X-Trader is a user friendly, state-of-the-art eBusiness Document Management application

We have designed X-Trader with the user in mind, to make the task of eBusiness document management and exchange as efficient as possible.

It incorporates many features only found in applications costing considerably more.


Table of Contents:

• User Interface
• Operation
• Document Management
• Application Security
• Integration
• Unattended Operation
• Versions
• Connection to the Server
• Installation
• Networking
• Application Updates
• Upgrading to a different version
• Uploads

User Interface
The user interface has a very familiar look and feel borrowing from other messaging applications such as Outlook.

The screen is divided into a left side navigation/task bar incorporating, folder navigation buttons, a dynamic Tree View representing the current document and Task buttons to readily access common tasks. The right side is the work area. Familiar terminology and representations such as 'Inbox', 'Outbox' and 'Sent Items' are used. Menus are are arranged and grouped in a logical and typical way.

Operation
Receiving incoming documents is extremely straightforward. When the user clicks on the 'Send/Receive' button, X-Trader creates a secure connection, authenticates the user and then downloads all available documents from the EDI eXchange Server to the Inbox folder. Documents can be viewed in a list, sorted, previewed or printed. Data can also be exported to another application such as a spreadsheet.

X-Trader can be configured to 'listen' or poll, for available documents. The polling interval can be set by the user and the application can be minimised to the Windows System Tray, and still be active, clearing the screen for other work. X-Trader will notify you when a new document has arrived.

Preparing a new outgoing document such as an ASN is easy. The data entry forms are templates which can be customised by the individual user for each Trading Partner with predefined lists and default values for most fields. After initially configuring the template, you can then create the new documents in a few minutes.

There are prompts, context sensitive help and comprehensive data validation to help eliminate data entry errors.

Once the document is completed, it's moved to the Outbox ready for uploading to the EDI eXchange server from where it is processed and delivered either via the Service Provider or directly to your Trading Partner.
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Document Management
Apart from the immediate task of receiving and sending documents, there is a always a need to manage trading documents. X-Trader provides routines for common document management tasks such as back-up and archiving. You can also perform other management tasks such as exporting to a spreadsheet or XML format file.
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Application Security
It is important to ensure as much as possible that the person creating and sending documents is authorised to do so.

The administrator can created User accounts and assign permissions. This information is recorded both locally and at the EDI eXchange Server.

The user is required to enter a username and password to open the application and again to perform the Interchange process. Both are sent along with the message and verified at the Server.

The security level can be modified by the administrator, although in some instances particularly when dealing with curtain trading communities or partners, the security level must be set.
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Integration
The Enterprise edition of X-Trader can act as an integrated document and messaging console for other business systems. It can operate silently in the background with the main functions being automated via a COM or .NET API by an external application. Data can be easily exchanged with any XML or ODBC compliant data infrastructure using SQL commands. We can consult on setting up X-Trader to communicate with you business software and develop data transformation modules if necessary.

Unattended Operation
X-Trader has a Task Scheduler allowing the user to set up a timetable for individual operations such as Back-Up and Send/Receive.
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Editions
X-Trader is available in two editions. Standard and Enterprise.

Connection
X-Trader uses the standard HTTPS Internet protocol with SSL to establish a secure connection with the EDI eXchange server. This provides a high degree of security while using a normal Internet connection and settings. There is no need for additional and complex third party security add-ons which often require reconfiguration of firewalls and other settings.
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Installation
The initial distribution is on CD ROM.

X-Trader is installed in only a few minutes. Impact on the existing computer system is minimal as X-Trader is installed totally in its own directory without having to install or overwrite shared system files. If required, a new or updated copy of the Microsoft .NET Framework runtime and other support files will be installed.
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Networking
X-Trader can be configured as a stand-alone or networked application and can be integrated with Business Systems having XML or any SQL compliant data interface.

Application Updates
From time to time, all software needs to be updated, whether to add new features or fix bugs. The application architecture used to build X-Trader is designed to make this process trouble-free by facilitating on-line distribution of updates, add-ons and patches.

With the assistance of the Update Wizard, the user can check to see if there are any available updates. If required, the individual new files can then be downloaded and automatically installed.
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Edition Upgrades
You can upgrade from the Standard to the Enterprise edition of X-Trader by simply for a new upgrade Activation key.

Uploads
A variety of other information can be uploaded to X-Trader. This includes Server generated interchange status reports, global list updates and important bulletins.
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