IST .net interpreter (IST .net in further text)

       IST .net is written in .net platform. As such, it depends on Windows operating system and requires Framework 3.5 (for the time being). The programme itself is stored on the server from where it is started. The server also stores  .sql queries and procedures used for automatic correction and output reports. A very important directory on the server is \\serverName\ist\SQLtxt\IST (with subdirectories ExcelMacro, WEB, TechnicalDocumentation) where are stored all the files used by IST for formating output, generating web applications and technical documentation.

        There is no installation of the IST. It is enough to make a shortcut from your own PC to IST programme ProcessStarter.exe on the server (\\serverName\ist) or simple to to copy IST.lnk to own PC.

        To be able to modify IST at any moment, without affecting the current production the programme it is not started directly. It is started via
ProcessStarter.exe which switch to certain version of IST and in ProcessStarter.exe.config is pointer to IST vesion. Therefore the 6 last IST versions are sorted in order IST.NET, IST2.NET,..., IST6.NET. ProcessStarter.exe requires to have SplashForm.dll. file, in their folder.

ProcessStarter.exe.config:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Windows-1252"?>
<configuration>
               <appSettings>
                      <add key="AppPath" value="\\Rzsftp\IST\IST4.NET\Istrazivanja.exe"/>
               </appSettings>
</configuration>

                    ***List of files in IstrazivanjaN.NET directory:
                    Pozovi.bat                                       
                   Istrazivanja.exe.config     
                   DatasetIstrazivanja.dll    
                   IstrazivanjaLogickaKontrola.dll      
                   IstrazivanjaUnos.dll         
                   IstrazivanjaVremenskaTackaControl.dll
                   IstrazivanjaZadaci.dll
                   Microsoft.Office.Interop.Outlook.dll
                   Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word.dll   
                   mkc_ColorCombobox.dll   
                   MyDataGrid.dll    
                   RecentList.dll    
                   SplashForm.dll   
                   stdole.dll          
                   Istrazivanja.exe 
                   IST.ico  
                   VER3.ico      
                   VER3.png         
                   ISTMacro.xls     
                   ISTmPivotChart.xlsm      
                   ISTmPivotChartIndex.xlsm           
                   msgCodes.XML   
                   txtCodes.xml

        The configuration datafile Istrazivanja.exe.config is a XML document where, first of all, connection string connection is given to the IST metadata database so that IST .net interpreter can operate.

<configuration> 
   <configSections> 
             <section name="ISTconnection" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" /> 
             <section name="Istrazivanja" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" /> 
             <section name="ISTBrisanja" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" /> 
             <section name="ISTDeletings" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" /> 
             <section name="ISTCATI" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" /> 
             <section name="ISTCAPI" type="System.Configuration.NameValueSectionHandler" /> 
   </configSections> 
   <ISTconnection> 
             <add key="Data Source" value="nameOfSqlServer" /> 
             <add key="Initial Catalog" value="IST" /> 
             <add key="User ID" value="xxxxxx" /> 
             <add key="Password" value="xxxxxx" /> 
   </ISTconnection> 
   <ISTBrisanja> 
             <add key="Data Source" value="nameOfSqlServer" /> 
             <add key="Initial Catalog" value="DEPO" /> 
             <add key="User ID" value="xxxxxx" /> 
             <add key="Password" value="xxxxxx" /> 
             <!-- Whether in the DEPO database are saved primary keys of the deleted records --> 
             <add key="BrisanjeDEPO" value="true" /> 
   </ISTBrisanja>
   <ISTDeletings> 
             <add key="Data Source" value="nameOfSqlServer" /> 
             <add key="Initial Catalog" value="DEPO" /> 
             <add key="User ID" value="xxxxxx" /> 
             <add key="Password" value="xxxxxx" /> 
             <!-- Whether in the DEPO database are saved primary keys of the deleted records, same as above  --> 
             <add key="SaveDeleted" value="true" /> 
   </ISTDeletings> 
   <ISTCATI> 
            <add key="Data Source" value="nameOfSqlServer" /> 
            <add key="Initial Catalog" value="CATI" /> 
   </ISTCATI> 
   <ISTCAPI> 
          <add key="Data Source" value="nameOfSqlServer" /> 
          <add key="Initial Catalog" value="DEPO" /> 
   </ISTCAPI> 
   <Istrazivanja> 
           <add key="User ID" value="" /> 
           <add key="Password" value="" /> 
          <add key="FolderZaProgrameZaUnos" value="\\serverName\IST\UNOS" /> 
           <add key="HelpFile" value="\\serverName\ist\Help\ist.chm" /> 
           <add key="pismo" value="" /> 
           <add key="folderZaGen" value="\\serverName\IST\SQLtxt\IST" /> 
           <add key="mode" value="DESKTOP" /> 
           <add key="office" value="MONSTAT" /> 
           <add key="nonavailable" value="61" /> 
           <add key="defaultLanguage" value="eng" /> 
  </Istrazivanja> 
</configuration>

       If the interpreter is not started directly from the server, it is enough to copy the directory IstN.NET to the PC. This way the local network and local application server are not over loaded. This is made for regional offices that work directly with IST, i.e. do not use a local IST installation. For such cases an additional programme has been designed ISTCheckThanStart.exe (stored on the server at the same location as ProcessStarter.exe) that checks if the user has the latest (current) IST version. If user does not have the latest version of IST, the ISTCheckThanStart.exe copies the latest version of IST(***) from the server to the working station. On the users PC, the IST will  be stored in the folder %Temp%\IST. The programme creates this folder if it does not exists. If the PC has the latest version, the copying is not required.
       The IST.net is written so it be can started more than one time in order to make possibility for user to work on more application at the same time. Every IST.net instance is independent and uses its portion of the RAM memory and creates its own independent connection with the metadata database. IST.net is written to make all the connections opens and closes by themselves. Every record is accessed individually, every rule of editing and automatic correction is performed individually, and every request to database opens and closes the path to the database by itself. This allows concurent work at any time.

      IST.net uses Windows authentification. That is how IST access to the databases on the SQL server. The application made in IST respects all the roles, users and their authorisations of a corresponding SQL server database.
      IST.net is designed to work, at one point only with one record from the database (thus the speed being maximally increased) on data entry, while on data editing and automatic correction a set of records is chosen from the database.

       The selection of the time point is crucial for working with IST metadata. Everything that is launched from the IST.net and IST metadata concerns the selected time point.
      For the purpose od certain surveys that deal with the 13th month in their methodology (e.g. Price Statistics), it is possible to select not only the initially loaded months from 01-12, but also from 00 to 99. The IST metadata does not need to have a month if the survey is annual.
      The selection of the app is the selection of the survey or project  that will be launched. When selecting the app, by clicking on a letter on the keyboard you can be positioned immediately on the first app that begins with that letter.
      The option in the menu Administration->Developers... shows the list of app developers in IST. Information about developers is from the IST table, field ID Developer.