Help On Board

Gary Bondegary@helponboard.org

php use case

www.helponboard.org

Web based client sales tracking application

Why are we here?Why are we here?

Deal with the use of technology to support remote clients. Deal with the use of technology to support remote clients.

Learn how php and MySql were chosen for the Help On Board project management application.

Learn how php and MySql were chosen for the Help On Board project management application.

Understand the challenges of using the same application code with multiple sites at multiple hosting locations.

Understand the challenges of using the same application code with multiple sites at multiple hosting locations.

Session TopicsSession Topics

1. Development experiences

2. What is Help On Board?

3. Php and MySql solutions

4. Help On Board application development

5. Application feature highlights

6. Technology to support remote clients

7. Questions and Answers -

1. Development experiences

2. What is Help On Board?

3. Php and MySql solutions

4. Help On Board application development

5. Application feature highlights

6. Technology to support remote clients

7. Questions and Answers -

1. Development experiences1. Development experiences

1. What have I done?1. What have I done?

10 years of business system development experience with Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario. Managed and enhanced in-house student and financial business systems in an Oracle database and development environment.

10 years of business system development experience with Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario. Managed and enhanced in-house student and financial business systems in an Oracle database and development environment.

2 years of development on a web based community information portal project that included integrated G.I.S. on a windows coldfusion server platform.

2 years of development on a web based community information portal project that included integrated G.I.S. on a windows coldfusion server platform.

Proprietary environment proved financially hard to sustain and opened the door to open source solutions for development including products like phpnuke, phpwebsite and MySql.

Proprietary environment proved financially hard to sustain and opened the door to open source solutions for development including products like phpnuke, phpwebsite and MySql.

2. What is Help On Board?2. What is Help On Board?

2. Help On Board Is2. Help On Board Is

A fundraising solutions company that develops and manages unique programs for a variety of cause-related and tourism organizations.

A fundraising solutions company that develops and manages unique programs for a variety of cause-related and tourism organizations.

The largest game manufacturer in Canada over the last 4 years. The largest game manufacturer in Canada over the last 4 years.

Located in North Bay, Ontario, about 4 hours north of Toronto, with a US sales office in Denver, Colorado.

Located in North Bay, Ontario, about 4 hours north of Toronto, with a US sales office in Denver, Colorado.

2. What does Help On Board produce?2. What does Help On Board produce?

Custom “Opoly” style real estate trading game for the client’s community. 3,500 games are usually produced for each client.

Custom “Opoly” style real estate trading game for the client’s community. 3,500 games are usually produced for each client.

Clients sell sponsorships that are used on the finished game board and package.

Clients sell sponsorships that are used on the finished game board and package.

2. Where are Help On Board’s clients?2. Where are Help On Board’s clients?

28 games since 1999, with 21 current projects across North America.

28 games since 1999, with 21 current projects across North America.

This is a flash based map using an xml file with php integration.

This is a flash based map using an xml file with php integration.

Open source mappingmapping project: www.allthegoodness.com/projects/map/Open source mappingmapping project: www.allthegoodness.com/projects/map/

2. What needs to be tracked?2. What needs to be tracked?

39 game board sponsors Media sponsors Retail sponsors Donors list sponsors Box top photos Game tokens

39 game board sponsors Media sponsors Retail sponsors Donors list sponsors Box top photos Game tokens

Sponsor information is tracked and used in the finished game.Sponsor information is tracked and used in the finished game.

2. Help On Board’s business needs2. Help On Board’s business needs

Business model included move to a comprehensive web based client tool set to support increasing number of remote clients.

Business model included move to a comprehensive web based client tool set to support increasing number of remote clients.

Original web based client tools were based on active server pages and an access database for each client site. This proved difficult to scale and move to alternate hosting service providers.

Original web based client tools were based on active server pages and an access database for each client site. This proved difficult to scale and move to alternate hosting service providers.

