NICMananger

Introduction

This software is designed to digitize law enforcement records on local systems and servers for ease of access by personnel needing access to NCIC NIC file entries for records look-up, file maintenance, and hit confirmation request and response purposes. Many agencies still use hard copies (paper filing) for NIC entry files, and personnel must search--by hand--the archive in order to find the relevant records. Digitizing these records can speed up the process of locating valid files quickly and easily.

About

This application was designed as a Windows desktop application using Visual Studio. It is written in the C# programming language and uses a MySQL database back end for data storage and retrieval.

Target Version Information

• Windows 10 or 11

• C# .NET Framework 4.7.2 or newer

• MySQL 8.0.30 or newer (or equivalent MariaDB)

Server Deployment Testing Environment

• Database: 10.4.24-MariaDB - mariadb.org binary distribution

• Charset: UTF-8 Unicode (utf8mb4)

Changelog

Version 0.07 - 10/13/2022

It's been a few days since any updates. I have been working on the code along with other things and was too busy to put time into the changelog. I expect a much larger update this weekend.

• Finalize database model.
• Represent database model programatically in code for reference queries.
• Design key-value pair dictionary collection for reference tables and columns so that they can be modified by others later (a less hard-coded solution).
• Refine setup process and installation procedure (further).

Version 0.06 - 10/07/2022

• Design data lookup tool for records existing in database.
• Plan record entry form and process.
• Refine database model.
• Prepare SQL for deployment to various database systems.
  • Plans to allow for Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL Database, and MariaDB. Possibly other options.
• Refine setup process and installation procedure.

Version 0.04 - 9/30/2022

• Rename legacy repo to nicmanager_old.
• Merge all branches into main branch in new repo.
• Design basic setup form.
• Design configurator/installation and setup workflow.

Version 0.03 - 9/23/2022

• Converting simple forms to MDI application.

Version 0.02 - 09/20/2022

• Create one-way digest algorithm encryption for user passwords (SHA256).
  • Authenticator uses SHA256 encryption by default.
• Create authenticator class.
• Design login form in Visual Studio.
• Login and authentication system.

Version 0.01 - 09/19/2022

Video presentation of early features in this build: YouTube: NICManager - Query Tool

• Complete Build #2. 0 errors.
• Improved status feedback system to user for input validation.
• Query tool input validation for valid input.
• Complete Build #1. 0 errors.
• Connect to back end database from solution.
• Setup solution for MySQL connectivity.
• Setup database server for test environment (MariaDB 10.4.24).
• Build SQL export (genesis file) from MySQL Workbench (8.0.30).
• Design of initial database complete.
• Primary form design for query tool.
• Solution creation in Visual Studio Community 2022.

To Do/In Progress

• Design and code user authentication system.
  • Create password recovery/forgot password functionality.

Roadmap

Anticipated before 10/01/2022

• Design and code supporting document attachment system for entries. TODO

• Design and code queries and returns for sample data set. TODO

Anticipated by 10/15/2022

• Version 1.0 - production-ready release candidate.

Future Additions

• Explore Microsoft SQL database deployment.
• Explore other database drivers.

Known Issues

As this is the first release, many issues are known and too numerous to list here. This will be refined as time goes on.