TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PLATFORMS: Blue Bear school software applications runs in the following configurations: • Single user in Windows • Multi-user - (Examples: Windows 2000 Server or Novell Netware). Multi-user can run in any shared environment; the server type is unimportant. • Client/Server (Windows 2000/2003/2008 Server) • WEB environment running through a browser For detailed information about minimum requirements for both workstations and servers, see our Blue Bear System Platform Guide.

SOFTWARE/DATABASE: • Single user, Multi-user, Client/Server versions: Blue Bear software is written in ProvideX (Sage Software Canada, Inc.) Our programs utilize a proprietary “business ” database structure consisting of discrete flat indexed data files. The ProvideX data files are optimized for fast access on PCs, and also have an ODBC interface for industry standard compatibility. The ODBC interface is used for reporting using Crystal Reports. ProvideX offers very fast and reliable development, and wide compatibility for database and web implementations. Our software is single or multi- user, depending only on the activation key used for registration. • WEB versions: The software uses Apache Web Server, and the Providex Web Server. The Apache server faces the customer, and proxies application requests to the Providex server. The application runs in the Providex Web Server. The data is managed either in a Providex database, or in MS SQL Server. Each of these functionalities may reside on different physical servers, or all on one server.

WEB-BASED CAPABILITIES: The SchoolBooks WEB host server is loaded on a Windows application server (e.g. Windows 2003 Server or Windows 2008 server). The users are connected to the server via a LAN, WAN or the Internet. The user workstations can be PCs or Macs running a current browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. All calculations and processing occur on the server, with only the actual display or reporting data transmitted to the workstation via the network.

This configuration is commonly used for wide area networks, such as in a district with multiple school sites where the goal is to manage the data centrally at the district data center, or where some users are remote. The reporting is optimized so it can run efficiently on relatively slow connections, such as the Internet.

No cookies or software is loaded on the client workstations, except for industry standard Adobe Acrobat plug-ins for the browser.

SchoolBooks WEB uses industry standard Apache server, assuring long-term compatibility with hardware. SSL secure communication is fully supported. Only ports 80 or 443 are used, so firewall and filter compatibility are assured.

The server software technology uses AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) optimized with JSON (JavaScript Object Notation). AJAX is a state of the art technology that provides very efficient communication from the browser to the server. The software uses Crystal Reports to generate the reports, and sends only the minimum information needed to preview and print the report.

The application software appears in the browser as floating windows, similar to a local desktop application. This is very special and unique in terms of browser-based software. Multiple windows can be open at the same time, as opposed to single HTML panels that must be closed to access a different functionality. Thus, an adept user can have multiple entry screens available at any time, and swap between them by simply clicking on a task bar.

The internal security system for menu access is a very robust system of roles and menu security. A user is given a role, and the role controls what parts of the system can be accessed. In addition, each user can be granted access to whatever schools are appropriate. Thus, setup is very simple yet powerful across multiple schools or business units.

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE: The underlying for SchoolBooks WEB is ProvideX, a very popular brand of . Business Basic is optimized for business accounting applications. ProvideX is owned by Sage Softare Canada, Ltd., part of the very large British software company, Sage Software. ProvideX is used in hundreds of thousands of accounting and other business applications around the world. ProvideX has a proprietary high- performance database system that is used on one version of the SchoolBooks software, and in the SQL version, it uses ODBC to access the SQL database.

Various sections of the software also use JavaScript, HTML and PHP, common industry standard software languages used in browsers.

INSTALLING THE PRODUCT ON A NETWORK: The SchoolBooks WEB Server Software is supplied either on a CD, or in the form of one or two downloadable single-file installation programs. From start to finish, the installation process is very simple, and can generally be done though phone support and remote control. The server software is installed on a Windows server, such as Windows Server 2008. The users simply need to have network access to the server on port 80 (or 443 for SSL).

Any computer with a browser can access the program with the right user ID and password and administer the software. If the user does not have industry standard Adobe Acrobat for previewing reports, it will automatically be downloaded and installed on the user system. This is the only software needed on the workstation.

ProvideX interfaces very well with various other tools that are used in the system, such as the industry-standard reporting tool, Crystal Reports. Crystal generates the graphical reports, and displays them on the user browser in Adobe Acrobat.

So in terms of how the software should be installed on a network, it is simply a matter of selecting a server, installing the software, and using any computer that is attached to the network (or remotely on the Internet) and has access to the server.