BellHawk Remote Desktop Interface (RDI)

While the BellHawk tracking software can be run stand-alone, there is often the need to to produce custom reports or to exchange large amounts of data in Excel format with BellHawk .  The tracking database is not suitable for this purpose as it is structured to enable rapid transactional data capture. Also the running large reports or data exchanges on the same computer as BellHawk can dramatically slow barcode data capture.

DEX provides a simple and well documented interface to the tracking database, which uses a SQL Server DEX Database for intermediate storage, in a store-and-forward mechanism.

Data written into specific tables within the DEX database, such as for Items or Work Orders, are automatically  transferred to the tracking database. Similarly, data captured by tracking system transactions are automatically made available in specific tables within the DEX database. Also setup data, such as for work orders created in the tracking system, are automatically relayed to tables in the DEX database where they can be used as part of custom reports or data exchange with other systems.

The RDI is specifically designed for intermittent use on a desktop. When continuous data exchange is required, such as automatically exchanging data with an ERP system or using the DEX database as a resource for an organization-wide Business Intelligence software then the MDEX Interface should be used

DEX, in its simplest form runs as a remote desktop interface (RDI) program on a Windows Workstation computer in each manufacturing plant or warehouse. Through its user interface, users can control which data exchanges take place between the DEX database and the BellHawk web-services interface, and when.

RDI is simple to install and can use the free Microsoft SQL Server Express database.

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