Data Entry Forms

Xanalys Data Entry is a technology component that permits the creation of easily customizable forms that can be used for data input. The technology is based on open standards and is implemented using the latest Microsoft Technology.

Each form is based on form template and is made up of a set of constituent parts. The main parts are:

• a user interface. This is defined using the XAML declarative markup language. This makes the form presentation customizable using standard Microsoft designer tools like Expression Blend (http://www.microsoft.com/expression) or entirely “skinning” the “look and feel” of the form by simply applying different commercially available templates (e.g. DevExpress or Reuxables WPF Themes).
• a definition of the data format expressed in XML Schema language. This is used to define the structure of the information to be captured by the form.
• a set of validation rules. These rules are expressed in XML and are used to define permitted values that the user can enter into a field. Dependencies between different fields can also be captured.
• a set of lookup values presented to the user used to populate drop down lists.
• a set of default values for selected fields in the form.

A form template is distinct from the form data of a completed form. When the user wants to fill out a form, the application presents the form templates available to the user. The user selects a template, fills out the form (or parts of the form) and then saves it. This form data file only contains the entered data in XML format. Hence transmitting form data over different mediums (LAN/WAN, email) is extremely fast.

The core architecture consists of a report engine (written in MS .NET 4.0 and WPF) that exposes various functionality to manipulate a form data, including:

• open an existing form or create a new one based on available templates.
• save a (partially) completed form.
• print a form.
• undo/redo entered data.
• produce data validation report.

The benefits of this architecture are:

• Xanalys do not need to be involved in form template creation process. The template constituents are represented using open standard XML based languages and so the customer is empowered to create their own templates without the need to consult us.
• The report engine code is agnostic with respect to particular form templates and does not need to change for the customer to create more forms.
• The technology is lightweight which opens up the possibility of using it on mobile devices to capture data in the field.
• The modular design of the report engine can be agnostic with respect to how the form data is captured. This opens up the possibility of data capture in flexible ways e.g., a HTML form running in a browser.
• The data entry technology can be packaged and deployed in a different ways depending upon customer requirements.

Xanalys’ data entry technology is used to enhance the functionality of our PowerCase software so that reports can be created in a disconnected environment (e.g. in the field) or by users that do not have access to the live system. Forms can be filled out and uploaded to the system at a later date.