[Top][All Lists]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
gnue/www faq.html
|
From: |
Jason Cater |
|
Subject: |
gnue/www faq.html |
|
Date: |
Sat, 15 Dec 2001 10:18:18 -0500 |
CVSROOT: /home/cvs
Module name: gnue
Changes by: Jason Cater <address@hidden> 01/12/15 10:18:17
Modified files:
www : faq.html
Log message:
added comments to the faq (sorry if it was reformatted :(
CVSWeb URLs:
http://savannah.gnu.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs/gnue/www/faq.html.diff?cvsroot=OldCVS&tr1=1.19&tr2=1.20&r1=text&r2=text
Patches:
Index: gnue/www/faq.html
diff -c gnue/www/faq.html:1.19 gnue/www/faq.html:1.20
*** gnue/www/faq.html:1.19 Sun Dec 2 19:26:26 2001
--- gnue/www/faq.html Sat Dec 15 10:18:17 2001
***************
*** 1,1005 ****
! <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
! "http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd";>
<html>
<head>
! <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1">
! <title>GNU Enterprise GNUe FAQ</title>
! <meta name="keywords" content="MRP, ERP, enterprise software, gnue,
! gnu enterprise, free software, business technology, supply chain,
inventory,
! object technology, CORBA, SQL, relational database, FAQ, client
server">
! <meta name="description" content="The GNUe Enterprise FAQ.">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff">
! <div align="center">
! <h2><font size="+2">GNUe FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions</font></h2>
</div>
<p>
! <b>The GNUe General FAQ Index</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.1">1.1 - What is GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.2">1.2 - What makes GNUe different?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.3">1.3 - How do I get help with GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.4">1.4 - How do I report suggestions, errors or
omission in this FAQ?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.5">1.5 - Who contributed to this FAQ?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.6">1.6 - When was this FAQ last revised and where
can I find it?</a>.
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.7">1.7 - What is Enterprise Software?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.8">1.8 - Why is GNUe being developed?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.9">1.9 - How does GNUe compare to Quickbooks,
PeachTree or other shrink-wrapped accounting software?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.10">1.10 - What is Free Software?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.11">1.11 - Why is GNUe GPL and what does that
mean?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.12">1.12 - How do I help the GNUe effort?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.13">1.13 - What standard technologies or standards
are used in GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.14">1.14 - What is the history of GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.15">1.15 - What are the technical features of
GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.16">1.16 - What is the current status of GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.17">1.17 - What organizations are using GNUe?</a>
! </p>
! <p>
! <b>The GNUe Technology FAQ Index</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.1">2.1 - What is the GNUe architecture (short
version)?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.2">2.2 - What is GNUe-Forms and GNUe-Designer?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.3">2.3 - What is GNUe-Common?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.4">2.4 - What is GNUe Application Server
(GEAS)?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.5">2.5 - What is GNUe Reports (GNUeR)?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.6"> 2.6 - What is GNUe Enterprise Wide Office
Kommunication (EWOK)?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.7"> 2.7 - What database does GNUe require?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.8">2.8 - What is Data Transformation Tool?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.9">2.9 - What is Workflow Engine?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.10">2.10 - What is Transaction Processing Engine?
</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.11">2.11 - What GUIs work with GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.12"> 2.12 - What about Mozilla, Java, XUL or some
other technology?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.13"> 2.13 - What about Windows or Macintosh?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.14"> 2.14 - What about network traffic, bandwith
and thin client?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.15"> 2.15 - How do I create a simple form and
where is it stored and run from?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.16">2.16 - How will external systems interface to
GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.17">2.17 - What is a Business Object?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.18">2.18 - What are Business Rules?</a>
! </p>
! <p>
! <b>The GNUe Installation FAQ Index</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-3.1">3.1 - What hardware is required to run GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-3.2">3.2 - What software is required to run GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-3.3">3.3 - Where do I get GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! 3.4 - How do I build GNUe?
! <br>
! 3.5 - How do I make GNUe work in my environment?
! <br>
! 3.6 - How do I request changes or modifications to GNUe?
! <br>
! 3.7 - How do I get and install updates to GNUe?
! <br>
! 3.8 - If I get into trouble, can I purchase timely support for GNUe?
! </p>
! <p>
! <b>The GNUe Business Process FAQ Index</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! 4.1 - What business processes could benefit from the current version of
GNUe?
! <br>
! 4.2 - What are the financial benefits of using GNUe?
! <br>
! 4.3 - How do I determine if GNUe will fit my needs?
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.4">4.4 - What is a GNUe Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.5">4.5 - What is the GNUe Accounting Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.6">4.6 - What is the GNUe Budget Management
Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.7">4.7 - What is the GNUe Customer Relations
Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.8">4.8 - What is the GNUe E-Commerce Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.9">4.9 - What is the GNUe Human Resources
Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.10">4.10 - What is the GNUe Project Management
Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.11">4.11 - What is the GNUe Research &
Development Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.12">4.12 - What is the GNUe Supply Chain
Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.13">4.13 - What is the GNUe Manufacturing
Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.14">4.14 - What is the GNUe Sales Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.15">4.15 - What is the GNUe Business Intelligence
Package?</a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe General FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.1"></a><b>1.1 - What is GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe stands for GNU Enterprise. GNUe is both free software and a
! modular architecture that provides automated support for most business
! processes. This type of software is sometimes referred to as Enterprise
! Software. Many proprietary commercial Enterprise Software applications
! exists (i.e. from manufacturers like SAP, Manugistics, PeopleSoft,
! etc.) that provide similar functionality.
</p>
<p>
! GNUe installation will typically provide integrated business software
! for human resources, payroll, inventory, purchasing, accounting,
! finance, planning, sales order entry, customer support, forecasting,
! and other business processes.
</p>
! <br>
! <br>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.2"></a><b>1.2 - What makes GNUe different?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe is free software and built around open standards for the most
! popular computer systems in the world. It is also designed from the
! ground up as a modular international system and utilizes the latest in
! object technology. Object technology means that parts of the overall
! system may be improved and capabilities added without monolithic or
! system wide changes. International design includes capability for
! multiple currencies, languages and international support.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.3"></a><b>1.3 - How do I get help with GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! First read the documentation. It can be found at <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/docs";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org/
! docs</a>. Business object (accounting, supply-chain, etc.)
! documentation can be found at <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/sc.html";>http://www.
! gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/sc.html</a>.
</p>
<p>
! Once you are familiar with the documentation you should review the mail
! list archives which can be found at <a
! href="http://lists.gnue.org/mailman/listinfo";>http://lists.gnue.org/
! mailman/listinfo</a>.
</p>
<p>
! You may also ask you question on the IRC chat channel which can be
! found at <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=3";
! >http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.4"></a><b>1.4 - How do I report suggestions, errors
or omission in this FAQ?</b>
</p>
<p>
! All suggestions, errors, omission or other comments regarding the GNUe
! FAQ should be emailed to <a
! href="mailto:address@hidden";>address@hidden</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.5"></a><b>1.5 - Who contributed to this FAQ?</b>
</p>
<p>
! This FAQ was originally written in November 2000 and is maintained by
! Neil Tiffin. Contributors to this FAQ include, in no particular order,
! Derek Neighbors, James Thompson, Andrew Murie, Alan Clifford, Reinhard
! Muller and Andrew Hill.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.6"></a><b>1.6 - When was this FAQ last revised and
where can I find it.</b>.
</p>
<p>
! This FAQ is $Revision: 1.19 $ $Date: 2001/12/03 00:26:26 $. The most
! recent version (automatically updated from CVS) can be found at <A
! href="http://www.gnu.org/projects/gnue/faq.html";>http://www.gnu.org/
! projects/gnue/faq.html</A>. Another version is located at <A
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</A>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.7"></a><b>1.7 - What is Enterprise Software?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Enterprise Software refers to a software system where most of the
! software used to operate a business is integrated together and business
! information is maintained in a way that reduces or eliminates
! duplication, provides timely access by all parts of the organization,
! provides a high level of accuracy, and requires minimal manual
! intervention.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.8"></a><b>1.8 - Why is GNUe being developed?</b>
</p>
<p>
! As an alternative to proprietary systems because:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! proprietary systems can be very expensive over the life of the
software. If you have a system that works why should you pay a huge monthly fee
just for the privilege of using the system.</li>
! <li>
! proprietary systems are usually designed by computer companies,
not end users. GNUe is flexible and designed to support realistic business
processes and future development is driven by users.</li>
! <li>
! proprietary systems may have limited life and are proprietary.
