Skip to main content

Features

The Asset Manager

A powerful solution for managing IT assets – featuring modern architecture, flexible configuration options, and an intuitive user interface.

Architecture

The Asset Manager is based on a classic client-server architecture. The server component (Asset Manager Service) provides central functions and data, while the client application provides the user interface for access. The client and server communicate efficiently and securely using modern web technologies: a gRPC API over HTTP/2 is used, always encrypted via HTTPS (TLS 1.2+). This architectural design enables high-performance data exchange and a secure connection—even in distributed networks or across proxy servers (provided they support HTTPS and HTTP/2). The scalable architecture also allows the service to be flexibly deployed on-premises or in the cloud (e.g., on Azure).

System Requirements

Server (Asset Manager Service): The server service is implemented in .NET 8 and can run on multiple platforms. Common installation scenarios include Windows Server 2022 or later with IIS, or Windows Server 2016 or later with the Kestrel web server. Operation on Linux servers with Kestrel is also supported. Microsoft SQL Server 2019 or higher (or SQL Express) is required as the database. An HTTPS certificate is required for secure operation.

Client (Asset Manager Anwendung): The client app is a .NET 8 Windows application. Current Windows client and server operating systems are supported (according to the .NET 8 support matrix). The .NET 8 Runtime and the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime must be installed for operation—the latter provides the browser component for certain functions. Installation requires administrator rights on the PC. A screen resolution of at least Full HD (1920×1080) is recommended. Upon first launch, the address of the Asset Manager Service (URI and port) must be configured once.

Note: The Asset Manager Web Client (optional) also enables platform-independent access via a browser—all users then work with the latest software version at all times without a local installation. See also The New Asset Manager Web Client for details. 

Backstage

The Backstage area corresponds to the Asset Manager's administration menu (similar to the File menu in Office applications). It is accessible only to administrators and consolidates key settings and administrative functions. In the Backstage area, you can, among other things, set up the server connection, manage user permissions, and maintain translations.

Connection

This is where the connection to the Asset Manager service is configured. To access the service, the client requires the service URL and the server port. All communication between the application and the server takes place via these details. Optionally, a proxy server with the corresponding login credentials can also be configured. Once the connection is established, the Asset Manager saves the details so they do not need to be re-entered at every startup. For automated installations, the connection can be pre-configured in an INI file.

Settings

In the Settings section, you can customize the Asset Manager to suit your individual needs. All user-defined settings are saved in a JSON file and can be easily edited in the settings dialog. The most important configuration options include:

  • Integration of external services: Storing API keys for OpenAI (ChatGPT), Microsoft Azure Speech Services (speech recognition), and translation services (either DeepL or Microsoft Translator). This allows AI functions, voice control, and machine translation to be used in the Asset Manager.
  • User interface language: Switching the entire UI between German and English..
  • Performance & Features: Enabling data compression for server communication, turning on/off version history for specific data (table history), and the Change Tracker (detection of changes made by other instances).
  • Editor settings: Color schemes for the SQL code editor and font sizes for editors can be defined. Additionally, helpful links can be added (e.g., a regex tester or formatting guides).

These settings allow the feature set to be flexibly expanded and, for example, AI-powered features to be activated in the Asset Manager.

Users and Groups

Asset Manager has its own permission system to control access to both application features and data. This section is used to create user accounts and manage groups—both of which are stored in the internal Asset Manager database. Users are used for authentication (logging in), while groups are used for authorization (granting permissions). Administrators can finely control which users are allowed to perform which actions or view which data. By default, there are two predefined groups: Asset Manager Users (for general users) and Asset Manager Administrators (for full access). New users are automatically added to the Users group to enable login. Permissions are typically assigned at the group level (Read, Edit, Delete, Access denied, etc.), and in case of conflicts, the highest permission takes precedence.

For enterprise environments, Asset Manager also supports Active Directory (AD) integration: Instead of managing users locally, you can use AD groups (Asset Manager Users/Admins in the domain). Assignment occurs automatically—members of the AD group “Admins” receive admin rights in Asset Manager, while “Users” receive standard user rights. Synchronization occurs regularly (configurable via Cron interval). This allows rights management to be seamlessly integrated into existing Windows domains, which simplifies administration, particularly in larger organizations.

Constants

Constants are global placeholders for variable values (e.g., server, database, or table names) used in SQL queries within the Asset Manager. They allow scripts to be flexibly adapted to different environments without having to modify the code. Example: Instead of referencing the Computers table directly in a query, the placeholder {@Computers} can be used. Depending on the Asset Manager instance, this constant name is then replaced at runtime with the respective configured table name. So if the table name changes between two installations, only the value of the constant needs to be adjusted, not the query itself. Constants must be unique and follow the syntax {@MyValue}. This feature significantly increases the portability of queries—for example, when using development, test, and production systems with slightly different environments.

