System Overview

The IT Asset Tracker is a web-based platform for managing IT inventory, tracking asset assignments, reporting issues, and monitoring notifications. It supports three user roles: Admin, Team Leader, and User.

• Mobile-friendly, modern UI with Bootstrap 5
• Role-based dashboards and navigation
• Live charts, widgets, and quick actions
• Search, filter, pagination, and CSV export for tables
• Inline editing and instant notifications

Quick Start

Requirements

• PHP 8.0+ with mysqli and mbstring extensions
• MySQL/MariaDB 5.7+
• Apache or nginx webserver (XAMPP bundled Apache works well)

Installation

1. Place the project files in your webroot (example: C:\xampp\htdocs\AssetRadar).
2. Create a database and import database.sql using phpMyAdmin or the mysql CLI.
3. Adjust DB credentials in config.php (DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASS, DB_NAME).
4. Point your browser to the site and login using seeded accounts (see below).

Seeded Accounts

The sample database contains default users for quick testing: admin, team leader, and user (see README for exact credentials or check database.sql).

Configuration

Key File: config.php

Main configuration is in config.php. Important constants:

• DB_HOST, DB_USER, DB_PASS, DB_NAME — database connection
• BASE_URL — base path for links and assets (update when deploying to a subfolder)

Security Notes

• Ensure display_errors is disabled in production.
• Use strong DB credentials and limit DB user privileges where possible.
• Consider enabling HTTPS and HSTS for production deployments.

Database Schema (Highlights)

The project uses a small relational schema. Key tables include:

• users — user accounts, roles and team associations.
• roles — role definitions (admin/tl/user).
• items — inventory items (asset_tag, item_name, category_id, warranty_to, assigned_to).
• tickets — issue reports linked to items and users.
• notifications — in-app notifications for users.

Adding a Column / Migration

Use SQL migrations in the migrations/ folder or run manual ALTER statements. Example to add a warranty column:

ALTER TABLE items ADD COLUMN warranty_expiry DATE DEFAULT NULL;

API Endpoints (Overview)

The app exposes a small internal API used by the UI under /api/ and /admin/master_data_api.php. Important endpoints:

• /api/items.php — item listing and quick operations
• /api/tickets.php — ticket actions and status updates
• /api/notifications.php — fetch and mark notifications
• admin/master_data_api.php — CRUD for master data (roles, teams, categories, users, items, vendors)

Most endpoints accept and return JSON and rely on session-based authentication (the user must be logged in).

Workflows

Inventory Lifecycle

1. Admin creates/adds an item or imports via CSV.
2. Item can be assigned to a user (assign_item.php) or left unassigned.
3. Item status can be updated inline (Working, Damaged, etc.).
4. Warranties are monitored by the Alerts & Warranties page.

Ticket Lifecycle

1. User or TL creates a ticket for an item.
2. Assigned staff can update status and add comments.
3. When resolved, ticket can be closed — notifications are sent as needed.

Roles & Permissions

Different roles have different capabilities. Below is a summary.

Key Features

Inventory Management

• View, search, filter, and export inventory
• Assign items to users/teams (admin)
• Inline editing for item condition and ownership

Ticketing System

• Report issues for assets
• Track ticket status and history
• Quick actions: close, update status, assign
• Role-based ticket view and update

Notifications

• Live notification dropdown with auto-refresh
• Mark as read, instant updates, and links to tickets

Dashboard & Widgets

• Role-specific dashboard cards and charts
• Recent tickets, items needing attention, quick links

How to Use

Login & Navigation

• Login with your credentials to access your dashboard
• Use the top navigation bar for quick access to features

Managing Inventory

• Admins can add, edit, assign, and bulk upload items
• Team Leaders can view team items and audit
• Users see only their assigned items

Reporting & Tracking Issues

• Report issues from your dashboard or item view
• Track ticket status and add comments
• Admins and TLs can update status and close tickets

Notifications

• Check the bell icon for new notifications
• Click to view details or mark as read

Technical Details

• Built with PHP, MySQL, Bootstrap 5, Chart.js
• Role-based access control and secure authentication
• AJAX for live updates and quick actions
• Responsive design for desktop and mobile

Files of Interest

• config.php — application bootstrap and DB connection
• inc/auth.php — login helpers and role checks
• admin/master_data_api.php — CRUD API for master data
• api/ — lightweight internal API endpoints

Troubleshooting

Common Errors

• Unknown column in SQL: This usually means the code expects a column name different from the DB. Check database.sql and ensure migrations ran (e.g., warranty_to vs warranty_expiry).
• Session warnings: Ensure session_start() is called only once (see config.php for guarded startup).
• Permission denied / 403: Verify file permissions and that session auth is working for routes that require login.

Debugging Tips

• Enable display_errors locally and check Apache/PHP error logs.
• Use the browser DevTools Network tab to inspect AJAX requests and responses.

FAQ

How do I change the base URL?

Edit BASE_URL in config.php to match the deployment path (e.g., /assetradar or /).

How do I add more roles?

Insert new records in the roles table and adjust any role-based checks in inc/auth.php if necessary.

Changelog

• 2025-09-13 — Project scaffold and initial sample data (database.sql)
• 2025-10-18 — Documentation styling and sidebar improvements

Support & Contact

For help, feature requests, or bug reports, contact your system administrator or IT support team.