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Abstract
NetworkD, the number one provider of Infrastructure Management Software and Business Process Solutions chooses to convert its iControl web-based Windows password reset tool to a Visual WebGui application for an improved responsiveness & flexibility. The decision was made following its previous successful experience using VWG for its Service & Support system.

Business needs
Established in 1996, NetworkD Group are the experts at endpoint security, systems life-cycle management, service desk, and IT process improvement solutions to enterprise organizations worldwide. Through its extensive research as a leading provider of service desk solutions, NetwrokD had noticed that password resets are the leading source of service desk calls.

In order to remove the burden of password reset requests from the service desk and improve productivity along with the quality of service, NetworkD decided to develop a product called iControl™ for Windows. iControl for Windows is a self service password reset tool that empowers end users to control and reset personal passwords without calling the help desk.

NetworkD needed to develop a customizable web-based Interface that provides users with a responsive and easy to use UI with multi platform support and an operator module that integrates into any number of systems like service test system or desktop management system. iControl was developed but NetworkD looked to convert it to a more flexible platform that allows future upgrades and Windows Vista support while keeping its current look and feel. Responsiveness, stability and security, on top of development time were all crucial factors in deciding whether and how to convert the iControl.

The Solution
After the fast development and the positive customers' reactions to iNferno under VWG framework, NetworkD’s developers decided to convert iControl for Windows from a regular asp.net application to a VWG framework application as well.

The fast and intuitive development in VWG over Visual Studio 2008 allowed NetworkD to deliver a highly, stable easy to use UI in less time and effort. VWG provided iControl with the ability to create a responsive UI using AJAX but saved the time of implementing it with its unique WinForms methodologies. The special theme that was created by the NetworkD’s developers shows a good example how VWG can supply a rich web oriented design for an application (just as iControl user where accustomed to) while supplying the user with WinForms abilities.

“After iNferno was imported to VWG we decided to import iControl. We already knew that we could import it from asp.net to VWG in a very short time and we knew that the AJAX and event base infrastructure that we get from VWG was exactly what we needed for iControl, the only thing that we were uncertain about was the look and fill that iControl will have. Because iControl was a web base application we wanted to keep this look even in VWG. iNferno showed us that we can create the look of a win application in VWG but iControl proved to us that we can also get a real web UI look and feel just as easy but without the hassle of dealing with HTML and CSS” (Mark Reed).

Benefits
The decision to convert iControl came down to how much time and resources it would take to do so. NetworkD's previous experience with the Visual WebGui framework proved them that it can be done in a short period of time, given the unique WinForms methodologies.

The Visual WebGui programming model is a smart event base that leaves the client this. This allows its web applications the user experience, interactivity and responsiveness that NetworkD originally longed for but could not achieve.

iControl as a Visual WebGui application is a super flexible and customizable application allowing future upgrades, extensions and the use of varied components.

Customizable Web-Based User Interface

Quick & Easy Registration

Operator Module

Rich web design for reports

For more information you can visit the NetworkD website: www.networkd.com