RMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

One of the key benefits of an FDM system is that it is fully customizable by the client. We provide you with a user-level program for maintaining and customizing your application. Some of the options available to you include: creating or modifying data entry forms; customizing field names to suit local terminology; applying rules to data entry forms to enforce a custom workflow; generating standard correspondence that include department letterhead and graphics; and creating management summary and statistical reports. FDM provides clients with excellent value, as clients have the power to quickly respond to changing business requirements.

FDM is designed to grow with the client. All modules function as standalone systems and integrate automatically for full information flow. New business modules can be purchased and activated at any time without affecting the existing system. In fact, any existing data you have will immediately be seen and usable in the new module. You can also purchase and activate more user licenses at any time. Getting a new user up and running is as easy as creating the user profile and assigning the required rights. FDM's flexible structure gives you the ability to customize your system quickly and easily if your business processes change.

FDM is an N-Tier solution utilizing either Sybase SQLAnywhere 5.5.05 or Microsoft SQL Server 2000. Both provide excellent reliability and fault tolerance and support large subscriber populations as easily as single-user systems.

FDM is fully Internet-enabled. Users only require an Internet connection to connect to the FDMeBiz Server and the central database. This can be over dialup, ISDN, DSL or cable connection. We use user profiles and secure passwords for application logins and the highest encryption standards currently available to provide security. Currently, FDM does not offer a web interface due to the limitations in functionality the user would experience. FDM also supports remote access through Terminal Services or VPN (Virtual Private Network) software.

FDM complies with industry-wide standards for desktop computing. Our software runs on Windows 98/2000/XP computers with Intel Pentium II processors or higher. For the best display, we recommend 17" monitors with a minimum of 1024 x 768 resolution. Specific memory and monitor requirements differ depending on whether you are running RMS, CAD, Mapping, or any combination of these programs. We invite you to complete our online Information Request Form if you would like to see our full hardware specifications.

Mapping puts your data to work for you in powerful ways. FDM's RMS and CAD products are fully map-integrated using ESRI® MapObjects®. Mapping allows you to see your data represented spatially, revealing groupings and relationships that are not obvious in a standard data view. Another key benefit of mapping is that you can import data directly from the map files to populate your database. This eliminates data entry and creates a valid address base within your database at the same time. In CAD, mapping is used mainly to identify response areas but can also be used to map the best route to an incident or to create a case based on X, Y or coordinates or longitude/latitude (for example, if an incident occurs at a location without an address).

FDM offers a complete and seamlessly integrated CAD and RMS solution. Clients running a complete system realize significant benefits such as, enhanced ease of use with a familiar interface, zero redundant data entry, instantaneous access to common data from either application, and reduced cost of ownership and maintenance. FDM has also developed many customized interfaces to external systems where required by our clients. Our software architecture and our use of industry-wide protocols allows us to respond quickly to our clients' integration needs.

Requirements vary depending on which FDM programs you are running (CAD or RMS) and the number of users that will be accessing the database at the same time. Generally, we recommend one server be dedicated to the FDM application. At minimum, we recommend that servers have 512 MB RAM, Intel Pentium III processors, 18 GB or more hard disk storage, tape backup and operate on Windows 2000. For CAD systems or sites with more than 25 concurrent users, we recommend redundancy, using either mirrored servers with RAID-1 or RAID-5, or Stratus Fault-Tolerant Servers (ftServers) that provide over 99.999% reliability. FDM is an authorized reseller of Stratus ftServers. FDM software uses TCP/IP for all of its communications, therefore all server and workstations must have a TCP/IP connection. For the best performance, we recommend that the LAN have a ( - 10)100 MBPS connection bandwidth.

FDM delivers with a user-level program that your Administrator uses to manage security. The Administrator has complete power to define the unique rights required by different work units, job functions or outside agencies that may need access into your system. You can define multiple levels of user access from the module level right down to data entry screens and fields. You can create as many user groups as required and customize each group's rights according to the department's rules. Our model is based on users being assigned to individual groups. This allows you to quickly change a user's rights just by changing his or her group assignment. Ultimately, you have the flexibility to build a security structure that works best with your business processes.

FDMWin includes a full-version, embedded 4th generation report writing tool that can produce a wide range of documents including management and summary reports, list reports, statistical reports, bar graphs and pie charts. Users can also use the report writer to create standard letters with their organization letterhead or logo, permits issued to the public and checklists or worksheets for field staff. FDM delivers with a number of 'canned' report templates, however users have complete freedom to modify these templates or create custom templates to fit their own requirements. Reports can be saved in either .rtf (Rich Text Format) or .csv (Comma Separated Value) format for use in word processing or spreadsheet applications.

Our software ensures that information is close at hand and easy to extract. FDM provides two query tools (simple or complex) that allow users to create a report on any data within the system. Simple queries allow a user to combine multiple search criteria. Complex queries allow a user to create query subsets for a highly filtered search (i.e. mixing "and" and "or" statements). For example, a user can search for ALL employees who work the Platoon A shift AND is either qualified as an Inspector OR an Instructor. No special skills or programming knowledge is required; you can build the query by selecting from pick lists, dragging and dropping and using "English-like" commands. All queries can be given a unique name and saved so that next time the information is needed, all you have to do is open the query.

FDM links to images in JPEG, TIFF, BMP or DXF format for viewing in FDM using our embedded image viewer. The client can attach the image viewer to any area of FDM, allowing image data to be associated with any record in the database. For example, images are commonly attached to Incidents, Properties, Inspections and Training (for visual learning aids). For JPEG images, the user has the option to store the image directly in the database. FDM is fully integrated with scanning software and allows the installed scanning program to be launched from within the image viewer. The workstation must be connected to a scanner.

FDM integrates automatically with Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher and common email programs such as Microsoft Outlook or Novell Groupwise. The user can attach Internet or email URLs to any record in the system and directly launch the browser or email program.