# Basic Information

## Introduction

### Eigner PLM Clients

| Built on our production-proven product lifecycle management suite, Eigner PLM solutions are designed to solve very real and complex business problems relating to product development. They encapsulate a comprehensive understanding of PLM managing product configurations, and each solution is integrated on a common platform, to guarantee that it can scale to meet changing business needs. Its high level of adaptability permits Eigner PLM to provide different user interfaces: Windows Client for Microsoft Windows Web Client as the basis for HTML Unix Client for Unix operating systems Generally the clients have the same basic functionality with minor differences. This chapter describes the differences in working with the clients.
| The Online Documentation (descriptions, step-by-step examples, screenshots and images) is based on the functionality of the Windows Client.
| The Online documentation does also contain a separate description of the functionality of the Web Client and the Unix Client: Select User Interfaces > <Name>
| ### The Windows Client
| If you use Microsoft Windows as an operating system, you will use the Windows Client as the graphical user interface of Eigner PLM. The Windows Client comprises the complete functionality of Eigner PLM described in this Online documenation depending on the installed licenses.
| The Windows Client of Eigner PLM looks as follows:
A | Horizontal menu
B | Pulldown menu
C | Toolbar
D | Trash
E | Message bar
F | Graphic Browser
G | System masks
| ### The Web Client
| The Web Client is a thin-client interface that gives users access to a wide range of standard Eigner PLM functionality from their web browsers. Supported functionality includes Document Management, Item Management, Change Management and Workflow, Classification, and Configuration Management. Supported browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorers 5.5 and 6.0, and Netscape 6.2.
| Advantages
| The Web Client has the following advantages: Central installation: No installation required on the client machine Complete web-based functionality Graphic user interface can be adapted to individual requirements
| The standard graphical user interface of the Web Client is is shown in the following figure:
| Requirements
| For hardware and software requirements refer to the Installation Guide, which is provided as a .PDF file on the Eigner PLM CD.
| Functionality
| The standard version of the Web Client has the following key features:
| Multi-object search - A search mechanism that lets you search across multiple object types using common criteria and save search results permanently or temporarily Wizards - online assistants that guide you through the process of creating and linking projects, items, documents, and other database objects Support for standard Eigner PLM forms and lists The Explorer - a pane in the Web Client window that displays multiple views of data within a tree structure Shortcut bar - an area of the Web Client window that provides quick access to commonly used functions Repository-drive customization - eliminates the need to make Web Client customizations separately from the other Eigner PLM clients
| The functional scope can be adapted individually!
| Data security
| The data security in the Web Client is guaranteed by access protection mechanisms which are implemented in the program and supplied by the Web Server.
| Further information can be found in the Online documentation for the Web Client.
| ### The Unix Client
| If you use Unix as an operating system, you will use the Unix Client as the graphical user interface of Eigner PLM. The Unix Client comprises the complete functionality of Eigner PLM described in this Online documenation depending on the installed licenses.
| The Unix Client of Eigner PLM looks as follows:
A | Horizontal menu
B | Pulldown menu
C | Toolbar
D | Message bar
E | System mask
F | Trash
| Some functions and menu commands are new some others had changed.
| Trash
| If you use the Delete function, the records are provisionally deleted. You can return these records to the dababase individually or together, or you can delete them permanently. Clicking on the Trash icon opens the Trash mask:
| Toolbars
| Click the right mouse button on the left edge of a toolbar to open a mask menu. The mask menu contains commands to move, hide or show toolbars.
| Use the View > Toolbars > Functions commands for settings of view and location of toolbars. Line-up toolbars (compact): Moves all toolbars to the header area. The toolbars were displayed without spacing. Line-up toolbars anordnen (normal): Moves all toolbars to the header area. The toolbars were displayed with spacing. Show toolbars: Shows the toolbars. Hide toolbars: Hides the toolbars.
| Select View > Toolbars for further information about the location of the toolbars: Left Right Top buttom Hide
| Docking Views
| Commands in the View > Docking views menu: Message board (compact): Changes the display mode to show the server and client information in message window together. Message board (normal): Changes the display mode to show the server and client tab above the message window. Toggle between server- und client-information with the server and client tabs. Message board: Activates/deactivates the message box.
| Server / Client Tabs
| Below the Server and Client Tabs you find a message box containing server and client messages.
| Structure Browser
| The functions of the structure browser are not available in Eigner PLM Unix Client.