It’s way more than RAD
January 2, 2009
It’s way more than RAD
Yesterday I received an e-mail from Jim Dusoe, a professional developer with 25 years of experience, and a relatively recent Alpha Five convert. I thought it was worth sharing verbatim.
As a software developer, I am always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of generating an application. Alpha Software users have learned that using Alpha 5 is a great boon to building high performance, feature rich applications significantly faster than on other platforms. But there’s another area that I am discovering is having quite an impact on my development efforts that I’ve not heard discussed – modifications to existing applications.
Student Records Management System
I recently had to make a somewhat simple, but important change to an application that tracks grades for a small college. The college recently had an audit performed by an outside consultant (the consultant formerly worked for the UN, establishing new technical colleges in developing and 3rd world countries. This is the 13th college he helped to develop.) As he reviewed the software we had written for the college, he commented several times that our project was the most well designed and fully thought out package he had ever seen.Change Required
As good as it was, however, we missed a couple of items, one of which was the structure of the Course ID. This Course ID would be used in school catalogs, on student transcripts –- in short, this would be the primary PUBLIC mechanism used to identify a course. The actual change was simple -– we needed to add a column to the database table that indicated the year of the course (1 through 4, to indicate Freshman through Senior years) that would then create a unique key field based on the Department (Music – MU, English – EN, etc.), Student Year (Freshman – Senior) and an internally generated unique course ID (EN1101 would be English, Freshman course 101). I had originally wanted to define the ID as system generated integer only, for simplicity, but he pointed out that the naming convention would be best kept in a format that “everyone” was already familiar with (the user’s view always wins over the developer).Development Impact
Here is where I noticed something significant when I made the change -– I had it completed in a matter of just a few minutes, including testing. Because of Alpha’s grid structure and easy to configure property sheets, I simply added the column to the database, adjusted my SQL query to include the column, set the field in the grid component, published, and tested. It all worked simply, smoothly, and without a hitch.I began to think about the many tools I’ve used in the past — Visual Basic, MS Access, Visual Foxpro, Ironspeed Designer, etc. — and I realized that what I just accomplished would have taken anywhere from 2 to 8 times longer to complete in any of these packages.
For example:
- If I was using Ironspeed Designer, I would have had to modify and test at least four separate pages to accommodate this change, or at least let the system regenerate the pages after updating the schema, thereby clobbering my html formatting. Total additional time: at least 4 times the effort.
- Using Foxpro as a desktop app. I would have had to update my view, drag a new component on the form, update the databinding properties, update my data environment, set several additional properties to work with the framework I use with Foxpro, compile the app, test and distribute. Total additional time: at least 3 times the effort.
Now I know this is a really simple example, but when you began to add up the time savings multiplied over many applications, multiple “little” changes, you find that Alpha Software provides a whole new level of TOC. It is just plain easier to modify your applications when needed –- saving time for the developer, translating to lower costs to the customer, increasing profits to the developer, and better quality apps delivered faster than other platforms.
One more reason I continue to grow in my Alpha Software fanaticism.
Jim Dusoe
www.bmsisoftware.com
Democratic Lawmakers Gird for Racial Showdown Over Burris Appointment – FOXNews
January 2, 2009
Democratic Lawmakers Gird for Racial Showdown Over Burris Appointment – FOXNews Democratic Lawmakers Gird for Racial Showdown Over Burris Appointment
Washington Post
FOXNews -
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, left, and former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris could be headed for a showdown in Washington next week.
Burris Unlikely To Get Sign-off By Tuesday
Burris Unlikely to Get Document Necessary for Swearing-In
Study: Religious Teens More Likely to Abstain from Sex – FOXNews Study: Religious Teens More Likely to Abstain from Sex
Washington Post
FOXNews -
AP A teenaged girl wears a purity ring representing her pledge to remain celibate until marriage. Religious teens lose their virginity later than those who are not religious, waiting, on average three years longer than their peers, a recent study …
Reflecting on Premarital Sex
Premarital Abstinence Pledges Ineffective, Study Finds
Wikipedia exceeds $6m donation goal – Register Wikipedia exceeds $6m donation goal
CNET News
Register -
A personal plea for cash by Wikipedia's founder, Jimmy Wales, has melted enough hearts keep the ubiquitous online encyclopedia running for another fiscal year – and then some.
Wikipedia raises $6.2 M, exceeds 2008 fundraising goal
Wikipedia passes $6 million donation goal
John Travolta's Son Dies in Bahamas – ABC News
January 2, 2009
John Travolta's Son Dies in Bahamas – ABC News John Travolta's Son Dies in Bahamas
Telegraph.co.uk
ABC News -
By DAN CHILDS and RADHA CHITALE John Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, died Friday morning at the family's vacation home in the Bahamas after what the family's lawyer says was a seizure-related incident.
