Introduction

Updated Documentation

This document is being continually updated as new versions of the software are released and/or changes made based on user feedback. The most recent version of this documentation is always available online in either interactive web browser access at http://www.tims3.com/timshelp/mainframe.asp or via downloadable compiled HTML help file which can be viewed offline and updated in your TIMS3 software delivery directory. This help file called TIMShelp.chm is available from ftp://ftp2.giffels.com/TIMSdownload/TIMShelp.chm

Another document provided as recommended reading is the TIMS3 User Training Guide, available via web browser at http://www.tims3.com/onlineguides/UserTraining/usertrain.htm and via compiled HTML help available online at ftp://ftp2.giffels.com/TIMSdownload/UserTrain.chm

Viewing via the Internet

For those that are new to this page or any like it (it's method is used extensively on the Microsoft website), this page employs the use of an Active-X control for displaying the table of contents (shown on the right). If your web browser does not support Active-X controls then quite likely your left hand pane will be blank with the exception of a few buttons at the top. If the left hand window page is blank your web browser supports Java applets please press the 'TOC Java' button. If you are unsure as to what your web browser does support please press the 'HTML' button.

Viewing Compiled HTMLhelp

For those that are new to compiled HTML (chm type files), these file types are the new standard for delivering windows help. If you're viewing this through context sensitive help then you have all the right components installed, congratulations! For those that would like to download the latest documentation/help file this is available here but you will need to have MS Internet Explorer 4.x or greater installed on your computer first. MS Internet Explorer 5 is available at http://www.microsoft.com/ie. Once this is installed you can download the latest TIMShelp.chm file and then simply double-click the file in windows explorer the same as you would any windows help file.

Viewing 'What's This?' Help Popups

If HTML Help is properly installed, quick context sensitive help can be obtained in the form of small popup windows. You can access these popup windows in two possible ways: On windows that have a "?" button at the top right corner, simply click the question mark "?" button. The cursor will then change into a special 'What's this?' pointer which you can use to click on anything in the window for quick help specific to whatever you click on.
On forms that have a menu but no question mark '?' button, you can still retrieve the popup help by clicking the 'What's This?' item from the form's Help menu:

Introduction

TIMS (Technical Information Management System) from Giffels Associates is now a fourth generation product. It’s origin version stems back to 1987 when Giffels developed a VAX based drawing management system where it was esstentially a database used to provide a catalogue of project related drawings and associated documentation.

This was an acceptable solution for host based CAD systems, where the files reside on the central mini-computer, and remained on that single location for its complete design life cycle. When distributed computing began to take ground with UNIX workstations and the beginning of large scale PC based CADD systems, the Giffels TIMS product evolved into a second generation client-server solution.

This product supported a variety of UNIX platforms, DOS and Windows NT clients, and VAX/VMS servers. It provided powerful file management, security, session accounting and document database facilities to CADD offices of any size. Its main strength was the ease of use, a common ANSI terminal interface, the variety of automated management functions built into the system, and its quick implementation time.

The third and fourth generations of TIMS, named TIMS3, are the product described in this manual. This updated and enhanced document management product takes advantage of new hardware and software technologies in providing an all-embracing Windows Operating System solution. All of the proven and productive features of the previous version of TIMS have been moved forward into this new release, while at the same time incorporating a powerful new SQL Database server with an easily customized Windows user interface. Smaller workgroups can be supported using an optional Microsoft Access back-end database.

Client workstations running Windows Operating System are supported using an ODBC connection to the SQL Server software. The native Windows user interface has been developed with a combination of Microsoft Access and Visual Basic. Synchronization between the TIMS3 and Windows applications, such as MicroStation, AutoCAD, Microsoft Word and Excel, is maintained via standard Windows API functions.

The TIMS3 system is made up of the following:

The database server where all document and project information required by TIMS3 resides.


The TIMS3 file server or servers where all the document files are stored. The file servers together with status information residing in the database server provide the central control over the documents.


The client workstations where the TIMS3 client applications manage the check in/out of documents under the control of the Windows NT security model.


The TIMS3 Web Server and Web Navigators where users can access the TIMS3 database for querying. With the appropriate third party software, users can view existing documents stored in the TIMS3 database.