Frames Data Panorama CMS

Custom Development

Custom content management system developed to leverage Microsoft's enterprise technologies to deliver content to print and Web formats.

Panorama UI

Project Highlights

  • A multi-tier application using Win2003 server, SQL Server 2003, the .NET Framework, DeKlarit and XML
  • Web-based user-interface using C#.NET and ASP.NET to enable users to manage optic product information and images
  • Organize content into a variety of different publications (from print to web) and then output as XML, transformed into the format applicable to the target media
  • Integrate with WAVE MediaBank digital asset management system so that users could easily retrieve graphics to associate with optic frames data

Project Overview

Frames Data, a subsidiary of Jobson Healthcare Information (JHI), is a publisher of magazines, journals, collateral material and catalogs in the optics industry. In addition, they are a market leader for frames and lens data information, providing frames and lens information from optic, eyeglass, and sunglass manufacturers for franchises such as Lens Crafters and Pearle Vision.

Frames Data's goal was to simplify the process of inputting, producing, accessing and distributing their frames and optical data information. The new process had to be compatible with a Microsoft platform, while providing consistent, secure and reliable access to the frames data. Content would be used in both their own publications as well as those produced by their clients in the optic industry, from print to web based. Such a system would enhance satisfaction for current clients and attract new clients in the optic industry.

TrazerEdge was retained to build a content management system, leveraging Microsoft enterprise technologies, that would allow staff to easily re-use optic information in multiple formats for internal and external use. This new system, named Panorama, allowed Frames Data to produce published products with lower cycle times and fewer errors. The modular system allowed for future enhancement of the applications features and infrastructure, providing the ability to add more product offerings for its clients, and thereby creating added revenue sources. Finally, Panorama provides Frames Data clients with easy access to optic data, so they can create their own custom output and products, and reduce the dependency on Frames Data's internal resources.

Panorama was developed as a multi-tier application using Win2003 server, SQL Server 2003, the .NET Framework, DeKlarit and XML. Using DeKlarit for C#.NET and ASP.NET an object-oriented optic data structure was created. DeKlarit was used as the data manager in between the business logic layer and SQL Server 2003.

The construction of a web-based user-interface using C#.NET and ASP.NET enabled users to manage optic product information and images. This content is gathered into a variety of different publications (from print to web) and then output from the system as XML. The XML is then transformed into a format applicable to the target media. Formats include other XML files (based on XSLT transformation), CSV, or QuarkXPress Tags (which is a proprietary format for publishing in QuarkXPress).

We integrated WAVE MediaBank digital asset management system with Panorama so that end users and customers could easily retrieve graphics to associate with optic frames data.

With a reorganization of underlying data, the production of such varying output formats is a simple transformation from XML using XSL. This allows Frames Data to present a unified UI for internal staff regardless of the target media.

By upgrading its system, Frames Data has been able to produce published products with lower cycle times and fewer errors. In addition, the system developed and designed was modularized, allowing for the future enhancement of the applications features and infrastructure, and thus providing Frames Data with the ability to add more product offerings for its clients (a true value added) using the service, and thereby creating added revenue sources.

Finally, the new system helps Frames Data's clients easily access and work with the optic data, create their own custom output and products, and reduce the dependency on Frames Data internal resources to assist in creating these products.