The latest headlines and articles from Web Applications(c) 2009, Web Applications UK Ltd. All rights reserved.5Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:22:01 GMT<p>I think it’s safe to say that Rob L is pretty flash. I don’t mean with the bling, and I’m fairly sure he’s not a G, but still, Rob is flash, like a flash of lightning that is. What do I mean? Who knows… read on.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p></p> <p>Let’s start with <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/122/let-the-game-hellip-continue.aspx">Guitar Hero</a>, a good physical representation. Web Applications holds Wii/Xbox contests semi-regularly and has been conducting a Guitar Hero Tournament for the past couple weeks. Each person gets three opportunities to play a song per week, the highest score for that person is then recorded for the week. This week marks the end of week 4. Well, Rob has been asking to play Guitar Hero since he joined the company over a year and a half ago. During the vast majority of that time he would have won the contest easily with his superfast guitar-playing hands. Unfortunately, Guitar Hero did not come quite fast enough for Rob, and time let in a new contender for the GH Throne. Let’s crunch some numbers.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/RobL.FLASH_E0C8/rob3_2.png" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'b4826480'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Rob, putting that flashy background to shame." border="0" alt="Rob, putting that flashy background to shame." title="Rob, putting that flashy background to shame." align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/RobL.FLASH_E0C8/rob3_thumb.png" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p>There are three groups, Easy, Medium and Hard; Rob is, obviously, in the Hard Group. The average ‘Easy’ score is 33747, in the Medium group this number is 90543, and in Hard the average is 132609. Keeping that in mind, Rob is second in the Hard group, averaging a solid 20,000 points above the average and soaring 50,000 points over the third place contestant. Two months ago this would have ensured a solid victory, but unfortunately though Rob’s fingers move so quickly while playing Guitar hero that my vision blurs, there’s also an alternative high-roller, Ashley, who is averaging almost 30,000 more that Rob per song. Ouch.&#160; Read more about that <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/122/let-the-game-hellip-continue.aspx">here</a>.</p> <p>Fastest fingers aside (<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/RobL.FLASH_E0C8/image_2.png" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'b4826480'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IDEA" border="0" alt="IDEA" title="IDEA" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/RobL.FLASH_E0C8/image_thumb.png" width="30" height="37" /></a> WWTBA Millionaire might be the game for you!) let’s move on. Do you know a sport that requires highly honed reflexes? A sport with an internal office league? A sport like…SQUASH. Oh yes, Rob is definitely one of the kings of the Squash court. An intense sport requiring both mental and physical prowess, it is certainly challenges those response times. Rob is currently in third place behind the more seasoned professionals Andrew and Nick. Word on the street is that Rob might implement an attack strategy shortly; I’ll keep an eye out for those results.</p> <p>In a less visible, though no less palpable, way Rob has zoomed through the ranks here at Web Applications. He started here as a software developer in January of 2009 and now has recently been made a Senior Engineer. Very quickly after being made a Senior Engineer an office reorganisation saw Rob switching teams and gaining some Software Engineers of his own to look after. He says his job hasn’t changed a whole lot since becoming a Senior Engineer other than looking after the Software Engineers, but that might be because he’s still working on some of the big issues he was working on before his team changed.</p> <p>Rob likes to keep himself as flash fast as possible, which is probably why he is so into keeping healthy. Whether it’s through exercising at the gym (fun!) or eating right through the science of nutrition (boring, very boring), Rob maintains his peak performance.</p> <p>In the spirit of the word *flash* I’m going to end with the Murder Mystery Dinner and Event. There may (or may not, your choice) be some fancy dress on show. In many ways I feel that fancy dress will enhance the atmosphere of the night. So, will Rob L break out the flash-wear for a night of Gangsters and Guns? If others decide to dress up, there’s a Bugsy Malone costume with his name on it.</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/123.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/123.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 31 Aug 2010 13:20:08 GMT<p>In case you haven’t heard, Web Applications has a long history of highly competitive people. People like this require games to prove themselves, and Web Applications enjoys providing these games in a friendly and fun fashion – office tournaments. The last tournament was a medley of games from Wii Sports Resort, won by Robin. We have moved on now and started a new tournament which will last a while longer, taking us up to a trophy presentation at the Christmas Party. Said game? Guitar Hero.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p></p> <p>For some of us Guitar Hero is a baffling game requiring intense hand-eye coordination and an incomprehensible ability to somehow *predict* what’s coming up next. For others it’s a walk in a park. Due to a wide variance in skills, we have created groups based on ability and familiarity, Easy, Medium and Hard. Don’t worry, we’re going to break down the numbers in a minute.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/LettheGameContinue_C92C/ghero_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'87b361ee'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Guitar Hero" border="0" alt="Guitar Hero" title="Guitar Hero" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/LettheGameContinue_C92C/ghero_thumb.jpg" width="155" height="255" /></a>Every Friday the song is chosen for the upcoming week. Everyone has three attempts at the song to get their highest score. It is fun to see people get so involved, especially when it’s their lunch hour that’s on the line. Week to week each person’s highest score is recorded and those scores will be averaged to determine the rankings within a group. Currently there are eleven people in the Easy Group, seven people in Medium and four participants in the Hard/Expert group.</p> <p>So far there have been four completed weeks with songs: Talk Dirty To Me, School’s Out, Slow Ride and Miss Murder. The song for Week 5 (this week) is Anarchy in the UK which should prove interesting. Unexpectedly, the average numbers for the Hard/Expert level are <i>much</i> higher than the Easy group, partly because those players are just much much better, partly because there are physically more notes from which to gain points in each song, and also because, since it is more difficult, the notes are worth more when you hit them (I think). As a proud member of the Easy group, I can’t confess to knowing the ins and outs of the game. Now for some numbers and a chance to name and shame. Fun fun.</p> <p>Shaun is currently leading the Easy group with an average of 68,624 points. Melanie (yours truly) is trailing in second place at 59,782 after a first song debacle. Apart from Shaun, the girls of Web Apps are dominating the Easy group with Naomi, Kerry and Kate in 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th places respectively. With that kind of showing perhaps it’s not that surprising that many of the rest of Easy contestants have ceased anything resembling an effort.</p> <p>In the Medium group Steve and Jeff are topping the leader board in a very close race for first. Steve is averaging 112,800 at this point and Jeff is right behind him at 111,515, not far away either is Claire at 108, 230. After those three the scores drop off a bit to the 70,000s with Shui, Safder and Chris. Perhaps there will be a little upset to the top scores…more in a minute.</p> <p>The Hard/Expert group is what everyone wants to hear about. This group is made up of the Web Apps Guitar Hero Elite, Ashley, Rob L, Kris and Craig. At this stage Ashley is pretty much killing everyone, after the fourth song he is averaging over 200,000 (that’s per song, aka what I’d get if I added together my first four songs), next in line is Rob at about 172,000 and finally Kris at 116,800. After a somewhat disastrous start Craig has been having a difficult time finding space in his schedule for Guitar Hero.</p> <p>Now, for some special mentions. Lauren and Dale, our resident Microsoft Apprentices, have joined the Guitar Hero party. They are latecomers to the tournament so I haven’t included their scores (so far I only have scores for two songs from each of them) but their initial attempts are very promising. As long as nothing goes wrong during “Talk Dirty to Me” (the song that killed me, among others) Dale is in position to take third place and possibly even second place in the Easy group. Lauren in the Medium group is averaging around 90,000 which would place her in 4^th if nothing changes, slap bang in the middle between the 70,000 cluster and the 110,000 cluster. Because the apprentices spend large chunks of their time in training courses, we are letting them catch up on songs they have missed whenever they have time (generally you must complete the song during the week).