If the proprietary system manufacturer or outside consultant goes out of
business (or your internal technical developer leaves) you may end up with no
reliable support. Why should you pay for a manufacturers poor business
practices. GNUe is free software. This means that you have everything you need
to support the software yourself even if everyone else quits using it. The GNUe
project is designed as a cooperative effort. This will benefit all users in the
long run.</li>
! <li>
! GNUe offers unparalleled flexibility. You may use an existing
business model or create your own.</li>
! <li>
! small businesses can get the same benefit from GNUe that
previously were only available to large businesses using proprietary enterprise
software.</li>
</ul>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.9"></a><b>1.9 - How does GNUe compare to
Quickbooks, PeachTree or other shrink-wrapped accounting software?</b>
</p>
<p>
! It doesn't. GNUe is professional strength software designed for
! multi-user operating systems with either a two or three tier client
! server architecture. It is built to be scalable, upgrade able, and to
! support organizations with over 2000 users. Of course, it will also
! support organizations with just a few users and run on a single
! computer (with just a little overkill). It can be run out of the box or
! completely customized by developers. It is free.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.10"></a><b> 1.10 - What is Free Software?</b>
</p>
<p>
! The GNUe project fully supports the concept of free software. See <a
! href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html";>http://www.gnu.org/
! philosophy/free-sw.html</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.11"></a><b>1.11 - Why is GNUe GPL and what does
that mean?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe is released under the GPL license. For an example, please see the
! GPL license at <a
! href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html";>http://www.gnu.org/copyleft
! /gpl.html</a>. The actual license covering GNUe is included in all GNUe
! distributions.
</p>
<p>
! For a description of why GPL and why free software see <a
! href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html";>http://www.gnu.org/
! philosophy/why-free.html</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.12"></a><b>1.12 - How do I help the GNUe effort?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Become familiar with the GNUe system then email <a
! href="mailto:address@hidden";>address@hidden</a>. There is always
! something that needs to be done. We need all types of talent. So please
! don't be bashful.
</p>
<p>
! To contribute to GNUe you will also have to sign a Free Software
! Foundation copyright assignment. More information can be obtained by
! sending email with your area of interest to <a
! href="mailto:address@hidden";>address@hidden</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.13"></a><b>1.13 - What standard technologies or
standards are used in GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe potentially makes use of SGML, HTML, XML, XML-EDI, CORBA, SQL, and
! several GNU technologies. No doubt some I missed.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.14"></a><b>1.14 - What is the history of GNUe?</b>
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! July 1999 - Project obelisk managed by James Thompson (USA) and
Didier Legein (Belgium) and the GNU G/L (FSF Project) managed by Jonas Oberg
(Sweden) merged to become GNU Enterprise. The goal to do more that just
G/L.</li>
! <li>
! February 2000 - Project sanity (ERP) managed by Jade Meskill
(USA) and Derek Neighbors (USA) inquired and merged with GNUe.</li>
! <li>
! March 2000 - The start of the current incarnation of GNUe.
Finalized and merged the current technical architecture from the previous
projects. During the late spring and early summer Reinhard Muller (Austria),
Arno Pedusaar (Estonia), and Bill Hamilton (USA) joined the core team.</li>
! <li>
! July 2000 - Treshna, represented by Andrew Murie (New Zealand)
and Andrew Hill (New Zealand), joined the core team, committed full time
resources, and started work on GNUe Application Server (GEAS).</li>
! <li>
! October 2000 - GNUe Application Server v0.0.2 released with
relational database support for MySQL and PostGRES. GNUe Forms v0.0.3
released.</li>
! <li>
! November 2000 - GNUe Forms 0.0.4 and GEAS 0.0.3 released and
Project Management and Inventory modules started. Neil Tiffin (USA) joined the
core team.</li>
! <li>
! December 2000 - Chris Spence (UK) joined the core team.</li>
! <li>
! January 2001 - GNUe Forms 0.0.5 released. GEAS undergoing
major rewrite and API change.</li>
! <li>
! February 2001 - Demonstrations at Linux World were hits.</li>
! <li>
! March 2001 - GNUe Forms 0.0.6 released.</li>
! <li>
! April 2001 - GNUe Application Server (GEAS) 0.0.4, GNUe Forms
0.0.7, GNUe Common 0.0.1 released.</li>
! <li>
! June 2001 - GNUe Application Server (GEAS) 0.0.5, GNUe Forms 0.0.8
and GNUe Common 0.0.2 released. New interactive web site introduced at <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>.</li>
! <li>
! July 2001 - GNUe Forms 0.0.9, GNUe Common 0.0.3 and GNUe
Designer 0.0.1 released.</li>
! <li>
! August 2001 - GNUe Application Server (GEAS) 0.0.6 released.</li>
! <li>
! November 2001 - Kernel Cousins (IRC summary) brought on-line.
GNUe-Forms 0.1.0, GNUe-Designer 0.1.0, and GNUe-Common 0.1.0. released. </li>
</ul>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.15"></a><b>1.15 - What are the technical features
of GNUe?</b>
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! Modular System Design - You only install and maintain what you
need. </li>
! <li>
! Open Architecture - No internal secrets or technology so you
are in control of your destiny. </li>
! <li>
! Powerful Development Framework - Provides high level
development and productivity tools. </li>
! <li>
! Freedom from Single Source Vendors - All source code included.
</li>
! <li>
! Easy Maintenance - Customized components are separate from
generic distribution. </li>
! <li>
! Package Library - Easy specialization for specific business
processes. </li>
! <li>
! Reuse of Free Software - Does not reinvent the wheel. </li>
! <li>
! Versioning System - Ease of updating. </li>
! <li>
! Best Practice - Design based on best international practices.
</li>
! <li>
! International Design - Currency, Language, and core team
representatives located around the world. </li>
! <li>
! Industry Specific Templates - Easy specialization for specific
industry needs. </li>
</ul>
<p>
! For a more complete description please see the document "GNU
! Enterprise - Developers Introduction" at <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.16"></a><b> 1.16 - What is the current status of
GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Our development process is:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! Proposal - specifications being exchanged no final agreement
</li>
! <li>
! Draft Specification - Proposal accepted, spec's started</li>
! <li>
! Specification - no code, but agreed specifications</li>
! <li>
! Development - code started, components may work, but not as a
system </li>
! <li>
! Alpha - mostly working system, but missing some features </li>
! <li>
! Beta - working system, in final testing stage </li>
! <li>
! Production - working and tested, ready for non-development use
</li>
</ul>
<p>
! The GNUe tool box status is:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! GNUe Forms - Alpha </li>
! <li>
! GNUe Designer - Alpha </li>
! <li>
! GNUe Application Server (GEAS) - Alpha </li>
! <li>
! GNUe Reports - Late Development </li>
! <li>
! EWOK An external communications engine - Proposal</li>
! <li>
! Bayonne Telephony Application Server - Production</li>
! <li>
! Data Transformation tool (something like Data Junction) -
Proposal</li>
! <li>
! Workflow Engine - Need Proposal </li>
! <li>
! Transaction Processing Engine - Need Proposal </li>
</ul>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.17"></a><b> 1.17 - What organizations are using
GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (to do)
</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe Technology FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
! <p>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.1"></a><b>2.1 - What is the GNUe architecture
(short version)?</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! GNUe is an n-tier client server enterprise system. The user interface
! is provided by GNUe Forms client. The GNUe Forms client talks directly
! to the GEAS (enterprise application server) using CORBA technology.
! GEAS currenty connects to SQL92 relational databases using API calls.
! GEAS also manages the business objects which consist of data and
! business rules.
</p>
<p>
! The backend use of a standard SQL92 relational database provides
! standard interfaces for external systems and leverages current IT
! practices and staff. This was an important consideration for
! simplifying the migration to GNUe and the integration of GNUe with
! other systems (<a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.16">see 2.16</a>). For 2-tier
! backend support includes DB2, Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. For
! n-tier support only MySQL and PostgreSQL are supported at this time.
</p>
<p>
! The current GNUe software components are:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>GNUe-Forms </li>
! <li>GNUe-Designer</li>
! <li>GNUe-Common</li>
! <li>GNUe-Reports </li>
! <li>GEAS - GNU Enterprise Application Server</li>
! <li>EWOK - GNUe Enterprise Wide Office Kommunications </li>
</ul>
<p>
! Internally, GNUe n-tier is object based. The objects contain data and
! business rules with data stored in an SQL database. The business
! objects are accessed using CORBA and we use Python-orbit for binding
! Python to our current ORB ORBit. Therefore the business rules are
! written in Python. Since other bindings exist, a developer is not
! necessarily limited to Python.
