CSS, Apache, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, MySQL…sounds like it could be the line-up­ for next Saturday's X-Factor TV show, but it is in fact the list of ingredients that went into de­veloping our new website.
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2002 saw the last significant update to the company's website when JavaScript, & HTML tables were used to bring a more professional, informative & dynamic look-&-feel to our customers online. The latest release builds upon that following what has now become the web standard of separating website content from formatting but also pushes this technology forwards offering customers enhanced user experience, services & information.

One of the key changes to the site is the new content management system, driven by a MySQL database, PHP & an online HTML editor. Where traditionally, content for the website would be passed to our web team who would do something magical to it for a couple of weeks then all of a sudden announce it was up online, now authorised staff members can individually log in & update content on the site at any time. Staff do not require any knowledge of web languages, all they are simply required to do is provide a username & password when requested & then they can add/edit content on the andtr.com website via a simple word processor-style interface. Behind the scenes, any changes are automatically translated into the various HTML, PHP & CSS languages powering the site & then updated on the database, ready for webpage generation when the staff member or user requests the site or specific webpage. The advantage that this will bring to our customers is that more up-to-date information can be easily & efficiency posted online allowing us to provide improved resources, support & services online.

Playpen, from conception in 2002, has always been a popular feature of our online services to customers. Basically a secure, designated area of our website for customers to "play" in (hence the name); software releases, data, documents, virtual prototypes, etc., from throughout a specific product's development lifecycle are available to the customer to securely access online. The only drawback with this service has been the way in which it was always AND-side controller - customers were unable to upload data & information themselves. With the launch of the new 2007 website, this has all changed. Now both authorised staff at AND, working on a particular project with sufficient confidentiality clearance & customers can easily upload, via the click of a 'Browse' button, relevant files & info into a dedicated area of the website which now offers enhanced online security over the previous version. The area not only provides an online work space for everyone involved in the project, which in modern day electronic & software product development can consist of a number of companies working on many different aspects, but also is a useful tool from traditional email attachments that can be difficult to track, unsecured, subject to file size restrictions & require that everyone involved in the project is always added to the Cc or To box (a challenging task often in itself). In the near future we also hope to offer current development status information, which would allow customers to not only access project resources but also view online the current status of their project.

Another new part of the 2007 site is the ANDtrWiki. Built on MediaWiki technology, that powers Wikipedia & many other Wikis, the ANDtrWiki offers a collaborative, project specific website that can be used to share & document the various important discussions & points that get raised during the development of any project. Viewing & editing is restricted to the community involved in the project (the customer deciding who is privy to the information), each member is able to document discussions, views & meeting points raised; to everyone in the community, with each entry easily & efficiently being logged & tracked. At any one time users can view current information about the project, check various agreed discussion & action points have been carried out & view the entire history of discussion without the need of trawling through hundreds of emails.

This is just a brief glimpse of some of the new features you can find on the andtr.com 2007 website, be sure to take a look for yourself - & check back regularly for new features we hope to role out in 2008.

­Useful links­
MediaWiki [www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki]­­