An automated procurement system, in which a buyer workstation is in communication with a mainframe database that stores global data relevant to procurement documents and reports. The workstation is programmed with an interactive buyer interface that displays procurement documents, provides support data to aid in decision-making, and provides various document attachments. Data is uploaded and downloaded to and from the mainframe and the workstation in a manner that is transparent to the buyer.
Revision of a part specification document, such as a drawing, a part specification, or a bill of materials, prompts execution of an automated notification process. A unique part number associated with the revised part specification document is employed in searching open purchasing documents for purchase orders or request for quotes containing the part number. Electronic mail addresses for outside supplier contacts are kept in the database and linked to the supplier master of the open purchasing documents containing the part number. An electronic mail notification of the part specification document revision is generated and transmitted to each electronic mail address identified as being associated with an open purchasing document containing the subject part number.
A process for extracting data from a MIL-STD relational database, parsing and automatically processing the resultant output into a MIL-STD technical publication. The data extracted from the database is tagged, sorted and passed to a Parser program which produces several outputs. One output is a disk file which has encoded tags and control characters. The disk file is then processed into word processing syntax used in MIL-STD publications. Another output is a formatted pseudo technical publication which contains all relevant data in a style which resembles a technical manual. This pseudo technical publication allows the data to be reviewed and approved prior to processing the disk file data into a technical publication. A third output is a Task checklist.
An advisor can provide proactive, efficient service to clients through the use of the present group management system. The system is an effective work management tool that efficiently organizes an advisor's day-to-day operations, work flow, clients and prospects. To allow coordinated consultation based not only on an individual's demographic information, but also on the individual's relationships to others, people and organizations are arranged into client groups and prospect groups. An advisor can analyze an individual's relationship with his/her family, business and pension to provide overall financial planning and security. The group management system includes numerous innovative, coordinated features including security measures, an easily accessible FRONT PANEL, a simplified SEARCH ENGINE, and the ability to refresh data. The grouping of clients in the CARD FILE enables the DRAG and DROP function to initialize applications without the need for repeated input of data. The REFRESH, ON-LINE CLIENT DATA, FIELD DATA CAPTURE and EXPORT features allow communication with a host database or other local databases.
In a client-server environment in which a plurality of clients are connected on a network, a manager of a company displays an approval request list window (07-01-00) in which a list of purchase-requested articles is displayed, on a client by a predetermined operation, selects a desired article from the articles displayed in the window, and clicks a software button "approval select" or "rejection select" in accordance with approval or rejection of the selected article. At this time, the article for which approval is selected can be formally ordered.
A computerized, interactive system to search for and identify possible real property equity exchanges involves the establishment of a data field in an electronic data base to enable a user to develop, locate and identify property trade scenarios. A computer is utilized to process data from a plurality of sources, each providing specifics of the owner's exchange desires and the current property's characteristics. The computer reviews trade location desires of the property owner and finds potential trades from the location of other tradable properties. There need not be a direct match or a reciprocal match between two properties for a possible property exchange to be identified. The system allows identification of exchange scenarios involving many different properties, wherein the exchange scenarios can be circular or open ended.