New tools would require dynamic pdfs, and images. New tools would require dynamic pdfs, and images.

Decision was made to move to php development because of included dynamic pdf and image creation along with portability across many hosting providers.

Decision was made to move to php development because of included dynamic pdf and image creation along with portability across many hosting providers.

3. Php and MySql solutions3. Php and MySql solutions

3. Search for php and MySql solutions3. Search for php and MySql solutions

Started project with no php programming experience and used web research to find php solutions.

Started project with no php programming experience and used web research to find php solutions.

Decision was made to use group-office community Decision was made to use group-office community edition, by Intermesh, as a framework for edition, by Intermesh, as a framework for development after 3 weeks of research.development after 3 weeks of research.

Decision was made to use group-office community Decision was made to use group-office community edition, by Intermesh, as a framework for edition, by Intermesh, as a framework for development after 3 weeks of research.development after 3 weeks of research.

Google/Yahoo/Sourceforge/Hotscripts searched for applications, frameworks and code examples.

Google/Yahoo/Sourceforge/Hotscripts searched for applications, frameworks and code examples.

Searched for groupware php and MySql products like dotproject, phpcollab, and group-office.

Searched for groupware php and MySql products like dotproject, phpcollab, and group-office.

4. Help On Board application development4. Help On Board application development

4. Development environment4. Development environment

Started with Virtual PC windows server environment for early php and MySql development.

Started with Virtual PC windows server environment for early php and MySql development.

Decided on Dreamweaver MX for development because of visual design, built-in php highlighting and ftp client.

Decided on Dreamweaver MX for development because of visual design, built-in php highlighting and ftp client.

FreeBSD remote hosting environment and local windows server development created a number of file conversion issues.

FreeBSD remote hosting environment and local windows server development created a number of file conversion issues.

Stopped using local windows server development environment and moved to remote file editing on master application site.

Stopped using local windows server development environment and moved to remote file editing on master application site.

4. Development Starts4. Development Starts

The existing Group-Office framework for security, themes, menu and module structure were used and the rest of the modules

and tables were removed.

The existing Group-Office framework for security, themes, menu and module structure were used and the rest of the modules

and tables were removed.

The first version of the application was completed in 18 days and was used during a webconference training session for our Kelowna, British Columbia client.

The first version of the application was completed in 18 days and was used during a webconference training session for our Kelowna, British Columbia client.

The example module was used to start the development and after: The example module was used to start the development and after:

4. Application feature challenges4. Application feature challenges

The application included sponsor input, dynamic pdf contracts, project input, and manual content arranged in five menus.

The application included sponsor input, dynamic pdf contracts, project input, and manual content arranged in five menus.

Started with pdflib but converted to fpdf when one

site was moved to a web server not having pdflib. Started with pdflib but converted to fpdf when one

site was moved to a web server not having pdflib.

The two most difficult application features were the

dynamic contract pdf and jpeg images. The two most difficult application features were the

dynamic contract pdf and jpeg images.

Dynamic jpegs with truetype fonts using GD 2.+ became an issue when one site was moved to a web server that had GD 1.62.

Dynamic jpegs with truetype fonts using GD 2.+ became an issue when one site was moved to a web server that had GD 1.62.

4. Development synchronization4. Development synchronization

Dreamweaver synchronization was an issue with more than one site sharing the same application code and requiring client edited files.

Dreamweaver synchronization was an issue with more than one site sharing the same application code and requiring client edited files.

Researched source code Researched source code control options, found and control options, found and modified a php based ftp modified a php based ftp synchronization script tool. synchronization script tool.

Researched source code Researched source code control options, found and control options, found and modified a php based ftp modified a php based ftp synchronization script tool. synchronization script tool.

Added a form frontend to the Added a form frontend to the script to allow extended script to allow extended options.options.

Added a form frontend to the Added a form frontend to the script to allow extended script to allow extended options.options.

4. Application evolution4. Application evolution

Worked with the first client over 2 months to fix most of the bugs and to create new features.

