Microsoft Access

OUR DEVELOPMENT CREDITS

Below is a brief listing of the applications that we have developed over the years.

Email and Microsoft Access integration - - This is a feature that I developed for another application so that email is automatically retrieved from the email server and saved in Microsoft Access tables.  The feature automatically retrieves email from a POP 3 server every 5 minutes and saves the sender's email address, subject line, body, etc, into Access tables.  The cool thing about this system is that as the application receives email, it triggers the Access database to perform actions for the user.  If the subject line contains certain words, then the application does specific tasks.  The system downloads the email from the email server and parses the data into the appropriate fields.  We use specific subject and body tags so that Spam is disregarded under the assumption that it would be unlikely to have both subject and body tags identical to what we are using.  We thought this was a better solution than to tie Outlook and Access together.

Staff Recruiting website - - A basic website for a recruiting firm, with a form that captures candidate information and resumes into a database.  The database has 2 functions:  1) To capture the candidate information for an "on-line" interview prior to finally storing the interviewed candidate information in an ACT database.  2) Sending un-solicited candidate information to ACT for later search and retrieval.  Other interesting features of this system include capturing the candidate references as separate leads into the system for later search and retrieval.

Indemnity, Casualty and Medical Insurance Audit Form System - A database system that is used to audit the performance of third-party workman's comp administrators.  A separate system for auditing Casualty claims administration.  Basically, these systems are used to audit the performance of third-party administrators.  The client seeks to determine if the administration is efficient, timely and effective for the insured.  There are contractual  performance guarantees that need to be assessed.

Quark QuarkXPress / Database Integration - This function takes data from a SQL database and creates a file that can be imported into the Quark ( QuarkXPress ) publication software.  The function retrieves data based on a users query and wraps the data into Express Tags, which Quark ( QuarkXPress ) can understand.  The function creates a text file that can be imported or merged into Quark.  The user can create style sheets that define the way the imported data will look in the finished Quark document.  The style sheet tags are included in the database text file. 

Non-Profit Event - A small web based event management system for a non-profit organization.  The program keeps track of participants, the money that the participants raise and donations, and the T-shirt sizes for each of the participants.  The program keeps track of the teams and the participants.

Legal Process Server Management and Tracking - This database program allows the user to track a large number of legal papers that are being served to individuals or entities.  The software allows process servers to track multiple addresses and multiple attempts to deliver.  Legal documents are on-line and automatically merge with the appropriate data fields in the database, so the users can simply press a button and create motions and court documents for a specific case.  The database is designed for a high volume of papers being served by many process server employees.  A commission structure is programmed into the system for paying the server employees based on the work they performed on that case.

Network Scanning and paperless office - Installation of Sharp Desktop scanning software and Sharp network printers .  The Sharp Desktop is a product that works with the Sharp network digital copiers and is extremely easy to use.  For any office that wants to reduce document storage costs or achieve a paperless office the Sharp product is a very cost efficient way to do so.  Additionally, scan to email, a feature found on most of the Sharp products, is becoming another indispensable office tool.  Scan to email allows users to walk up to the machine, select the email address to send to, scan the documents into the machine and press Go.  The documents are then emailed directly from the Sharp machine to the recipient. 

PDA Synchronization - A database program that imports and exports sales and marketing data to PDA excel files.  The PDA ( Pocket PC )  downloads an excel spreadsheet to a specific folder.  The program imports that excel data and crunches it down for reporting.  An export file is created by the program that is then uploaded back to the Pocket PC PDA.

FTP - Automated FTP system to determine which jpeg picture files to download from a list of thousands of files residing on a master system.  The program scans a local file listing, determines which jpeg picture files are missing from the local system and uses the FTP protocol to download the missing files from the primary system.  The program also verifies that the photo files exist on the master system, prior to executing the download.  Essentially, this is a synchronization program for Multiple Listing Service MLS real estate photos.   This was written as part of the real estate management application.

