| Customer
: |
Leading UK Retailer |
| Assignment
: |
To recommend future company
application Web strategy and develop/implement a project using
this solution |
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting |
| Background
: |
The customer had a
number of existing architectures and databases including OS/390
mainframe, UNIX and Windows-based systems. They wished to
integrate future Windows applications with their intranet and
potentially internet solutions using both Netscape and Internet
Explorer browsers. |
| Solution
: |
Having discussed fully
their requirements and existing systems, we recommended and
presented a suitable solution that would cover both their intranet
and potentially internet applications whilst continuing to build
on their move to OO and Visual Basic v6.0.
Using Microsoft ADO, we easily integrated the above solution with
both CA-Ingres and DB2 databases on the IIS server, thus removing
any large dependencies on the front end browser type. Microsoft
Transaction Server provided inter-component transactions. |
| Technologies
: |
n-tier architectures, Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS), Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), ADO,
DCOM, JavaScript, VBScript, CA-Ingres & DB2 DBMS integration |
|
|
| Customer
: |
World-wide Financial
& Accountancy Organisation |
| Assignment
: |
To train the company's
own training department on the use of Microsoft Excel macros,
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) integration and basic
programming concepts & techniques |
| Primary
Role : |
Training |
| Background
: |
The customer had many
analysts who depended heavily on Microsoft Office and Excel in
particular. Having upgraded to the latest version, they wished to
take more advantage of programming features such as macros as well
as enhance those previously recorded interactively. The training
department therefore needed to provide such training to their UK
and overseas staff as quickly as possible. |
| Solution
: |
In this case, we
developed a short bespoke course that
introduced Microsoft VBA, covered all the major aspects of
Microsoft Excel macros, how to record and subsequently customise
them further. Basic programming concepts & techniques
were also covered in this hands-on course.
Subsequently, the customer's own training department were able to
provide their own internal training to the company's world-wide
employees. |
| Technologies
: |
Microsoft Excel, macros,
VBA |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Leading UK Retailer |
| Assignment
: |
To train 1st & 2nd
line Technical Support staff on Windows & related architectures |
| Primary
Role : |
Training |
| Background
: |
The customer was in the
middle of moving from Windows 3.x to Windows 95 and had
significantly expanded their helpdesk and 2nd line support teams
who had to cover all aspects of desktop support, covering a number
of different builds. They therefore needed a customised course to
cover all angles of their potential support workload during and
beyond the transition. |
| Solution
: |
We developed a number of
separate courses grouping all aspects of their requirements, from
"Booting a Windows 3.x desktop", through "The
Windows 3.x Environment" and "Windows 95 -
Low-Level" to "Databases & ODBC Access" and
"Networking with TCP/IP".
All courses, which were instructor lead by our consultants looked
at the above topics from the support-persons perspective and
similarly contained hands-on exercises with their typical role in
mind. |
| Technologies
: |
MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows
95 & 2000 (low level), Databases & ODBC, Network Technologies
including TCP/IP & Windows Sockets |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Leading UK Retailer |
| Assignment
: |
Perform QA, Audit & OO
review of new Point of Sale system |
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting |
| Background
: |
The Client was in the
process of accepting a new Point of Sale (POS) solution from a
major IT vendor but initial testing issues had highlighted
problems with the proprietary approach and it's OO nature.
We were asked to technically QA the
approach the vendor was taking, it's conformance to good OO
practices, and suitability for it's intended task. |
| Solution
: |
Our consultants carried
out a thorough review at both the customer site and with the
vendor, discussing the techniques used with the analysts and
developers and completing a full report on the findings.
The report highlighted a number of aspects that were subsequently
taken up and rectified by the vendor. |
| Technologies
: |
Microsoft Client/Server & OO Technology, Windows NT v4.0 |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Leading UK Retailer |
| Assignment
: |
To provide customised stress testing software for DB2 middleware |
| Primary
Role : |
Software
Development |
| Background
: |
The customer was looking
to introduce new DB2 middleware technology from a mainstream
database vendor but needed assurances that the proposed solution
would in fact scale to the degree required. |
| Solution
: |
The solution had to be
developed quickly to meet the required timescales but also had to
utilise existing infrastructure (Windows 95 PCs) at the customers
offices.
We developed a bespoke solution to stress test the middle-ware
software using only the company's existing infrastructure. The
stress testing toolset was developed to allow the customer to make
future enhancements as required. Subsequently the tools was also
used to help test a new Web-server deployment. |
| Technologies
: |
Windows 95 & NT v4.0, Visual Basic v6.0, ActiveX/COM, RDO, ODBC, custom middleware |
|
|
| Customer
: |
UK-based Internet Specialist |
| Assignment
: |
To co-develop & present Web seminar for Client's Database
Administrators
|
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting/Training |
| Background
: |
Our joint client wished
to learn more about Web technology and developments specifically
from a DBA's perspective. They proposed a seminar where they could
gain an understanding of the issues involved whilst at the same
time ask detailed questions regarding their own areas of expertise
and future role with Web-based applications. |
| Solution
: |
We jointly developed a
bespoke seminar for the client, highlighting all the major Web
technologies and their impact on databases - both for legacy and
new systems.
