Desktop Portfolio for Disegno - the Bespoke Software and Budget Website Development Experts

1DocumentationUK

were a contractor for Siemens Transportation in Manchester, working with a Siemens-designed Microsoft Access database which kept track of designs and drawings relating to their work on construction projects in the rail industry.

However, the database was being used by multiple users simultaneously and had become corrupt, and additionally there were issues with the user-entry and reports areas. Due to resource issues at Siemens at the time, these urgent problems were not able to be addressed inhouse quickly enough for 1DocumentationUK’s requirements, and so they approached us to do the work.

Disegno rectified the corruption issues, cleaned and rebuilt the database, and enabled the system to be used simultaneously without harm. We also designed more user-friendly data-input areas and tweaked the reports to contain additional and vital information. Our focus here was on maintaining the corporate database in its original form while adding vital information fields and cleaning up non user-friendly form areas, without amending the database’s underlying structure too much and so incurring large cost. We were successful in achieving these goals.

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Bebbington Brumby Townend

came to us with a grave problem: their Independent Financial Advisors were visiting their specialist demographic (ex-teachers) and submitting details of the financial advice given to the Head Office, where corresponding reports were being drawn up for issue to the clients. These reports detailed exactly what advice had been given and why, and were an essential part of the financial consultancy process.

But these manually-generated reports were not being written fast enough: the company was some 70 reports behind and this backlog was getting worse each week. Clearly, a computerised system was required, and quickly.

Disegno speedily ascertained BBT’s needs and went about designing and programming an automated system, using Microsoft Excel’s Forms area as the mode of data entry and Microsoft Word as the report medium. Our VBA programming linked these two Microsoft Office applications together into one bespoke application for BBT, which allows the generation of reports within seconds rather than hours.

Over the last two and a half years, this project has been under continuous amendment and advancement, with new, more advanced features and refinements to user-friendliness being constantly added.

Reports are now generally created within 48 hours of being submitted for writing, and there is no longer a backlog of outstanding reports.

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Waterside Lodge Residential Home

approached us to modify an existing Microsoft Access database that held resident details such as next of kin details and health information. The database was being used simultaneously by users on several machines, which had caused it to go corrupt.

Disegno cleaned the database, rebuilt it, and set it up so that multiple users could work on it without causing database corruption. Since then, over the last three years, we have added numerous new areas and have rebuilt existing areas as new legal and business requirements have come into focus.

Separately, we have also provided Waterside Lodge with a brand new Microsoft Access database entirely of our own design, which holds staff details. Links between the two databases enable them to function separately but to share information when appropriate.

Both databases feature our VBA programming, which serves to verify entered information and to prevent user errors and omissions.

Waterside Lodge uses a bespoke Windows application that we have programmed in the C# language, which allows novice PC users immediate access to important files without having to navigate the network manually.

We have also provided general PC and Microsoft Office training to many members of Waterside Lodge's management and staff, increasing not only their knowledge and awareness but also their confidence and ability to perform their day-to-day PC-related roles.

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Philip Bennett Nursing Homes

originally had a basic, Microsoft Word-based table with details of residents’ particulars with regard to invoicing for their accommodation. This was static and inefficient, and required much updating and manual calculation before monthly invoices were prepared.

Disegno replaced this system with an advanced, Microsoft Excel-based system whereby all calculations (many of which were complex and dependent on numerous factors) were performed automatically. VBA programming provided additional functionality, preventing the user from making certain data-entry and other mistakes.

A duplicate system was provided for all homes in the business, ensuring consistency, with appropriate modifications being made to accommodate differences in local authority invoicing requirements and other local factors.

The system has since been easily and speedily updated on a number of occasions to take into account changing practices, both within the business itself and due to external changes such as amendments to local authority invoicing requirements.

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Halifax Process Engineering

had a bespoke Microsoft Access database which had been designed for them many years ago for the purpose of keeping track of the purchase of raw materials. Changing business needs had created a requirement for amendments and additions to the system, but the original designer was nowhere to be found, and so they approached us with a view to making these amendments quickly.

Disegno speedily got to work on updating the system and building in new areas, retaining the original purpose and feel of the database but bringing it up to date and adding usability.

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