Main objective: Comprehensive three-tier application named iDos (Integrated Diocesan Office Solutions)

Duties:
• Design (UML – use case diagrams, class diagrams, deployment diagrams)
• Project management (including use of GANTT charts with milestones)
• System coding (including source control using Subversion / Tortoise SVN)
• Server building and network integration
• Site testing, deployment, maintenance and support (full product lifecycle)

Technologies:

• VB.NET, C#, Win forms, .NET Framework 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, PHP, HTML, Javascript, CSS, XML, MySQL, ODBC, SQL Server 2005, BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service), SSL, IIS 6, SOAP



iDos Desktop

• Windows forms application coded in VB.NET using a combination of custom built UI controls and third party components (friendly and familiar Windows XP theme)
• Latest version is being rewritten in C# with a SQL Server 2005 backend
• Integration of PHP pages using web browser control to display web views of data
• Modular design where the links between modules are not hard coded
• Flexibility of data with outputs to common formats (Word, Excel, PDF)
• Custom .NET encryption sink using Triple DES encryption for securing remote access
• Role based security with definable access levels
• Automatic system updates using Microsoft BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service), the same technology as used by Windows Update
• XML to describe available updates for the custom automatic update system
• Lightweight client – business logic held on server with communication using .NET Remoting

Intranet Connection Manager

• Server application for managing iDos Desktop connections
• Optional Triple DES encryption sink to encrypt/decrypt SOAP remoting messages
• Business logic and full use of OOP for business objects (encapsulation, inheritance etc)
• Distinct data layer that can be rewritten to allow support for alternative DBMS if required
• Connection monitoring and control via command line interface
• Management of two databases via the business layer – “Public” for data visible on the Diocesan website and “Private” for secure intranet data
• Synchronisation between Private and Public databases

People Manager Module (for iDos Desktop)

• Development of a custom “address card” type winforms control
• Advanced database of Diocesan contacts and clergy, along with links to parishes, boards, committees and posts (licensed and lay)
• Storage of CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) information
• Advanced reporting for query driven output in a variety of formats including RTF, XLS and PDF
• Mailing label printing facilities
• Integration with iDos Intranet and PHP website components

Knowledge Base Module (for iDos Desktop)

• File repository for any type of document (e.g. Word, Excel, PDF, JPG, GIF)
• UI similar in look and feel to Windows Explorer (folder structure, cut/copy/paste, drag and drop file management)
• Extra information is automatically read from the “extended file properties” used by Microsoft Office
• Permissions can be assigned in a folder level or for individual files for user access or user groups
• Integration with iDos Intranet and PHP website components

Registry Module (for iDos Desktop)

• Database for tracking applications for church maintenance and planning permissions (faculties)
• Tracking of faculties and their lifecycles – from site visits to DAC consideration and approval
• Management of faculty petitioners via an optional link with People Manager module
• Faculty reporting

Church Information Module (for iDos Desktop)

• Comprehensive database of churches
• Holds information such as: clergy, PCC members, parish office, church history, service times, facilities
• Integration with iDos Intranet and PHP website components
• Church record reporting

Property Management Module (for iDos Desktop)

• Property portfolio including building construction details, projects, planned work, inspections, tenancy agreements, condition surveys, leases etc
• Integration with Knowledge Base module for storage of property related documents (drawings etc)
• Help desk facility for logging incidents and work orders
• Automatic letter output facility via Microsoft Word automation (for contractor work instructions)
• Diary facility providing reminders for scheduled work and job planning
• Work scheduler for organising both planned and reactive work, giving an excellent overview of timescales using filters for properties and suppliers
• Various management reports

Web Management Module (for iDos Desktop)