</p>
<p>
! A small system will typically have the following process running (<a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/GNUeSimpleSystem.png";>see
! diagram</a>):
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! SQL server </li>
! <li>
! GEAS server (optional, for n-tier only)</li>
! <li>
! CORBA name server (optional, for n-tier only)</li>
! <li>
! A client (GNUe Forms) for each user (each on a different client
machine) </li>
! <li>
! A report server (GNUe Reports) for each user generated reports
</li>
</ul>
<p>
! A large system may have multiple SQL, GEAS, CORBA name and Report
! servers all running on different machines.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.2"></a><b>2.2 - What is GNUe-Forms and
GNUe-Designer?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe-Forms is a platform and UI-independent forms system. It reads an
! XML-based forms definition and creates GUIs for Win32, GTK, and, soon,
! Curses and HTML. It has a fully data-aware widget set and can be used in
! both 2-tier and n-tier environments.
</p>
<p>
! GNUe-Designer is the IDE for the GNUe tools. It allows you to visually
! layout your forms in a RAD-style environment. Designer has a builtin forms
! client, so you can quickly test your forms while still in Designer.
! Designer also now has support for form creation wizards... answer a few
! questions, attach your form to a table, select the fields to include, and,
! voila, a basic form is created.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.3"></a><b>2.3 - What is GNUe-Common?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe-Common is the basis for the GNUe tools, such as Forms, Reports, and
! Designer. It implements a database-abstraction layer that provides support
! for most major databases. A builtin XML-to-Object parser and Object-to-XML
! marshaller are used by Forms, Reports, and Designer to save and read
! Forms/Report definitions to and from an XML file. Work has begun on an
! RPC-abstraction layer that will allow server processes to define their
! public methods once and have them available to CORBA, XML-RPC, SOAP, and
! DCOM clients.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.4"></a><b>2.4 - What is GNUe Application Server
(GEAS)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GEAS is a data abstraction layer and allows GNUe to utilize single API
! to all data sources (local and remote). So the client has one set of
! calls it uses, but can access different vendors SQL databases or even
! CVS or XML files. Similar to Borland's Database Engine or other data
! abstraction tiers. GEAS is transparent to the user. It will run with
! multiple instances and do load balancing. GEAS is required for n-tier
! operation.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.5"></a><b>2.5 - What is GNUe Reports (GNUeR)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe Reports shares many features with GNUe Forms. It is comprised of a
! report designer and a client that generates the requested output.
! Report definition files are also XML based. And programs can
! communicate directly with the XML reports definition language much like
! they can with GNUe Forms. The major difference is that GNUe Reports is
! optimized to handle large amounts of data and run separately from the
! GNUe Forms Client.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.6"></a><b>2.6 - What is GNUe Enterprise Wide Office
Kommunication (EWOK)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Integration of non-transaction based ad-hoc communications utilizing
! fax, email and paging other non-network communications with GNUe.
! Transaction based external communications (EDI and XML-EDI) will
! utilize the <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.7">Data Transformation</a> Tool. To
! use EWOK the user would typically hit the EWOK button in the Forms
! client and a pop-up window would appear with destination and
! information selection options. This may be replaced with Bayonne.
! This change is in process, see the news section for more information.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.7"></a><b>2.7 - What database does GNUe require?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe n-tier (GEAS) currently works with MySQL and PostgreSQL relational
! databases. (See <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>).
! GNUe 2-tier does the same and also works with Oracle and DB2. The
! internal structure of GNUe GEAS is object based but stores information
! in a standard SQL92 relational database. It is anticipated that GNUe
! will interface to any SQL92 (odbc, oracle, sybase, interbase, etc)
! standard relational database. The API design does not limit the
! storage to RDMS.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.8"></a><b>2.8 - What is Data Transformation
Tool?</b>
</p>
<p>
! This tool will handle all incoming and outgoing data transformation
! requirements including EDI, XML-EDI, spreadsheet import/export and
! others.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.9"></a><b>2.9 - What is Workflow Engine?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.10"></a><b>2.10 - What is Transaction Processing
Engine?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.11"></a><b>2.11 - What GUIs work with GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe currently supports (some are tested more than others) win32, gtk,
! motif, curses and mac GUI. A Java client is being authored as well and
! a web client is anticipated in the very near future.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.12"></a><b>2.12 - What about Mozilla, Java, XUL or
some other technology</b>
</p>
<p>
! If you want Java, LinuxKontor is probably a better choice for you.
! Because of its popularity, some of the GNUe team is working on a Java
! client (although it is not a priority). We do know that Java works with
! GEAS. However, Java is NOT the preferred language as it has issues with
! its ownership. Because this is a free software project we will provide
! all functionality using free software.
</p>
<p>
! Tonight Derek was reading over some of the documentation on GNUe. It
! occurred to me that Mozilla and XUL might make a great front end UI to
! this system. Instead of creating multiple GUI front ends for the
! different environments you wish to support, you could make one XUL
! front end that could run on every platform that Mozilla can run on (and
! there are a lot). Is there some reason you've chosen not to do this?
</p>
<p>
! This has been talked about in infinite detail, but the summary is that
! browsers don't make good front ends for Enterprise systems. If we used
! Java it gets a little better, but Java is not free software. We are
! using Python as the core development language.
</p>
<p>
! Specifically there were a few key issues.
</p>
- <ol type="a">
- <li>
- Mozilla is a bit 'heavy' for a client. (Now I realize we could have
- just reused the rendering engine (gecko) and wrapped it, but thats
- pretty significant work in and of itself.</li>
-
- <li>
- The concept of data aware widgets doesn't exist to the mozilla team
- unless of course you are willing to do all data in RDF/RSS format. Our
- enterprises of course dont store data in this format. :) I have
- recently restarted XUL conversations on this and think it would be do
- able. However, once again there is an issue that it would be a lot of
- work.</li>
-
- <li>
- At the time we started GNUe over 2 years ago, XUL was severely
- infantile and mozilla still was not 'widely' adopted. This was around
- M10 releases. If you doubt we didn't make serious efforts search for
- my name (derek) or my sig at that time XULFool and you will see us
- active in many irc sessions, mailing lists etc. For sometime I had
- wanted to use XUL.</li>
-
- <li>
- At the time .... Mozilla was under MPL only which made it iffy at best
- for us to use as a GNU project.</li>
- </ol>
<p>
! BTW for a designer as well people often ask "Why not glade." I
! suppose we should add why not Glade and why not xul to our FAQ as I
! think they are valid questions and ones I would ask if I was new to
! GNUe. TODO
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.13"></a><b>2.13 - What about Windows or
Macintosh?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Windows is not available yet, but it is anticipated. GEAS server works
! native on Mac OS X. wxMac, wxGTK, and wxPython still need more development to
! work effectively on OS X so the GUI does not work yet.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.14"></a><b>2.14 - What about network traffic,
bandwith and thin client?</b>
</p>
<p>
! All network flow is all by ORBit. We would expect same type of traffic
! as a MIDAS client or DCOM client on windows. We are middle ground
! bandwidth wise and thin client wise. GNUe doesn't use bandwidth
! whenever you move the mouse etc. The forms code is an XML form that is
! interpreted by the client. Its only when you do an event relating to
! the backend that it sends traffic (i.e. event driven). The only
! possible issue, we anticipate, would be latency with internet
! deployment with using thin clients talking to GEAS on other side of the
! world.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.15"></a><b>2.15 - How do I create a simple form and
where is it stored and run from?</b>
</p>
<p>
! The form is an XML file. You can create it with any editor. Then you
! can run it remotely by typing "gfclient
! http://myserver.com/some_form.gfd" or locally by typing
! "gfclient /path/to/file/some_form.gfd". The next phase of the
! project will include a graphical form designer that will be like visual
! basic, Delphi or glade.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.16"></a><b>2.16 - How will external systems
interface to GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! External systems may interface with GNUe in two ways. The simple and
! more standard way is to connect directly with the SQL backend
! relational database. The downside to this method is that it will bypass
! all business logic built into GNUe business objects. So some business
! logic will be duplicated in the external systems. Also database tables
! are considered very changeable for upgrades and extensions, therefore
! external systems using this method will require more maintenance than
! those using the GNUe API method.
</p>
<p>
! The other way for external systems to interface with GNUe is to connect
! directly to the GEAS (server) using the GNUe API. This method is not as
! standard but will provide better data integrity as all data will be
! subject to the business rules defined in GNUe business objects. It will
! also be less prone to changes as we expect the GNUe API to change less
! than the SQL tables will change.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.17"></a><b>2.17 - What is a Business Object?</b>
</p>
<p>
! A Business Object is an encapsulated unit of information and methods
! that relate to the business. For example a customer is a Business
! Object. Also a purchase order, a line item on a purchase order and a
! receipt against a line item on a purchase order are all Business
! Objects related to each other. Business objects are defined by the
! developer in .gcd files. The .gcd file may also define methods and
! triggers for the Business Objects.
