|
|
Database Development
The Excelisys development team has the pleasure of working with a number of
clients and projects in a wide variety of markets, providing custom solutions
that perfectly match their respective needs. Please select a link(s) below to
view a small sampling of our work.
FileMaker, Inc. (FileMaker Business Tracker)
FileMaker Pro 7 Database
FileMaker Business Tracker is a fully functional business tracking system showcasing some of the many
new features in FileMaker Pro. The system can be shared over a network serving multiple users, each
logging in with a secure account. The system tracks companies and contacts, with multiple locations
and phone numbers. It stores an inventory of products and provides an easy method for creating and
tracking sales, printing invoices and packing slips, plus sales reports, customer lists and even
address labels.
FileMaker chose Excelisys, Inc. to both design and develop Business Tracker as a vehicle to showcase the
wealth of new features of FileMaker Pro. We're more than a little proud of this, and very excited about the
success of our working relationship with FileMaker, Inc.
By studying FBT, you'll learn by example and better understand how to leverage FileMaker Pro's new architecture
to achieve similar success in your own projects. You can also clear out the demonstration data, and actually
start putting Business Tracker to use running a small retail or wholesale business. Freely explore "under
the hood" and see a visual reference of Business Tracker's complex relational foundation. You'll notice the
elegant configuration of tables is all contained in a single file. Furthermore, much of the navigation is based
around a single script, demonstrating how the passing of parameters can significantly cut down on interface
development time. Learn more about the FMP Business Tracker >>
|
 |
View Screenshots >>
Download >>
|
|
Marketing Inc.
FileMaker Pro Database
Problem -
The client designs and distributes custom-printed calendars and supporting marketing
materials to corporations and their dealers. They were in need of a solution that
elegantly manages their projects and simplifies order fulfillment to their customers
as well as allowed for them to easily configure all of their products, many of which
can change from year to year. Key issues for the client were: organizing and tracking
their many Corporate-Dealer relationships, configuration of projects and the resulting
products (from a huge selection of options), maintaining inventory, drop shipping
partial orders as needed, storing graphics used in their calendar production,and
streamlining the user data entry process.
Solution -
From over 100 separate FileMaker Pro v5 files, Excelisys developed a solution new
solution based on FileMaker v7. The new database tracks all corporations, as well as
their related dealers in a single table. It organizes inventory information, complete
with a purchase order module. Order entry is processed though a series of screens that
limit the user’s path and entry options based upon prior selections and
preselected by the corporate client in the form of a project. The order module includes
the ability to select from stored drop ship addresses, which are later grouped into
delivery ‘flats” and exported to the shipping systems of various commercial
shippers. Graphics for multiple projects can be stored in a common library database
and retrieved directly from within the solution.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
|
|
TC Ranch
FileMaker Pro Database
Problem -
The client is a Hay Farmer who had developed an inventory control program to track
what crops where being planted and where; to record all of the cuttings that were
made from each field and where they were stored; to issue Contracts as the crops
were sold; to track Deliveries; to record payments and finally to provide detailed
analysis of the year’s business. The original solution had been developed over a
number of years and met the client’s needs but it required a lot of manual work and
a completely new set of files had to be used each year. The client also wanted to
be able to market the solution to other Farmers so it had to be very flexible, extremely
user-friendly and visually appealing. It also had to work for large operations where
multiple producers with multiple ranches as well as for the small one-man operation.
Solution -
We redeveloped the program from the ground up using a single file FileMaker 8 solution
which would allow for multiple years to be entered and then specific years to be
isolated by means of relationships. The new program allows the farmer to sell in
either Bales or tons and inventory reduction is calculated for both measures simultaneously.
Cuttings are added to a contract by point-and-click selection and once a cutting is sold
out, it instantly drops off the screen so there can be no oversells. The program allows
for multiple and partial deliveries from each contract and keeps track of what is remaining
to be delivered; payments are posted to specific Deliveries and automatically applied to
the Contract; Deposits are held until the contract terms specify they are to be applied and
then automatically transferred to. We used ‘iconic’ farm photographs throughout as buttons
and navigation devices to make the solution visually appealing and easy–to–use.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
|
|
Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris
FileMaker Pro Database
Problem -
Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris takes travelers on small group wildlife tours with an
emphasis on ecology, wildlife, and being in the field with knowledgeable leaders.
They were looking for a way to better manage their Clients, Tours and Reservations,
and Payments. It was especially important to Cheesemans’ that this solution be
extremely user-friendly and intuitive to accommodate all levels of computer users,
while still being comprehensive enough to cover all of the various details that they
needed to track.