• Management of news articles for the Diocesan website
• Simple to use, allows import of images and selection from standard layout templates
• Fully integrated with iDos Intranet and PHP website components

iDos Intranet

• Provides access to People Manager, Knowledge Base, Church Information and Web Management modules via a browser interface that can be used either on site or externally
• SSL encryption used to secure remote access
• Integrated with same backend database used for iDos Desktop (uses the same dataset and user logins)
• Friendly and familiar interface with a Windows XP theme
• Developed using PHP, MySQL, HTML and Javascript

iDos Website Components

• PHP scripted website components that are pluggable into virtually any website
• People Database component to provide a read-only view of clergy details, with advanced search facilities
• Knowledge Base component to allow a “drill-down” into the document hierarchy and allows publically available documents to be opened within a standard web browser (also advanced search facilities)
• Church Information component to provide a read-only view of the comprehensive details held by the corresponding desktop module (also advanced search facilities)
• Integration of Google Map API to show Church locations in relation to a deanery or benefice

The clients for the iDos project: (Newcastle Anglican Diocese) and (Durham Anglican Diocese).
ProtoByte Solutions Website

• A simple website developed by myself to promote my business
• Scripted in PHP to allow imports of static page elements (header area, footer area)
• Heavy use of CSS to separate content from presentation logic
• Use of Flash for page navigation links

The Dying Sun Website (demonstration login can be provided at request)

• Community website for a popular online game (EverQuest 2)
• Scripted in PHP with a MySQL backend, hosted on a Linux server (LAMP development)
• Demonstrative of advanced PHP coding techniques:
o Integration with an ASP.NET web service providing time zone information, allowing members that are logged in to view scheduled events in their local time
o Member forums coded from scratch (no third party components)
o Integrated event calendar (PHP iCalendar)
o News article editor for front page
o Member profiles
o Automatic guild roster processing an XML feed provided
o Voting page to allow members to vote for new recruits
o Integrated Wiki
o Integrated gallery for member screenshots
o Integrated system for guild raids• Member login authentication and access level control
• Control panel for site management
• Site reporting for things like: inactive members, unconfirmed email addresses etc

Main objective: Redevelopment of existing systems using cutting edge technologies, and server code for a new Tombola (Flash) game.

Duties: Design, coding, testing, documentation

Technologies: C#, Win forms, ASP.NET, Web forms, .NET Framework 3.0, HTML, Javascript, XML, SQL Server 2005 (SPs), MSMQ (Microsoft Message Queuing), Asynchronous XML Sockets, IIS 6

XML Sockets to MSMQ Server

• Brand new application designed to intercept XML messages received via asynchronous sockets
• Designed to be a simple layer between the sockets used by the Flash games and the .NET Chat Server
• Communication with .NET Chat Server using MSMQ (Microsoft Message Queues)

.NET Chat Server

• Replacement for existing Delphi chat server being used for the Flash games on the Sun Bingo, News of the World and Tombola websites
• Can be run either as an NT Service or with a Winforms UI
• Management of an unlimited number of chat rooms across an unlimited number of games
• Robust automatic state recovery (e.g. in case of server or network failure)
• Facility for another instance of the application to take over control, (e.g. for server maintenance), with no disruption to the end users

ASP.NET Chat Server Control Panel

• Application providing a web forms UI to control instances of the .NET Chat Server (using MSMQ)
• Includes a feature to retrieve chat log archives for any given date period (chat logs are compressed using a .NET ZIP component)

It was my own choice to leave Tombola in April due to my desire to return to contract work, however they were extremely pleased with the work I produced while I was with them.

Using VB.NET and MySQL, I refined the field engineer system developed during my University work placement into a more commercial product. I also developed a property management system for a Newcastle based estate agency using VB.NET. It comprised of a visual listing of property thumbnail images with attached database information for each one. It also retained a list of tenants for each property and could track rent payments.

Provided general I.T. support and developed medium sized applications using the .NET Framework. This was my university work placement.

• A small scale stock management program in Visual Basic.NET to aid the organisation of a large product catalogue.

• Microsoft Office - automation macros written using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

• Field engineer maintenance management system for logging and reporting optical machinery repaired, parts used and PAT testing (written in Visual Basic.NET). Also started to develop a web interface using PHP but it was not completed due to the Windows UI being preferred.

Skills and Technologies Used:

• VB.NET, PHP, .NET Framework 1.0, HTML, Javascript, MySQL, ODBC, IIS 5, Custom .NET Encryption (remoting layer), XML / SOAP