</p> <p>All in all Guitar Hero is off to a great start. This is the beginning of Week 5 meaning that we are almost halfway through the first stage of the competition. After 10 weeks of averaging the highest scores, the top few from each group will battle in the semi-finals. Let the games continue!</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/122.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/122.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 27 Aug 2010 15:49:58 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a href="http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-GB/PartnerDetails.aspx?PartnerId=4296520761&amp;LocId=283815735440441">Pinpoint</a> is Microsoft’s Partner Network which helps business customers find technology companies, applications and services that solve specific business issues. Pinpoint allows you to search by company or solution to optimise your chances of finding the right solution. Companies are displayed on a map so that you can see what businesses are nearby, though admittedly Microsoft does have a few issues to sort out with its postcode finder. Also, the top results seem to constitute almost a random dispersal when you search for a company by area; it is not strictly the closest companies, nor the company with the most reviews, nor the company with the most qualifications, so at times it can be difficult to locate exactly what you want (We recommend either searching by service or application, or better, search Web Applications UK by name! Here’s the <a href="http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-GB/PartnerDetails.aspx?PartnerId=4296520761&amp;LocId=283815735440441">link</a> again). This is the reason why we are listed with an augmented post code of OL4 1JY instead of OL4 1TD – Microsoft has yet to acknowledge our postcode as real. Have no fear; the physical address the map displays is correct.</p> <p><a href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/PinpointOurSecretisOut_DE27/pinpoint.png" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'897ca527'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Pinpoint" border="0" alt="Pinpoint" title="Pinpoint" align="right" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/PinpointOurSecretisOut_DE27/pinpoint_thumb.png" width="240" height="138" /></a>For the past couple months we have been putting our profile together piece by piece. We have added a number applications and services that we are ready and willing to install, implement and support. Some of these applications and services include SQL Server Expertise, Mercury and Office Communications Server, but of course there are more listed. If you visit our <a href="http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-GB/PartnerDetails.aspx?PartnerId=4296520761&amp;LocId=283815735440441">profile</a> and see a product we have consulted on or provided, why not leave us a review? We would love to hear from you.</p> <p>A Pinpoint listing is another means for Web Applications to illustrate our close ties to Microsoft. Our profile clearly and proudly displays our Small Business Specialist and Gold Partner status. We are dedicated to working with Microsoft as closely as possible and encourage everyone to take a look at the Business Network MS has created. It really is impressive. </p><div class="d_itc_f" style="clear:both;height:11px;"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/80.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/80.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 20 Aug 2010 15:39:27 GMT<p>Web Applications is well and fully in the Virtualisation game these days. Virtual Reality sadly continues to lack any business relevance though it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. A girl can dream.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>At the moment we have a sum total of 35 servers; 29 of those servers are now on just three boxes. Simply put, this translates into 90% saving off running costs when electricity, hardware degrading and air conditioning costs are added together.<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsAdoptsVirtualRealnosorryV_E9DA/VR_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'596f13f9'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="VR, why not me?" border="0" alt="VR, why not me?" title="VR, why not me?" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsAdoptsVirtualRealnosorryV_E9DA/VR_thumb.jpg" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p>Making these servers virtual gives us a lot of wiggle room, and Web Apps doesn’t like to be held down. At any given moment we have the option to increase or decrease memory, processor power, the number of network adaptors and hard disk space. We also have the flexibility to build a new server in a matter of minutes. </p> <p>If through some unforeseen event something happens to one of the boxes and the hardware fails, we can migrate the servers to one of the other boxes quickly and efficiently; there are no hardware compatibility issues to speak of, minimising the chance of unforeseeable issues. Web Apps can effectively maintain the integrity of the server components, and last but not least…</p> <p>We can continuously monitor the state of the servers easily as well as manage them all in one place with the new favourite toy: Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager. The Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager has a number of key benefits that are important to us here at Web Applications. Some of those benefits include its Performance and Resource Optimisation (PRO) – this enables the dynamic management of virtual resources through management packs that are PRO enabled. Other benefits are that it easily groups multiple physical servers onto virtual hosts and quickly prepares and optimises new and existing virtual machines.</p> <p>Virtualisation is one of those things, it’s good for us and it’s good for our clients. We have total flexibility and can rapidly change and adapt to whatever the needs of the moment require. Virtualisation allows for optimised hardware resources. This means that multiple workloads can coexist on fewer servers, saving energy, money and space. Windows Server virtualisation especially allows for easy integration into existing server management tools which enables more control and flexibility of datacentres. Everything is easier to maintain, simple to configure and deploy, and best of all it’s a great for disaster recovery. Web Applications continues to do everything it can to be prepared for all contingencies.</p> <p>If virtualisation is something that you might want to look into, why don’t you send our systems department an email at <a href="mailto:systems@webappuk.com">systems@webappuk.com</a>. We’d love to hear from you.</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/121.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/121.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 19 Aug 2010 14:11:36 GMT<p>Web Apps is headed back down to London for Travel Technology Initiative’s Autumn Conference, AKA the Travel Innovation Summit. The Summit will take place on Tuesday, September 21^st and will begin at 9:30 in The Institute of Engineering & Technology, Savoy Place, London. Registration is now open for anyone who wishes to join us in this event.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebAppswilldeliverthekeynotespeechatTTIs_D545/savoy_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'e1612db2'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Savoy Place" border="0" alt="Savoy Place" title="Savoy Place" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebAppswilldeliverthekeynotespeechatTTIs_D545/savoy_thumb.jpg" width="240" height="160" /></a>Travel Technology Initiative (TTI) was founded in order to establish technology standards within the travel industry. TTI can now boast 150 members across Europe and the USA as well as call itself an e-commerce authority with the European travel industry. TTI is responsible for the UNICORN EDI messages for electronic booking in travel, tourism and leisure. TTI is considering taking on some new projects, including extending the TORIX message, developing an XML message standard for the transfer of specific content (like hotel descriptions) and standardising geo-coding, to name a few. All in all they are a pretty important and well respected establishment in the world of travel technology, which is why we are so excited to be giving the keynote speech at their Autumn Conference.&#160; </p> <p>The theme of the conference runs of the lines of Travel being a highly innovative industry, but innovation brings risks. The right technology innovation choices can allow for significant cost-savings, improve customer satisfaction and boost business. Wrong choices can bring soaring costs with little to show for them. Most recently travel has witnessed the growth into the mobile space through location services and real-time travel information. TTI is bringing together the travel industry’s top innovators to talk about the benefits of good innovation and how to make it work for your business.