Solution -
Excelisys merged all aspects of trip management into a single tab-style user-interface,
with a high level of color coordination amongst the various sections. Users can easily
access and interact with all modules via the tabs at the top of every screen. In addition,
a home page was designed so that the user would always have a place to re-orient themselves
as well as perform certain common everyday functions.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
View Site >>
|
|
Freight Management and Allocation Company
FileMaker Pro Database
Problem -
To create a multi-user relational database system that would allow users to generate
quotes, enter and track orders, print reports and forms (including Bill of Lading),
track collections and receipts, and schedule “to-dos” and reminders.
Solution -
After defining the issues that mattered most to the client, we designed an expandable
system that met all their needs while allowing room for future growth. We chose
FileMaker Pro as our development application due to its speed and ease-of-use, and
because the client was already using it and wanted to be able to make their own changes
when necessary. The "to-do" list was augmented with a month-at-a-glance calendar viewer
which provided users with more control over their task planning.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
View Site >>
|
|
Cossey and Associates, Inc.
FileMaker Pro Database
Problem -
Steve Cossey provides geological information concerning oil fields and reservoirs.
He wanted to give his CD-ROM distributed reference database a face lift with an
elegant and intuitive graphic user interface. He also wanted to add bar-graph and
scatter-plot charting, as well as printing and exporting functions for the user. He
knew that charting was possible in FileMaker, as evidenced by Brian Dunning's
breakthrough product ChartMaker Pro, but he didn't have the time to learn these
techniques himself.
Solution -
We created new files and implemented an "Aqua"-esque GUI, complete with a [Back]
button for simple navigation. Using ChartMaker Pro techniques, we incorporated the
scatter-plot chart to handle up to 50 sets of X/Y coordinate data, and provided a
horizontal bar-graph view that would accommodate an unlimited number of records.
The export requirements were unique: our client didn't want his customers to see
the normal "export" dialog box that FileMaker provides, as it lists ALL the data
fields, many of which had fairly cryptic names -- and both of these facts made it
hard to locate the desired data fields. The solution was to use create an automated
export script that allowed the user to select up to five data fields to be included
using a familiar pop-up menu interface. The results were extremely well-received.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
View Site >>
|
|
Learning Pathways
FileMaker Pro Database /Web CDML
Problem -
To create a LAN/WAN/Web system that allows teachers throughout a multi-site school
district to submit maintenance requests, which each site's principal can either
approve or revoke. The maintenance manager could then either procur estimates
(if requested) and/or ultimately assign the work to be done by maintenance
personnel.
Solution -
Learning Pathways came to us with the idea of making a commercial maintenance
tracking software product available to school districts. After planning the
workflow and many possible scenarios, we developed a system that is extremely
flexible in a multitude of situations. Principals and managers access the system
via FileMaker Pro, while teachers use their web browsers to submit requests and
check their status. To this day, LPI has successfully deployed their solution within
many school districts throughout the country, and have extremely minimal training,
customer service and technical support requirements due to the extremely intuitive
interface and complete feature set.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
|
|
Adobe
Web Database Integration - SQL/ASP
Problem -
The marketing department at Adobe had been using a FileMaker-based solution
for some time that tracked all their marketing activities, from trade shows
and in-store events, to advertising and more. Their rapid world-wide growth
forced them to move to a browser-based solution that could be accessed from
anywhere. In addition, they wanted us to integrate a "roadmap": a matrix that
displayed all marketing activities one quarter at a time, filtered by product
type.
Solution -
We built new data tables using Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and several html
pages based on ASP (Active Server Pages) to recreate the functionality of
the original FileMaker Pro system in a browser environment. The roadmap turned
out to work even better than they had imagined, as we included several "added-value"
functions such as the ability to click on an activity in the roadmap's grid and be
taken to detailed information about that activity.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
View Site >>
|
|
Line 6
FileMaker Pro Database
Problem -
The marketing department at Adobe had been using a FileMaker-based solution
for some time that tracked all their marketing activities, from trade shows
and in-store events, to advertising and more. Their rapid world-wide growth
forced them to move to a browser-based solution that could be accessed from
anywhere. In addition, they wanted us to integrate a "roadmap": a matrix that
displayed all marketing activities one quarter at a time, filtered by product
type.
Solution -
We built new data tables using Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and several html
pages based on ASP (Active Server Pages) to recreate the functionality of
the original FileMaker Pro system in a browser environment. The roadmap turned
out to work even better than they had imagined, as we included several "added-value"
functions such as the ability to click on an activity in the roadmap's grid and be
taken to detailed information about that activity.
|
|
View Screenshots >>
View Site >>
|
We would love to show you all of our work! But due to the nature
of our service agreement we are obligated under NDA terms to respect our clients’
privacy and proprietary solutions.
|
|
|
|