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SoftWin continues to do well for Softcon, as new features are introduced

Softcon is a South African based developer and manufacturer of electronic and software (SW) products, mainly for the access control and building management markets. Its hardware (HW) products are primarily all microprocessor-based, ranging from small standalone readers, to single and multi-door access controllers, input/output (I/O) controllers of various sizes, mimic and terminal drivers, vending machine controllers and cash loading units, whilst a variety of communications drivers/converters are also produced to fulfil installation requirements. These include fibre-optic converters (for both multi- or single-mode fibre), RS232/RS422, Wiegand/RS422 and serial/Wiegand/Data clock. Products are CE certified.

The company also produces its range of PC-based software (SW) products for access control, building management systems, guard tour, vending control and identity (ID) card design/manufacture.

SoftWin, the company's Windows-based application front-end, has seen a number of new features being introduced in recent months. Additions include the following:

SoftVisitor - Captures visitor information to a visitor database and optionally a photo can be taken and audio clip recorded. Data is transferred to an active card via keyboard selections or via a serial reader connected to the PC. An option to print a visitor label will be available soon.

SoftVend - Access card vending units can be incorporated with the access system, or be used in a standalone system. Typical vending units include coffee machines, soda fountains, photostat and laundry machines, sweets dispensers, car wash units, etc. The system allows for subsidies (eg two free drinks per day), discounts and group charges (e.g. per company). All these selections are settable per vend item, per machine, per person. Cash loaders that add value (note and coin readers) can be integrated. Recipes can be set per item, per machine (eg a coffee consists of x gram coffee, y gram sugar, z litre milk and a cup). Stock used and available is calculated, giving alarms when low levels are reached.

SoftCam - Via a serial PC port, the system interfaces to camera systems, typically a video matrix. Camera and monitor selections are sent to the system when clicking on icons manually or automatically when an alarm occurs. Additional information on camera position (pan and tilt), zoom and focus can also be sent automatically or adjusted/set via a control panel on display. Alarms and other information can be received from the video system and translated to input, output, camera, system, etc events. Data to and from the video system is translated via lookup files, facilitating easy interfacing to most video systems.

SoftMessage - Messages can be linked to events, giving the operator more information about the event and listing instructions on what action is to be taken. A message is contained in a *.RTF format file which can be generated/edited with editors such as Write (included with 95/98/NT) or Word. The RTF format allows multiple formats, sizes, fonts, etc. and the inclusion of bitmaps, photos, etc.

SoftLog - Events can be set to prompt the operation to enter reports, activities, actions taken, etc. A report can be of any pre-created format in which the operator only need fill in required information. These format files are .RTF files generated as described for SoftMessage. A daily report file (a new file per day) is generated which is a .RTF file containing all the appended event .RTF files of the day.

Says Softcon Software Control Services' MD Mark Liebenberg, "SoftWin continues to do well for us, and sales are growing and growing. There are now 754 DOS and 271 Windows on-line sites and more than 14 000 access controllers out in the market. This has led to problems we love - getting enough products out of production. That said, we will continue to strive to keep deliveries to acceptable periods and to keep one month's deliveries ex-stock."

For details contact Mark Liebenberg of Softcon Software Control Services on telephone (012) 348 7301, fax: (012) 348 1129, e-mail: [email protected], or visit www.softconserv.com.

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