Throughout the seminars, the client's own detailed examples and
questions were discussed, thus allowing them to focus specifically
on their own environments and technologies. |
| Technologies
: |
Included - Web concepts, Microsoft
Internet Information Server (IIS) & Netscape Enterprise Server,
DCOM with Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), CORBA, JavaScript
& VBScript, OO-techniques |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Software Consultancy |
| Assignment
: |
To provide Advanced Visual Basic training for public courses |
| Primary
Role : |
Training |
| Background
: |
The Client provides
public training courses for Advanced Visual Basic v5.0 &
subsequently 6.0 covering concepts such as advanced coding,
COM, DCOM, MTS, MSMQ, Web-app. integration and needed additional
consultants to provide the training courses. |
| Solution
: |
Our consultants
regularly provided the above public training courses, covering all
the above topics and answering delegates questions as required.
On-site versions of the course were also given to allow
organisations to quickly learn the advanced topics and integrate
their systems more effectively. |
| Technologies
: |
Windows NT v4.0, Visual Basic v6.0, ActiveX/COM,
ADO & RDO, Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), Microsoft
Message Queue Server, IIS-Applications, Scripting Technologies |
|
|
| Customer
: |
London-based Financial Institution |
| Assignment
: |
To recommend an efficient approach to accessing an existing database using the
Microsoft toolset
|
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting |
| Background
: |
The customer had a
Pick-based database with older character-based applications.
Whilst extremely fast to run, enhancing these application to meet
business demands was proving more difficult and they wished to
utilise more GUI features of Windows and the Web.
We were asked in particular to review database access and how this
could be achieved without loss of performance from the proposed
Microsoft Visual Basic front end. |
| Solution
: |
We reviewed all aspects
of the current database system looking in particular at it's
significant strengths and weaknesses. Given the nature of the
current database and existing systems and the need to maintain
extremely fast access, we proposed a suitable solution that
utilised a customised middleware that in turn allowed the DBMS's
proprietary objects and APIs to be wrapped, thus abstracting the
data access layer whilst allowing most developers to concentrate
on the business requirements rather than worrying about the
obscure nature of the database access. This was achieved without
noticeable loss of performance to the client systems. |
| Technologies
: |
Windows NT v4.0, Visual Basic v6.0, ADO, OLE/DB,
Pick-based database, customised middleware |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Leading Computer Manufacturer |
| Assignment
: |
To technically QA existing C++/Oracle code
developed by a third party software house and verify it's suitability for the
proposed task |
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting |
| Background
: |
The Client was part of a
larger project to implement a new financial solution but was
unhappy with some aspects of the system being developed by other
parties and the ease with which it was being integrated.
We were asked to review the code and in particular the overall
design approach being taken with the C++ logic and DBMS access
integration. |
| Solution
: |
We carried out the audit on a number of code elements which allowed us to explain how the
system was being constructed and the techniques used.
The final briefing gave the assurance that these areas of the
project were workable, but at the same time highlighted a number
of areas where the solution could be improved, both in terms of
overall design and the code itself. |
| Technologies
: |
UNIX, C++, Oracle |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Software House |
| Assignment
: |
To provide ActiveX controls for use within their existing product set |
| Primary
Role : |
Software
Development |
| Background
: |
The software house
developed a number of add-ons and ActiveX controls for Visual
Basic in order to link to it's own database. Their controls
however had some drawbacks which they wanted help to overcome. |
| Solution
: |
The work here involved
investigating the low-level limitations of Visual Basic ActiveX
controls within the Windows environment and the proposal of
suitable alternatives/workarounds. |
| Technologies
: |
Windows 95 & NT v4.0, Visual Basic v6.0, ActiveX Controls, Win32 API |
|
|
| Customer
: |
London-based Charity |
| Assignment
: |
To introduce an n-tier and OO-based technology into the ISD department; use the recommended approach on a new
investments system |
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting/Training |
| Background
: |
The organisation
utilises Microsoft technology using Visual Basic v5.0 and ActiveX
components. However, they had not implemented any n-tier solutions
and were unclear as to the best approach for both a forthcoming
investment system and Web access in the future. |
| Solution
: |
This assignment was
split into a number of separate phases in order to achieve the
desired integrated solution. A series of presentations were
developed in order to explain to both business and IT personnel
the role of the Web, how it works, how it could be used within
their organisation and the technologies involved to link their
proposed solutions with it using the Microsoft toolset.
