BusBoss SQL Server Database

BusBoss uses Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005 or higher. Most districts are well served with the express edition of SQL Server. However, for larger school districts that place heavy demands on a database, SQL Server standard or enterprise can be used instead. SQL Server Express has many of the great features of SQL Server Standard, but databases are limited to 4 GB, and the database engine will only use one core of a multi-core server.

The minimum database version is Microsoft SQL Server 2005, but BusBoss is compatible with all newer versions of Microsoft SQL Server, including SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 R2, and SQL Server 2012.

The BusBoss database can be located on Windows Server 2000, 2003, 2008 or 2008 R2. The Express version of SQL Server can be installed on desktop operating systems. The BusBoss program can be used on any computer with Windows 2000 or greater. It may be used on a single computer or on a network. It has the ability for multiple users to simultaneously view, modify, retrieve and print information. It is used with Windows, Novell, and Peer-to-Peer networks and there is no additional charge for network capability. BusBoss is sold as a district wide license. One flat charge covers all of the workstations in the district.

Unlimited Databases

With BusBoss, you can create an unlimited number of 'what-if' scenarios without altering the current routes. New databases with user-defined descriptions are easily created as new scenarios within BusBoss. Summer school scenarios can be also be used to manage your summer school runs. Routes can be modified and saved without effecting the other scenarios. You can change from one scenario to another by simply selecting the scenario name from a drop down list. This allows you to easily evaluate scenarios in order to select those that better serve the district.

Unlimited User Logins

BusBoss has security built into the client/server application. A user must have a user name and password to login to BusBoss. Each user is assigned to a user group. A system administrator can create an unlimited number of users and user groups. User groups are assigned to the individual screens in the system as follows:

• No Access – user can not enter the data screen
• Read Only Access – user can enter the data screen, but can not change the data
• Full Access – user can enter the data screen and change the data

User Auditing

BusBoss automatically creates an audit trail, storing the user’s name, GUID, date and the before and after information for all changes throughout the system. The auditing report requires user access rights. Open records are automatically locked to prevent overwriting someone else’s changes. The user is prompted with the user’s name currently accessing the record and is given the option to open the record in read only mode.

Upload/Download/Connectivity Capabilities

BusBoss is capable of ODBC links to other software that is ODBC compatible. The system stores data in industry standard structures that are available to third party programs, such as word processors, report writers, etc.

BusBoss has the ability to import district data from an ASCII, Text or Excel file. Orbit Software will process and verify the conversion of the first import. BusBoss has an import option that provides the district with the means to perform future imports without vendor intervention.

Student information systems such as Tenex, Pentamation, Power School and Skyward are just some of the few programs that can be used to create the data files used for importing students into BusBoss.

You can import either an entire student file or a partial student file into BusBoss. The import function will add students, change student information, or make students inactive.

A change to a student is performed on a field level. That is, the information in the import file will update the information in BusBoss field by field.

BusBoss has the ability to export data to ASCII text format and to any Microsoft application such as, Word and Excel.