Translations

The Asset Manager is designed to be bilingual (German/English). Using the translation module, the terms displayed in the user interface can be customized as needed or expanded to include custom technical terms. Administrators create translations in a table for this purpose: You define a key (identifier, without spaces) and enter the corresponding translation in German and English. These entries allow company-specific terminology to be used in the application. Keys already provided by the system (identified by the leading “_”) can be changed, but may be reset to the default during updates.

Handy: The Asset Manager can also automatically suggest translations. If a translation service and API key are configured in the settings (DeepL or Microsoft), the “EN » DE” and “DE » EN” buttons become active. Clicking on them translates the entered term directly into German or English. This makes it easy to add missing translations. Overall, this module enables a user interface that is linguistically tailored to the user group and the company.

User Interface

The Asset Manager's user interface is intuitive and based on Windows standards. The central element is the navigation tree on the left-hand side, which provides access to all functions and objects. Typically, categories such as folders, tables, queries, forms, dashboards, etc., are listed there in a structured manner. Users can expand the tree as needed and add their own elements. The right side of the window displays the details or editors for the selected element.

Key features of the interface: (For security reasons, many advanced features are available only to admin users.)

  • Data Management (Tables & Folders): The Asset Manager allows users to create their own tables in the database directly from within the application. These tables can be organized into folders and populated with records. This enables structured capture of asset data and any additional information—without the need for separate SQL tools.
  • Queries & Reports: For analysis, users can create SQL queries and save them as reports. A user-friendly query editor with syntax highlighting is available for this purpose. Results can be displayed in the interface or exported. This gives even less technically savvy users access to complex data queries.
  • Forms & Dashboards: The built-in form designer allows you to create input forms for assets or other data records. These forms simplify data entry and maintenance. In addition, you can create dashboards—graphical overviews that visually present key metrics and information (including query results) in an engaging way. This gives decision-makers a quick overview of key metrics related to their assets.
  • Websites Integration: External websites or web apps can be seamlessly integrated into the Asset Manager. This is useful, for example, for displaying external documentation, cloud tools, or intranet pages in the context of asset data without leaving the application.
  • OpenAI Integration (ChatGPT):  A highlight of the new version is the built-in AI support. Through an OpenAI chat in the query management interface, users can ask ChatGPT questions using natural language. This makes it possible to generate complex database queries or obtain analyses even without SQL knowledge. This feature significantly lowers the barrier to entry for inexperienced users and leverages state-of-the-art AI technology directly within the workflow. (An OpenAI API key is required; see Settings.)
  • Scheduled Tasks (SQL Jobs): Recurring tasks can be set up as SQL jobs (similar to scheduled tasks). This allows the Asset Manager Service to execute tasks such as nightly data updates, imports/exports, or validation scripts on a scheduled basis. These jobs can be easily managed through the user interface.
  • Integrity Check: An integrity check can be performed at the click of a button to verify the consistency of the asset database. Any issues or inconsistencies are reported to the administrator, ensuring that data quality remains high.
  • Packs (Export/Import): The Asset Manager allows you to create so-called packs. A pack bundles selected objects from the navigation tree—such as specific tables (including optional data), queries, folders, or web pages—into a single file. This file can be used as a backup or imported to transfer data between different Asset Manager instances. For example, this allows you to transfer configurations from a test environment to a production environment. During import, the system ensures that no existing objects are overwritten, and new objects are initially visible to all users (permissions can be set afterward).
  • Track Changes: In multi-user environments, Asset Manager automatically detects when changes have been made by other instances. For example, if another user creates a new table or modifies data, this is recorded in the background. Currently logged-in users receive a notification and—depending on the type of change—the option to reload data or refresh the navigation. Major structural changes suggest restarting the application. Colored indicators (e.g., yellow for a required restart, blue for a reload) clearly indicate the urgency. This Change Tracker feature ensures that all users always work with consistent, up-to-date data and prevents conflicts. (The Change Tracker must be enabled in Backstage under Settings.)
  • Permissions in the Navigation Tree: In addition to user and group management in Backstage, administrators can also set access rights for individual objects in the navigation tree (Read, Edit, No Access). This allows you to control, for example, which users are allowed to view which folders or reports. Content for which the user does not have permission is hidden (Access Denied). This finely tuned rights management ensures data protection and the implementation of the need-to-know principle.

As shown in the feature overview above, Asset Manager offers a wide range of features—from a low-maintenance server architecture and configurable integrations (AI, translation, AD connectivity) to powerful tools within the user interface. Decision-makers benefit from transparent reports and dashboards, administrators from well-designed management features, and IT teams from a flexible, secure platform for all asset data. Further details can be found in the official documentation—the links above point to the respective chapters for more in-depth information.

Back to top