Exchange 2000 CDO - Messaging application for a real estate brokerage firm.  Web based CDO for Exchange messaging system.  Various business forms are completed on an intranet site and upon completion of the form data, an email is created, and sent to the appropriate company staff.  This is a huge time saver.  The data created for the email is also stuffed into a table in the database. Programming in CDO is pretty complicated until you learn the architecture of the database.

Applications running on W2K Terminal Server.  Terminal server is proving to be an excellent method of sharing data stored at the home office, with branch offices.  I have Microsoft Access databases running on Terminal Server that are accessible from remote branch offices via DSL, ISDN or Cable internet connections.  

Website and Database Programming.   I have developed quite a few interactive websites that are tied into SQL and Access database systems.  These sites include product catalogs and shopping features.  Also included, are SSL secure socket layer protocols for accepting payment information and credit card information.  The websites use ASP, ASP.NET programming and  Visual Basic Scripting.  

CD Rom based Presentations.   This system provides a self-running marketing or informational presentation on CDRom.  The unique feature of this software is that it does not require installation of any software on the user computer, thus eliminating risk to the user computer and possible support problems.  Presentations can be Powerpoint based or web page based.  Full motion movies, sound, etc. can be included.  The system also includes a shopping cart so that the user can select products that they want to purchase after viewing the presentation, and submit their order on-line, or by fax.  The presentation and product files are burned to a CDRom and a professional looking image placed on the label.

Real Estate Sales Management.  This is a real estate listing and sales management database.  The real estate sales company keeps track of the seller information, property information, buyers and the commission breakdown.  The database is used for listing inventory reports, marketing reports, etc.  There is a lot of detail in this system.  Clients can request a detailed breakdown of how their property has been marketed. Inquiry calls, showings, open houses, etc. are all recorded to show clients the efforts taken to sell their property quickly.   This database ties into the company website.

401K Management.   This system provides an interface between a large Oracle based payroll system and the 401k administration company.  The system is linked to Oracle views that provide the payroll and employee data, which is sorted and consolidated, then exported into text files.  The text files are formatted in a special way for the 401k administration company to import into their software system.

Quickbooks Import Export.   Several companies that have moved to Quickbooks accounting software have used conversion software that I have written.  Usually this involves reading data from reports that can be saved as a file, and converting that data into a file that Quickbooks can use to import Customer data, Vendor data, etc.

Report File to Data Conversion.  I have written many conversion routines for situations where data can only be extracted from a database via printed reports.  The reports have to be capable of being printed or saved to a file.  I write the program to read the report file and extract the data, and reorganize the data into the desired result.  This procedure is normally required when a company is changing accounting systems, contact management, or converting from one database system to another.

Sales Call Tracking. This system was developed in Microsoft Access 2000.  It allows sales people to record and track their sales calls on PDA's or laptops and then synchronize that information with the home office.  The home office then can run reports detailing the number of sales calls and compare that against the total sales for the period.  Also, the home office can upload the data back to the laptops so that the sales people know when the last sales call was made to a customer and how much the customer purchased.

Contract Management. This system provides consulting contract tracking for a federal government agency.  In-depth information can be captured and used on a central server used by offices in several states.  A unique feature is the ability to export contract information to Excel spreadsheets for use outside of the database system. 

Sales and Equipment Inventory.  This system provides a way to track sales of telephone central office site equipment.  Along with the usual features, it tracks the usage statistics of the equipment, provides an import feature of usage statistics from Excel spreadsheets.

Graphing System.  This is a Microsoft Access system that takes pre-compiled data construction company data and dynamically builds charts and graphs.

Human Resource Tracking.  This is a Microsoft Access system keeps track of individuals that are or could be potential hires for a construction company.   As the individuals call in to inquire about positions, their contact information is captured and retained for future use when project needs arise.   

Appraisal Management System.  This is a Microsoft Access system that helps a major bank manage its appraisal services departments in several states.  The system runs on Citrix Winframe and provides appraisal tracking for bank offices located in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas.  Along with the usual features, a unique feature of this system is the dynamic creation and merging of database information with Word 97 documents. 

