Introduction :-
 
Ticker is a Client Server application written in VB using MS Access as back end.It is about broadcasting a series of news to multiple clients on whose desktop , in a small strip like window , the latest news will continuously scroll .It can also send the news as SMS to client's Mobile if the client's Mobile Service Provider supports such features.Ticker consists of three modules : The News Server , the Ticker Client and the Admin Module.
 
                            Features :-
  Easy to use ticker interface.Provides facilties to control speed of scroll , font and size of news , color combinations etc.
  Always on top and title bar options
  Server log to track events associated with using the server
  Sophisticated Admin module interface that allows to create new users , assign privileges to users , create new parties , send news and many others.
  Working :-
 
The News Server module has to be installed with the computer to which all client computers will hook to receive the news.This module is responsible for broadcasting the latest news to all connected clients. The server checks for the addresses of all clients that are connected or are looking for a connection.Once it finds all such clients , it invites them to connect for the news.Thus , if the server gets disconnected from its clients , it automatically reconnects with them after it starts afresh.The News server picks news which are latest but not later than 5 minutes.


The Ticker Client is a light weight module that receives news from the server and displays it in a scrolling window that stays on desktop.This module provides the facilities to set the look and feel of the ticker and to specify an IP address of the server.If the server is not running , it would display the same. After specifying the servers IP address using the settings tab, the ticker starts receiving the news.


The ticker can be controlled to remain on the desktop always ( under which case it would partially hide other windows ) or to yield desktop for other windows. If , when the ticker is minimized , a news arrives , a pop up at the Ticker's icon in the system tray would display the news for a short duration.The scroll can be temporarily suspended by bringing the mouse pointer above the Ticker window.


The Admin Module permits to register a user for receiving news ,to feed the news that is relayed to the ticker client and to manage the news administration.The module is to be installed at the machine that will be used by the operator for news entry.The news that needs to be sent is entered in a text box and is sent.This news is fed into the collection of news from where the server picks latest news and relays it to listening clients.