</p> <p>Web Application’s Chief Exec Craig Dean will be delivering the Keynote speech, <i>Innovation: The Driving Force</i>. The other speakers at the event include</p> <ul> <p>Fergus Boyd, IT Innovation Manager, Virgin Atlantic Airways <br />Rachel Armitage, Co-founder, Zoombu <br />Ciprian Morar, Co-Founder, Explorra <br />Stephen Attenborough, Commercial Director, Virgin Galactic <br />Chris Amenechi, Senior Director of Merchandising &amp; Ancillary Revenues, Continental Airlines <br />Louise Kendall, CRM Development Manager, TUI UK <br />Tom Britton, Product Manager, thetrainline.com <br />Frank Skivington, Vice President Commercial, Skyscanner</p> </ul> <p>Personally, we can’t wait to hear from the guy from Virgin Galactic.</p> <p>Registration for this event is now open, more information and a reservation form can be found <a href="http://www.tti.org/index.php?id=165">here</a>.&#160; Conversely take a look at the Summit’s listing in our <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Community/Events/tabid/88/ctl/Details/Mid/449/ItemID/15/Default.aspx?ContainerSrc=[G]Containers/_default/No+Container&amp;SkinSrc=[G]Skins/Community/Horizontal-Tabbed">Events section</a>.</p> <p>This is what the TTI Newsletter said about the event: </p> <p><b><a href="http://www.tti.org/">TTI Autumn Conference</a> - Tuesday 21 Sept, London<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebAppswilldeliverthekeynotespeechatTTIs_D545/tti.png" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'e1612db2'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="tti" border="0" alt="tti" title="tti" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebAppswilldeliverthekeynotespeechatTTIs_D545/tti_thumb.png" width="172" height="133" /></a> </b></p> <p>TTI Travel Innovation Summit Travel can claim to be amongst the most innovative of industries. From the first package holidays in 1841 and the first scheduled London to Paris passenger flights in 1919 to space tourism and modern-day online dynamic packaging, travel has always been at the forefront of technological adoption. New technology is allowing some companies to make significant cost savings. Others are using innovation to improve the customer experience through personalisation and other CRM techniques. Some are using technology to power new innovative business models.</p> <p>Most recently, we have seen early adopters innovating in mobile, seeking to heighten customer convenience and deliver pertinent information. Location based services, real-time travel information and augmented reality are just some examples of how the travel industry is taking to mobile. The TTI Travel Innovation Summit brings together some of the industry’s top innovators, people who are making a real difference to how consumers interact with the travel industry. Attend the Summit and hear for yourself how innovation can make the difference between an also-ran business and one that really stands out..</p> <p><b>&#160;</b></p> <ul> <p></p> </ul> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/120.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/120.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 18 Aug 2010 10:36:00 GMT<div><p>&#160;<img alt="World's Biggest Coffee Morning" width="461" height="199" src="/Portals/0/Macmillan1.png" /></p> <p>This will be the third year in a row that Web Applications will be participating in this event. Various members of staff (anyone who wants to) will bring in treats for the morning. Everyone makes a generous (set) donation per item they consume leaving staff with an enjoyable morning, a big breakfast and a donation to Macmillan Cancer support.</p> <p>In past years Web Applications has generously agreed to match the amount that is raised through the breakfast. We are proud to be a part of this nationwide event which will take place September 24^th. To find out more information about this event, visit <a href="http://coffee.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx">World’s Biggest Coffee Morning </a>for answers to all your questions and find out how to hold a coffee morning in <i>your</i> office. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the progress of the event.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/79.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/79.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 17 Aug 2010 11:29:02 GMT<p>Thanks to one outgoing and forward thinking member of the Web Apps community, we have our own league in <a href="http://fantasy.premierleague.com/">Fantasy Premier League Football</a>. Currently there are 24 members of Web Apps who are enrolled in our league, spanning from 72 points to 22 points after week one. The first place in the Web Apps League is The Milk Snatchers managed by newcomer Safder.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p></p> <p>Even though this team may be in first place in our league now, that could change as the season progresses. A more modest team, maybe 18^th out of 24 (like my own) might rise in the ranks to become one of the leaders of the league. It could very well happen, this is only the beginning of the season, there can be miracles, if you believe, though hope is frail - it’s hard to kill. No really. There are currently over 1.86 million participants, I have a feeling latecomers will boost those figures a bit as well, there’s <u>no way</u> any of us will be absolutely last.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebAppsEnjoysGroupActivities_AF7F/fantasy%20football.png" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3c188fca'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Fantasy Football" border="0" alt="Fantasy Football" title="Fantasy Football" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebAppsEnjoysGroupActivities_AF7F/fantasy%20football_thumb.png" width="616" height="480" /></a> </p> <p>I am unreservedly impressed at the office participation and adoption of our Fantasy Football league. It is good to see everyone involved in something together, checking how each other’s team is doing, and either gloating or snapping depending on the result. It is an instant common experience between our newer members and those on the Web Applications team who have been here for years. He probably won’t appreciate this but it is also fun to see Safder in first, leading the way, and poor Rob, one of the longest serving members of Web Applications, dead last. I’m sorry Rob but you don’t have a single midfielder who gained you more than 2 points, Carr actually cost you 2 points and Drogba is sitting on your bench! Who am I to judge though, I have only ever watched one full length Premier League match and have almost every member of the USA World Cup team, none of them providing any significant help.&#160; But again, it’s only week one people, no need to be smug or downtrodden.</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/119.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/119.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 13 Aug 2010 15:53:41 GMT<p>Claire started in March 2008, giving her two and a half years of full Web Applications experience. She is a Software Engineer who works in Support with Jeff, Shui and Rob to name a few. Currently she is the only female on the support team which makes her quite special and is also&#160;the fourth member of Services to be profiled.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><img title="Madonna" border="0" alt="Madonna" align="left" width="180" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/Madonna_thumb.png" />Claire is quite easy to talk to, which is probably why she is so suited to Support. Claire spends a lot of her time doing Releases with Jeff. I’m not that familiar with the whole ‘Release’ thing, so I had it explained. A release is anything a client has request as well as any bug fixes, basically anything that will affect someone’s system in some way. Releases make up such a big part of Claire’s daily routine that for Genius Day a couple weeks back she attempted to devise a Release Process to streamline things a bit. That day was the most amount of time Claire has been able to spend on the project but it is still something she hopes to complete, if for nothing else but her own sanity.</p> <p>What’s an average day for Claire? Well she gets into the office, checks the releases due the following day, emails Project Managers, and then dives into the releases for the day. Claire really enjoys working in support; it’s a nice little mini-community with a flat hierarchy except for <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/78/superjeff-or-batjeff.aspx">Jeff</a>, <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/61/knowing-me-knowing-shui-hellip-ah-ha.aspx">Shui</a> and <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/114/sir-robert-knight-of-the-fishbowl.aspx">Rob</a> who have seniority.