Images in Web Access Views

New Cradle-7.2 Web Access Feature.

In the latest version of Cradle’s Web Access it is possible to show images in a View. In previous versions of Cradle it was only possible to show an item’s images in a Form.

This small but significant enhancement moves the remote Web Access client’s capabilities nearer the WorkBench rich desktop client’s functionality. Therefore, wherever you are located you can get detailed access to your data.

Screen shot showing Images in Web Access Views
Images in Web Access Views

 

‘Basic’ Web Access UI

New Cradle 7.2 Web Access Feature

We now ship a ‘Basic’ Web Access user interface is  now shipped (in the Program Files\Cradle\www\pdb\demo folder). The simple uncluttered format helps by guiding users to operations akin to the WorkBench start page.

Sometimes new  or infrequent users are outfaced by a complex UI, especially when they don’t need all the features presented. The new ‘basic UI’  is designed to highlight common tasks making it easier for new users to get straight to their area of work.

The provided demo UI will give basic functionality. Also in the folder are a few examples of customised forms and views, which can be used as a starting point for your own projects.

Showing selection of the 'Basic' Web Access UI
‘Basic’ Web UI for Web Access

Wherever You Are

Local Location, Remote Location?

No matter where Alan is he can get to his project. This remote access could be through WorkBench or Web Access, both part of the Cradle suite.

If you have access to a browser you can configure your installation to allow remote access  to your projects enabling the most common functions to be performed from anywhere in the world.

For full power (offering all the requirements management software and systems engineering tools available), users access the same projects via the WorkBench application. Provided the network allows, a client installation of WorkBench can also access the CDS (Cradle Database Server) from around the globe, but a Citrix installation may be more desirable allowing remote access to a server / multi client installation.

Iamge showing Cradle connectivity
Cradle connectivity

The tool provided to web users is really the contents of web pages displayed in their browsers. These pages are created by the CWS from:

  • A set of HTML templates, at least one for each type of item in the database
  • A set of page designs supplied with the CWS
  • The items in your database

The user has full control of the contents of these HTML templates, e.g.:

  • What the web interface looks like
  • What facilities it provides
  • How these facilities are accessed
showing same item in Web Access and in WorkBench
WorkBench or Web Access
Article Updated 04/02/2019 – Added Image showing connectivity and more info about Web Access

Cradle Exception for Popup Blocker

Many people access Cradle through a web browser, either using one of 3SL’s web UIs or a custom web UI that has been created in-house by their organisation. In all cases, when you login to a I, that web UI will be shown in a new windows, a popup.

Since popups are often used to display irritating advertising or offensive content, all web browsers have controls to optionally block popups.

Please ensure that you allow the Cradle Web Server (CWS) to display popups, or you will not be able to view Cradle web UIs!

The normal way to do this is to add the CWS as an exception in the popup blocker rules in your web browser’s settings. Each browser has its own method for doing this. In Firefox, select Options and Content. The exception will be the URL of your CWS, such as:

http://cradle.intranet.mycompany.com:8015

Cradle exception for pop-up blocker