Wilke/Thornton's CRS is based on the most advanced technology available today. It is browser-based and Microsoft-centric. It includes off-the-shelf integration with a wide variety of other applications. 

Hardware Diagram

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Key Concepts:

True n-tier 
CRS separates the layers of an application by distributing 1) the presentation layer to the browser, 2) the business logic to an application server, and 3) the data access logic to a database engine. Thus these three or more tiers allow most flexibility for configuring or updating components. Each tier can also be distributed to different machines for redundancy or performance.

Client-side caching
Client-side caching of frequently used HTML, scripts, and data (e.g. valid product codes and descriptions) results in fewer trips from the server to the client and thus faster performance. Up until now, the biggest drawback to Web applications has been the lengthy pauses between screens. With CRS' advanced caching, most of these pauses have been eliminated, resulting in snappy performance for the user.

Client-side validation
For the most responsive user interface, CRS performs much of the validation on the client. Data types, required/optional, ranges, valid values, foreign keys, etc. are validated and descriptions of coded data are displayed. Users can receive a variety of system-generated messages at the moment they tab out of a field rather than having to push a submit button and wait for server validation. Network load is also greatly reduced.

Zero-installation and administration
Open up IE 5.5+ and type a URL. That's all you need to do to access CRS. All client-side scripts and ActiveX controls are downloaded with the HTML page and installed by IE 5.5+ automatically. No set up scripts or install programs are needed. Geographic maps and custom and standard spelling dictionaries can be copied to the PC for best performance.

Zero-maintenance
IE 5.5+ does automatic version control, caching, and updates of newer software, whether it is HTML or client-side scripts. The user or application manager never has to worry about the latest CRS.

Technologies Used On Client

HTML - hypertext markup language, the base language of the web.

DHTML - dynamic HTML, allows changing of Web page at runtime (e.g. change background color to red if error).

ActiveX - "drop-in" controls such as TreeView, FlexGrid and SpellCheck.

VBScript - Visual Basic scripting, used to automate ActiveX and DHMTL objects.

Technologies Used On Server

Component Object Model (COM)
Same as ActiveX but no interface (e.g. address correction, geocoding).

WebObjects
Presentation and business logic, precompiled and cached for performance.

Brokers/Agents
A broker controls a pool of agents. Agents execute compiled business logic on the application server. Agents are always connected to the database for performance.

Relational Database
All data is stored in popular relational databases. Choices are Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server and Progress.

Customizing the Interface

Use Microsoft Frontpage or other editor
You can easily change CRS' user interface using end-user HTML editors such as Microsoft Frontpage. 

For example, your company may want to change the order of fields, field labels, position of fields, size of fields, etc. You may also want to change colors and appearance to provide your own "branding."

Most screen changes don't require reprogramming!