</p>
<p>
! An example Business Object without methods:
</p>
<p>
! <font face="Courier New,Courier,Monaco">class contact
! <br>
! {
! <br>
! char name<25>;
! <br>
! int16 age;
! <br>
! float net_worth;
! <br>
! text notes;
! <br>
! };
! <br>
! </font>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.18"></a><b>2.18 - What are Business Rules?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Business Rules are methods defined for classes. Currently business
rules are implemented in Python or C.
</p>
! <p> TODO add examples
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe Installation FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.1"></a><b>3.1 - What hardware is required to run
GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Currently, the GNUe system is designed to run primarily on Unix/Linux
! systems (including Solaris). A Windows port is in progress. The clients
! can reside on most systems including Windows, Macintosh, and any system
! running Motif, X or curses.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.2"></a><b> 3.2 - What software is required to run
GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! In general, Linux/Unix type system is required with the following to
build from CVS:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! python </li>
! <li>
! orbit-python </li>
! <li>
! automake </li>
! <li>
! autoconf </li>
! <li>
! dmalloc </li>
! <li>
! libtool </li>
! <li>
! MySql or PostgreSQL </li>
! <li>
! libGDA </li>
! <li>
! dotconf </li>
! <li>
! ORBit </li>
! <li>
! gettext </li>
! <li>
! glib </li>
! <li>
! popt </li>
! <li>
! wxWindows, wxPython</li>
</ul>
<p>
! For more information see <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.3"></a><b> 3.3 - Where do I get GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! The GNUe test systems are Solaris, Red Hat and Debian Linux
! distributions. Rpms are available for Red Hat Linux, Debian Linux and
! general source distributions at <a
! href="http://http://www.gnuenterprise.org/download.php";>http://www.
! gnuenterprise.org/download.php</a>. Plus anonymous CVS access is
! available at <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=2";
! >http://www.gnuenterprise.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=2</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.4"></a><b> 3.4 - How do I build GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.5"></a><b> 3.5 - How do I make GNUe work in my
environment?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.6"></a><b> 3.6 - How do I request changes or
modifications to GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.7"></a><b>3.7 - How do I get and install updates to
GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.8"></a><b>3.8 - If I get into trouble, can I
purchase timely support for GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe Business Process FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.1"></a><b>4.1 - What business processes could
benefit from the current version of GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.2"></a><b>4.2 - What are the financial benefits of
using GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.3"></a><b>4.3 - How do I determine if GNUe will fit
my needs?</b>
</p>
- <p>Consult the oracles at irc.openprojects.net #gnuenterprise</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.4"></a><b>4.4 - What is a GNUe Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! A GNUe Package is an arbitrary collection of modules that provides
! focused functionality. Because modules may be combined independently,
! packages provide a convienent but not rigid grouping.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.5"></a><b>4.5 - What is the GNUe Accounting
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Because finance and accounting are the backbone of every business, the
! GNUe Accounting Package is the heart of GNU Enterprise. With it, you
! can manage your finances, pay your bills, invoice your customers,
! allocate budgets, manage your assets and analyze your costs.
</p>
<p>
! More information may be found at <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/gnue-config/accounting/
! package-doc/Accounting/accountingpkg.html"> Accounting Proposal</a> and
! <a
! href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=NS-
! My_eGallery&file=index&do=showpic&pid=28">Package Overview Drawing</a>
</p>
<p>
! The GNUe acocunting package is currently in the proposal stage.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.6"></a><b>4.6 - What is the GNUe Budget Management
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.7"></a><b>4.7 - What is the GNUe Customer Relations
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Customer Relationship Management (CRM) allows your sales, marketing and
! customer support groups to work together to improve customer (and prospect)
! satisfaction. GNU Enterprise CRM provides campaign management, literature
! fulfillment, lead management, sales analysis and call center.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.8"></a><b>4.8 - What is the GNUe E-Commerce Package
(Sales)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.9"></a><b>4.9 - What is the GNUe Human Resources
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Human Resources manages your most valuable asset, your people. With GNU
! Enterprise Human Resources, you can pay staff, ensure equitable
! compensation, manage training, administer benefits and comply with the
! myriad of government regulatory programs.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.10"></a><b>4.10 - What is the GNUe Project
Management Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Project Management gives you the control you need to make money from your
! estimates and bids. With GNU Enterprise Project, you can create estimates,
! define projects, set up budgets, monitor progress and send invoices to your
! customers.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.11"></a><b>4.11 - What is the GNUe Research &
Development Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.12"></a><b>4.12 - What is the GNUe Supply Chain
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Supply Chain Management (SCM) optimizes the flow of information and
! materials from your customer’s initial order through to delivery to
their
! front door. This process requires the coordinated efforts of your suppliers
! plus workers in Order Entry, Inventory, Manufacturing, Shipping, Purchasing
! and Billing. Even your Web Store can be involved. Your company’s
! competitiveness depends directly of how well you optimize your SCM business
! process. With GNU Enterprise SCM, you will have a good head start.
</p>
<p>
! For more information regarding the Supply Chain Package see <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/sc.html";>
! http://www.gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/sc.html</a>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.13"></a><b>4.13 - What is the GNUe Manufacturing
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Manufacturing forms a key part of the Supply Chain Management process. GNU
! Enterprise Manufacturing supports different styles of manufacturing -
! engineer-to-order, process, and project. It includes Master Production
! Scheduling, Bill of Materials, Material Requirements Planning, Capacity
! Requirement Planning and Shop Floor Control.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.14"></a><b>4.14 - What is the GNUe Sales
Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Sales is a critical package within your organization. When the customer
! signs the order, it triggers the entire Supply Chain Management process.
! Through analysis of sales data, Customer Relationship Management tries to
! understand customer needs. GNU Enterprise Sales allows you to monitor the
! performance of sales staff and spot problems. It allows you to set sales
! compensation policies which reflect company objectives then calculates sales
! compensation based on information from Order Entry.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.15"></a><b>4.15 - What is the GNUe Business
Intelligence Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Business Intelligence (BI) allows management to monitor key metrics in your
! organization, spot trouble (or opportunities) and drill down through other
! applications for more information. Then they can use BI’s analytical
tools
! to visually monitor progress.
</p>
- <p>End of GNUe FAQ</p>
</body>
</html>
-
--- 1,1315 ----
! <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd";>
!
<html>
<head>
! <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1">
! <title>
! GNU Enterprise GNUe FAQ
! </title>
! <meta name="keywords"
! content="MRP, ERP, enterprise software, gnue, gnu enterprise, free
software, business technology, supply chain, inventory, object technology,
CORBA, SQL, relational database, FAQ, client server">
! <meta name="description" content="The GNUe Enterprise FAQ.">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff">
! <div align="Center">
! <h2><font size="+2">GNUe FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions</font></h2>
</div>
<p>
! <b>The GNUe General FAQ Index</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.1">1.1 - What is GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.2">1.2 - What makes GNUe different?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.3">1.3 - How do I get help with GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.4">
! 1.4 - How do I report suggestions, errors or omission in this FAQ?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.5">1.5 - Who contributed to this FAQ?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.6">
! 1.6 - When was this FAQ last revised and where can I find it?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.7">1.7 - What is Enterprise Software?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.8">1.8 - Why is GNUe being developed?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.9">
! 1.9 - How does GNUe compare to Quickbooks, PeachTree or other
! shrink-wrapped accounting software?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.10">1.10 - What is Free Software?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.11">
! 1.11 - Why is GNUe GPL and what does that mean?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.12">1.12 - How do I help the GNUe effort?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.13">
! 1.13 - What standard technologies or standards are used in GNUe?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.14">1.14 - What is the history of GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.15">
! 1.15 - What are the technical features of GNUe?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.16">1.16 - What is the current status of GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-1.17">1.17 - What organizations are using GNUe?</a>
! </p>
! <p>
! <b>The GNUe Technology FAQ Index</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.1">
! 2.1 - What is the GNUe architecture (short version)?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.2">2.2 - What is GNUe-Forms and GNUe-Designer?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.3">2.3 - What is GNUe-Common?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.4">
! 2.4 - What is GNUe Application Server (GEAS)?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.5">2.5 - What is GNUe Reports (GNUeR)?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.6">
! 2.6 - What is GNUe Enterprise Wide Office Kommunication (EWOK)?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.7">2.7 - What database does GNUe require?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.8">2.8 - What is Data Transformation Tool?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.9">2.9 - What is Workflow Engine?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.10">
! 2.10 - What is Transaction Processing Engine?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.11">2.11 - What GUIs work with GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.12">2.12 - Why Python? Why not Java or Perl?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.13">2.13 - What about Windows or Macintosh?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.14">
! 2.14 - What about network traffic, bandwith and thin client?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.15">
! 2.15 - How do I create a simple form and where is it stored
! and run from?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.16">
! 2.16 - How will external systems interface to GNUe?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.17">2.17 - What is a Business Object?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.18">2.18 - What are Business Rules?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.19">
! 2.19 - Why not Glade instead of GNUe Forms?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.20">
! 2.20 - Why not Mozilla's XUL instead of GNUe Forms?
