Server Tuning

Shelter's servers required performance optimisation after 2 years increased website usage. BOCC was asked to review, provide advice and then implement the recommendations.

The websites are always very busy - providing advice and information, acting as a resource for professionals and as a fundraising and involvement tool.

BOCC examined overall user experience, since at certain times the administration area appeared slow, and sometimes the front end website was being affected. BOCC examined the server configuration in order to improve performance without any additional hardware or software.

The Java Runtime Server was examined and its performance improved by making use of resources made available by a recent memory upgrade. A review of database queries was also undertaken and a number of these converted to cached versions. After optimisation, administrators and users have commented on the speed increases.

Websites and databases hosted by BOCC.

March 2006

Secretariat News

BOCC has created a new functional module for use within the multi-lingual website of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

The Secretariat News system has been made available within an extranet area for use by staff and members from offices around the world to add information about meetings and events they have attended. It is possible for users to provide text, rich text and file content for each item and for others to receive automatic alerts by email as items are updated.

The system contributes to the working of the distributed organisation and reduces the need to circulate documents and notes by electronic mail.

BOCC created the multi-lingual content management system (CMS) and website design in 2004. It has been extended progressively through the addition of more core languages such as Russian and Arabic and with further functional modules.

March 2006

NHS Confederation

Following the development of the bespoke content management system (CMS), a microsite for the 2006 NHS Confederation Annual Conference has been created.

The microsite uses the same BOCC CMS but is branded differently through the clever use of dynamically assigned templates and style sheets. The pages also include a new exhibitors/sponsor management module and have access to all the other rich functionality supplied by BOCC. For example, the exhibitors/sponsors log on through the existing Integra system and seamlessly have access to an extranet where they can update their own details.

BOCC guided NHS Confederation staff in the creation of the new templates and style sheets based on the provided design. The new module was undertaken by BOCC and added to the CMS.

NHS Confederation can redesign the microsite by replacing templates on the fly to change the look and feel across whole sections of the site quickly and easily.

February 2006

Top Results

The monthly local government site report listings has brought good news for BOCC's local council clients. The report, which is run by SiteMorse checks for compliance with web standards.

The SiteMorse report undertakes automated checks concerning World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), e-Government Meta Data Standard (eGMS), search engine meta data, server responsiveness and download times. It is an important reporting system, although results do need to be interpreted carefully.

After BOCC's recent redevelopment of the website for West Oxfordshire District Council, the Council found itself in the excellent position of climbing 241 places in the ratings list (of 462 council websites).

Other clients like Oxford City Council, Cherwell District Council, London Borough of Redbridge and Stratford-on-Avon District Council continue to achieve high rankings.

Website and databases hosted by BOCC.

February 2006