Worked with the first client over 2 months to fix most of the bugs and to create new features.

My knowledge of the business increased over the next 4 months and the application required a number of major adjustments.

My knowledge of the business increased over the next 4 months and the application required a number of major adjustments.

Development continued and 6 new clients were added. The number of new sites to synchronize became a time issue.

Development continued and 6 new clients were added. The number of new sites to synchronize became a time issue.

The php ftp synchronization script tool saved many hours by using the files since last update option. The tool is also used to create new sites based on a master site file set.

The php ftp synchronization script tool saved many hours by using the files since last update option. The tool is also used to create new sites based on a master site file set.

4. Where are we now?4. Where are we now?

The application has been used on over 30 sites and is increasing in features and stability in response to client requests.

The application has been used on over 30 sites and is increasing in features and stability in response to client requests.

I took on the role of client trainer for the application after the first 9 months. Through this role I learned how the application needed to change for workflow and new features.

I took on the role of client trainer for the application after the first 9 months. Through this role I learned how the application needed to change for workflow and new features.

We now use a dedicated hosting server in North Carolina to isolate our client sites from other hosted clients.

We now use a dedicated hosting server in North Carolina to isolate our client sites from other hosted clients.

Added phpMyAdmin to the development environment to ease testing and updates to each client site.

Added phpMyAdmin to the development environment to ease testing and updates to each client site.

5. Application feature highlights5. Application feature highlights

5. Data driven public website5. Data driven public website

Public website draws information entered in the application.

Minor amount of manual html file editing.

Graphic designer created site template and is updated for each client.

Public website draws information entered in the application.

Minor amount of manual html file editing.

Graphic designer created site template and is updated for each client.

5. Public website visual sales board5. Public website visual sales board

Dynamic jpeg visual game board on the public and tools side.

Quick visual cue to what is sold, on hold or available for sale.

Image is recreated as sponsors are updated.

Dynamic jpeg visual game board on the public and tools side.

Quick visual cue to what is sold, on hold or available for sale.

Image is recreated as sponsors are updated.

5. Application Dashboard5. Application Dashboard

Password protected application for project leaders and committee members.

Password protected application for project leaders and committee members.

Dashboard with sales chart and quick links to other areas within application.

Dashboard with sales chart and quick links to other areas within application.

5. Application menus5. Application menus

Data driven, collapsible content menu system.

Data driven, collapsible content menu system.

The left menu is always shown expanded.

The left menu is always shown expanded.

When a top menu is clicked the left content menu is updated to show all items.

When a top menu is clicked the left content menu is updated to show all items.

5. Client project manual content5. Client project manual content

Online Help On Board project manual with sample documents and images for client use.

Online Help On Board project manual with sample documents and images for client use.

Replaces printed client project manual, adds more information and reduces printing costs.

Replaces printed client project manual, adds more information and reduces printing costs.

5. Saleable components – top half5. Saleable components – top half

Mouse over on game components displays a graphic description of component.

Mouse over on game components displays a graphic description of component.

Clients must understand what components can be sold and is crucial to a successful project.

Clients must understand what components can be sold and is crucial to a successful project.

5. Saleable components – bottom half5. Saleable components – bottom half

Left side has detailed component description.

Left side has detailed component description.

Right side is javascript based input for each component group and displays totals for sponsorship revenues.

Right side is javascript based input for each component group and displays totals for sponsorship revenues.

This is used to pre-populate the pricing input and link to a project financial forecast.

This is used to pre-populate the pricing input and link to a project financial forecast.

5. Sales kit documents5. Sales kit documents

A number of documents are provided to help create a sales kit.

A number of documents are provided to help create a sales kit.

Project logo graphics, letterhead template, presentation labels, and sales sheets.

Project logo graphics, letterhead template, presentation labels, and sales sheets.

Nine different game blank pdf sponsor contracts can be generated with the project logo and contact information.

