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gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

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    gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

    I am currently working on an application for a small start up company in the Customer Shopper Marketing business that makes conveyor belt covers with printed advertising which are installed over the existing black conveyor belts at grocery store and retail store check out check stands. The parent application is a desktop network. There is a potential for this business to expanding very quickly. One of the elements in the axis of production is for service personnel to visit retail stores and perform an audit of the check stands in each store where they acquire 3 pieces of information for every check stand at each store location: 1) a measurement of each check stand belt in that store location 2) the movement direction of each belt 3) the yes/no need for technical service to be performed prior to installation. There could be a dozen auditors.

    I would like to have this data entered primarily into some mobile electronic device by the field auditor (via cell phone would be most immediately universally available/best), via accessing a small web-based component that can interface with the parent desktop app, or a mobile app that can then download the audit data to the parent app.

    I would appreciate any and all thoughts on the best immediate method and/or strategy to accomplish this. I am not versed in either mobile app or web app development so the least requirement in these arenas as a solution would certainly be the most appealing to me. Thanks.
    Last edited by Mike Wilson; 06-07-2012, 01:15 PM.
    Mike W
    __________________________
    "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

    #2
    Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

    Mike,

    There is a simple way to upload data to a web app. The web app only needs to be a page or two w. some xbasic and inserts the uploaded data into a table. I think I can find the sample code if you are interested.
    Peter
    AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

    [email protected]
    https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


    Comment


      #3
      Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

      On 2nd thought that doesn't sound like what you need. You need a mobile app to upload. In that case you need to create a dialog or grid sized for the mobile that runs off an alpha web site, however simple. Basically you are entering data directly into the web site. I guess download would be a data dump to a file which you download and re-import into alpha on the desktop. Maybe you could download the dbf itself?
      Peter
      AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

      [email protected]
      https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


      Comment


        #4
        Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

        Hi Peter,
        That was kind of my thought. The field auditor would access a web page with a grid to enter records with fields of - location (predetermined code), width, length, direction, need of service. This data then dumped to a file/exported/imported into desktop app. The question that was asked of me was that isn't that grid simple enough to write with html on the corporate server and not have the need to purchase and maintain an alpha web component?
        Mike W
        __________________________
        "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

        Comment


          #5
          Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

          Originally posted by Mike Wilson View Post
          The question that was asked of me was that isn't that grid simple enough to write with html on the corporate server and not have the need to purchase and maintain an alpha web component?
          Unfortunately for your client, an Alpha grid or component is created by xbasic and you need a WAS server to make that all happen. Basically, the WAS runs xbasic that renders HTML and JavaScript on the browser. If your client is using MySql then there are other options available.
          Peter
          AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

          [email protected]
          https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


          Comment


            #6
            Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

            Mike,
            If the user has a web phone, it should be possible to create an e-mail template which could be completed and sent to the company.
            With Alpha running at the company end, poll the email address at regular intervals and extract the data into a table and work it from there.
            No need for WAS, the mail facilities should be able to handle it.
            This is how my latest desktop application authorisation works.
            See our Hybrid Option here;
            https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


            Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
            You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

              I was also thinking along the email lines.
              I used that method for an automated POS end of day transmission of files and local update .
              If you have access to the machine/s to set up and test to resolve individually, no problems.
              Sending an install to an unsighted remote computer can be unpredictable, that's what I experienced but it was my first foray into emailing internally and quite primitive and with v8.

              I have been intending to play with the Gmail methods, now provided in V10 - my thinking is thats more universal.
              What method have you employed Ted? (Apologies I havent tested your trial system yet - work keeps getting in the way)

              I would also look at drop box, that is simply so simple. But I don't know if there's a mobile app.
              Also look at FTP to and from any web folder.
              I haven't had the time to explore myself in Alpha but have at prev times used pure DOS and also Powershell for FTP
              Last edited by Ray in Capetown; 06-08-2012, 06:38 AM.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                So you are still in one piece Ray!
                I have tried and proven the Alpha mail feature, Windows Live Mail, Xbasic direct to VirginMedia - same as Gmail really.
                Send and receive.
                See our Hybrid Option here;
                https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                  Thanks guys,

                  Ted-
                  If the user has a web phone, it should be possible to create an e-mail template
                  How does one do that. What is the template derived from?
                  Mike W
                  __________________________
                  "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                    Send the investigator an e-mail with the required fields.

                    From: Example Consulting
                    Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 5:13 PM
                    To: [email protected]
                    Subject: Belt Data

                    Store Location:
                    Audit Item 1:
                    Audit Item 2:
                    Audit Item 3:
                    Audit Item 4:
                    Audit Item 5:
                    Audit Item 6:
                    Audit Item 7:
                    Audit Item 8:

                    The investigator responds with a reply;
                    From: Example Consulting
                    Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 5:13 PM
                    To: [email protected]
                    Subject: Belt Data

                    Store Location:Main Street USA
                    Audit Item 1:First Measurement
                    Audit Item 2:Second Measurement
                    Audit Item 3:Etc
                    Audit Item 4:Etc
                    Audit Item 5:Etc
                    Audit Item 6:
                    Audit Item 7:
                    Audit Item 8:

                    You will be able to prepopulate the Location I suspect and even have a fixed identifier. The Audit Items can be changed, so that if you are lookig at Mum and Dad's Bakery or WallMart USA you can have different questionnaires.

                    The location in the Subject line will really simplify retrieval.
                    See our Hybrid Option here;
                    https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                    Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                    You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                      Did you get anywhere with this Mike?
                      See our Hybrid Option here;
                      https://hybridapps.example-software.com/


                      Apologies to anyone I haven't managed to upset yet.
                      You are held in a queue and I will get to you soon.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                        Hi Ted,
                        Somehow the reply I believed I posted after you posted the template email example isn't here. Nonetheless, I thought it was a very interesting thought, to send an email to the auditor and that template would be completed and sent back. It certainly does present a potentially immediately attainable solution.
                        Mike W
                        __________________________
                        "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                          Mike, not sure if there is any downside as I haven't spent a lot of time working with it but Google Docs has an interesting online form designer that saves the data into a spreadsheet that can be exported in various formats.

                          I set up a simple data entry form that works great on our iphones and blackberry units. It has dropdowns, checkboxes etc, and literally took about 10 min to make.


                          Richard

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: gathering data in the field for entry into desktop app

                            Thanks Richard,
                            I'll look into it.
                            Mike W
                            __________________________
                            "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                            Comment

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