin install of the TrackerProductsDesktopApp.msi file. Select all the default options unless you have a need to change them.
Setting up the Desktop Software
Click the Start button on your Windows desktop and navigate to the EvidenceTracker folder. Click the ‘EvidenceTracker Desktop’ icon.
When first starting the software you will be prompted to enter your general settings for the software.
- Evidence Tracker Data Directory: Do not change this unless necessary or told to do so by ET support personnel.
- Computer ID: This field needs to contain a unique number for every user of the desktop app in your organization. When installing each system make sure that a unique ID is assigned to each Desktop App install.
- Enable Logging: This option is designed for future use and is not necessary to be selected at this time.
- Website Location: This should contain the link to the EvidenceTracker.com software. To find your link go to your web browser and get to the login page of the system. You should see something like https://livedemosecure.evidencetracker.com:44433/login.asp You will want this entire link without the /login.asp at the end. In this scenario you would put https://livedemosecure.evidencetracker.com:44433
- This page is done but do NOT click OK button at the bottom of the screen.
- Click the Synchronization tab at the top to configure your network settings.
- Server: This is the address of your FTP server for uploading files. All hosted customers will use ftp.evidencetracker.com. Purchased customers will have their own information that they will obtain from your network admin.
- Attempt to Sync on launch: This box should be enabled and will make sure that the software attempts a synchronization at login.
- Username: This is the username for the FTP server. If you do not know please contact Tracker Support of your network admin.
- Password: This is the password for the FTP server. If you do not know please contact Tracker Support of your network admin.
- Port: This is the FTP Port for the FTP server. If you do not know please contact Tracker Support of your network admin.
- Now you can click OK at the bottom of the page.
Your Desktop App will immediately begin the process of synchronizing the system. The purpose of this initial synchronization is to get all the settings from the main system on how the entire interface should look (all your customizations). If everything is setup properly you should get the following login screen.
If you do not get the login screen or an error, please check your settings and try again. If you still can't get it contact Tracker Support.
Login & Security
You may notice that a password option is missing from the login screen. To login you simply select your name from the drop down menu. The reason that a password option is missing is because we do not want to store passwords on each laptop. The security is based on the process that you must import your transactions to the main system and you can only import those transactions if the desktop login name matches the login name when you are in the EvidenceTracker.com system. So, if you select someone else’s login name you will never see the transactions for import and therefore they will be ignored. Make sure you select the correct username at login or you will have problems.
Desktop Application Layout
- Menu Bar (above File drop down) Shows the name of application and who is currently logged in to the application
- File Drop Down Menu
- File > Sync: Select to force the synchronization to begin.
- File > Open: Select to view information that has already been created and saved.
- File > Save: Will save the information that is currently on the screen
- File > Change User: Will log off existing user and allow login of new user
- File > Exit: Logoff and close the application
- Edit > Options: Select for modification of existing desktop options
- Help > About: Select for current desktop version information
- Save Button: Same as clicking File > Save; will save the current screen information
- Open Button: Same as clicking File > Open; will allow the open of any saved information
- Clear Button: Will clear the contents of any information on the screen
- Sync Button: Same as clicking File > Sync; will synchronize and upload any saved information
- Settings Button: Save as Clicking Edit > Options; allow modification of saved options
- Case Tab: Click this tab for entry of case level information
- Persons Tab: Click this tab for entry of person level information
- Item Tab: Click this tab for entry of item level information
- Temporary Name Field: The first field in all three sections (case, person, item) is the temporary field name option. The temporary name field is like a short description for the information you are creating. Once you save the information, should you need to modify the information via the open button, it will show a list of items based on the temporary name field. In addition, the import process in the main system will show a list of items available for import based on the temporary name. For the case screen you may use the case # for the temporary name. In the persons screen you may use that persons name. On the item screen you may use your item # or a short description of the item.
- (Item Level) Pre Printed Barcode Field: Do not use this field at this point. It is still being fully designed.
Uploading Information
After you have completed creating all of your case(s), person(s) & item(s) you are now ready to upload them to the main system. Note: You can only synchronize your items to the main system when you are connected to the Internet or local network depending on where your database is stored. Hosted Tracker customers must have Internet connectivity and purchased customers must have local LAN access.
To upload your items simply click the Sync Button or go to File > Sync.
The system will begin to process your requests and show a screen to help track the progress. If any one of the steps fails you will be presented with an error message and comments. If you receive a message in the bottom left corner of the screen 'Sync Completed' then all was uploaded properly. Notice in the screen shot that step 3 of the upload will show how many cases / persons / items were uploaded. When done you can click the Close Button or click 'Evidence Tracker Online'.
Link: Evidence Tracker Online: will open a browser session on your desktop and attempt to connect to the EvidenceTracker.com web application. The importance of this link will be that upon login you will be taken directly to the desktop import section of the application. If you go to the site on your own and login you must then click the Tools Drop Down Menu and select Desktop Transfer. The Evidence Tracker Online link simply takes a few steps out of the process (and who doesn't like that).
Importing Information
The last step to getting all your created information on the desktop app to the main system is the import of that information. Remember, for security purposes, information created on the desktop application is NOT directly imported to the main system. You must first login and import that information. The only way you can import that information is if the user name you selected on the desktop app (before creating information) is the same as the name you are logged in to the main system. When these names line up you are allowed to import information. If they do not line up then you will NOT be able to import information.
- To import your data click the Tools Drop Down menu in the main web system and select Desktop Transfer.
The Desktop Transfer page will show you three tabs upon entry 1. Case 2. Persons 3. Item information. You may or may not have information in any one of the sections. Typically you will process your case then persons then items in that order. The reason you will typically go in this order is becase you can't import persons or items if the case has not been created. Therefore, create the case and then import the other items in to that case.
The import process is very easy. Select the items you want to import, fill out any additional information required, and then click the Submit Checks Item(s) Button. Click that button will begin the process of importing the selected items.
In the screen shot above we are looking at items that are ready for import. Notice that the case # field is a text field that can be manually edited. This box should contain the case # where these items will be imported.
Uninstall
If for any reason you need to remove the SQL CE or Desktop application, go to your Windows control panel and select Add Remove Programs. In your list of programs you will see the Microsoft SQL CE & EvidenceTracker Desktop software. Simply click the item you want to remove and click uninstall.
Note: New versions of the Desktop App will require a uninstall of the existing software.
Common Problems / Errors
- What to do if customizations created in your system are not showing in your desktop app: Log in to the web interface of the system as admin and go to Custom Fields on the quick menu. At the top of the Custom Fields screen is a new button 'Update Mobile Devices'. Click this button to manully force a update of the custom fields. When this is done, resync the desktop app. If this does not do it email Tracker Support.
- I am getting an error in my Desktop App: Close the error, close the program and open again. In many cases a close / open of the program will do it.
Planned Updates
- Ability to attach an item to a person
- Item splitting
- Create submission form
- Create label print option
