Our Data Master system is comprised of two parts. Part one, Data Master, our stand alone locally installed executable and, part two, is our web application located at DataMasterCentral.com. I can without reservation say that without access to the IntraWeb component set this combined data system could not have been created. Why?
Because I am a one man shop! President, programmer, sales staff, coffee maker, and janitor. I must use tools that I already know, and that are very easy to use.
Chuck Nash, Owner, C & K Ventures
C & K Ventures
As mentioned above, I am a very small one man company, and yet C & K Ventures software can be found at the federal government level, eleven different states and thousands of counties. I create software systems for the USDA Cooperative Extension system and various oil field applications. C & K Ventures is located in beautiful Wyoming.
What was needed
I had been asked to produce a system that would allow for a very powerful web based data collection system, but one that could be used by various average computer skilled office staff. I developed the Data Master system. Using it as your only tool, you can create forms via dragging and dropping components (text (edit) fields, check boxes, radio groups, labels and memo fields) on up to three pages. Add to this a standard header page and you have your form. Data Master can then create a data file that represents the structure of the created form (you can have 17K+ forms). This data file when sent to the DataMasterCentral.com web application will reconstruct the form on the web for data collection use. At anytime, the form designer can access the web application and download any data collected via the form for local use. An internal proprietary mouse driven SQL system allows extremely versatile data analysis. We needed (for the users) a product that would allow these very powerful features and yet they would not need to have any HTML, ASP, database setup, programming, etc skills. Everything from form design to database storage and analysis needed to be accomplished via one product. What I needed for myself was a product that worked very well with Delphi (I simply did/do not have the time to learn other systems) that I could use to develop the matching web application.
How I did it
IntraWeb was the answer. IntraWeb is a component extension set for Delphi. If you know Delphi, your web applications are only the use of some different components, mixed with standard Delphi techniques, away. This is a very important statement. When you work alone and have a lot of work, you need your time to develop, not to learn new tools and systems. If I had to put my IntraWeb experience into one phrase, it would be, IntraWeb has allowed me the time to create web applications that can compete with the big boys!
Has it worked?
You bet! The Data Master system is being used by two different states (even while in final development) and has proven to be a very power system that can indeed be used by the casual client to collect and analyze data via custom developed forms with all work done with one single application. I am pleased that a major hosting service as inquired into distributing our Data Master system on a subscription basis. Data Master is solving a lot of client problems and IntraWeb solved our development problems.
What I used
Delphi
IntraWeb
One Programmer (me)