A Closer Look at What Ailed Jett Travolta
John Travolta's 16-year-old son dies in Bahamas
Snead, McCluster lead Ole Miss past Texas Tech – The Associated Press Snead, McCluster lead Ole Miss past Texas Tech
Washington Post
The Associated Press -
DALLAS (AP) – Ole Miss isn't just the team that handed Florida its only loss. These Rebels are seriously on the rise. Behind Jevan Snead's passing, Dexter McCluster's squirming runs and some big returns by Marshay Green, No.
Snead, Ole Miss beat Texas Tech in final game at the Cotton Bowl
COL FB: Mississippi 47, Texas Tech 34
Russia accuses Ukraine of siphoning gas to Balkans – International Herald Tribune Russia accuses Ukraine of siphoning gas to Balkans
WELT ONLINE
International Herald Tribune -
AP MOSCOW: Ukraine has siphoned some of Russia's natural gas shipments to the Balkans, the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said a day after it cut supplies to Ukraine in a contract dispute.
Video: Ukraine steals European gas
'Bug' could combat dengue fever – BBC News 'Bug' could combat dengue fever
ABC News
BBC News -
Humans could be protected from dengue fever by infecting the mosquitoes carrying it with a parasite which halves their lifespan, say researchers.
Fighting Dengue Fever by Making Mosquitoes Die Young
Infection cuts mosquitoes' lives short
Wikipedia exceeds $6m donation goal – Register
January 2, 2009
Wikipedia exceeds $6m donation goal – Register Wikipedia exceeds $6m donation goal
CNET News
Register -
A personal plea for cash by Wikipedia's founder, Jimmy Wales, has melted enough hearts keep the ubiquitous online encyclopedia running for another fiscal year – and then some.
Wikipedia raises $6.2 M, exceeds 2008 fundraising goal
Wikipedia passes $6 million donation goal
Snead, McCluster lead Ole Miss past Texas Tech – The Associated Press Snead, McCluster lead Ole Miss past Texas Tech
Washington Post
The Associated Press -
DALLAS (AP) – Ole Miss isn't just the team that handed Florida its only loss. These Rebels are seriously on the rise. Behind Jevan Snead's passing, Dexter McCluster's squirming runs and some big returns by Marshay Green, No.
Snead, Ole Miss beat Texas Tech in final game at the Cotton Bowl
COL FB: Mississippi 47, Texas Tech 34
Snead, McCluster lead Ole Miss past Texas Tech – Lincoln Journal Star
January 2, 2009
Snead, McCluster lead Ole Miss past Texas Tech – Lincoln Journal Star
DALLAS – Ole Miss isn’t just the team that handed Florida its only loss. These Rebels are seriously on the rise. Behind Jevan Snead’s passing, Dexter McCluster’s squirming runs and some big returns by Marshay Green, No. 20 Mississippi overcame an early deficit and beat No. 7 Texas Tech 47-34 Friday
Jett Travolta Dies, Son Of John Travolta And Kelly Preston (PHOTOS) – Huffingtonpost.com
John Travolta’s son Jett Travolta died in the Bahamas, reportedly from a seizure: Rand Memorial Hospital in the Bahamas tells TMZ the son of John Travolta died today. We’re told 16-year-old Jett was vacationing with Travolta and wife Kelly Preston. There have been reports that Jett was autistic
Russia accuses Ukraine of siphoning gas to Balkans – International Herald Tribune
MOSCOW : Ukraine has siphoned some of Russia’s natural gas shipments to the Balkans, the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said late Friday — a day after it cut supplies to Ukraine in a contract dispute. But Ukraine’s Naftogaz company said it was only using some of the gas Russia pumps through the
Yahoo! Answers: Some Helpful Tips
January 2, 2009
Yahoo! Answers: Some Helpful Tips
As an Internet marketing professional, I get asked a lot of questions about doing business online. Recently, a friend turned me on to Yahoo! Answers ans asked me to respond to a few questions. Each day now, I’m spending about 15 minutes responding to questions related to marketing, internet marketing, and SEO. Here’s a recent dialog that I wanted to share with my blog readers.
Question: What is On-Page Optimization and Why Is It Important To Your Website?
Answer: Search Engine Optimization is the combination of both on-page optimization and off-page optimization. Both are essential for reaching #1 rankings. I like to explain the concept in terms of building a house. If you want the tallest, most sturdy house on the block, you need a strong foundation. This is where on-page optimization comes in.
On-page optimization is what you do to make your sight highly visible to search engines. The easier your site is to crawl, the more accessible it is, and therefore, the easier to rank.