! </a>
! </p>
! <p>
! <b>The GNUe Installation FAQ Index</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-3.1">
! 3.1 - What hardware is required to run GNUe?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-3.2">
! 3.2 - What software is required to run GNUe?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-3.3">3.3 - Where do I get GNUe?</a>
! <br>
! 3.4 - How do I build GNUe?
! <br>
! 3.5 - How do I make GNUe work in my environment?
! <br>
! 3.6 - How do I request changes or modifications to GNUe?
! <br>
! 3.7 - How do I get and install updates to GNUe?
! <br>
! 3.8 - If I get into trouble, can I purchase timely support for GNUe?
! </p>
! <p>
! <b>The GNUe Business Process FAQ Index</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! 4.1 - What business processes could benefit from the current version
! of GNUe?
! <br>
! 4.2 - What are the financial benefits of using GNUe?
! <br>
! 4.3 - How do I determine if GNUe will fit my needs?
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.4">4.4 - What is a GNUe Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.5">4.5 - What is the GNUe Accounting Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.6">
! 4.6 - What is the GNUe Budget Management Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.7">
! 4.7 - What is the GNUe Customer Relations Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.8">4.8 - What is the GNUe E-Commerce Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.9">
! 4.9 - What is the GNUe Human Resources Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.10">
! 4.10 - What is the GNUe Project Management Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.11">
! 4.11 - What is the GNUe Research & Development Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.12">
! 4.12 - What is the GNUe Supply Chain Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.13">
! 4.13 - What is the GNUe Manufacturing Package?
! </a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.14">4.14 - What is the GNUe Sales Package?</a>
! <br>
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-4.15">
! 4.15 - What is the GNUe Business Intelligence Package?
! </a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="Center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe General FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.1"></a>
! <b>1.1 - What is GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe stands for GNU Enterprise. GNUe is both free software and
! a modular architecture that provides automated support for most
! business processes. This type of software is sometimes referred
! to as Enterprise Software. Many proprietary commercial Enterprise
! Software applications exist (i.e. from manufacturers like SAP,
! Manugistics, PeopleSoft, etc.) that provide similar functionality.
</p>
<p>
! GNUe installation will typically provide integrated business software
! for human resources, payroll, inventory, purchasing, accounting,
! finance, planning, sales order entry, customer support, forecasting,
! and other business processes.
</p>
! <br>
! <br>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.2"></a>
! <b>1.2 - What makes GNUe different?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe is free software and built around open standards for the most
! popular computer systems in the world. It is also designed from
! the ground up as a modular international system utilizing the latest
! in object technology. Object technology means that parts of the
! overall system may be improved and capabilities added without monolithic
! or system wide changes. International design includes capability
! for multiple currencies, languages and international support.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.3"></a>
! <b>1.3 - How do I get help with GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! First, read the documentation. It can be found at
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/docs";>
! http://www.gnuenterprise.org/docs</a>.
! Business object (accounting, supply-chain, etc.) documentation
! can be found at
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/%7Eneilt/sc.html";>
! http://www. gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/sc.html</a>.
</p>
<p>
! Once you are familiar with the documentation you should review
! the mail list archives which can be found at
! <a href="http://lists.gnue.org/mailman/listinfo";>
! http://lists.gnue.org/mailman/listinfo</a>.
</p>
<p>
! You may also ask you question on the IRC chat channel which can
! be found at
! <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=3";>
! http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.4"></a>
! <b>
! 1.4 - How do I report suggestions, errors or omission in this FAQ?
! </b>
</p>
<p>
! All suggestions, errors, omission or other comments regarding the
! GNUe FAQ should be emailed to
! <a href="mailto:address@hidden";>address@hidden</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.5"></a>
! <b>1.5 - Who contributed to this FAQ?</b>
</p>
<p>
! This FAQ was originally written in November 2000 and is maintained
! by Neil Tiffin. Contributors to this FAQ include, in no particular
! order, Derek Neighbors, James Thompson, Andrew Murie, Alan Clifford,
! Reinhard Muller, Andrew Hill, and Jason Cater.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.6"></a>
! <b>1.6 - When was this FAQ last revised and where can I find it.</b>.
</p>
<p>
! This FAQ is $Revision: 1.20 $ $Date: 2001/12/15 15:18:17 $. The
! most recent version (automatically updated from CVS) can be found at
! <a href="http://www.gnu.org/projects/gnue/faq.html";>
! http://www.gnu.org/projects/gnue/faq.html</a>.
! Another version is located at
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.7"></a>
! <b>1.7 - What is Enterprise Software?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Enterprise Software refers to a software system where most of the
! software used to operate a business is integrated together and
! business information is maintained in a way that reduces or eliminates
! duplication, provides timely access by all parts of the organization,
! provides a high level of accuracy, and requires minimal manual
! intervention.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.8"></a>
! <b>1.8 - Why is GNUe being developed?</b>
</p>
<p>
! As an alternative to proprietary systems because:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! proprietary systems can be very expensive over the life of the
! software. If you have a system that works why should you pay a
! huge monthly fee just for the privilege of using the system.
! </li>
! <li>
! proprietary systems are usually designed by computer companies,
! not end users. GNUe is flexible and designed to support realistic
! business processes and future development is driven by users.
! </li>
! <li>
! proprietary systems may have limited life and are proprietary.
! If the proprietary system manufacturer or outside consultant goes
! out of business (or your internal technical developer leaves) you
! may end up with no reliable support. Why should you pay for a manufacturers
! poor business practices? GNUe is free software. This provides you
! with everything needed to support the software yourself -- even
! if everyone else quits using it. The GNUe project is designed as
! a cooperative effort. This will benefit all users in the long run.
! </li>
! <li>
! GNUe offers unparalleled flexibility. You may use an existing business
! model, expand upon an existing business model, or create your
! own business model from scratch.
! </li>
! <li>
! small businesses can get the same benefit from GNUe that previously
! were only available to large businesses using proprietary enterprise
! software.
! </li>
</ul>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.9"></a>
! <b>
! 1.9 - How does GNUe compare to Quickbooks, PeachTree or other
! shrink-wrapped accounting software?
! </b>
</p>
<p>
! It doesn't. GNUe is professional strength software designed for
! multi-user operating systems with either a two or three tier client
! server architecture. It is built to be scalable and maintainable
! -- supporting organizations with over 2000 users. Of course, it
! will also support organizations with just a few users and run on
! a single computer (with just a little overkill). It can be run
! out of the box or completely customized by developers. It is free.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.10"></a>
! <b>1.10 - What is Free Software?</b>
</p>
<p>
! The GNUe project fully supports the concept of Free Software. See
! <a href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html";>
! http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.11"></a>
! <b>
! 1.11 - Why is GNUe licensed under the GPL and what does this mean?
! </b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe is released under the GPL license. Please see the sample GPL
! license at
! <a href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html";>
! http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html</a>.
! The actual license covering GNUe is included in all GNUe distributions.
</p>
<p>
! For a description of why GPL and why free software see
! <a href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html";>
! http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/why-free.html</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.12"></a>
! <b>1.12 - How do I help the GNUe effort?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Become familiar with the GNUe system; then, email
! <a href="mailto:address@hidden";>address@hidden</a>.
! There is always something that needs to be done. We need all
! types of talent -- programming, documentation, business process
! analysis, and, most importantly, users. Please don't be bashful.
</p>
<p>
! To formally contribute to GNUe, we will require a signed Free Software
! Foundation copyright assignment. More information can be obtained
! by sending email indicating your area of interest to
! <a href="mailto:address@hidden";>address@hidden</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.13"></a>
! <b>1.13 - What standard technologies or standards are used in GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe potentially makes use of SGML, HTML, XML, XML-EDI, CORBA,
! SQL, and several GNU technologies. No doubt some I missed.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.14"></a>
! <b>1.14 - What is the history of GNUe?</b>
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! July 1999 - Project obelisk managed by James Thompson (USA) and
! Didier Legein (Belgium) and the GNU G/L (FSF Project) managed by
! Jonas Oberg (Sweden) merged to become GNU Enterprise. The goal
! to do more that just G/L.
