A Job

A Job

A Job

Don’t know about you, but the reason I’m into computers is that you can work to see something get done.

What interests me are:

  • procedures (personally, like “scripty” (eg. Korn shell scripts, batch DOS files) type software supervising compiled software or, in the case of Oracle, the wonderful sqlplus, to do database work along with compiled Pro*C along with PL/SQL procedural SQL)
  • working with what you have been given
  • trying not to winge (am an Analyst/Programmer)
  • overcoming adversity

So you are asked to intervene at a certain point in a process and send out an email report when a paint colour formula, in this case, is created or updated. In other scenarios, you might want to SMS or setup a chat session or something, but you still have to sort out the practicalities.

So the place where you intervene is a really old PC (more than ten years old) running Microsoft Access that has some access to network drives, but not to the Internet. There is this great piece of functional macro software (VBA) working to do the rest of the job within Microsoft Access.

Well, you could ask for a more modern PC, that can get to the Internet, couldn’t you? This is tempting but very wrong, as the rearrangements involved would span more than ten years of company history of procedure, and why should your procedure spoil that?

Anyway, to cut a long story short, we coded Microsoft Access to SMTP Email on the understanding that one day this job might be done on a more modern PC, but for now, we realize there may be more to do. So this is part 1 of the story.

Part 2 is that, true enough, SMTP Emails from that PC were not possible. Solution decided was:

  1. old PC would, additionally, save *.csv to network drive accessible via ftp to be accessible by a more modern PC
  2. more modern PC would run a Task Scheduled Batch File call of a VB.Net console application to ftp at intervals during the working day
  3. the *.csv would become Excel documents shown to the user of the modern PC showing created and updated paint colour formulae
  4. if everything looks okay, the email would proceed, otherwise the email processing could be stopped for a particular job

Does the effort of Part 2 justify not modernising? That is a decision all right, but it is not one for an Analyst/Programmer, generally.

I loved this programming job because of its twists and turns and email code working on such an old PC (if it had, had Internet access (for email) Part 1 would have done the whole job), and use of methodologies and communications that are being overlooked every day more and more, but is that always for the best?

If this was interesting you may be interested in this too.

This entry was posted in Colour Matching, Event-Driven Programming, Software, Visual Studio and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

21 Responses to A Job

  1. A domain name is an identification label which defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are also critica for domain hosting\website hosting

  2. Car Interior says:

    It‘¦s truly a great and useful piece of info. I am satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Dead composed subject matter, thanks for information .

  4. I’m often to blogging and i also truly appreciate your website content. The content material has truly peaks my interest. I am about to bookmark your blog and preserve checking for new details.

  5. article says:

    Appreciate it for helping out, superb info .

  6. cash says:

    I enjoy you discussing your perspective.. My personal internet surfing seem complete.. thank you. So happy to have found this submit.. Liking the post.. thanks for your insight

  7. side says:

    I appreciate you conveying your point of view.. Excellent ideas you possess here.. Excellent feelings you possess here.. So happy to have discovered this post..

  8. Exceptional says:

    I got what you intend, thankyou for putting up.Woh I am pleased to find this website through google. “Delay is preferable to error.” by Thomas Jefferson.

  9. I appreciate the efforts you’ve put in posting this blog, and I’m hoping to view the same high-grade content by you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own website now/

  10. save says:

    Hello, you used to write wonderful, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!

  11. punheta says:

    ItÒ€ℒs difficult to get knowledgeable males and women with this topic, and you appear to be what happens that you are dealing with! Thanks

  12. You can find some fascinating points in time in this write-up but I donÒ€ℒt know if I see all of them heart to heart. There may be some validity but IÒ€ℒll take hold opinion till I appear into it further. Excellent write-up , thanks and we would like a lot more! Added to FeedBurner as properly

  13. I also recommend HubPages itself, and Squidoo, which is comparable.

  14. appreciate the effort you put into acquiring us this data

  15. Can I say what a relief to discover one who really knows what theyre preaching about on-line. You undoubtedly understand how to bring a challenge to light producing it critical. A lot more and more people genuinely need to have a look at this and realize why side of your story. I cant believe youre less well-known merely because you undoubtedly develop the gift.

  16. I would like to convey my passion for your kind-heartedness supporting visitors who require help with that idea. Your personal commitment to passing the solution up and down became unbelievably valuable and has without exception empowered folks like me to reach their aims. Your personal informative hints and tips can mean a great deal a person like me and much more to my fellow workers. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.

  17. I’ve recently started a blog, the information you offer on this site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.

  18. Molly says:

    What blog sites for political commentary would certainly you suggest me to check out?

  19. gna.pt says:

    thank you very much

Leave a Reply to picks for guitar Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>