Nine different game blank pdf sponsor contracts can be generated with the project logo and contact information.

5. Project input5. Project input

Basic project information used on public website contract, invoices, and thank you letters.

Basic project information used on public website contract, invoices, and thank you letters.

Application settings only available to Help On Board personnel.

Application settings only available to Help On Board personnel.

5. Photo/Token input5. Photo/Token input

Photography and game token input displays choices made.

Photography and game token input displays choices made.

Inputs are done using a common popup dialog.

Inputs are done using a common popup dialog.

5. Game component pricing5. Game component pricing

Ability to control pricing of individual game components and shows the items colour keyed to space on game board.

Ability to control pricing of individual game components and shows the items colour keyed to space on game board.

5. Homes/Hotels plastics colour5. Homes/Hotels plastics colour

Javascript based colour selection for homes and hotels.

Email sent to Help On Board on colour selection update.

Javascript based colour selection for homes and hotels.

Email sent to Help On Board on colour selection update.

5. Interactive visual sales board summary5. Interactive visual sales board summary

Interactive dynamic jpeg visual sales summary board.

Interactive dynamic jpeg visual sales summary board.

Quick view advanced component edit popup.

Quick view advanced component edit popup.

Tabbed interface to sponsor summaries.

Tabbed interface to sponsor summaries.

5. Sponsorship sales spreadsheet5. Sponsorship sales spreadsheet

Game sponsor sales summary is colour coded to game board and shows payment details and totals.

Game sponsor sales summary is colour coded to game board and shows payment details and totals.

Control display order on public site.

Control display order on public site.

Common add, view, delete functions.

Common add, view, delete functions.

5. Prospect edit and convert5. Prospect edit and convert

Sales leads are entered and pre-filled pdf contracts can be generated.

Sales leads are entered and pre-filled pdf contracts can be generated.

Sales lead can be converted to a sold game board sponsor.

Sales lead can be converted to a sold game board sponsor.

5. Sponsorship edit and convert5. Sponsorship edit and convert

Sponsor information is used in pdf contract, invoice, and thank you letter.

Sponsor information is used in pdf contract, invoice, and thank you letter.

Sponsor can be converted back to a prospect.

Sponsor can be converted back to a prospect.

5. Sponsor game purchases5. Sponsor game purchases

Sponsor game purchase summary shows games pre-purchased and payment and balance details.

Sponsor game purchase summary shows games pre-purchased and payment and balance details.

Quick edit popup updates payment and games delivered status.

Quick edit popup updates payment and games delivered status.

5. Document generation5. Document generation

Document generation and storage.

Document generation and storage.

Dynamic pdf contracts. Dynamic pdf contracts.

Dynamic word .rtf file templates for invoices and thank you letters.

Dynamic word .rtf file templates for invoices and thank you letters.

5. Sponsor csv export5. Sponsor csv export

Sponsor information is available in 3 excel compatible comma separated values files for use in client side applications.

Sponsor information is available in 3 excel compatible comma separated values files for use in client side applications.

5. Retail inventory management5. Retail inventory management

Master and retailer inventory tracking with inventory distribution and sales charts.

Master and retailer inventory tracking with inventory distribution and sales charts.

Inventory task popup for both master and retailer inventory.

Inventory task popup for both master and retailer inventory.

Summary and details screens for master and retailer inventory.

Summary and details screens for master and retailer inventory.

6. Technology to support remote clients6. Technology to support remote clients

6. Webconferencing6. Webconferencing

Webconferencing is used to train our clients and has saved many miles of travel and cut down costs to our clients. We use webconference.com as our service provider.

Webconferencing is used to train our clients and has saved many miles of travel and cut down costs to our clients. We use webconference.com as our service provider.

Firewalls and spyware applications can interfere with the webconference software.

Firewalls and spyware applications can interfere with the webconference software.

7. Questions and Answers - 7. Questions and Answers -