That said, you need to follow good on-page optimization principles. Many of which are listed in the various responses here. My favorites are: use of H1, H2, and H3 tags; proper Meta Tags including a robots.txt file, a keyword density between 3 – 4% and the use of bold and italicized keywords. Don’t underestimate the power of good meta tags. Keep your title tag to less than 60 characters and your keywords to no more than 12. Make sure your description repeats your keyword phrase twice and your good to go.
Two final important mentions. Give a lot of thought to your navigation. Search engine spiders use this to access all the pages of your website. Make sure your links are easy to follow and minimize java. Lastly, use submit a site map to Google – you’ll be glad you did.
I hope you found this question and answer valuable. When thinking about doing business online, all forms of optimization are important. Check back for my answers to other frequently asked questions!
How To Make Sure You’re Getting Feedback
January 2, 2009
How To Make Sure You’re Getting Feedback
Sometimes getting feedback from you customers is like pulling teeth. But in today’s post, we learn some helpful ways to get feedback that improves your business and improves relationships with customers. The trick is to encourage your customers to actually utilize this a feedback option for themselves and for your benefit. Here are five sure-fire ways to encourage customers to give you the feedback you need.
Make the Process Quick
When your customers are asked to provide feedback shouldn’t necessarily give them a list of hundreds of questions. What if you were in there shoes? While this might seem helpful to you, if a customer has to spend more than five minutes on a feedback form, chances are high that they will either lie or they simply won’t fill it out at all. Try to limit your questions to about five to ten questions with short or multiple choice answers. You can always rotate your questions out when you have enough answers and then find out the answers to new questions that come up.
Make Giving Feedback Easy
Feedback forms which are easy to find and easy to use are the ones that will get used more often. Place your feedback form somewhere along the checkout process when people might be waiting for things to happen – the form will pass the time. Or you might want to create a link in the receipt email that you send to them at the end of a transaction. You might also send out a short email after the transaction is over to see what their feedback might be.
Make Feedback Worthwhile
Some people will want to have something in return for their opinions. If this seems to be the case, you may want to offer a discount on their next order or perhaps create a sort of contest in which one of the names is drawn each day for a prize. If you find that your customers aren’t answering your questions, it may just be a matter of giving them something in return for their time – and it doesn’t have to be something substantial either.
Make Providing Feedback Fun
Feedback forms that are fun to use are the ones that will get used most often. Simple multiple choice surveys are bright and colorful and you can see the results of others surveys as well, if they are set up in a certain way. Perhaps when they click on a certain answer, they will see a picture or they might get a response for their opinion. Try to create a feedback form that is interactive to help engage them and make the time they spend pass quickly.
Make All Feedback Confidential
Customers are sometimes nervous to give feedback for fear they will be identified with a negative response. Make sure that you are not asking for any identifying information, if possible, to show that you simply want feedback and aren’t going to penalize anyone for something that went wrong during a transaction. Of course, this is harder to do when you have a feedback form during the checkout process, so you might want to leave the feedback as a separate transaction.
The value of feedback is immeasurable. It can help you find a new direction for your business or to choose a new product to sell. On the other hand, you might find out about problems that need to be addressed immediately. In any case, make sure that you are reading the answers and responding to them.
This post provided by Scott Oliver who offers free video coaching to help you build a profitable home business FAST. Get an hour of “Website Traffic Secrets” and “Minisite Creation Tactics” for FREE — immediate access here: http://www.InstantWebsiteBusiness.com
Merry Christmas from Bailey the Unknown Reindeer
January 2, 2009
Merry Christmas from Bailey the Unknown Reindeer
Build great-looking reports with Alpha Five
January 2, 2009
Build great-looking reports with Alpha Five
Reports are a fundamental aspect of many applications. I’ve recently seen an increasing number of requests from Alpha customers for a little guidance in creating reporting and distributing via the Web. While Alpha Five is an easy tool to use, sometimes beginners gets stuck trying to figure out how to use all the features to create exactly the application they want.
Dave McCormick put this Alpha Five report writer video tutorial together not too long ago, and I thought it would be worth sharing with you. Over the course of 45 minutes, Dave shows you how to build great-looking reports with Alpha Five.
Samoan swearing-in As I was yesterday, I am
January 2, 2009
Samoan swearing-in
As I was yesterday, I am busy interviewing people today and so this may be the only post of the day. As part of the job I have to ask people their ethnicity. People can choose two ethnicities, some state they are New Zealanders. Some state they are European, some state New Zealand Maori. And, quote frankly, I’m glad new MP Su’a William Sio was able to do his swearing-in in Samoan as well as English. People don’t have to choose between being Samoan and a New Zealander if they don’t want to – they can be both a New Zealand Maori or a New Zealand Samoan so why shouldn’t Su’a be able to swear the oath in his native tongue and in English in the country he lives in if he can declare himself a New Zealander (or European) and a Samoan.
After all people can swear on the Bible – and the Bible doesn’t have to be written in English.
