Technical Overview

SimplyFactFind is built using Microsoft’s latest development tools and technologies. The application is built upon the Microsoft .Net Framework and makes extensive use of modern technologies such as XML.

The application consists of two core parts, the FactFind Editor and the FactFind schema.

FactFind Editor

• Built specifically with this application in mind
• Allows for multiple views onto the same questionnaire
• Built for ease of use and navigation & very easy to learn and intuitive to use
• The editor is driven from the FactFind Schema and automatically adapts to changes in the schema.

FactFind Schema

• The SimplyFactFind schema was developed by IFA's for IFA's ensuring that the needs of the end users were number one priority
• Each question/section uses Excel like formula to control both the value of the field and/or whether the section is visible or not & this enables us to provide calculated fields, summarised fields and to control when sections should be visible or not (e.g. a joint fact find displays both the client and partner panels throughout)
• One-to-many structures allow for repeated entry of addresses or pension schemes, again these can be operated upon by the formulas to provide calculated totals
• The schema is developed as an XML document and then compiled into native code for performance, error checking and to change control
• Searches are optimised through the schema whereby 'indexes' are created within the document to allow for rapid searching without having to load the complete document each time

Document Structure

• Most users are familiar with the file per document concept so this was chosen for SimplyFactFind
• The document model provides a good compromise for single users through to larger networks using shared folders for document storage
• By making use of 'Offline Folders' in Windows, users are able to take the files away with them on their laptops and then synchronize either via modem or when they return to the office
• Drop down lists are held both in the schema and also on a per users basis (or shared across a network) which allows for 'learned' entries to be used across questionnaires
• Each document contains XML representing the questionnaire & this allows third parties to write reporting tools or to bring data into other applications
• Version control is maintained within the documents as each previous version is maintained when a save is performed
• When opening a document the most current version is presented but the user is able to view/print previous editions of the document
• When saving the user is prompted to comment as to what the change included
• To ensure that files are not tampered with a security technique known as a cryptographic hash is performed at each level of the document so that if a change is made it invalidates the document