Available for Ad-Hoc Development Work

If you need help with any database issues, or are considering having a custom system built, why not get in touch.
You can find my contact details here: Kandy Solutions Ltd

Over the years I have build many database systems, usually using MS SQL Server but also with MS Access.

Sometimes I get called in to troubleshoot an existing system, perhaps deal with a corrupt database. File based systems such as Access, Firefox and Paradox are particularly prone to corruption but often most if not all data can be recovered. SQL Server is much more stable, but can occasionally have serious problems. It may also be a design issue. I have come across clients who no longer have access to the original database developer and have a problem with the system. In one case they could no longer even log on to their SQL Server based system. Using my experience, and some of the tools that accompany SQL Server, such as the Profiler, I was able to diagnose the problem, fix it and get everyone working again within a couple of hours.

Other times I have build major systems for companies. I am able to deal with the whole process, from the initial consultation, through to the design and build, user training, and post installation support.

I try to select the most appropriate solution for a client. For example, for one major international manufacturer, I worked closely with their global IT director, and built a series of integrated Intranet database solutions that linked together their factories around the world. This mean there were no installation requirement on the user's desktops and being web based, was easy to use. It also mean they were operating system independent and have been able to run for a decade now without problems.

I think that more and more companies are looking to make their systems available to users wherever they are. Internet or Intranet solutions that are optimised to run on mobile devises when those are used could well be the way to go. This means the organisation is not tied to one particular devise.

However, for a rich and powerful application, you can't beat a windows desktop system. I have created many of these. In the past I have used Visual Basic and Delphi, these days I use VB.Net. I like to integrate my systems with Microsoft Office, so that users can generate Word and Excel documents automatically for example. It used to be that the problem of deploying a windows application to many users was a problem, and keeping it up to date, since a bespoke system goes through many changes. These days I like to use Microsoft's Click-Once technology when deploying solutions. It means that users are able to receive updates automatically, and that the application does not interfere with any other software on the PC.