5/7/2008 Chapter 1 1 GETTING STARTED This chapter intrduces yu t the web-based UIR menu system. Infrmatin is prvided abut the set up necessary t assign users permissin t enter and transmit data. This first sectin is general infrmatin abut the databases. Database Systems Data are pieces f infrmatin. Data reside in files r tables. The file structure is a lgical way f string data. Understanding this structure helps yu find the data yu need frm the database. A database system is a cllectin f data stred in the cmputer in a lgical and cnsistent manner. Using this type f system allws the develpment f multiple applicatins using a cmmn database. Als, the database system allws the cmputer t stre data efficiently and it allws easy retrieval f data. Relatinal Database A relatinal database is a cllectin f data stred in tw r mre tables that share a cmmn clumn-name [key field] that jins the tables tgether in a single database. This key field allws yu t create relatinships acrss tables when querying a database. Yu can lk at data stred in several tables as if they were a single table. Infrmix-SQL (ISQL) Infrmix is a cmmercial sftware prduct that was used t create the UI database (UIDB). ISQL is the database management cmpnent f the UIDB. It rganizes, stres, and retrieves data. With custm Standard Query Language (SQL) statements yu can create useful prgrams and reprts fr yurself. Hwever, writing custm SQL statements is beynd the scpe f this handbk. An INFORMIX database has tables, rws, clumns, screen frms, reprts, and files. A table rganizes and stres data int rws and clumns. A rw is a recrd in the table cntaining all the data fields. A clumn cntains the data f a specific field fr each recrd. A database file r table is a cllectin f recrds r rws. Table Naming Cnventins UIR data reside in tables. Understanding hw data is stred will help yu find the data yu need. Reprt tables stre data reprted by states and ther surces. Each UIR table name I-1
Getting Started begins with the letter a, fllwed by anther letter and usually three r fur numbers. The secnd letter in each reprt table is ne f the fllwing: r - Regular prgram e - Extended Benefits prgram w - Wrk share versin f the 5159, 9050 and 9051 reprts c - Emergency Unemplyment Cmpensatin Example: ar5159" is the table name that stres the regular prgram data f the ETA 5159, Claims and Payment Activities Reprt. A table can als have ending letters. Fr example, all reprts have an assciated versin with the ending letters f cmt t indicate the table hlds cmment infrmatin. Ending letters can als be used t indicate a sub-gruping. Fr example, in ar9050p, p indicates a table n partial claims; in ar9054h, h indicates a table n higher authrity appeals; and in ar9054l, l indicates a table n lwer authrity appeals. The data in tables are generally stred in a series f cnsecutively named fields (r cells), which are usually identified as c1, c2, etc. Fr a data map f the fields in each reprt table, see Appendix A. Accessing the UIR Web-Based Menu URL T access the UIR Web-Based Menu, use an Internet brwser. In the address bar, enter the URL as: http://{fully qualified dmainname}:8080/statemenu r http://{ipaddress}:8080/statemenu Please cntact yur state s System Administratr fr the Dmain name r IP Address. I-2
5/7/2008 Chapter 1 State Menu Upn entering the URL, the fllwing main Applicatins Menu appears. (Figure 1.1) Figure 1.1 Applicatin Menu Tp Navigatin Bar The Navigatin Bar displayed at the tp f the menu screen helps the user t access ne f the fllwing: State Hme: Link t the States website. The State Hme page is maintained by the State System Administratr. Release Ntes: Links t release ntes fr all applicatins. Links: Additinal links can be added by the State. The Links page is maintained by the State System Administratr. Bttm Navigatin Bar The Navigatin Bar displayed at the bttm f the menu screen helps the user t access ne f the fllwing: I-3
Getting Started Text Versin: Link t an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) cmpliant Text Versin f the menu. ADA cmpliant sftware will allw UIR sftware access t the users with disability. Feedback: E-mail address t prvide feedback. Help: Infrmatin abut the UI Applicatins Menu page. UI Applicatins Menu The main UI Applicatins Menu cnsists f 4 chices: Data Validatin UIR (Unemplyment Insurance Reprts) BAM (Benefits Accuracy Measurement) TPS (Tax Perfrmance System) The arrw next t the menu ptins indicates that the menu will further expand when the link is selected. When the link is clicked and the menu is expanded, the selected link arrw changes frm pinting t the link t pinting dwn. Figure 1.2 Expanded Applicatin Menu icn next t the Applicatin Menu prvides Applicatin Prductin Release infrmatin. Clicking n the link again (r the dwn arrw) will cmpress the menu. Figure 1.2 shws an expanded menu. The expanded menu may cntain additinal links t sub-menus. The links with the web page icns next t them are links t the applicatins. I-4
5/7/2008 Chapter 1 Lgin Screen Fr many menu ptins the user is required t lgin first. Lgin names and passwrds are initially set by the State Sun System Administratr. The Lgin screen is displayed as shwn in figure 1.3. Figure 1.3 User Lgin Screen Permissins / User Grups Mst UIR screens permit nly authrized users t perfrm specific tasks. Users are classified int tw grups which are listed belw. Yur State SUN System Administratr will place yu in the apprpriate grup(s) and prvide a user name and an initial passwrd. The user grups are: Data entry grup - uidbusr. This grup can create reprts, change data n reprts, btain reprt status, and lad ASCII files. The apprving fficial grup - uidbapr. This grup can sign ff n reprts and transmit them t the Natinal Office. Members f this grup are usually als members f the uidbusr grup. All ther users with lgin access t the system can query the database thrugh the Infrmix Structured Query Language available n the state Sun system. Getting Help On-Line Each screen has a Help link n the bttm. Many screens als have a link t Field Help. If I-5
Getting Started yur cursr is in a screen field, clicking the Field Help link will prduce a small brwser windw with cntext-sensitive help, which explains field infrmatin helpful t the user. Natinal Office Technical Supprt If yu have a prblem r questin abut the UIR sftware, seek assistance frm yur state Sun System Administratr (SSA). If yur SSA cannt reslve the issue, the SSA will cntact the UI Technical Supprt staff at 1 (800) 473-0188 fr help. I-6