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'c3bed314'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/photo.jpg"><img title="Look how big the Georges have grown" border="0" alt="Look how big the Georges have grown" align="right" width="240" height="180" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/photo_thumb.jpg" /></a>This all seems fine and dandy, but is there a secret lurking in the dark? When it comes to special responsibilities, at first Claire said she didn’t have any. When I mentioned the Support pets, <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/113/services-gets-a-mascot.aspx">Sea Monkeys called George</a>, Claire changed her tune and said yes, she was in charge of taking care of them while Chris was away. Well, Chris has been away all this week, so she was completely (and with <em>special</em> responsibility) in charge of them as we were speaking. I asked Claire what she thought of Rob’s reaction to the Sea Monkeys (he thinks they are kind of disgusting). She responded that that was a very mean thing to say. Since she has been in charge of the Sea Monkeys all week, does she have any sort of special relationship with them? ‘No, absolutely not, of course not. The Sea Monkeys were Chris’ idea, he bought them, I had nothing to do with it. They are cute though. But nope, no special relationship at all.’ Methinks the lady doth protest too much. Perhaps this extended attachment is meant to redeem Claire from past transgressions, like accidentally killing a defenceless bunny rabbit through neglect when she was growing up. Just a theory.</p> <p>Claire is nothing if not competitive. There is currently a Guitar Hero competition in the office. After the first song Claire was the leading scorer in her <i>Medium</i> group. She has slipped into second place after the second song and is terrified she will fall to third place soon. Third is simply unacceptable. Claire has increased her practice time at home and is contemplating sabotage in an attempt to hold on to her tenuous place in second.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'c3bed314'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/Snowboarding%20Claire_2.jpg"><img title="Claire during her golden days" border="0" alt="Claire during her golden days" align="left" width="192" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/Snowboarding%20Claire_thumb.jpg" /></a>She is also a Snowboarder turned Skier, traitorous I know. Claire broke her Coccyx bone a while ago which makes it very sore to fall backwards (as often happens in snowboarding), but Skiers generally fall to the side which is much more bearable. For those of you without a proper anatomy course, the Coccyx is the bum bone, one of the less pleasant/convenient bones to break. If Claire can no longer taunt Skiers while on her obnoxious Snowboard, she will become a Skier and look down on the goofy snowboarders with the condescension of someone who perceives their sport as ‘real’ (a major sport in the Olympics) unlike Snowboarding whose highlights generally come from the X Games, putting it in the same realm of legitimacy as Skateboarding.</p> <p>Claire also seems to be in the running for youngest family genealogist. Yes, Claire tends her family tree. While others wait until they have children (and more likely grandchildren) to start mapping their family tree, Claire has gotten a head-start and is actively researching her family’s background. No word yet on how the patchwork quilt and needlepoint is progressing,&#160;it is funny&#160;to think this all started because ancestry.co.uk told her she was related to Charlemagne. <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'c3bed314'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/BigDaddy.png"><img title="I don't know what this is, but I'm told it's very cool" border="0" alt="I don't know what this is, but I'm told it's very cool" align="right" width="240" height="161" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ClaireOneinaMillionoratLeastinEight_ED3C/BigDaddy_thumb.png" /></a>Oh Claire, aren't we all?</p> <p>One battle that Claire doesn’t seem to be winning at the moment (though we’re all sure she’ll triumph in the end) is her fight against her house. Claire is trying to sell her house. In the process of selling this house, she has made a myriad of DIY improvements which include but are not limited to: knocking down walls, stripping walls, smoothing and painting walls, adding skirting etc. This house appears to have become the bane of her life. Claire used to enjoy a bit of DIY, now she dreads it as this has proved to be a traumatic experience. Once she sells the place maybe Claire should rent….somewhere furnished.</p> <p>And finally, have you heard about the Web Application’s Murder Mystery Night? Claire is very excited; I would not be surprised if there is some sort of mad dash to find out who is the killer the quickest, which does not preclude manic accusations and wild theories. It promises to be great event, but Claire….who will watch the Georges while you’re gone?</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/118.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/118.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 12 Aug 2010 16:16:01 GMT<p>A number of weeks ago while in a meeting of Senior Engineers, <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/blogid/4.aspx">Steve Elliott</a> suggested that there should be training sessions by and for developers. Each training session would be on a topic that the presenter found interesting and had the potential to be useful for fellow engineers. Anyone could present a topic, and everyone would have the option of attending in the presentation during lunch, though it would not be compulsory.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Well, this little idea has been put into action and has taken off quite well. Web Applications saw this as an excellent opportunity for peer-based learning and has encouraged the sessions. With this in mind and because people were giving up their lunch hour to attend sessions, Web Applications provides lunch for all attendees (Costco Pizza, yum). The first session on July 6 eased people into the idea with a presentation on Brease. While not technically a training session it was a useful topic and proliferated valuable information to everyone, Project Managers, Senior Engineers and Software Engineers.<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'e6357ffe'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/HTML5isaBreasebutthatMVCneedstogetoutofm_F295/clip_image002_2.jpg"><img title="A Repository Pattern, in case you couldn't tell" border="0" alt="A Repository Pattern, in case you couldn't tell" align="right" width="350" height="272" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/repository.jpg" /></a></p> <p>The second training lunch happened on July 20 on the topic of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5">HTML5</a>. The presentation acted as an introduction to the powerful but often elusive HTML5. Topics covered included what was new in HTML5, what people claim is in it but really isn’t, and what is ready to use now. <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/blogid/4.aspx">Steve</a> who ran the presentation used a lot of examples but due to the vast amount of information that was covered he was unable to achieve any real depth.</p> <p>The third training lunch took place on August 12 led by Rob on ASP.NET <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model%E2%80%93view%E2%80%93controller">MVC</a> (Models, Repositories and Interfaces). Rob discussed Models (a model is a set of classes which represent a data layer) then moved on to Travelite, a booking engine whose model has a completely pluggable architecture free from data implementation. Travelite also uses the Repository Pattern which let to Rob’s next segment.</p> <p>To the right is a repository pattern. Rob finished his training session on MVC with Dependency Injection and Inversion of Control. Naturally one would assume this was now a talk on chronic drug users but no, still just tech jargon.</p> <p>The training sessions have been a big hit and each one has seen the meeting room brimming with excited engineers eager to learn new technologies.&#160; Steve has informed me that he has another training session in the works which will focus on “Progressive Enhancement”.&#160; In a nutshell, this presentation will explain why it’s important to write site that degrade gracefully when functionality isn’t available, and how it means we can start to use HTML5 and CSS3 features already.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/117.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/117.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 11 Aug 2010 16:23:57 GMT<p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/">Web Applications UK</a> is gearing up to celebrate our tenth anniversary in style.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'6dbcaba5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsUKknowshowtoworkhardandpl_F49F/tommy%20gun_2.jpg"><img title="Say hello to my little friend" border="0" alt="Say hello to my little friend" align="left" width="240" height="117" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsUKknowshowtoworkhardandpl_F49F/tommy%20gun_thumb.jpg" /></a>In celebration of our 10^th Anniversary on September 13^th, Web Applications will be having a staff outing at the end of that week. We at Web Applications like to be a little different. We wanted to celebrate with a day out that the whole company would enjoy and get excited about. We looked at options that ranged from Paint Ball to a company-wide music video, all of which bowed in favour to our final decision. Murder Mystery Night.