Architecture

System Integration

A wood procurement and log inventory management system requires connections to other business systems. The usual areas that require this interface are accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and data capture devices. LIMS’ database is structured to allow easy interfacing to other programs, whether they are located on the same or a different computer system.

Integration with GIS and GPS

You can interface LIMS to your Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). This integration makes LIMS a powerful and practical tool for timberland or woodland operations. LIMS tracks cut permits, expected harvest volumes, actual harvest volumes, the harvest plan, cut control, and government quotas. By continually monitoring harvest volumes, LIMS gives you a complete harvest-to-date picture.

Integration with WeighWiz

You can also integrate LIMS with WeighWiz, with other weigh scale systems, and with handheld scaling data capture devices such as Husky and Ranger. Load weight information can be transferred to the central LIMS database from WeighWiz installations via modem, diskette, or network connection.

Integration with Financial Systems

LIMS integrates with leading financial systems such as Oracle, J.D. Edwards, ACCPAC, Markam, Sun Systems, Walker, and so on. The adaptability of the 3LOG system minimizes set-up time and allows users to continue using the financial software they prefer. For example, vendor information and general ledger accounts can be transferred into LIMS directly, saving time when your configure your installation of LIMS. Here are some of areas where you’ll benefit from LIMS’ integration with your financial systems:

• Issuing checks and financial interfaces
  LIMS maintains up-to-the-minute account balances for all vendors who provide services or equipment. It also provides a concise report of accounts payable on request. The system provides an on-screen display showing account summaries. As elsewhere in LIMS, the display is easy to filter by date, contract number, etc.
• Goods and Services Tax and other deductions
  LIMS makes GST accounting a breeze by putting all GST information in the vendor description created for that vendor. LIMS tracks GST liabilities associated with each contract, and maintains a running total for each contract in a specified general ledger account. Other miscellaneous deductions are also easily handled by LIMS, either by simple entry at the time of invoice or by ongoing association with a harvest area.
• Data history storage
  Your ability to store historical data is limited only by your hardware and your choice of database platform. LIMS will maintain a detailed transactions history. When you call up data, it will appear on the screen exactly as it was entered in the past.
• Integrating with current financial data
  The ability to import current inventory into LIMS depends only on the file structure of your current system. LIMS can import and export files in the comma-separated variable (CSV) format.
• Security
  LIMS provides highly-controllable security for tables, fields, and records at database level. You can restricted access to the data to "read-only mode" for authorized users of external applications such as Microsoft® Excel or Crystal Reports®.
• Year-end processing
  LIMS provides all necessary tools for complete year-end processing, approval area closure, and company year-end reconciliation at any time. Each of these procedures can be performed at different times throughout the year or, in the case of area closures, many times annually. LIMS maintains its entire database in real-time, which means that there is no requirement for special processing at any time. Information queries and reporting can be done on-demand and LIMS always provides up-to-date results for all aspects of inventory management. Time periods for any report generated by a LIMS user are freely adjustable, providing complete flexibility during reporting periods.

Integration Benefits

• Helps your company achieve easy and effective communication with Remote Camps and Operations
  Remote camps can connect to LIMS by using any TCP/IP communication methods: modems, Internet or even radio. Information can be easily sent to the main LIMS system via a modem link or a diskette. With a modem link, data can be transferred either in “real-time” or at predetermined intervals to the central LIMS system. The main LIMS database server maintains your permanent, central records. These records allow camp programs to hold temporary records until a data transfer is made. Should the connection to the main LIMS database be cut off, camp programs can continue to operate and store information. Once the connection is restored, a batch data transfer will automatically update the main program.
• The system is cost-effective and minimizes your setup time.
  The ability to integrate with external systems described above makes LIMS a very powerful tool. With the reduced costs and setup time, you can focus the company's resources on other important processes and let LIMS do its job.
• Facilitate your operational, contractual, administrative, and inventory processes
  The system’s easy integration with external systems allows for customization to the specific needs of multiple divisions. Even though there might be many operational differences between each division and department within a firm, they can be overcome by LIMS' flexibility.

LIMS Design Methodology

We can customize LIMS to meet your specific business processing rules and procedures. The system’s design permits many types of processing to occur simultaneously within the same organization. Following is an overview of the design methodology of LIMS.

Multiple User Protection

LIMS protects your data while respecting the needs of your users. It allows full access by all users to all parts of the system that you authorize them to reach. Multiple users can access the same data file at the same time and even the same record, because the system handles all database locking, rollbacks, and data integrity protection.

Immediate File Updates

LIMS uses on-line database architecture. This means it updates its database immediately on completion of a transaction. Therefore, LIMS always contains the most recent data entered and will always reflect an accurate picture of the current system status. Hauling inventory availability, status of in-yard loads, contract performance, and other vital information is available to everyone on the system as soon as they are captured.

Resource Conservation

Database resource conservation involves such things as sharing open lookup table cursors between Windows, and dynamically opening and closing all cursors as they are used. This methodology applies to the entry and exit of each window in the system, as well as starting and exiting the application as a whole. This also applies to how database resources are used.

LIMS developers use sophisticated tools to monitor internal events in order to prevent memory leakage, unassigned pointers, and other types of flaws that undermine system stability and, eventually, lead to system failures.

Object-Oriented Methodology

The internal design of LIMS is based on a hierarchy of objects used to build screens and access the database. This structure allows easy maintenance of code and evolution of new features over the lifetime of the system. 3LOG Systems Inc. uses the data-modeling tool, called ER/WIN, that allows us to adapt the system to our client’s business rules very effectively and in a timely manner.

True Client-Server

“Client-Server” is one of the most repeated buzzwords in use today. Client-Server processing is the sharing of processing between individual PC workstations and a database host server. This means all possible database and update processing is done at the server, and all GUI (graphic user interface) and control processing is done at the PC.

Integrated Reports

LIMS does not require an external report writer! The built-in Report Wizard is powerful and easy to use. Report creation is immediate, with different report templates for different users, divisions or head office. This provides the flexibility to do reporting on demand. Report Wziard allows you to customize your reports to include, for example, placement of a company logo on a report.

Advanced users can use LIMS to create new reports and modify existing ones. LIMS can export reports to numerous file formats including Microsoft® Word, Excel, Lotus, HTML, plain text, and more. In addition to printing, it can also save the reports on a disk, fax or e-mail them.

Because LIMS has an open design, you can also use other report writers such as Crystal Reports® if you prefer.