EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Biomed Databases Database (Service Manuals) Management Software

Well, I'm fairly excited about this! An opportunity to let my passion for keeping things organised (bordering on OCD some might say).

I've been throwing together something to help manage our Trusts service manuals with minimum of fuss, hopefully iron out a few creases here and there but essentially I'm just putting the icing on the cake now.

Features:
* Automatic scanning of folders - just point it to a base folder
* Searching/downloading via the application of images for the equipment
* Searching/downloading via the internet for service / operators manuals (Preview, then categorise whilst downloading)
* Automatic checking for special subfolders i.e configurations, archive, software etc
* Add, Edit, Delete, Rename of folder structures
* Automatic categorisation of document by its name
* Double click to launch the document
* Automatic categorisation and renaming when adding files
* Lots of right-click menus appropriate to the area of the screen being viewed, etc.

and more.. check some of the early screens

By the way I'm not a programmer so keep the critique to a minimum

Photos now online -------> YES I WILL SHARE IT ONCE READY

Please do share your thoughts or questions!

Admin / Huw - I did contemplate putting this in the manuals section but technically I consider this more of a database/organising software tool.

Wowsers Joe, looks very impressive, but I keep having an irresistible urge to click on menus and explore. Any chance of a play?

Dave

pm sent

Nice one, Joe. Have you decided on a name for it yet?


Your modesty becomes you, Mate ... but don't sell yourself short.

OK, just a couple of questions:- is your system embedded in the server where you are, and (or) can the structure be packaged for others to set up and use at their own locations? If the latter is the case, I'm assuming that the new user(s) would need to load in their own data (links to the manuals, images etc. they have on their own *server).

The thought occurs that someone with lots of hosting capacity (and, I guess, a fair amount of time) could set up something like this on a "giant" scale - to serve the Whole World, as it were! Just as long as others (that is, everyone) had not only access to it, but an ability to upload to it as well.

On the other hand, am I right in assuming that your system as it stands could just as easily link to other sources of information (such as .pdf manuals on Frank's website, for example).

So, do you plan to make your system available as a "package" for others to use?

What are we looking at, Joe ... a directory (folder) structure, a database (Access?) and some hyperlinks? Can it all be set-up easily in a "stand-alone" situation (on just a single PC, for example)?

Lastly, would they (the new users) be able to edit or add their own equipment types, model names etc.?

That's all for now.

* Or even the internet (or any available URL wherever it may be hiding).

a bit more info:

This system is stand alone, not embedded into any other software at all, its a universal manager for your service information. it allows powerful searching for manuals (operators/service) as well as product images, all from the deep depths of the internet.

- Its just 1 .exe file, just point it to where you manuals sit (no configuration!)
- New users would just need to point to their existing folder structures (provided it was reasonably well organised in \EQUIPMENT TYPE\EQUIPMENT MODEL structure)
- As it stands, it could link (via url files) to places like franks website, however it prefers to download them to your own structure
- When ready? Well I've been working on it for about a week, I'd imagine only a couple of days till I upload it. There will be limited error checking in the first release but it will work fine
- Overview: It scans your local folders for files and presents them to you in a better way, no database involved. the hyperlinks you see on one of the screens are one of the options to SEARCH for manuals within the software and add them to your collection automatically
- Equipment Models / Types - yes, you can roll your own, rename to your hearts content they are just folders on your hard drive and you can manage them through the application.

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Future (very short term development) aspirations.
* Addition of ID number against the equipment model - to enable you to link with other databases (Saves ID_xxxxxx.txt in the folder)
* Addition of Revision number against the service manual (for later exporting)
* (ISO QMS): Option to automatically archive your old service manual if you add a new version (ISO QMS), adding in the revision/date of the manual
* Automatic generation of a summary Excel document with hyperlinks to your manuals, revision number, equipment type, model, Equiment Model ID
* Option to set equipment models as *DONT DISPLAY* so you can have large archives of manuals but only show the ones you have in your areas.
* Maybe, search for company address by equipment type/model
* (ISO QMS): Email to company stating current version of service manual and equipment type/model to see if this is the latest revision
-----------------------

This is a short, fairly simply 'task and finish' project

unlike a database that you feed with information and possibly end up with nothing, this is a tool that you feed nothing to and it helps you become more organised / useful

Oh, Geoff - No Name yet, but since you ask (I've seen you put some good ones in for the Mariner) your welcome to suggest some

Form1 isn't really the best name in the world at the moment

Surely the directory (OK, "folder" if you insist) structure has to be enforced? Otherwise, how does your Search (gathering?) routine know where to look?

Something like:-



For example, the path to a particular Users Manual could something like:-

C:\...\Eqpt\Type2\ModelB\Manuals\User\Operators.pdf

OK ... so that's as many directories (folders) as you have different equipment types, and a different sub-directory for each model name within each type. That's a lot of directories (and a lot to set up at first). Am I right?

The name? I'll give it some thought once I've had another *brew.

* PG Tips, by the way.

Kind of, its not enforced as such, it just wont read past a depth level of 2 if you point it to your existing folders (apart from Special folders which are displayed as blue/grey folder icons! - Config, Archive, Software, Notices)
|
|--- \Type 1
|--- \Type 2
: |
: |--- \Model A
: '--- \Model B
: |--- \Model C
: |--- \Model D
: :
|--- \Type 3
|--- \Type 4

Yes its a bit to set up at first (if your collection isn't vaguely already like that, I'd assume that most have at least Model segregation or equipment type segregation)

-----------------------
At the moment there is a context menu for "Add" which adds a file to the currently selected equipment type/model combination

I plan to add a similar function "Add new equipment manual" which will allow easy input/selection of equipment type / Model in case they don't already exist. The default option on this screen would be to delete the source file after a successful transfer!

Am I also right in assuming that the system relies on the native Windows Explorer and being able to fiddle about with folder Properties settings and stuff like that?

To be clear then, the system will be able to read sub-directories from wherever the .exe is placed ("to the right of" in the path, as it were).

To be honest, Joe, I'm not much of a Windows wiz myself, so you might need to remind me how to set up a "clickable" file that will link to a URL ... something like the .lnk files normally found in the ...\Desktop directory.

Maybe something like saving code like this to a batch file (Test.bat will do) ... then clicking on it. It should work as long as you are running Windows and have Internet Explorer installed.


Or (if you're lucky):-


That is, use the batch file START command to call your favourite browser, followed by the URL address. OK ... it's a work in progress!