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'6dbcaba5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsUKknowshowtoworkhardandpl_F49F/body%20outline_2.jpg"><img title="The Body" border="0" alt="The Body" align="right" width="200" height="150" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsUKknowshowtoworkhardandpl_F49F/body%20outline_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Our Murder Mystery Night will be a night to remember. It will be done in the classic 20s Gangster theme, replete with Tommy guns, flapper dresses and bowler hats. To give the night that little extra *spooky* edge, we will be having it in the Pennine Manor Hotel, which has excellent views of the surrounding Yorkshire hills landscape.</p> <p>We are all very excited and are expecting a great turnout for the night. We have confirmed that the hotel has phone reception and Wifi to handle any pesky support calls that might come in. Never fear, we’ve got you covered. So with our trench coats in one hand and a Philip Marlowe brand of whisky in the other, here’s to a night to remember!&#160;</p> <p>&#160;</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/116.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/116.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 10 Aug 2010 11:41:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>We at Web Applications UK love Microsoft, this is no secret. You may not see a WinMo within 100 feet of our office, but we still love Microsoft – and who knows, the whole WinMo thing might change when Windows Phone 7 comes out. Enough about the phone, this article is about partnership and competency, Microsoft Partnerships and Competencies that is.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'840216a0'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/1162a1e69bee_99C5/MPN1_2.png"><img title="Microsoft Partner Network" border="0" alt="Microsoft Partner Network" align="right" width="214" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/1162a1e69bee_99C5/MPN1_thumb.png" /></a>Competencies are a key component of the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN). The Microsoft Partner Network is a community that assists and provides resources for Microsoft Partners. There are currently 640,000 Microsoft partners across the world; the MPN provides partners with learning opportunities, customer expertise and communities that drive innovation. This also means that there are 640,000 broken people across the world who have no idea what to do about the seismic shift in Microsoft’s Partnership Program, scared to death they are going to lose and never get back all of their hard-earned competencies. Web Apps is here to provide a little light at the end of this dark tunnel.</p> <p>So, for all those non MPN members out there, What Is A Competency?</p> <p>A ‘competency’ is recognition from Microsoft that your organisation has proficient/advanced skills in specific Microsoft Technologies.</p> <p>Microsoft allows its partners to differentiate themselves from competitors by fulfilling a number of standardised qualifications. There is a competency for almost every skill set useful in implementing and maintaining Microsoft technologies. Competencies are a great way to show customers what your business’ specialties are, and boosts confidence with Microsoft’s vote of confidence. The requirements to attain a competency vary but there are some general requirements for Competencies. For a Competency your organisation needs at least two Microsoft Certified Professionals or Application Compatibility, Volume Licensing Online Training and Assessments (exams), three unique customer references and a full Microsoft Profile.</p> <p>Do I sound like I know what I’m talking about? I should, Web Apps currently holds seven (7) competencies, including:</p> <ol> <li>Volume Licensing</li> <li>Unified Communications Solution</li> <li>Independent Software Vendor (ISV)</li> <li>Data Management Solutions</li> <li>Business Intelligence</li> <li>Information Worker Solutions</li> <li>Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Business Process</li> </ol> <p>Also, we are in the midst of studying for the Unified Communications (Voice) Competency to complement our current specialisation in Instant Messaging and Presence.</p> <p>So what is all this about a ‘seismic shift’?</p> <p>Well, Microsoft is getting rid of its partnership qualifications. Do you know/are you a company with a Microsoft Select, Silver or Gold partnership level? Well not for much longer. Microsoft is scrapping its ‘Gold Partner’ title as well with the rest of them; soon we will all just be ‘partners’ (probably October 2010). That’s not all. Competencies will be split between Silver and Gold levels.&#160; It took some time for Microsoft to decide on the 'Silver' and 'Gold' titles, for a long time during the planning process (and in much of the slightly dated MS literature) the 'Gold' competency was going to be called an 'Advanced' competency.</p> <p>This sounds like nothing but being a ‘Microsoft Gold Partner’ has been such a badge of honour for such a long time that this new system might take some getting used to. Instead of being a Gold Partner or Silver Partner, members of Microsoft’s Partner Network can earn Gold and Silver <i>Competencies</i>. The requirements for attaining these competencies vary in degree more than in essence, for example a business needs five customer references&#160;for a Gold competency&#160;instead of three for&#160;Silver&#160;and four MS Certified Professionals&#160;instead of two.&#160;Starting in October 2010 partners must make a minimum revenue commitment based on their geography and which competency they wish to attain (for a Gold Competency). Also starting in October 2010 partners going for a silver and gold competency must also pass a Microsoft Licensing Overview Assessment and a Sales and Marketing Competency Assessment.&#160; And finally each MS Certified Professional may only carry&#160;<em>one</em>&#160;gold competency (you are not allowed to employ one genius who racks up 10 Gold competencies).&#160;New logos will appear shortly.</p> <p>Don’t forget the ‘Small Business Specialist’</p> <p><img alt="" align="left" width="176" height="89" src="/Portals/0/sbs1.png" />The beloved Small Business Specialist is also not immune to changes. Instead of an accreditation, the Small Business Specialist will join its cousins as a full-blown Competency. The requirements to obtain a Small Business Specialist designation will remain the same as they are today and the general requirements for competencies are&#160;the same across the board. Now, just because you’re a member in the Small Business Specialist Community today does NOT mean that you will automatically qualify at the competency level. Once again, the competency general requirements apply to everyone. The only real change will be the exams, many of the old and existing exams to become a SBS will no longer qualify, six of the original exams to be exact. Instead there are now four exams that will qualify you, Windows Small Business Server 2008, Configuring; Windows 7m Pre-installing for OEMs; Windows Server 2008, Network Infrastructure, Configuring; and Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office.</p> <p>In case you were worried....Web Applications' dedicated team has already met the new requirements for Small Business Specialist.&#160; That logo is going to be sticking around us for a long time.</p> <p>At the end of the day, these are not monumental changes. If you start noticing new logos here and there, do not be alarmed, it is natural to experience some slight disorientation due to how often Microsoft has changed their minds regarding this program. We are confident this is the final restructure.&#160; You can find more information on Microsoft’s plans straight from the horse's mouth <a href="https://partner.microsoft.com/global/program/40109866">here</a>.</p></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/78.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/78.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 06 Aug 2010 13:29:16 GMT<p>John, Web Applications UK’s trusty designer has re-invigorated and re-imagined all of our Product logos. Read on for a sneak peak at the new faces of Traveller, Acumen and the whole family of Web Apps products.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>&#160;A number of weeks ago, John, immensely dissatisfied with Web Applications’ group of logos, took it upon himself to redesign everything.&#160; After finding out that Web Applications was not in fact going to allow him to redesign our actual office space, he has had to satisfy himself with the less tangible side of things.&#160; John plans to unveil his new creations when the <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/86/saying-so-long-farewell-to-the-old-website.aspx">new website</a> goes live, but if you scroll down you’ll see that I’ve jumped the gun. So, what was the motivation behind this overhaul of logos? Well, I believe that John is nihilist, destroying every inch of the old website in order that his new, shinier and more consistent widgets and symbols may rise again from the ashes like a phoenix.&#160; It’s either that or the more boring answer, ‘It was time.’