We also developed the technical requirements for the new
investments project, working with the customers own technicians to
integrate the proposed COM/MTS-based solution with their existing
architecture and recommending the required changes to that
infrastructure.
Finally we were involved in the development and QA of the object
& component designs for the new system, which itself would be
the first to use the above architecture. |
| Technologies
: |
Windows NT v4.0 & 2000, n-tier architectures, Visual Basic v6, ADO, Microsoft Transaction
Server (MTS), SQL Server v7.0, Microsoft Cluster Server, ActiveX/COM
& COM+ |
|
|
| Customer
: |
Leading Outsourcing
Company |
| Assignment
: |
To assist in the
migration of an existing Windows 95, Novell NetWare, 16-bit &
32-bit, 2 & 3 tier architecture to a new Windows 2000
structure. |
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting/Software
Development |
| Background
: |
The organisation
extensively utilised older 16-bit (Windows 3.1) applications as
well as newer VB6 technology in a Windows 95 environment. These
systems accessed a variety of data sources including DB2, CA-Ingres
& Oracle. With the introduction of Windows 2000, all these
applications had to be migrated, tested and patched as required.
The desktop transition itself, for both head office and approx.
400 stores also had to be planned & supported. |
| Solution
: |
This assignment involved
a number of meetings with senior project management in order to
advise and plan the solution ultimately used. A number of software
utilities were developed to assist (i) the migration and (ii) the
running of legacy systems on the new Windows 2000 desktop.
When the new build went live, 3Ds consultants provided cover and
solutions for many of the technical problems encountered.
|
| Technologies
: |
Novell NetWare, 2000, n-tier architectures, Visual Basic
v3 & v6, ADO, ActiveX/COM, DB2, CA-Ingres, Oracle, ODBC |
|
|
| Customer
: |
London-based
Charity |
| Assignment
: |
To design,
build, implement and support a new dynamic web-based forms system for use by
external customers. |
| Primary
Role : |
Consulting/Training/Software
Development |
| Background
: |
The organisation
utilised predominantly Microsoft-based technology including Visual Basic v6.0, ActiveX
components, COM+ and IIS. The new system was their first venture
into coding with ASP, IIS and COM and they wanted guidance as to
it's design and build techniques, especially bearing in mind
performance, scalability & security. |
| Solution
: |
During this assignment,
our consultants & engineers worked alongside both in-house and contract development
personnel to re-design, then build a complete ASP/COM+ based
system. In particular, we moved the original design from a purely static
design, involving overnight batch runs to a much more dynamic
site, using ASP with a COM/COM+ interface. Data is stored and
retrieved from the company's SQL Server database.
To help improve time to market, we developed the COM+ component
which is used by the ASP to interact with the database. Data
exports to Word was also designed and built for the project as
were additional Windows-based utilities which allowed full control
over forms, workflow e-mails & site publishing.
|
| Technologies
: |
Windows NT v4.0 & 2000, n-tier architectures, Visual Basic v6, ADO,
COM+, SQL Server 2000, MS-DTC. |
|
|
| Customer
: |
London-based
Charity |
| Assignment
: |
To design,
build, implement and support a dynamic web-based solution for data
entry and reporting for use by internal customers. |
| Primary
Role : |
Software
Development |
| Background
: |
The organisation
uses Microsoft-based technologies but wished to move away from
legacy systems and gain the benefits of more rapid development
using Visual Studio. The system had to be user friendly, require
no specific training and scale within the organisations existing
architecture. |
| Solution
: |
To do this,
we implemented a new .NET solution using ASP.NET, C# linking to a
back end SQL Server database. Hooks the the company's existing
legacy systems (AS/400) were also implemented using ODBC allowing
users to verify and import existing details without the need for
repeated data entry.
On-line reporting & exporting
was also available along with automated scheduling &
notification of follow-up tasks etc.
|
| Technologies
: |
Windows
2000/2003, SQL Server 2000, ASP.NET, IIS, C#, Visual Studio. |
|
|
| Customer
: |
US-based
Airline |
| Assignment
: |
To
troubleshoot & repair a series of Excel macros in order to
automate the e-mailing of monthly reports internally within the
organisation as well as recommend and implement performance
improvements to the current system. |
| Primary
Role : |
Technical
Support/Software
Development |
| Background
: |
The
company's finance section used Excel (VBA) extensively to provide
monthly reports to manages within the organisation. These were
generated automatically and e-mailed in groups to different sets
of users. Since redeployment to a new O/S, the macros, which also
interfaced with other legacy systems & technologies failed to
work, causing the reports to be manually created and mailed. |
| Solution
: |
This was a
two part assignment ...
- We reviewed and documented the
current system, identifying & resolving the e-mail
issue.
- As part of the review, we also
identified a number of key areas where performance could be
significantly improved. These were then subsequently
implemented.
|
| Technologies
: |
Windows XP,
Microsoft Office Excel 2003, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) |
|
|
