How Does Oscar Operate?

OSCAR is an open architecture, client/server system. Data is filed in the OSCAR relational database (RDB) from the control system using the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) standard. ODBC also provides the means to share data with other applications such as Microsoft Office. Users can access and generate reports from the database by using the standard OSCAR reporting system or employ Structured Query Language (SQL) to process this data and easily customize reports. Files are stored on a PC-based fileserver. Typical database standards used are MS SQL Server and ORACLE 8 for Workgroups. The server acts as the source for all data requested by the client PC enabling processing workload to be shared.

OSCAR may run under several operating systems. The fileserver uses MS Windows Advanced Server. For reporting clients, the preferred operating system is Windows NT Workstation, but Windows 98 may also be used. Network drivers for either TCP/IP or Novell version 3.5.1 or higher are installed to provide client/server communication.

Specially engineered data gateways can acquire data from control systems in a format useable by OSCAR. Gateways currently available for OSCAR are Allen-Bradley DH+, Modbus +, USON Leak Testers, Intertec Leak Testers, CAPAC and others (note: this list is continually expanding).