Design Coaching Needed - I'm in over my head
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Hi Everyone, I have gotten myself into a project who's design is far beyond my abilities. I'm a rookie when it comes to good object oriented design. I understand the basics, but am not familiar with all of the patterns and such. I am the only programmer at my company and don't have anyone to bounce ideas off, so I'm posting here hoping for some coaching and guidance on a good class diagram. That being said, the project is a reporting system that allows spreadsheet entry via a website. The website is currently operational and used for other purposes. We are currently using FarPoint Spread for other spreadsheet data entry. We have a folder on our web server that is called forms and holds each report spreadsheet. I have identified what I think are the main objects. What I don't know how to handle is the validation and processing. I assume I would create a validation interface and a form processing interface, but I don't know how to lay that out. I've typed up a summary of this project: Abstract: Professional Hospitality, a hotel management company, has each hotel report back to the home office on a monthly basis. The current arrangement requires the manager to type up all of the information on spreadsheets. The spreadsheets are then printed and mailed via postal to the Home Office. The Home Office, then opens and sorts the mail and types in the data from the spreadsheets. The new spreadsheets are then printed and delivered to the appropriate regional managers around the home office. After the regional managers review the information, the printed spreadsheets are then sorted and filed in file cabinets. Problems: The current process involves large amounts of manual labor, postage, printing costs, filing costs, and data entry costs. The goal of this project is to reduce or eliminate these cost burdens and therefore increase company profitability. Professional Hospitality would like to be able to create other reports to be submitted on differing intervals. Current examples are a Sales month-end, bi-weekly rate reporting, or annual reports. Requirements: • Web based data entry that is similar to Excel spreadsheets • Templates (master spreadsheets) used to format each form and also ensure consistent entry • Enter data on multiple templates for each reporting period • Submit the entire group of spreadsheets when the period has lapsed • Ability to create multiple report periods. AKA, a monthly report, bi-weekly report etc. • Ability to setup validation r
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Wauna wrote:
Would anyone be willing to help me via email correspondance?
I would seriously doubt that people here have the time. Most of the people on this site are busy professionals, who have enough on their plate just answering in the forums. Sorry.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Wow Gary, That wasn't very nice. I was asking for help, not insults. Mental note to self... "Don't use this message board anymore"
You're silly Wauhoo. I offered not an insult, but advice. You may take it or ignore it, but I think if you can't do the basics of your job, you should be looking for another. Just kindly advice.... Just because you can spell coder doesn't mean you are one. Is a "mental note to self" a mental note to self when it is public and to everyone? ;P
Gary
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Wow Gary, That wasn't very nice. I was asking for help, not insults. Mental note to self... "Don't use this message board anymore"
Gotta say, with 10 years experience in something that hasn't existed for 10 years, I'd expect you to know a little more that what's evidenced in your post. You should take advantage of "Professional Hospitality offers competative [SIC] compensation and a comprehensive benefit package which includes: * Career training program"
Gary
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Gotta say, with 10 years experience in something that hasn't existed for 10 years, I'd expect you to know a little more that what's evidenced in your post. You should take advantage of "Professional Hospitality offers competative [SIC] compensation and a comprehensive benefit package which includes: * Career training program"
Gary
Wow..... you are really a mean and nasty person. Why do you want to insult me so much? What on earth do you have to gain by rubbing my face in the sand? You've made a lot of judgements about me with extremely little information. It's hard not to take it personal when someone says you are not good at the job you've been doing for over 10 years.
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Gotta say, with 10 years experience in something that hasn't existed for 10 years, I'd expect you to know a little more that what's evidenced in your post. You should take advantage of "Professional Hospitality offers competative [SIC] compensation and a comprehensive benefit package which includes: * Career training program"
Gary
" but I think if you can't do the basics of your job.." How do you know that I cannot do the basics of my job? Have you ever heard the statement "Two heads are better than one?" It's always beneficial to have people review your designs, whether you're a veteran or a rookie.
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" but I think if you can't do the basics of your job.." How do you know that I cannot do the basics of my job? Have you ever heard the statement "Two heads are better than one?" It's always beneficial to have people review your designs, whether you're a veteran or a rookie.
Wauna wrote:
Have you ever heard the statement "Two heads are better than one?"
Especially if you're conjoined.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Hi Everyone, I have gotten myself into a project who's design is far beyond my abilities. I'm a rookie when it comes to good object oriented design. I understand the basics, but am not familiar with all of the patterns and such. I am the only programmer at my company and don't have anyone to bounce ideas off, so I'm posting here hoping for some coaching and guidance on a good class diagram. That being said, the project is a reporting system that allows spreadsheet entry via a website. The website is currently operational and used for other purposes. We are currently using FarPoint Spread for other spreadsheet data entry. We have a folder on our web server that is called forms and holds each report spreadsheet. I have identified what I think are the main objects. What I don't know how to handle is the validation and processing. I assume I would create a validation interface and a form processing interface, but I don't know how to lay that out. I've typed up a summary of this project: Abstract: Professional Hospitality, a hotel management company, has each hotel report back to the home office on a monthly basis. The current arrangement requires the manager to type up all of the information on spreadsheets. The spreadsheets are then printed and mailed via postal to the Home Office. The Home Office, then opens and sorts the mail and types in the data from the spreadsheets. The new spreadsheets are then printed and delivered to the appropriate regional managers around the home office. After the regional managers review the information, the printed spreadsheets are then sorted and filed in file cabinets. Problems: The current process involves large amounts of manual labor, postage, printing costs, filing costs, and data entry costs. The goal of this project is to reduce or eliminate these cost burdens and therefore increase company profitability. Professional Hospitality would like to be able to create other reports to be submitted on differing intervals. Current examples are a Sales month-end, bi-weekly rate reporting, or annual reports. Requirements: • Web based data entry that is similar to Excel spreadsheets • Templates (master spreadsheets) used to format each form and also ensure consistent entry • Enter data on multiple templates for each reporting period • Submit the entire group of spreadsheets when the period has lapsed • Ability to create multiple report periods. AKA, a monthly report, bi-weekly report etc. • Ability to setup validation r
Wauna, There is a ton that can be said about design and architecture and there is no way to fully answer you question here. That being said, after reading your summary a few things strike me. 1) Can you identify entities on the spreadsheet that are, or can be, represented by objects? If so, then you may need to rethink your architecture to leverage those objects instead of a spreadhseet. 2) Don't tie the UI for data entry to the layout of the report. Or perhaps a better way of saying this is, don't assume that the method off data entry must mirror the report layout or vis versa. A spreadhseet may not only not lend itself to easy validation in a web app, but it may not be the most optimal form of data entry for your end users. Just a few thoughts, take 'em or leave 'em, but there they are.