! </li>
! <li>
! February 2000 - Project sanity (ERP) managed by Jade Meskill (USA)
! and Derek Neighbors (USA) inquired and merged with GNUe.
! </li>
! <li>
! March 2000 - The start of the current incarnation of GNUe. Finalized
! and merged the current technical architecture from the previous
! projects. During the late spring and early summer Reinhard Muller
! (Austria), Arno Pedusaar (Estonia), and Bill Hamilton (USA) joined
! the core team.
! </li>
! <li>
! July 2000 - Treshna, represented by Andrew Murie (New Zealand)
! and Andrew Hill (New Zealand), joined the core team, committed
! full time resources, and started work on GNUe Application Server (GEAS).
! </li>
! <li>
! October 2000 - GNUe Application Server v0.0.2 released with relational
! database support for MySQL and PostGRES. GNUe Forms v0.0.3 released.
! </li>
! <li>
! November 2000 - GNUe Forms 0.0.4 and GEAS 0.0.3 released and Project
! Management and Inventory modules started. Neil Tiffin (USA) joined
! the core team.
! </li>
! <li>
! December 2000 - Chris Spence (UK) joined the core team.
! </li>
! <li>
! January 2001 - GNUe Forms 0.0.5 released. GEAS undergoing major
! rewrite and API change.
! </li>
! <li>
! February 2001 - Demonstrations at Linux World were hits.
! </li>
! <li>
! March 2001 - GNUe Forms 0.0.6 released.
! </li>
! <li>
! April 2001 - GNUe Application Server (GEAS) 0.0.4, GNUe Forms 0.0.7,
! GNUe Common 0.0.1 released.
! </li>
! <li>
! June 2001 - GNUe Application Server (GEAS) 0.0.5, GNUe Forms 0.0.8
! and GNUe Common 0.0.2 released. New interactive web site introduced at
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>.
! </li>
! <li>
! July 2001 - GNUe Forms 0.0.9, GNUe Common 0.0.3 and GNUe Designer
! 0.0.1 released.
! </li>
! <li>
! August 2001 - GNUe Application Server (GEAS) 0.0.6 released.
! </li>
! <li>
! November 2001 - Kernel Cousins (IRC summary) brought on-line. GNUe-Forms
! 0.1.0, GNUe-Designer 0.1.0, and GNUe-Common 0.1.0. released.
! </li>
</ul>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.15"></a>
! <b>1.15 - What are the technical features of GNUe?</b>
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! Modular System Design - You only install and maintain what you need.
! </li>
! <li>
! Open Architecture - No internal secrets or technology -- you are
! in control of your destiny.
! </li>
! <li>
! Powerful Development Framework - Provides high level development
! and productivity tools.
! </li>
! <li>
! Freedom from Single Source Vendors - All source code included.
! </li>
! <li>
! Easy Maintenance - Customized components are separate from generic
! distribution.
! </li>
! <li>
! Package Library - Easy specialization for specific business processes.
! </li>
! <li>
! Reuse of Free Software - Does not reinvent the wheel.
! </li>
! <li>
! Versioning System - Ease of updating.
! </li>
! <li>
! Best Practice - Design based on best international practices.
! </li>
! <li>
! International Design - Currency, Language, and core team representatives
! located around the world.
! </li>
! <li>
! Industry Specific Templates - Easy specialization for specific
! industry needs.
! </li>
</ul>
<p>
! For a more complete description please see the document "GNU Enterprise
! - Developers Introduction" at
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.16"></a>
! <b>1.16 - What is the current status of GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Our development process is:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! Proposal - specifications being exchanged no final agreement
! </li>
! <li>
! Draft Specification - Proposal accepted, spec's started
! </li>
! <li>
! Specification - no code, but agreed specifications
! </li>
! <li>
! Development - code started, components may work, but not as a system
! </li>
! <li>
! Alpha - mostly working system, but missing some features
! </li>
! <li>
! Beta - working system, in final testing stage
! </li>
! <li>
! Production - working and tested, ready for non-development use
! </li>
</ul>
<p>
! The GNUe tool box status is:
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! GNUe Forms - Alpha
! </li>
! <li>
! GNUe Designer - Alpha
! </li>
! <li>
! GNUe Application Server (GEAS) - Alpha
! </li>
! <li>
! GNUe Reports - Late Development
! </li>
! <li>
! EWOK An external communications engine - Proposal
! </li>
! <li>
! Bayonne Telephony Application Server - Production
! </li>
! <li>
! Data Transformation tool (something like Data Junction) - Proposal
! </li>
! <li>
! Workflow Engine - Need Proposal
! </li>
! <li>
! Transaction Processing Engine - Need Proposal
! </li>
</ul>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-1.17"></a>
! <b>1.17 - What organizations are using GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (to do)
</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="Center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe Technology FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
! <p>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.1"></a>
! <b>2.1 - What is the GNUe architecture (short version)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe is an n-tier client server enterprise system. The user interface
! is provided by GNUe Forms client. The GNUe Forms client talks directly
! to the GEAS (enterprise application server) using CORBA technology.
! GEAS currenty connects to SQL92 relational databases using API
! calls. GEAS also manages the business objects which consist of
! data and business rules.
! </p>
! <p>
! The backend use of a standard SQL92 relational database provides
! standard interfaces for external systems and leverages current
! IT practices and staff. This was an important consideration for
! simplifying the migration to GNUe and the integration of GNUe with
! other systems (
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.16">see 2.16</a>). For 2-tier, backend support
! includes most major relational databases including DB2, Oracle, Sybase,
! MySQL, and PostgreSQL. For n-tier support, only MySQL and PostgreSQL
! are supported at this time.
</p>
<p>
! The current GNUe software components are:
</p>
<ul>
! <li> GNUe-Forms </li>
! <li> GNUe-Designer </li>
! <li> GNUe-Common </li>
! <li> GNUe-Reports </li>
! <li> GEAS - GNU Enterprise Application Server </li>
! <li> EWOK - GNUe Enterprise Wide Office Kommunications </li>
</ul>
<p>
! Internally, GNUe n-tier is object based. The objects contain data
! and business rules with data stored in an SQL database. The business
! objects are accessed using CORBA and we use Python-orbit for binding
! Python to our current ORB ORBit. Therefore the business rules are
! written in Python. Since other bindings exist, a developer is not
! necessarily limited to Python.
</p>
<p>
! A small system will typically have the following process running (
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/%7Eneilt/GNUeSimpleSystem.png";>
! see diagram</a>):
</p>
<ul>
! <li>
! SQL server
! </li>
! <li>
! GEAS server (optional, for n-tier only)
! </li>
! <li>
! CORBA name server (optional, for n-tier only)
! </li>
! <li>
! A client (GNUe Forms) for each user (each on a different client machine)
! </li>
! <li>
! A report server (GNUe Reports) for each user generated reports
! </li>
</ul>
<p>
! A large system may have multiple SQL, GEAS, CORBA name and Report
! servers all running on different machines.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.2"></a>
! <b>2.2 - What is GNUe-Forms and GNUe-Designer?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe-Forms is a platform and UI-independent forms system. It reads
! an XML-based forms definition and creates GUIs for Win32, GTK,
! and, soon, Curses and HTML. It has a fully data-aware widget set
! and can be used in both 2-tier and n-tier environments.
</p>
<p>
! GNUe-Designer is the IDE for the GNUe tools. It allows you to visually
! layout your forms in a RAD-style environment. Designer has a builtin
! forms client, so you can quickly test your forms while still in
! Designer. Designer also now has support for form creation wizards...
! answer a few questions, attach your form to a table, select the
! fields to include, and, voila, a basic form is created.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.3"></a>
! <b>2.3 - What is GNUe-Common?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe-Common is the basis for the GNUe tools, such as Forms, Reports,
! and Designer. It implements a database-abstraction layer that provides
! support for most major databases. A builtin XML-to-Object parser
! and Object-to-XML marshaller are used by Forms, Reports, and Designer
! to save and read Forms/Report definitions to and from an XML file.
! Work has begun on an RPC-abstraction layer that will allow server
! processes to define their public methods once and have them available
! to CORBA, XML-RPC, SOAP, and DCOM clients.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.4"></a>
! <b>2.4 - What is GNUe Application Server (GEAS)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GEAS is a data abstraction layer and allows GNUe to utilize single
! API to all data sources (local and remote). So the client has one
! set of calls it uses, but can access different vendors SQL databases
! or even CVS or XML files. Similar to Borland's Database Engine
! or other data abstraction tiers. GEAS is transparent to the user.