</p> <p>John has provided a rather complete explanation of the thinking behind his new logos which I plan to represent here as faithfully as possible. First, an overview.</p> <p>The logos have been created in a ‘3D’ web 2.0 style which corresponds well with a company like Web Apps: up-and-coming, cutting-edge, I.T. Professionalism at its best. With this profile in mind, the logos are intended to be looking ahead, bold, recognisable in their smallest instance and memorable at a glance. The foundation and common principle of each logo is a spherical metallic casing, crafted individually producing a unique window to view the core element of the logo. The metallic casings are symbolic on two levels; they represent unity, unity within the core family of products and unity of craftsmanship and design. The casings also represent security, the core elements of the logo/product are safely packaged inside the metallic casing and also this is a manifestation of the actual performance of the products.</p> <p><img alt="Traveller, Mercury and Acumen Logos" width="701" height="192" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/TMA-Product-Logos.gif" /></p> <p>Traveller, Mercury and Acumen, Web Applications’ three most prominent products have each been given windows that help form the first letter of their respective names, T, M, A. Also similar to these logos is the spherical central core which represents global travel, gravity, centricity to business operations. These shared characteristics indicate their importance and shared relationship.</p> <p><img alt="Brease, Tracker and Babel Logos" width="701" height="192" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/BTB-Product-Logos.gif" /></p> <p>Tracker adopts a compass shaped central core which has obvious ties to its name. Tracker, like a compass, is used to guide people to new places and opportunities, and its corresponding colour seems a close cousin to Forest Green.</p> <p>Babel uses a balanced pattern of orbiting spheres as its central core theme. The circling spheres represent how with Babel as a core medium Web Applications UK Products communicate with third party applications and gateways. The gravity of Babel keeps everything in a state of equilibrium, properly spaced out and continually in motion.</p> <p>Looking at the Brease logo you will hopefully notice its fan-shaped core which is a play on its name. Brease is short for Batch Reporting with ease, and is the new Reporting System which will be a <i>breeze</i> to use (ho ho).</p> <p><img alt="Landscape Orientation" width="701" height="192" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/ABT-product-logos-(black).gif" /></p> <p>Strong colours carefully chosen for each product accord the logos an air of exclusivity, depth and sophistication which will meld well the new Website design and layout. The feathered light bar acts as a divider between the product name and logo in both the portrait and landscape orientations. The font used for all 6 logos is Myriad Pro Regular, which is jaw dropping.</p> <p>Now a much less major change to John but a relatively important one to me is some punctuation/spelling changes.&#160; Notice Traveller is no longer <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/travel/tr_veller.aspx">Tr@veller</a>!&#160; The @ sign is all gone! Also Br-ease is now officially Brease so you can all rest easy tonight that the new logos are not littered with mistakes, but in fact reflections of upcoming changes.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/115.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/115.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 05 Aug 2010 17:08:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><strong>What is a Data Centre?</strong></p> <p>Our new Data Centre is an off-site location used to store Web Applications’ data. By “Web Applications’ data” we mean our customers’ data. Really the data centre is a co-location site so that we can have servers in another building (and in another area) guarding against the possibility of a freak accident completely destroying our office; in which case all the data, yours, mine and ours, will be just fine.</p> <p>This new building has multiple redundancies, in other words, many fail-safes. The power can go off, the broadband can go down and still, the building is equipped so that everything will be fine, the back-up generators can last on diesel for a week and the broadband can switch links and IP addresses and everything so that there is nothing to worry about. Also, the building site has 24-hour security access. It’s so secure, they won’t even tell me where it is.</p> <p><strong><img alt="" align="right" width="200" height="133" src="/Portals/0/dataracks.jpg" />Why did we invest in a data centre? And – why now?</strong></p> <p>Previously, Web Applications didn’t host enough data to warrant our own Data Centre. Our on-site back-up facilities were more than capable of handling all of our data. Things have been changing recently as Web Applications continues to grow and expand our services, we are filling up our office building with data and now we need (and have found) more space.&#160; We invested in a Data Centre because it is good for our customers and good for us.&#160; More explanation follows.</p> <p><strong>What does this mean for our customers?</strong></p> <p>It means extra protection against data-loss, and it means the opportunity to have Web Applications handle all of your business’ data needs. With our new data centre we have much more freedom and flexibility to host data, and so can centralise companies’ data needs. Instead of making multiple calls, one to a data hosting company, one to an I.T. Support provider etc., you can make just one with Web Applications as your I.T. Solutions provider and Data Hosting supplier. This way, it’s easier for our customers to get results and it is easier for Web Applications to provide end-to-end I.T. Support. A victory for everyone.</p> <p>NB – the picture displayed is not a physical representation of our data centre, but merely <em>a</em> data centre.&#160; My fumbling hands and feet are not allowed anywhere near the servers, which makes taking pictures a physical impossibility.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/77.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/77.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 30 Jul 2010 11:33:10 GMT<p>Rob has been with Web Applications since 2003 making him the longest serving member of staff. Not only that - Rob, Lee and Gordon go back, way back. Rob’s known Lee since he was 18, and Gordon since he was 20. There is no need to bandy about guessing ages, suffice to say that it’s in the realm of a 20 year acquaintance; give or take a decade.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Rob is Web Applications’ Services Manager. It’s safe to say that Rob is a prime example of someone who was worked his way through the ranks. Rob started as a developer, became a Senior Engineer, then briefly moved into Project Management and now resides as the head of the Services department. It used to be that the Services Manager meant being the Support Manager and the IT Manager; but with such a large customer base that is continuing to grow, IT infrastructure has been delegated to Robin and Allan. Don’t be fooled though, Rob is ready and willing to jump in whenever Robin and Allan are away. Of all the positions he’s had in the company, Rob is definitely happiest where he is now. Services is a great place to work and he enjoys having an impact on the company’s perception since the support team often interacts directly with customers.</p> <p>I asked Rob what an average day looks like in Services. The answer? There is no ‘average day’ in services. Then I got what can only be described as an ideological call to action.</p> <p>“You have to be proactive in Support, it can be difficult to plan in advance. You have to stop problems from growing out of proportion.”&#160; Support is like being a guard to an exquisite treasure, you have to battle valiantly against every attacker, and never waver, whatever the cost may be. So engage that issue, pour your heart and soul into every query and never back away or be afraid to call in reserves! YOU WANT THE TRUTH? YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH. Cue <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qIgVrOy9vM&amp;feature=PlayList&amp;p=AE6FFCB8EB59DC71&amp;playnext=1&amp;index=9">John J. Rambo’s breakdown from First Blood.</a> Phew! I may have gotten carried away a little, but they are a very committed bunch, especially now that the fishbowl <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/113/services-gets-a-mascot.aspx">has its own little pet fishes</a>.</p> <p>After talking to Rob for a few minutes it became immediately obvious that he had two huge passions. One is movies - not so weird. The other is the reproduction of medieval armour and the subsequent use of the armour in medieval Live Action Role Play (or LARP). Now, who am I to say that medieval costumes and role playing are weird? It’s not weird, it’s pure gold.