Intranet Web-site Development

It was such an exhilirating moment when I first discovered that a simple windows XP PC with sufficient memory could be made to host applications accessible thru LAN. So many ideas came into my mind which could be deployed on this platform.

Idea #1 : PLatform for Sharing ISO-14001 documents

This one is deployed in the office. I was in the core team of ISO and it was a documentation hell. So many documents, so many revisions and each time, a seperate print out had to be taken and circulated. big problem! Then, I had hit upon the idea of sharing it on the computer. But, simple file sharing was unattractive and users would not bother to type the IP address in the run window and then have a look at the documents. Therefore, the idea of developing a site on the intranet which could be accessible to all on the network was thought of.

The web pages were created with MS-word. A few scripts in asp were written and that did the authentication part. The IP address was communicated to all, which could be simple typed into the browser.. and behold! the page would load.. so far so.. good!!

Then, the procedures in the ISO manuals were ammended to reflect this new change. I also published a papaer on this approach on our company portal. The paper was well received. It was a tremendous saving on paper and costs and of course time! There were a few problems.. like that of old content being displayed even after the new documents were uploaded. How I solved this? well.. it is described at length in one of my previous enetries in this blog.

The documents were uploaded as pdf.. so it made viewing them very easy. Thank god I took this step, otherwise, I would have got some Obssesive compulsive disorder of printing some 100 page manuals for 20 distributions .... :-))

Idea #2 : A site for uploading budget, circulars and a Forum

This was suggested by a friend.At the end, it was a very learning experience and the utility for searching circulars, and posting to forum etc took me to some depth in asp development. But, I just had a simple PC, no server.. and I had to warn him of relaibility problems.. he must have re-thined about it and finally made a decission that he would not go for it.. but never did he tell me in express 'no'.. always procastinating.. so i got the idea.. anyway the entire thing is ready for the past one year.. awaiting some good use..

Idea #3: Document tracking Using the LAN

This was suggested by the boss of my friend.. he was more bothered with docs and papers being in the 'system' , so that they could be tracked easily.. I developed a simple system, which according to me was very rudimentary but had certain features like the generation of e-mails to support the workflow. However, the database design was very very primitive..only one table ha ha ha .. anyway, the contraption worked and the boss was impressed,.. but .. again.. my friend might have had some questions in the back of his mind.. so.. he kept postponing this.. at one time he one lied to his boss that Iw as sick.. some terrible sickness which had left me bed ridden.. and imagine my surprise.. when the boss meets me and asks me as to how I was feeling.. quite naturally.. I would replay 'fine'.. I always reply 'fine' btw, thats another story ha ha ha.. anyway.. I was at some thinking end.. what am I going to do with my 'investment'. well.. again.. documented the entire thing and sent it to the company portal as a .... u guessed it right.. a 'paper'... I was getting very much interested in this paper thing..

then... in the night.. I had a call from the company web site person.. he wanted to interview me.. he found this concept revolutionary.. hmm.. i said.. ok fine.. big deal.. i answered his questions and told him.. it was nothing great and that it would be nice of him to publish as a paper in the company portal.. so that people could offer some constructive criticism... however.. I was in for a shock next morning..... There it was.. the headline on the portal.. "XXXX engineer develops system for Dak"/..... lord almighty.. what a spike!!! i am on the headline and it was friday.. it stayed like that page 1 for 3 days.. comments poured in .. some 40 comments were registerd.. all positive,. people encouraging with all kind words.. I was overwhelmed.. like paulo coleho says in the Alchemist, If you decide to do something, the entire universe gets together for the success.. some how i feel it was true..
more latter...

Some Mountaineering terms from DMAS Manali

1.Approach March Boot-For Walking
2. Technical climbing-Climbing to reach the summit.

3. Tape Sling-For Anchoring

4. Ice Axe-Third leg of mountaineer.

5. Gator-To prevent snow from getting into boots.

6. Crampon:- Spike on shoes to get grip while walking on the snow.

7. Mitten:- Gloves