! It will run with multiple instances and do load balancing. GEAS
! is required for n-tier operation.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.5"></a>
! <b>2.5 - What is GNUe Reports (GNUeR)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe Reports shares many features with GNUe Forms. It is comprised
! of a report designer and a client that generates the requested
! output. Report definition files are also XML based. And programs
! can communicate directly with the XML reports definition language
! much like they can with GNUe Forms. The major difference is that
! GNUe Reports is optimized to handle large amounts of data and run
! separately from the GNUe Forms Client.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.6"></a>
! <b>2.6 - What is GNUe Enterprise Wide Office Kommunication (EWOK)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Integration of non-transaction based ad-hoc communications utilizing
! fax, email and paging other non-network communications with GNUe.
! Transaction based external communications (EDI and XML-EDI) will
! utilize the
! <a href="#GNUe-FAQ-2.7">Data Transformation</a>
! Tool. To use EWOK the user would typically hit the EWOK button
! in the Forms client and a pop-up window would appear with destination
! and information selection options. This may be replaced with
! Bayonne. This change is in process, see the news section for
! more information.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.7"></a>
! <b>2.7 - What database does GNUe require?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe n-tier (GEAS) currently works with MySQL and PostgreSQL relational
! databases. (See
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>).
! GNUe 2-tier works with a wide range of backends, such as PostgreSQL,
! MySQL, Oracle, DB2, Sybase, Interbase, SAP-DB, ODBC, etc.). The
! internal structure of GNUe GEAS is object based but stores information
! in a standard SQL92 relational database. It is anticipated that
! GNUe will interface to any SQL92 (odbc, oracle, sybase, interbase,
! etc) standard relational database. The API design does not limit
! the storage to RDMS.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.8"></a>
! <b>2.8 - What is Data Transformation Tool?</b>
</p>
<p>
! This tool will handle all incoming and outgoing data transformation
! requirements including EDI, XML-EDI, spreadsheet import/export
! and others.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.9"></a>
! <b>2.9 - What is Workflow Engine?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.10"></a>
! <b>2.10 - What is Transaction Processing Engine?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.11"></a>
! <b>2.11 - What GUIs work with GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! GNUe Forms currently supports (some are tested more than others)
! win32, gtk, motif, curses and mac GUI. A Java client is being
! authored as well and a web client is anticipated in the very near
! future.
</p>
<p>
! GNUe Designer uses the wxWindows widget set, which currently supports
! Win32, GTK, and Motif. Soon, wxWindows will support MacOS
! and QT/KDE.
! <br>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.12"></a>
! <b>2.12 - </b>
! Why Python? Why not Java or Perl?
</p>
<p>
! If you want Java, LinuxKontor is probably a better choice for you.
! Because of Java's popularity, some of the GNUe team is working
! on a Java forms client (although it is not a priority and, therefore,
! is not actively maintained). We do know that Java applications
! can connect to a GEAS backend via Java's CORBA support. However,
! Java is NOT the preferred language for our clients as it has issues
! with its ownership. Because this is a free software project we
! will provide all functionality using free software. Also, at the
! time, Java did not have any usable widget sets -- swing was/is
! too slow to be used in an application setting.
</p>
<p>
! Perl is another widely used, free high-level scripting language
! with many similarities to Python. The early developers chose Python
! over Perl because of Python's maintainability (clean code) and
! object-oriented nature. Perl does not scale well in a large project
! with multiple active developers. It is quite common for a developer
! to write a perl script and, 6 months later, not have a clue what
! the script was designed to do. It is commonly said that perl is
! better suited for smaller, one-time projects.
</p>
<p>
! Other free scripting languages could have been used. However, the
! same arguments against Perl usually hold for these as well. Perhaps
! other languages would have worked just as well. The bottom line,
! however, is that Python was chosen early on, has a tremendous standard
! library, has proven itself with respect to clean code, and is well-liked
! by the GNUe developers, so we see no reason to change.
! </p>
! <p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.13"></a>
! <b>2.13 - What about Windows or Macintosh support?</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! The GNUe Application Server (GEAS) works natively on Mac OS X.
! It does not currently work on Windows, but support is anticipated.
! </p>
! <p>
! GNUe Forms and GNUe Designer use the wxPython/wxWindows abstraction
! library, which currently provides widget support for GTK, Motif,
! and Windows 9x/XP/NT/2000. A Mac OS X port of wx is being heavily
! worked on, but is currently not usable. A QT/KDE port for wx is
! also under development. Work is also under way on Curses and HTML
! frontends for GNUe Forms.
! </p>
! <p>
! GNUe Reports runs on most platforms supported by Python. The primary
! limitation will be the driver for your database backend. For example,
! while GNUe Reports will run on Windows, a corresponding PostgreSQL
! driver may not be available.
! </p>
! <p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.14"></a>
! <b>2.14 - What about network traffic, bandwith and thin clients?</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! All network flow is all by ORBit. We would expect same type of
! traffic as a MIDAS client or DCOM client on windows. We are middle
! ground bandwidth wise and thin client wise. GNUe doesn't use bandwidth
! whenever you move the mouse etc. The forms code is an XML form
! that is interpreted by the client. Its only when you do an event
! relating to the backend that it sends traffic (i.e. event driven).
! The only possible issue, we anticipate, would be latency with internet
! deployment with using thin clients talking to GEAS on other side
! of the world.
! </p>
! <p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.15"></a>
! <b>
! 2.15 - How do I create a simple form? Where is it stored and
! how do I run it?
! </b>
! </p>
! <p>
! The form is an XML file. You can create it with any editor or with
! GNUe Designer. Then you can run it remotely by typing "gfclient
! http://myserver.com/some_form.gfd"; or locally by typing "gfclient
! /path/to/file/some_form.gfd".
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.16"></a>
! <b>2.16 - How will external systems interface to GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! External systems may interface with GNUe in two ways. The simple
! and more standard way is to connect directly with the SQL backend
! relational database. The downside to this method is that it will
! bypass all business logic built into GNUe business objects. So
! some business logic will be duplicated in the external systems.
! Also database tables are considered very changeable for upgrades
! and extensions, therefore external systems using this method will
! require more maintenance than those using the GNUe API method.
</p>
<p>
! The other way for external systems to interface with GNUe is to
! connect directly to the GEAS (server) using the GNUe API. This
! method is not as standard but will provide better data integrity
! as all data will be subject to the business rules defined in GNUe
! business objects. It will also be less prone to changes as we expect
! the GNUe API to change less than the SQL tables will change.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.17"></a>
! <b>2.17 - What is a Business Object?</b>
</p>
<p>
! A Business Object is an encapsulated unit of information and methods
! that relate to the business. For example a customer is a Business
! Object. Also a purchase order, a line item on a purchase order
! and a receipt against a line item on a purchase order are all Business
! Objects related to each other. Business objects are defined by
! the developer in .gcd files. The .gcd file may also define methods
! and triggers for the Business Objects.
</p>
<p>
! An example Business Object without methods:
</p>
<p>
! <font face="Courier New,Courier,Monaco">
! class contact
! <br>
! {
! <br>
! char name<25>;
! <br>
! int16 age;
! <br>
! float net_worth;
! <br>
! text notes;
! <br>
! };
! <br>
! </font>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.18"></a>
! <b>2.18 - What are Business Rules?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Business Rules are methods defined for classes. Currently business
! rules are implemented in Python or C.
</p>
<p>
! TODO add examples
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.19"></a>
! 2.19 - Why Not Glade instead of GNUe Forms?
</p>
<p>
! GNUe Forms and Glade are two separate types of tools. Comparing
! one to the other is, pardon the cliche, like comparing apples
! to oranges.
</p>
<p>
! Glade is a powerful, yet special-purpose, GUI layout application.
! It is specifically designed to generate GUI layouts for a GTK/GNOME
! application and is very well suited for such a task. If you are
! wanting to design a GUI for a non-data-aware app that runs only
! under Gnome/GTK, then you should look at Glade.
</p>
<p>
! However, one of the main goals of GNUe Forms is to be independent
! of any particular user interface. Using a single form definition,
! your data-aware application will work on various graphical desktops
! (Windows, GTK/GNOME, KDE, Mac, Motif) as well as via a text-only
! (curses) interface and a web browser (HTML). We are even looking
! at designing a Bayonne forms client -- your form could be accessed
! via a telephone!
