Integration Overview
kenlyle
It seems that CK-ERP "runs within" the interface of the host program,
but that database level integration is not created automatically, or
don't exist at all. I am not clear.
Looking at the eGroupware demo at http://ck-erp.net/ckerp -
It appears that the CK Contacts list and the eGroupware list are
completely unrelated. When I add a HelpCase, The CK list has demo and
demoltd, but the eGw, contacts list has Foo Bar, and Testy Samson,
etc.
So, I can't create a Help Case for an eGw contact?
Is there some synchronization procedure I am not understanding?
Is the integration just to the degree that the CK buttons integrate
into the eGw menu bar and display within the screen?
I have seen that eGw can use LDAP as the contacts database...can CK?
Is there any rough guidance as to how full database integration can be
achieved?
Is there any O/S or commerciail code for doing so?
Thanks,
Ken
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Here are a couple of posts and responses:
> so what does the plugin actually do? i had a quick look at the
> osc-integrated server, but found it not very usable admittedly.
> Does the OSC-plugin actually use OSC data? it doesn't really look like
> it to me.
Indeed, it is left to system integraters, perhaps like yourself, to
contribute the needed system integration according to your (client's)
needs. However, CK-ERP running within OSC does allow a fully
functional
ERP system within a shopping cart environment.
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>Integration means that when I buy an item >and register as a new customer, the >record is automatically added to my erp >and crm complete
>with buying record.
The simple answer is no. However, you are most welcome to develop the
integration of CK-ERP with Drupal/Zencart/.... the way you have
described. As always, you are welcome to contribute your developed
code
back to CK-ERP's main codebase, if you are so inclined. However, you
would most likely have to work all alone by yourself on this.
greno
I wouldn't call them integrations. CK basically has connectors that
allow CK-ERP to run in an existing PHP container framework such as
some PHP groupware, crm, portal, etc.. CK uses it own set of tables
and basically relys on the container for session management and user
management. Not too much more integration than that.
Gerry
C K Wu
I guess a lot had been said about why CK-ERP is not more tightly
'integrated' with the underlying middleware. So, allow me to be a bit
verbose on this to clear up the issue.
At the moment, CK-ERP is able to run within 19 different middleware
environments and there are more to come. If you are interested in
'integrating' tightly CK-ERP within xxx (database-wise,
processing-logic-wise), you may perhaps spend a year to do the job -- 19
different middlewares? 19 man-years. Then, you would have to spend
another nnn years to debug the (CK-ERP + xxx + yyy) combos, say, (Joomla
+ Zencart + CK-ERP). You know the sum.
I had thought about things like SOA, RPC to provide some sort of loose
coupling. However, these technologies seem to me still not mature
enough nor secure enough to be able to stand the test in a court of
law. That is, if there is a major processing error within, say, a SOA
based (Joomla + CK-ERP) environment, it would take a team of experts to
find which is at fault - Joomla, CK-ERP or even the SOA stack itself.
So, I have decided (CK-ERP + xxx) 'integration' will stop at the point
of producing xxx connectors. For the rest of the 'integration' job, it
is a standing invitation for any open source software integrator to try
his/her hand. Indeed, it is in this area, where software integrators,
traditionally, excel. Again, it is also a standing invitation to any
and all open source software integrators to contribute their integration
code back to CK-ERP, if they, so, incline.
At the same time, please don't ask me how a particular (CK-ERP + xxx)
tight integration should be done. Because,
1) I am not an expert in xxx .
2) As it is, I am already fully occupied with enhancing the various
functions of CK-ERP and producing yyy connectors.
3) I know you like challenges. [I also know this is cheeky :-) ]
Cheers,
CK
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