Projects
As a freelance developer or contractor
I have provided independent consultancy, design and development skills for many
clients, including the BBC (3 years), the NHS (over 9 years in 3 separate projects),
Cadbury-Schweppes (6 months), IBM / Asda Stores (2 years), S.G. Ingram (4 months),
Sheridan Fabrications (3 years), ICIS Technology (6 months), 1st Time Tech (several
phases over 11 years). More details of some of these projects:
Solution Architect at KBBS - January 2011 to present
Design and development of a suite of web applications and tools used in the detection and analysis of fraudulent insurance claims. Architected and built the data flow of large data volumes through comprehensive schema designed to maximise the detection of fraud.
- ASP.Net 4.0 in C#; Ajax; LINQ to SQL 2008;
A Child Support Organisation - May to December 2010
Development of comprehensive funding
'N-tier' web application involving user registrations, dynamic
questionnaires, detailed process management and reporting, using ASP.Net 3.5 in
C#; Ajax; LINQ to SQL 2008; SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS); Tortoise SVN;
Firebug.
Time Systems – 2009 to 2010
Time and Attendance Systems that incorporate:
- InTime 8 – ASP.Net 3.5 in C#; Ajax; LINQ to SQL 2008;
- A300_Servce – .Net 3.5 Windows Service using TCP/IP comms via interop;
SeniorPro.net – March - June 2009
ASP.NET web application to enable retired professionals to offer their services
at reduced rates to target customers of small to medium sized enterprises. The website
provides easy search and engage facilities, and enables customer feedback and ratings
of the senior professionals. This development was in C# using AJAX with SQL Server
2008 database.
A Mental Health NHS Trust – 2003 to 2005; 2007 to 2010
Design and development of the operational mental health patient records web application
providing access to vital information for over 3,000 NHS mental health professionals
within the Trust. This system holds detailed information on over 500,000 patients
in the North West, and guides users through complex referral procedures, and provides
administrative functions for internal system maintenance. Recent upgrade to populate
Word 2007 files via XML and content controls, and then render as PDF to client.
Highlights include:
- Multi-tiered web application developed using Microsoft ASP.Net 2005.
- SQL Server 2005 database; extensive use of stored procedures.
- On-the-fly generation of over 20 different forms as PDFs to browser via Word 2007
templates using content controls and XML as data source.
- Use of MS Content Control toolkit for XML mapping, and SketchPath to identify XPath
queries to help code repeating table records population.
- Crystal Reports XI Release 2 via the browser; application-defined and user-defined
reporting.
BBC – 2005 to 2009
Team-leader / developer role to produce a comprehensive reporting suite for a new
TV scheduling, purchasing and contracting system being implemented by the BBC in
a large-scale project. My work included the development of a .Net and Oracle subsystem
to prepare the BBC’s statutory returns for Ofcom. These reports are submitted in
XML format, produced via Crystal and then formatted and validated by a bespoke VB.Net
application. There was also extensive use of Crystal Reports with Business Objects’
Business Views, and dynamic cascading prompts, all front-ended to users via InfoView.
Highlights:
- VB.Net 2005; XML preparation and validation against XSD using .Net framework; use
of XMLSpy.
- Crystal Reports XI Release 2; Business Objects – Business View Manager, InfoView,
CMS.
- Oracle database, stored procedures and scripts to load schemas; TOAD and SQL+.
BrazilianFlavours.net – 2006 to 2009
This website provides product information, online sales, and customer feedback.
A Leading Worktop Fabrications Company – 2000 to 2002; 2005
Design and development of a quotation and production management system for a medium-sized
manufacturing company. The system generates quotes for customers, which can then
be raised as orders, and the workload then automatically calculated and scheduled
for the production, delivery and installation teams. Schedules also provide alerts
/ warnings, and ‘audit trail’ history of who did what and when. Management reports
module included. Main points:
- Multi-user three-tier development with client / server implementation.
- Use of MS Visio 2000 UML tool to design and provide code-stubs for middle-tiers.
- Excel automation to provide schedule reports to increase visibility of workload,
problems and risks.
- Integration with Sage Line 50 system to add orders and check stock availability.
- Mail-shot sub-system to enable sales dept. to generate and track countrywide marketing
mail shots.
Time Tech Limited – 1998 to 2008
The design and development of a commercial Time & Attendance system. This allows
the users to set up flexible and often-complex working schedules via wizards, and
collects employee clockings from bespoke terminals via several communications methods.
Calculations then enable accurate display of employee attendance and non-attendance
information. It also provides several reports on anomalies, hours worked, and pay
details. Main points are:
- Visual Basic 6.0 with Access secured and encrypted databases.
- Detailed and flexible reporting sub-system to highlight management issues, using
Crystal Reports 9. Reports include sub-reports and also feature cross-tab reports.
- Communications via Smart cards, serial port, modem and TCP/IP all used for remote
data collection.
- Development of Wizards to walk users through various processes.
- Automation of Sage Payroll v11 for payroll importing via VB.Net application.
- Software registration via ASP.NET website linked to SQL Server.