</p>
<p>
! Also, one of the primary draws of Forms is its fully data-aware
! widget set. Glade would require you to program any database
! logic yourself. Forms provides a natural link between an on-screen
! form and a database backend with very little, if any, programming.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-2.20"></a>
! 2.20 - Why not Mozilla's XUL instead of GNUe Forms?
</p>
! <p>
! "Tonight Derek was reading over some of the documentation on GNUe.
! It occurred to me that Mozilla and XUL might make a great front
! end UI to this system. Instead of creating multiple GUI front ends
! for the different environments you wish to support, you could make
! one XUL front end that could run on every platform that Mozilla
! can run on (and there are a lot). Is there some reason you've chosen
! not to do this?"
! </p>
! <p>
! This has been talked about in infinite detail, but the summary
! is that browsers don't make good front ends for Enterprise systems.
! They are a nice option, but most data-entry style applications
! are not "friendly" when used from a browswer.
! </p>
! <p>
! Specifically, there were a few key issues with using Mozilla as
! our primary interface:
! </p>
! <ol type="a">
! <li>
! Mozilla is a bit 'heavy' for a client. (Now I realize we could
! have just reused the rendering engine (gecko) and wrapped it, but
! thats pretty significant work in and of itself.
! </li>
! <li>
! The concept of data aware widgets doesn't exist to the mozilla
! team unless of course you are willing to do all data in RDF/RSS
! format. Our enterprises, of course, dont store data in this format.
! :) I have recently restarted XUL conversations on this and think
! it would be do able. However, once again there is an issue that
! it would be a lot of work.
! </li>
! <li>
! At the time we started GNUe over 2 years ago, XUL was severely
! infantile and mozilla still was not 'widely' adopted. This was
! around M10 releases. If you doubt we didn't make serious efforts
! search for my name (derek) or my sig at that time XULFool and you
! will see us active in many irc sessions, mailing lists etc. For
! sometime I had wanted to use XUL.
! </li>
! <li>
! At the time .... Mozilla was under MPL only which made it iffy
! at best for us to use as a GNU project.
! </li>
! </ol>
! <p>
! Since Forms is designed to be UI-independent, it is worth noting
! that someone could write a XUL driver for Forms. This would allow
! those who would prefer an XUL interface to do so, but would not
! in any way make Mozilla the primary interface of Forms.
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="Center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe Installation FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.1"></a>
! <b>3.1 - What hardware is required to run GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Currently, the GNUe Application Server is designed to run primarily
! on Unix/Linux systems (including Solaris). A Windows port is in
! progress. The GNUe clients work on most systems including Windows,
! Macintosh, and any system running Motif, X or curses.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.2"></a>
! <b>3.2 - What software is required to run GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! In general, Linux/Unix type system is required with the following
! to build from CVS:
</p>
<ul>
! <li> python </li>
! <li> orbit-python </li>
! <li> automake </li>
! <li> autoconf </li>
! <li> dmalloc </li>
! <li> libtool </li>
! <li> MySql or PostgreSQL </li>
! <li> libGDA </li>
! <li> dotconf </li>
! <li> ORBit </li>
! <li> gettext </li>
! <li> glib </li>
! <li> popt </li>
! <li> wxWindows, wxPython </li>
</ul>
<p>
! For more information see
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org";>http://www.gnuenterprise.org</a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.3"></a>
! <b>3.3 - Where do I get GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! The GNUe test systems are Solaris, Red Hat and Debian Linux distributions.
! Rpms are available for Red Hat Linux, Debian Linux and general
! source distributions at
! <a href="http://http://www.gnuenterprise.org/download.php";>
! http://www.gnuenterprise.org/download.php
! </a>.
! Plus anonymous CVS access is available at
! <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=2";>
! http://www.gnuenterprise.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=2
! </a>.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.4"></a>
! <b>3.4 - How do I build GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.5"></a>
! <b>3.5 - How do I make GNUe work in my environment?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.6"></a>
! <b>3.6 - How do I request changes or modifications to GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.7"></a>
! <b>3.7 - How do I get and install updates to GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-3.8"></a>
! <b>
! 3.8 - If I get into trouble, can I purchase timely support for GNUe?
! </b>
</p>
<p>
! (todo)
</p>
<p>
</p>
<hr>
! <div align="Center">
! <p>
! <b><font size="+2">The GNUe Business Process FAQ</font></b>
! </p>
</div>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.1"></a>
! <b>
! 4.1 - What business processes could benefit from the current
! version of GNUe?
! </b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.2"></a>
! <b>4.2 - What are the financial benefits of using GNUe?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.3"></a>
! <b>4.3 - How do I determine if GNUe will fit my needs?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Consult the oracles at irc.openprojects.net #gnuenterprise
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.4"></a>
! <b>4.4 - What is a GNUe Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! A GNUe Package is an arbitrary collection of modules that provides
! focused functionality. Because modules may be combined independently,
! packages provide a convienent but not rigid grouping.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.5"></a>
! <b>4.5 - What is the GNUe Accounting Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Because finance and accounting are the backbone of every business,
! the GNUe Accounting Package is the heart of GNU Enterprise. With
! it, you can manage your finances, pay your bills, invoice your
! customers, allocate budgets, manage your assets and analyze your costs.
</p>
<p>
! More information may be found at
! <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/%7Eneilt/gnue-config/accounting/%0Apackage-doc/Accounting/accountingpkg.html";>
! Accounting Proposal</a>
! and
! <a
href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=NS-%0AMy_eGallery&file=index&do=showpic&pid=28";>
! Package Overview Drawing</a>
</p>
<p>
! The GNUe acocunting package is currently in the proposal stage.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.6"></a>
! <b>4.6 - What is the GNUe Budget Management Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.7"></a>
! <b>4.7 - What is the GNUe Customer Relations Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Customer Relationship Management (CRM) allows your sales, marketing
! and customer support groups to work together to improve customer
! (and prospect) satisfaction. GNU Enterprise CRM provides campaign
! management, literature fulfillment, lead management, sales analysis
! and call center.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.8"></a>
! <b>4.8 - What is the GNUe E-Commerce Package (Sales)?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.9"></a>
! <b>4.9 - What is the GNUe Human Resources Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Human Resources manages your most valuable asset, your people.
! With GNU Enterprise Human Resources, you can pay staff, ensure
! equitable compensation, manage training, administer benefits and
! comply with the myriad of government regulatory programs.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.10"></a>
! <b>4.10 - What is the GNUe Project Management Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Project Management gives you the control you need to make money
! from your estimates and bids. With GNU Enterprise Project, you
! can create estimates, define projects, set up budgets, monitor
! progress and send invoices to your customers.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.11"></a>
! <b>4.11 - What is the GNUe Research & Development Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.12"></a>
! <b>4.12 - What is the GNUe Supply Chain Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Supply Chain Management (SCM) optimizes the flow of information
! and materials from your customer’s initial order through
! to delivery to their front door. This process requires the coordinated
! efforts of your suppliers plus workers in Order Entry, Inventory,
! Manufacturing, Shipping, Purchasing and Billing. Even your Web
! Store can be involved. Your company’s competitiveness depends
! directly of how well you optimize your SCM business process. With
! GNU Enterprise SCM, you will have a good head start.
</p>
<p>
! For more information regarding the Supply Chain Package see
! <a href="http://www.gnuenterprise.org/%7Eneilt/sc.html";>
! http://www.gnuenterprise.org/~neilt/sc.html
! </a>
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.13"></a>
! <b>4.13 - What is the GNUe Manufacturing Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Manufacturing forms a key part of the Supply Chain Management process.
! GNU Enterprise Manufacturing supports different styles of manufacturing
! - engineer-to-order, process, and project. It includes Master
! Production Scheduling, Bill of Materials, Material Requirements
! Planning, Capacity Requirement Planning and Shop Floor Control.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.14"></a>
! <b>4.14 - What is the GNUe Sales Package?</b>
</p>
<p>
! Sales is a critical package within your organization. When the
! customer signs the order, it triggers the entire Supply Chain Management
! process. Through analysis of sales data, Customer Relationship
! Management tries to understand customer needs. GNU Enterprise Sales
! allows you to monitor the performance of sales staff and spot problems.
! It allows you to set sales compensation policies which reflect
! company objectives then calculates sales compensation based on
! information from Order Entry.
</p>
<p>
! <a name="GNUe-FAQ-4.15"></a>
! <b>4.15 - What is the GNUe Business Intelligence Package?</b>
! </p>
! <p>
! Business Intelligence (BI) allows management to monitor key metrics
! in your organization, spot trouble (or opportunities) and drill
! down through other applications for more information. Then they
! can use BI’s analytical tools to visually monitor progress.
! </p>
! <p>
! End of GNUe FAQ
</p>
</body>
</html>