Case Studies

ASP Web Access Client

Design and Development of Web Access Client for an Enterprise Collaboration and Business Process Management Application

Challenge

Requirements from the ASP were to ensure that the Web Access Client (WAC) provided the same rich functional user interface, usability features, performance, and scalability provided by their Win32 based thick client. In addition, the WAC had to render dynamically generated business process forms. Another important challenge was to have the WAC internationalized (i18n) and localized (l10n) in multiple languages. Parsing and rendering complex business process forms at run-time was another significant challenge.


Background

A leading Application Service Provider (ASP) of Enterprise Collaboration and Business Process Management solution wanted a browser based Web Access Client to complement their Win32 based thick client.


Approach

ZenSutra working with the client's engineering and product management team developed Use Cases and Functional Requirements.To meet the requirements of an extensible design, a multi-tiered, layered, and MVC (Model-View-Control) architecture design pattern was used. Velocity template engine technology from Apache Jakarta's project was selected as a component within this architecture to meet the challenging requirements.

A custom parser in Java was developed to process XML based business form definitions into DHTML forms. The parser can generate the DHTML forms on the fly (dynamically) with support for the standard form widgets (Radio buttons, Checkboxes, …) and enhanced complex widgets such as address control, calendar/date control, grid control, etc.

ZenSutra's PRM (Product lifecycle Resource Management) methodology was used in the design and implementation of this project. This resulted in the delivery of the project within schedule and budget constraints and exceeded the client's expectations in the areas of functional richness, usability, performance, and scalability.