About integrating with a Windows-based system

Integrating the Asset Management Module with a Windows-based maintenance management system depends on how you can display the Meridian Explorer web page in the maintenance management system user interface. Some, but not all of the possibilities include:

• Button: Many Windows applications are forms-based and provide a way to add buttons to the predefined forms. Often, it is possible to configure a custom button to start an external application with a specific command line.

For example, Internet Explorer can be started with a specific web page by executing:

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" http://<ServerName>/ExplorerClient/Home.aspx?VIEWID=DOC_E91E5&DOCFILTER=docfab&eqnum=123

Alternatively, a custom-programmed intermediate program can be started that will start Internet Explorer with the same URL. The program may be installed on the computers or it may be accessible from a shared network folder. It is important that the intermediate program reuse existing browser windows opened by the Asset Management Module.

• Browser control: It may be possible to customize a form of the maintenance management system to include a web browser control. In Visual Basic, this control is available as the WebBrowser control provided by the Microsoft Internet Controls library. The Navigate method of the control can be used to show a specific web page.
• Hyperlink: Some Windows applications allow a hyperlink to be added to their forms. If this is possible, a hyperlink may be used instead of a button. It must be possible to calculate the URL of the hyperlink to include an argument that identifies the currently selected object. For example:

http://<ServerName>/ExplorerClient/Home.aspx?VIEWID=DOC_E91E5&DOCFILTER=docfab&eqnum=123

The options to retrieve argument values from a Windows-based maintenance management system are dependent on its implementation and are beyond the scope of this guide. For information on incorporating the values into the URL of the Meridian Explorer home page, see Configuring the Meridian Explorer URL parameters.