[Tfug] Looking for a volunteer

[johngalt1]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bexley Hall" <bexley401 at yahoo.com>
To: <tfug at tfug.org>
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 5:45 PM
Subject: [Tfug] Looking for a volunteer


> Hi,
>
> WorldCare is looking for someone to hack together a
> bit of "attendance tracking" software.  They track
> the time folks spend on the premises -- sort of like
> a timeclock.
>
> I suspect something like MSAccess would be a good
> place to start as it would give them something that
> others could maintain down the road -- as well as
> letting them create new "reports" as needed.
>
> I've been working on a system to computerize most
> of their business (donations, inventory tracking,
> etc.) and had hoped to integrate this functionality
> with that.  However, their need is more immediate.
> Hence, the petition, here.
>
> Superficially, this is a simple problem... :>
> But, of course, the devil is always in the details!
>
> Here is a description Joe Alwine had proposed:
>
>> >>> Person enters WorldCare. Swipes card. Enters
>> personal code. Someone from WorldCare authorizes
>> transaction. Machine enters information into database.
>> Machine prints transaction for backup paper trail.
>>
>> >>> Person leaves WorldCare. Swipes card. Enters
>> personal code.
>> Someone from WorldCare authorizes transaction. Machine
>> enters information into database. Machine prints
>> transaction
>> for backup paper trail.
>>
>> ??? Questions. Who makes cards? Where to get cardreader?
>> Can you buy cardreader for Windows? Is there something
>> already written and not too expense to do this? If you
>> can't do this, who can??
>> What if someone forgets card? Need to be able to enter
>> information.
>> >>> So, why do you need a card, and card reader??
>> Just have number for each person. Key in number, machine
>> reads number and enters information on screen. Worldcare
>> person authorizes transaction.
>>
>> What do you think? Can this be done in Access or Excel???
>
> It leaves out many of the little details, of course.
> But, perhaps it is a starting point for someone
> interested.
>
> I can an interested party the direction I was planning on
> taking but would leave the actual design to your
> discretion
> (I am not aware of MSAccess's capabilities or limitations
> so can't comment on what is or is not possible, there -- I
> was planning on a standalone kiosk implementation).  Note
> that WorldCare's staff -- especially the users whose time
> you
> will be tracking -- are not very computer savvy so you'll
> probably have to be able to think this through completely.
>
> I'm not interested in a public discussion about how to or
> how NOT to do this -- though anyone wanting to take it on
> as
> a project can elect to enlist other folks' opinions!  :>
>
> If you've any interest, please reply OFF LIST.
>
> Thanks!
> --don
>

You gotta be kidding.