This is the first website I built with .NET 2.0 and SQL Server. I started with Microsoft's
open source starter kit. This was a great introduction to the power and sophistication
available since Microsoft developed it as a showpiece. The working components for
a navigation sitemap, data bound controls for photo albums and random picture handling,
the SQL membership provider for forms based authentication and authorization, and
themes and skin files made learning fast. I didn't appreciate the value of these
innovations until I used them. Code-behind and master pages would have been enough
of a nuance, without this starter kit.
I put the new ADO.NET classes to work for me too, with a page that queries my ham
radio log. Labels show the current number of countries I have contacted. The user
can search for particular call signs and confirm details of my contacts. Another
control appears to list the names of all the countries I have worked, with details
of one contact from each.
Muskegon Area Amateur Radio Council:
I volunteered to add functionality to the existing HTML website for the Muskegon
Area Amateur Radio Council; this area's ham radio club, which was hosted on a free
server. I developed ASP.NET pages and SQL Server database tables, hosted on my platform,
and referenced them to allow club members to sign up for activities. Soon, I had
a dedicated a SQL Server database and the domain registration at my host.
I implemented forms based authentication and authorization for the officer's roles
and for the club members (approximately 100). I added many useful features such
as a dynamic membership list and the ability to join or renew online. The Treasurer
could upload reports and only paid members could view them. Members could edit their
own data while the Secretary had full control or these details. I utilized https,
but changed to PayPal for money transactions.
An association of approximately 50 mental health professionals needed a web site
to present member information through a searchable user interface. Their goal was
to improve upon the hard-copy publication they regularly produced and distributed
to referring agencies.
The application I developed collected member information and photos and stored them
in a SQL Server database. Data stays accurate because members enter and update their
own information. I used bridge tables to normalized data since each member could
have many office locations, accept many insurance types, and offer many services.
I used stored procedures and table constraints for data integrity.
I developed a search page for visitors to query over as many as eight criteria including
distance from home, all in one step, or to see a list all member therapists. Selection
from this list presents the details, in the form of a wizard.
I collected subscription fees with https, but changed to PayPal for money transactions.
This agency needed a web site with the potential to manage increasing business needs.
The .NET application that I designed has a professional appearance with some Flash
animation.
It has a SQL-2008 database back end and provides roles-based access for members
of the firm. They schedule outside appointments, maintain business records, and
communicate with each other and with the public through this web application. I
utilized jQuery within nested dynamic Web controls for user friendly date selections.
I leveraged ADO.NET classes to drive the dynamic Web controls.
I customized fully functioning blog applications for each of the firm's partners,
and deployed them in separate sub domains, passing user credentials for a seamless
UI. I also provided a dynamic jQuery accordion control on the site's home page and
the means for news items to be presented thus.
Future plans include an interface with existing billing and client scheduling software.
I developed and deployed this site to market a ham radio antenna that I had invented.
The site includes a state-of-the-art e-commerce application, which I modified from
open source nopCommerce. Like my experience with the personal website starter kit,
nopCommerce provided an opportunity to grasp the power and sophistication available
with .NET 4.0.
I designed and Developed ASP.NET pages in C#, with SQL Server database. Professional
design and implementation of marketing and business rules required customized tailoring
of standard components such as product search, dynamic shipping calculations, and
returning customer rewards. This site also provides a blog. I utilized Custom Controls,
JavaScript, XML and Themes.
(My revolutionary antenna design gained the attention of hams worldwide, as evidenced
by the number of my YouTube video hits, but acceptance was slow in developing. I
turned my attention away from marketing and manufacturing the antenna and took the
store offline.)
This professional team required a web site with the potential to support future
business needs according to growing needs and priorities. I designed a professional
looking.NET application with some Flash animation. I used the web server file system
for data storage. I wrote data driven pages for customers and administrators. Administrators
may login to edit price lists and photos. Public users may download product files
and leave comments. I also provided an email contact from.
The application I developed, deployed, and maintain satisfies the business owner's
present needs. Future plans include a SQL Server database and ASP.NET pages for
secure business management functionality.
Alcoa Howemet IFE:
Alcoa Howmet needed an Internet-based work flow application to generate and maintain
safety records. They required a VB.NET 2.0 application with multiple SQL Server
databases. This project began as an Access desktop application in another U.S. location.
Some steps had been taken to convert it to .NET and SQL prior to my arrival. I reorganized
most of the existing code and extended the application to satisfy the testing teams.
The application I developed uses roles-based authentication, JavaScript within dynamic
custom Web controls, and it launches email to defined targets at each step in the
work flow sequence. The email data forms include links to specified pages within
the application, which populate appropriately for that instance for that authorized
user.
Each of 2,400 employees is required to use this application at least once per quarter
to enter safety related data. That data is then passed through a dynamic work flow
sequence whereby responsibility is reevaluated and reassigned. Information about
remedial actions, work orders, activities, people and departments involved is collected,
utilized, and stored for auditing.
I was the only .NET developer on staff at the time. Although the project definition
and work flow rules changed at each testing session, I finished on schedule, two
months after my assignment. I participated in testing, deployment, and documentation.
Although I was available for support, as requested, for a month after deployment,
there were no bugs reported.
I was asked to add some admin controls for flexibility with the business rules.
I continue to do other IT work for Alcoa-Howmet.