SMART Communications

SMART provides many ways to reach out to customers, suppliers, and employees who are located beyond the walls of your enterprise.

Email: Anything you can print in Smart can also be emailed. Jobs can be dispatched by email, in a format which is suitable for a handheld device. Some reports can be emailed automatically, either on a scheduled basis or on completion of a job.

SMS (text messaging): Jobs can be dispatched by SMS and free form text messages can be send from inside SMART.

SmartNet provides a secure way for SMART systems to exchange jobs electronically.

RemoteSmart enables you to provide your customers and service providers with a 'terminal' into your SMART system, with strict limits on what can be viewed and changed.

Alarm monitoring systems: SMART can be integrated with SIMS, ADSW, Patriot, and MAS, and custom integration is available with other systems.

Accounting systems: SMART can be integrated with MYOB, and other accounting systems on request.

Mobile data systems: SMART has a standard API (Application Programming Interface) which can be easily adapted to most mobile data systems.

Tracking systems: SMART can be readily adapted to accept tracking information from GPS vehicle tracking systems and guard tour wands.

SMART Communications Processor

Most of these forms of communication utilise the Smart Communications Processor, a program which runs on one of the PCs in your network.

The Smart Communications Processor (smcomms.exe) handles all communication between Smart and the 'outside' world, including SMS, email, SmartNet, and mobile data. It is bundled with a standard Smart installation or upgrade but is only required run on one PC on your network.

Usually you install the Processor on your database server. You can choose any other PC but if that PC is also being used by an operator they may experience minor delays from time to time.

Firewall/Router configuration

The Processor uses the same internet protocols as your email and web browser, so your firewall or router should not require any special configuration. If the Processor experiences communication difficulties, try sending email and browing the internet from the same PC. If this doesn't work, check with your network technician to see if a configuration change is required. Alternatively, run the Processor on a PC which does have standard internet access.

Installing and configuring the Communications Processor

Install the current version of Smart on the PC which is to run the Smart Communications Processor (usually your database server). On the Custom Setup page of the installation wizard, select SMART Communications Processor .
A few seconds after installation, the Smart Communications Processor icon will appear in the system tray at the bottom right of your window. If it does not, follow these steps:
- If you have not previously run Smart on this PC, run it now and fill in the prompts for server and database names.
- Start the processor by finding c:\smart4\smcomms.exe in Windows Explorer and double clicking on it.
- The Smart Communications Processor icon should now appear in the system tray at the bottom right of your window. Click on it to open the Processor.
- Go to the Application Settings tab
- Press the button labelled Install & Start as Service.
If you have not already done so, click on the Smart Communications Processor icon in the system tray at the bottom right of your window to open the icon to open the Communications Processor window. It looks like this:

Make settings as follows. Some settings appear on the window but are not described here. Do not change these settings except at the direction of Smart support.

Tab Settings

Email Setup
These settings are used by SmartNet and other email communication.

Internal Email Address, External Address: Please request an email address from Smart Support to enter here. Usually Internal and External have the same value, however if you are behind a corporate firewall you may have use an email address from your company domain for the Internal address. Your Smart Support person will tell you if this is the case, and will help you make the necessary arrangements.

Inbound Server: If your Internal email address was supplied by Smart support

User Name = xxx@skorpion.com.au (the email address supplied by Smart support)
Password = as supplied by Skorpion support
Server = pop.skorpion.com.au

If your Internal email address was supplied by your company, your IT support person will provide the above information.

Outgoing Server: This is same setting as used by your normal email client such as Outlook.

Do not change other settings on this tab except when instructed to do so by Smart support.

Site Matching
This settings only apply to some specialised SmartNet connections. Do not alter them.

Other Setup

SmartNet: This section is greyed out unless you have entered valid email settings on the 'Email Setup' page.

When you request your Skorpion email address from Smart Support, please specify a Company Name (usually, your trading name) to act as your SmartNet name. This name is used by other Smart users when setting up SmartNet communication with you.

Enter the name exactly as it is returned to you with your Skorpion email address. Provided your email has been set up correctly, within a minute or two a new SmartNet ID will appear above the name. This is the number used to identify you across SmartNet, and it must never change. Once you have this number (it will have a value of 100 or greater) you can change your SmartNet name or the email address on the Email Setup tab, and all other SmartNet users will be immediately advised.

Other communication settings: This section should be self explanatory, and is subject to change. More information is available from the links below.

Application Settings
This tab has settings to enable you to run the Smart Communications Processor as a service. This means that it will start automatically when your computer is restarted, before any operator logs on.

When the Smart Communications Processor is installed it should automatically set itself up as a service. It should only be necessary to access this tab if it has failed to do so.

Installing the Processor as a service is the best way to ensure it runs reliably. If for any reason this is not possible or appropriate, create a shortcut to SmComms.exe in the PC's Startup folder for all users.

Choose from the links below for information on configuring and operating each type of communication.

SMS

SmartNet