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'8f4701b3'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/SirRobertKnightoftheFishbowl_A54B/montage_4.png"><img title="Sir Rob, Knight of the Fishbowl" border="0" alt="Sir Rob, Knight of the Fishbowl" width="878" height="768" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/SirRobertKnightoftheFishbowl_A54B/montage_thumb_1.png" /></a></p> <p>It is almost touching the way Rob talks about his medieval role play. You see, Rob has set up a workshop in his garage and uses his knowledge of metalworking skills he has honed over the years to create realistic reproductions of medieval armour. He enjoys the craftsmanship as well as creating something himself. His love of fine craftsmanship is also apparent in his preference of Formula One over more traditional sports. It’s also deeply satisfying for Rob that using nothing but his own skills and some hard work he can create something physical that he can look at, admire, and wear with pride. In some ways it is ‘the antithesis to sitting at a computer all day’ to use his own words.</p> <p>Okay, here is how I see this working. Rob sits there and says, “I want to create something <i>fantastic,</i> what shall I do? I know, I will set up shop in my garage, car be damned, use the most dangerous tools I can think of, buy lots of sheet metal, and turn myself into a fashion designer for those prone to flesh wounds.” And that is exactly what he did. The chain mail is still a work in progress; all designers know the measure of a masterpiece is in the details.</p> <p>Now the Role Play aspect of this is interesting to me. It seems that the people involved are pretty intense (come on, that’s not surprising) and so your character is consistent until something happens to you. Now, Rob for instance, dies about once a year, at which point he has to conjure up a new <i>persona</i>. I’m not entirely sure how often people get together for this but Rob personally participates two to three times a year through <a href="http://www.curiouspastimes.co.uk">Curious Pastimes</a>. Each time he joins the banner of knights he stays for the whole weekend, camping in a tent and living the life of his character. I’m told this fact is a good illustration of how committed Rob is (Rob is committed to his hobby, not committed to a hospital, yet) to his medieval role play…because he really hates camping. Hey Rob, I hear glamping is fun, it’s like camping but with all the comforts of home? It might be a little anachronistic to the medieval re-enactment, but hey, so are teeth fillings, Corona Light and the Styrofoam used to pad the fake swords. Just saying.</p> <p>Ask Rob his favourite movie, just do it and see his reaction. I’m pretty sure there was a little explosion detonated in his head. After hee-ing and haw-ing for a couple minutes about how there were just too many options, Rob honed in on Star Wars, the Empire Strikes Back and declared it unequivocally the victor. There is something special in that movie, specifically in the baddies that makes it so fun to watch over and over again. Now that Rob has kids he gets to relive the feeling of watching Star Wars for the first time.</p> <p>So that’s Rob, the Knight of the Fishbowl. Please, appreciate the montage of pictures put together for public consumption. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/114.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/114.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 29 Jul 2010 14:22:40 GMT<p>After years of hard work and social exclusion, the services team manages to get a reward, a pet. </p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ServicesGetsAMascot_D7D6/George_1.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'39880a03'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="George" border="0" alt="George" title="George" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ServicesGetsAMascot_D7D6/George_thumb_1.jpg" width="114" height="150" /></a>The Services Team have not just been given any pet, but one of the most rare and beautiful species known to mankind. Sea Monkeys. They may not seem like much to the naked eye, but put those puppies under a microscope and they will *shine*.</p> <p>Some have questioned the motivations behind the acquisition, but Support have assured us that the Sea Monkeys will be treated fairly in accordance with all laws, and will not be accidentally knocked over nor be flushed down the toilet.&#160; There is even an origami swan providing protection against all harm. </p> <p>Purchased from that vendor of all sorts of exotic fish and animals, Tesco, the Sea Monkeys have made a comfortable home in the services department. The support team has promised that they will take care of their new pet, they will hug them and kiss them and call them all George. There seems to be some confusion about whether the Sea Monkeys have already hatched, whether the floating bits are food, or maybe the water is just really dirty – it doesn’t really matter though, as long as they’re happy.&#160; </p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/113.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/113.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 29 Jul 2010 09:09:39 GMT<p>I won’t lie to you, we’re <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> fans here…&#160; OK, that should’ve got rid of the annoying fanbois!&#160; The Redmond guys do a lot of great work, most of which goes under the radar, unnoticed and unappreciated.&#160; It’s easy to pick on the pack leader, but it doesn’t mean it’s all true.&#160; That said, too often they make decisions that, to put nicely, are hard to defend.&#160; One that <a href="http://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/post/2393/microsoft-takes-email-design-b/">caused quite a storm</a> was the decision to use the Word 2007 HTML renderer in Outlook 2007 to render HTML emails.</p><p>Up until Office 2007, Outlook used the rendering engine from Internet Explorer to render HTML emails, but used Word to compose them.&#160; This meant that users would write an email in Outlook, cc’ing themselves, and what they got back looked different.&#160; <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> noticed this, and <a href="http://www.molly.com/2007/01/18/what-happened-with-html-and-css-in-outlook-2007/">decided to do something about it</a>.&#160; Fixing Word to output HTML in a standards compliant way would have been the logical choice, but not for <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a>; it was much easier to render HTML emails in Word when received in Outlook.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>For Outlook users, the result was a consistent experience, for email marketeers, it was a disaster – but who likes them anyway, bunch of spammers.</p> <p><img alt="The Campaign Monitor newsletter in Outlook 2007" align="right" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" src="http://www.campaignmonitor.com/uploads/images/blog/cm-2007.png" /></p> <p><img alt="The Campaign Monitor newsletter in Outlook 2000" align="left" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" src="http://www.campaignmonitor.com/uploads/images/blog/cm-2000.png" />The result was a general avoidance of HTML in emails (beyond the simplest mark-up), and a descent into the dark ages, as can be seen from the examples from <a href="http://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/post/2393/microsoft-takes-email-design-b/">Campaign Monitor</a>.</p> <p>But, to be fair that’s <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a>’s prerogative.&#160; They can write systems to be non-standards compliant, they can degrade functionality, and people have the right to vote with their feet.&#160; There’s no God-given right here to force them to be sensible, they’re a business, and just as our friends over at <a href="http://www.apple.com/">Apple</a> prove consistently, you don’t need to play nice to win.</p> <p>What gets on my nerves is when a Software company rights code <em>that doesn’t work with their own products</em>.&#160; That’s a bug!&#160; And the big problem for big M was the effect of the Outlook decision on SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).&#160; SSRS 2005 was a great success in the enterprise, and unsurprisingly it was increasingly being used to email rich reports throughout the enterprise and to customers.</p> <p>These emails could contain graphs, pictures, all kinds of useful information, and companies lapped it up.&#160; But the output from SSRS 2005 <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/417032/sql-reporting-services-why-does-my-report-shrink-when-its-emailed">did not display correctly</a> in <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> Outlook 2007 – the client of choice in MS-enabled enterprise, and the largest revenue spinner for <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> itself.&#160; At this point, with large enterprises complaining about the pretty reports being broke, you’d think <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> would have a change of heart, but that would’ve been a big climb down.&#160; It might have been difficult to patch all those copies of Outlook out there, but I doubt it, changing the renderer from Word back to IE wouldn’t have been that difficult, ideally they would have fixed Word to be standards compliant – but that would have been prohibitively expensive, so I don’t blame them ducking that solution.&#160; The cheapest way was to patch the HTML Renderer in SSRS 2005, and that’s the route they chose and deployed in <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956854">cumulative update package 10 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2</a>&#160; (and later SP3).