Filemaker Consultants Houston, Filemaker Developer 6, filemaker technical support, database cross-platform engine, Texas, TX, Hal Payne, Project Management, Filemaker developers, Filemaker pro, database windows, database mac, filemaker solutions alliance associate, database system management

Filemaker Consultants Houston, Filemaker Developer 6, filemaker technical support, database cross-platform engine, Texas, TX, Hal Payne, Project Management, Filemaker developers, Filemaker pro, database windows, database mac, filemaker solutions alliance associate, database system management

Filemaker Consultants Houston, Filemaker Developer 6, filemaker technical supportFilemaker Consultants Houston, Filemaker Developer 6, filemaker technical support Filemaker Consultants Houston, Filemaker Developer 6, filemaker technical support
 

July 2002 Newsletter
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Forklifts or Fortune?
The client had just signed off on our proposal, and uttered one of the more sobering statements we’ve heard under the circumstances: “You know, we could buy another forklift for the amount of this contract.”

While we know little about these ubiquitous workhorses, we have great respect for them. They’re apparently pretty reliable. Some companies would come to a standstill without them. When it comes to forklifts, the difference between having one or none is huge.

Consider the collective knowledge that benefits today’s forklift buyer. This machine has been around at least half a century, and hundreds of engineering improvements have been made along the way. It’s the same for other technologies, from telephones to cars.

Business computing started in the accounting department. Then word processing became indispensable. Desktop spreadsheets started a revolution. Networks facilitated email and the Internet.

Now the smallest of enterprises employ the technologies that only global corporations could afford just a decade or two ago.

And so it is with our new client. They have an evolved technology infrastructure, and identified areas for productivity improvements.

Will our solution prove as productive for this client as a new forklift? It had better. Why else would they sign the contract?

Indications are that we’ll exceed all expectations with our new system for this client. But perhaps we should be most grateful that they didn’t need another forklift at this particular time.

It’s Alive!!
Our development timelines sometime depend on timely feedback or data cleanup by our clients.

Most clients are managing multiple projects and responsibilities. Our project can’t always be at the top of their list. Our ego is only slightly bruised.

Two of our solutions were launched over the last ten days, and they’re succeeding by any measure.

Both were approved in early March, and scheduled to go “live” in early April. And then they were delayed on the client side for several weeks for legitimate reasons.

We love momentum. The development process thrives on it. And developers cringe when it’s lost.

Once we get submerged in these projects, we’d rather not come to the surface until they’re done. When a timeline protracts, after a while those minor issues you left dangling can haunt you.

You might find yourself mentally reconstructing the system diagram and triple-checking the database relationships.

Or opening up the beta version under review to ensure that related line items are deleted when an order is cancelled.

But one issues looms over all others: Will we be able to successfully submerge ourselves into the project again when the time comes?

But our worries are unfounded. Development is the fun part of this business, more fun than writing proposals or even newsletters.

So we found ourselves enthusiastically (and simultaneously) resuming development of these two projects and launching them over a ten-day period.

If it was easy, our clients would do it all themselves.

The Goodle Days
Calculations, scripts, fields, forms, macros…database development has its romantic aspects.

I can be nostalgic about peculiar things. For example, I recently glommed onto an inventory project for a client as if by instinct.

I was a paper boy, seed seller, dishwasher, shoe shiner, envelope stuffer, photographer, filmmaker and sales clerk…all by age 18.

All of these endeavors required analysis and planning to do well, things I’ve always been good at.

So coordinating this inventory project called upon some of the primary skills that precede technology. It got me out of the office and into the warehouse to evaluate the situation…which allowed me to generate the best tools to take the physical inventory…which… Hey, it was fun, I promise!

Let’s stay in touch.

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Filemaker Consultants Houston, Filemaker Developer 6, filemaker technical support, database cross-platform engine, Texas, TX, Hal Payne, Project Management, Filemaker developers, Filemaker pro, database windows, database mac, filemaker solutions alliance associate, database system management