ExxonMobil sells specialty lubrication products to service vehicles throughout the world.

ExxonMobil wanted a distributed set of applications to allow their worldwide sales force to make immediate lubricant recommendations based on product specifications.

ExxonMobil desired a solution that offered:

• Multilevel Security
  Different engineers have different levels of access - some can only search and browse existing listings, some have update access to certain builders, others have regional or global update access
• Reliability
  Since the system is used worldwide, there is no particular "peak time" for system use.
• Ease of Navigation
  Again, with users scattered all over the world and speaking different languages, the interface had to be simple enough to avoid lengthy and expensive training and support.
• Multi-lingual Text Support
  Much of the information in the system is kept in multiple languages, and the system needed to keep track of each item's translations as a single unit. Also, users needed to choose which languages they wanted displayed and in what order. The system currently supports English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese.
• Sophisticated Search Capabilities
  Searches needed to be performed based on Equipment Builder name, location, types of equipment, responsible ExxonMobil representative, products recommended, or even types of endorsements given to ExxonMobil products by the manufacturer.
• Image Support
  Many of the equipment builder recommendations and endorsements came with visual backup - plates attached to pieces of equipment, notes in equipment manuals, etc. The client wanted to attach scanned images of these visuals to the builder record.
• On-line Administration
  System Administrators needed to perform most of their tasks (such as the addition/deletion of authorized users, products, and regional information) right from the web browser.
• Off-line Book Publishing Support
  ExxonMobil wanted to publish a book of Equipment Builder data every two years. The book is a useful tool for ExxonMobil representatives and it also strengthens relationships with their equipment manufacturers.

The database (Oracle8) and web server (Netscape Enterprise Server 3.6) requirements were set by the client. Both run on Solaris in the current production environment, though development and initial deployment was done under Windows NT. The web interface is entirely written using Netscape's Server Side JavaScript (SSJS), formerly known as LiveWire, which is a feature of Enterprise Server.

To overcome some of the shortcomings of SSJS, Fenestra implemented a robust session framework in JavaScript. This framework handles authentication of users and manages database connections, pending updates, session time-outs, and session state. If a user inadvertently disconnected from the network in the middle of a session, the framework allows her to log back in an pick up where she left off within a 20-minute window.

The book publishing system is written as a two-stage process. First, a user defines the layout and contents of the book using the web interface. Then, a user at ExxonMobil's Fairfax headquarters runs a standalone Perl program that extracts the relevant data from the Oracle server and translates it into an intermediate file. That file is then run through Adobe FrameMaker for pagination, final layout, and printing.

A book containing the Equipment Builder data for North and South America (almost 1000 pages) can be processed in about 30 minutes.

Security & encryption, entity/relationship data modeling, Perl and JavaScript, Oracle SQL Database, object-oriented programming, web-based programming.

Customer goals were met and the solution was incorporated - and translated into English, Chinese and several other languages. ExxonMobil engineers were able to refer to and manage a common database of petroleum and synthetic lubricant product recommendations, based on equipment manufacturer's specifications. Due to confidentiality constraints, screenshots and demos of the system are not publicly available.

Fenestra continues to enhance the product. In 2001, the key developer won the support and maintenance contract to ensure its relevance and reliability throughout the world.

Our senior developer maintained clear focus and involvement throughout the life of this project, during various iterations of client reorganization and changing personnel. Special attention was given to refining/creating the specs and troubleshooting remote installation issues.