Interactive Internet Web Sites. Connecting Web sites to the internet with Microsoft Windows NT Server, Internet Information Server, Active Server Pages, ASP.NET, VBScript and MS Access. For smaller web sites, this is a powerful combination to build interactive information systems that are easy to install, maintain and use. Microsoft Access is a full featured ODBC database that can easily provide on-line order entry, membership verification, on-line searches and other client-server uses. Contact me for sites that I have developed.  

Service Dispatch System. This program was developed using Microsoft Access for service companies. The application includes a service dispatch board, paging software and an invoicing system. Databases for customers, technicians, service calls and a diary are included. It is designed to be a multi-user system.  As service calls come in they are logged into the dispatch system and all users have access to the call information. The dispatcher can view his backlog of service, the 911 calls, and the regular service calls on his dispatch board. He can assign those calls as techs become available. After a service call is completed the tech can phone in the time and material, which is then priced out and invoiced in the office by the billing clerk. The tech creates an invoice at the truck for the customer to either pay then, or if a commercial account, sign off approval and keep a copy. The billing clerk then clicks off that service call complete, it is removed from the active service call dispatch board, but remains in the system as an account receivable until the tech brings the customer payment into the office, or the customer pays on account.

General Ledger and Job Cost Accounting. This package was developed for a General Contractor using BASIC. This software was designed for accumulating the accounting transactions into a general ledger for financial statements. Additionally, the transactions could be coded to construction project phases for cost accounting. Also, the package allowed budgets to be entered for each general ledger number or construction phase for cost to budget comparison. The design of the system included record layouts, process sequencing, data entry screens and exception handling.

Data Conversion Program. Various RPGII programs including a program to extract the accounting information desired off a System 36. An .exe program to take the fixed length data downloaded from the System 36 through terminal emulation to a PC and convert it to a Lotus 123 readable file using QUICK BASIC. This program read each data record, stripped out unneeded spaces, changed string data to numeric data where necessary and rewrote the record to PC disk. The next program sorted and reformatted the data into a ASCII comma delimited file for uploading and parsing in Lotus 123.

Customer Order and Shipping Application. This application was designed to take customer telephone orders and generate shipping reports and statistics about the orders using dBase IV 2.0. This software included customer, product and shipper databases which interacted with user-entry. The goal of the software was to generate a shipping file that could be uploaded into United Parcel Service's shipping system to alleviate duplicate data-entry and to generate a statistical report of where orders were coming from versus where advertising was being done.

Multi-Level Marketing Commissions Application. This application was designed to track commissions due to agents of a sales company using dBase IV 2.0. The software included client, agent, product and transaction databases. The design of the system included application menus, data-entry screens & database validation, process sequencing and report printing on a network. The goal of the software was to produce a weekly accounting transaction statement of agent activity which could be used to pay weekly commissions.

Paging Software. This program is a Windows based program that allows the user to contact a digital pager via modem, transmit a telephone number and hang-up the phone. The goal of the software is to allow dispatchers of companies who have many service trucks in the field to easily page those technicians. The software was developed with Microsoft Visual C++ and the MFC classes. It automatically installs in Windows using a setup utility and includes a modem configuration file and user maintained pager database. The application uses several dialog boxes for user interface. A future development will include alpha paging.

Other pages of interest

Microsoft Access Email Integration

Medical Insurance Audit Form System

Legal Process Server Management and Tracking

Purchase Order System For Home Builder

Real Estate Business Management

Other Websites of Interest.

Geodesic Dome Homes

Canmaid.com

Custom Software Development

Chris N Rowlett, CPA

Hotel Motel Association of Greater Dallas

Airline Fitness

Briggs-Freeman Real Estate

Laday Group

HPH Associates

The Dome Registry

Kirkpatick Mathis and Associates, CPAs

Laday Group

Work Place Broadcast

Design Syndicate

PCP Tarrant