Contents

SWITCHBOARD

The Switchboard provides a convenient method of opening the forms of the database.

All the forms present in the application can be accessed from here. In addition the user is able to exit the application or generate monthly invoices.

INVOICE FORM

The invoice form is accessed via the Project form and the Switchboard. When the user clicks the ‘View Invoice’ button on the Project Form, the Invoice Form appears with the appropriate project information filled in. If the project already has an invoice, all information will appear accordingly.

Adding a New Invoice

If the project does not have an invoice associated with it a new invoice will be generated.

If the invoice is new:

• A new invoice number will be generated.
• The current date will appear.
• The due date will be filled with a value 30 days from the current date.
• The total cost will be generated based on the charge fee of the staff member(s) completing the project.

Format masks exist for the Date and Total Cost fields so that the user may enter the dates in any format they wish.

Printing an Invoice

Pressing the ‘Print’ button will generate a report based on the invoice information. Pressing ‘Save’ will commit any changes made to the invoice. Pressing ‘Switchboard’ will return the user to the Switchboard form.

CLIENT FORM

This form will display all information regarding clients and their contacts.

Adding a New Client

Pressing the ‘New Client’ button will clear all information in the Client form as well as the Contact form. A new Client Id will be generated. The Province fields are drop down lists allowing the user to select a province and making data entry easier.

Adding a New Contact

The Contact form is tabular, but laid out in a form format for display purposes. Pressing the ‘New Client’ button will move the cursor to a new row in the Contact form, generate a new contact id, and place the related client id into the contact table. The comments field is connected to an editor so that the user may edit the text at any time.

Viewing Projects

Pressing the ‘View Projects’ button will show a list of values (LOV) containing the names of all the projects linked to the selected client. The project form will open filled with the project information based on the selection in the LOV. If there are no projects selected, the user may enter new project details.

PROJECT FORM

The Project form may be accessed via the Client form or the Switchboard. When accessed via the Client form, all information will be filled in according to the related client. All necessary tasks for the project will be listed below.

Adding a New Project

Pressing the ‘New Project’ button will allow the user to enter new project information for a given client. All fields will be cleared in the project information section as well as the task list. The client name will remain and contact names are displayed along with the primary contact information.

Displaying Contacts

In order to add new contacts to the project the "+" can be clicked in which case if there any other contacts in the database, that are not displayed, will be displayed in a LOV. The user can select a contact and assign them as a primary contact

Assigning Tasks

Pressing the ‘Assign Tasks’ button will open the Assignment form with all project information as well as the details of the selected task. The Assignment form will allow the user to select staff members with the necessary skills to complete the task.

Viewing Invoices

Pressing the ‘View Invoices’ button will open the Invoices form to allow the user to view the invoices for that project.

ASSIGNMENT FORM

The Assignment form may be accessed via the Project form. When opened it will contain project information as well as task information, based on the record selected in the Task List from the Project form.

Adding New Assignments

• Go to the ‘Record’ menu and press ‘Insert’ which creates a record with a new Assignment Id.
• The ‘Skill Name’ field will be linked to an LOV containing the names of skills. The user may select all of the necessary skills to complete the given task.
• The ‘Staff Name’ field will be linked to an LOV containing the names of all developers on staff who possess the necessary skills needed to complete the task. No contractors will be shown until there are no developers available.
• Enter the daily fee and the charge fee which both have format masks therefore you do not have to put the ‘$’ signs.

Editing Tasks & Skills

• The ‘Edit Task’ button opens the Task Form and allows you to add or edit a particular task.
• The ‘Edit Skill’ button opens the Skill Form and allows the user to edit or add a particular skill.
• The user can navigate back to the Switchboard or Project Forms.

STAFF FORM

The Staff form may be accessed via the Switchboard. Each staff member is either a developer or a contractor. This is indicated in the staff type field. The staff member’s availability for assignment is indicated with a check.

Adding New Staff Members

• Go to the ‘Record’ menu and press ‘Insert’ which clears all the fields. Enter information whether the staff member is a developer or a contractor and based on that information an automatic Staff Id will be generated.
• Fill in the appropriate information.
• The lower portion shows the skills that the staff member possesses and the per-diem fee associated with that skill.

Deleting Staff Members

Select the staff member you would like to delete and click the ‘Delete Staff’ button.

SKILLS FORM

The Skills form may be accessed via the Switchboard. All skills in the database will be available for browsing and updating.

Adding New Skills

• Go to the ‘Record’ menu and press ‘Insert’ which creates a record with a new Skill Id.
• Add the skill name and description and press the ‘Save’ button.

Deleting a Skill

• Select the appropriate skill and click the ‘Delete Skill’ button.
• The user can navigate back to the switchboard from the form.

TASK FORM

The Task form is for maintenance purposes. It is accessed via the Switchboard. All tasks are listed for browsing and updating.

Adding a New Task

• Go to the ‘Record’ menu and press ‘Insert’ which creates a record with a new Skill Id.
• Enter the appropriate information and press the ‘Save’ button.

Deleting a Task

• Select the appropriate task and press the ‘Delete Task’ button.
• The user can navigate to the switchboard by pressing the ‘Switchboard’ button.