&#160; This update didn’t restore full HTML compatibility, it just stopped the tables shrinking, and so it didn’t look so bad.</p> <p>No one was happy but at least it was better than the terrible shrinking column problem that was plaguing the SSRS community.</p> <p>Now with the soon to be released <a href="http://brea.se">Brease</a> version 2, we’re leveraging some of the great enhancements added to SSRS 2008, where they’ve upgraded the Report Builder to be much more useable and feature rich – which is great for clients, for whom Visual Studio is a bit <em>too</em> feature rich.&#160; Imagine our horror when we discovered the shrinking columns problem had reoccurred? Clearly, when re-writing the HTML renderer in SSRS 2008, <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> had not included their previously released fix.&#160; Obviously we got on the phone and after several days came back a typically amusing, and standard, “we can’t reproduce it but here’s the fix…” response.</p> <p>So for anyone else noticing that their SSRS 2008 reports are not rendering correctly in Outlook.&#160; Firstly you should upgrade to R2, as <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.htmlExpand(this, { objectType: 'iframe',width:1024,height:768 } )" href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> have added a setting to the <a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms153991.aspx">MHTML Device Information Setting</a> and the <a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms155395.aspx">HTML&#160;Device Information Setting </a>called OutlookCompat (what??? you missed it???).&#160; The description of this field is “Indicates whether to render with extra metadata that makes the report look better in Outlook.”.&#160; The&#160;default value for MHTML&#160;is true, but for HTML&#160;it's false so you have to explicitly set it.&#160;</p> <p>So to fix the shrinking tables problem in SSRS 2008 R2, you need to edit the rsreportserver.config file in your installation (if you don’t know how,&#160;slowly back away from your computer and&#160;call your IT guy).</p> <p>Look for the following XML -</p> <div id="codeSnippetWrapper"> <pre id="codeSnippet" style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #0000ff">&lt;</span><span style="color: #800000">Extension</span> <span style="color: #ff0000">Name</span><span style="color: #0000ff">="HTML"</span> <span style="color: #ff0000">Type</span><span style="color: #0000ff">="Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HtmlRenderer.MHtmlRenderingExtension,<br />Microsoft.ReportingServices.HtmlRendering"</span><span style="color: #0000ff">/&gt;</span></pre> <br /> &#160;</div> <p>And replace with the following -</p> <div id="codeSnippetWrapper"> <pre id="codeSnippet" style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: 'Courier New', courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #0000ff">&lt;</span><span style="color: #800000">Extension</span> <span style="color: #ff0000">Name</span><span style="color: #0000ff">="HTML"</span> <span style="color: #ff0000">Type</span><span style="color: #0000ff">="Microsoft.ReportingServices.Rendering.HtmlRenderer.MHtmlRenderingExtension,<br /> Microsoft.ReportingServices.HtmlRendering"</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /> <span style="color: #0000ff">&lt;</span><span style="color: #800000">Configuration</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /> <span style="color: #0000ff">&lt;</span><span style="color: #800000">DeviceInfo</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /> <span style="color: #0000ff">&lt;</span><span style="color: #800000">OutlookCompat</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span>True<span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="color: #800000">OutlookCompat</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /> <span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="color: #800000">DeviceInfo</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /> <span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="color: #800000">Configuration</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="color: #800000">Extension</span><span style="color: #0000ff">&gt;</span><br /></span></span></span></span><p>&#160;</p></pre> <p>Alternatively, you can set the DeviceInfo OutlookCompat flag explicitly when rendering HTML that will ultimately be rendered in an email client. This will prevent the junk being output on all HTML that may only be destined for a browser.</p> <p>I hope that helps some poor harassed developer out there who has a big Enterprise screaming down his neck after investing a fortune in upgrading to SSRS 2008! In the meantime, lets keep hoping that the trend being shown with <a href="http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/">IE9</a> represents a general softening of <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> towards standards compliance, and maybe, just maybe, Office 2014 will include a Word that loves HTML… you know, it might just happen!</p> </div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/112.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/112.aspxCraig DeanThu, 22 Jul 2010 16:36:30 GMT<p>This week’s profile is John P. I promised not to add any embarrassing links in this profile to his various websites (myspace, ball of dirt) but I will say that he is <em>highly</em> searchable if you can spell his last name.&#160; That said, let’s begin.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/J.png"><img title="J" border="0" alt="J" width="30" height="47" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/J_thumb.png" /></a>&#160; ohn is Web Applications’ Graphic Designer and has come into our world in the beginning of March this year to make everything ‘prettier’. His job includes designing marketing material, logos, creating new identities for sub-branches of Web Apps (like our soon to come Unified Comms branch), new website, User Interfaces and icon sets. At the moment he is creating a new set of product logos for us, and has completed four out of the six, giving them a completely new, sophisticated look.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/G.png"><img title="G" border="0" alt="G" width="40" height="51" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/G_thumb.png" /></a> enius Day revealed some undiscovered facts about John. One is that he speaks a mile a minute (seriously, it puts Steve Elliott to shame). Another fact is that John loves his fonts, sorry, <em>typefaces</em>. He has designed a whole new <em>typeface</em>, it’s very pretty, not particularly legible (no offence), called Denva. The story is that he was trolling the web for company logos, and found one from a construction company based in Denver, CO. His <em>typeface </em>is based on this image; because the image looked a bit like an ‘A’ he decided to take Denver and change it to Denva. The mind of an artist eh?</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/T.png"><img title="T" border="0" alt="T" width="45" height="36" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/T_thumb.png" /></a>he best part about this job for John is the diversity that is offered in his day-to-day activities. Moving to this role from a more print-based and branding background has opened John’s eyes to a whole new world of web-possibilities.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/N.png"><img title="N" border="0" alt="N" width="35" height="48" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/N_thumb.png" /></a> ow here is the point in the conversation where I turned against my subject. Here’s the story…John and I are on the same team in the office. It’s a good team, we also have Vivienne, Naomi, Kate (who has joined us very recently) and Nick. It’s pretty much the best team ever, we provide light and hope to an office mucked in technology, we’re like a glimpse of the outside world, doors to human emotions like joy and excitement. Honestly, we’re an awesome team, but I might be biased. WELL, I asked which <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/50.aspx">Webbie</a> he would like most&#160;to be awarded come Christmas, given the options from last year, which include:<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/john%20pic.png"><img title="John after Goldfinger is done with him. " border="0" alt="John after Goldfinger is done with him. " align="right" width="180" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/john%20pic_thumb.png" /></a></p> <p>The most up to date with technology <br /> Largest consumer of coffee <br /> Always takes advantage of free food <br /> Best Entertainer <br /> Takes the most breaks <br /> Person who is always right <br /> Person with the most ‘idiot’ moments <br /> The person who ‘just does it’ <br /> The best team</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/Y.png"><img title="Y" border="0" alt="Y" width="40" height="52" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/Y_thumb.png" /></a>ou may have noticed I left out the, arguably, most prestigious award, ‘Pride of Web Apps’ Colleague of the Year award, I didn’t want it to be an option, the other awards are so much more colourful. Clearly, the obvious (and most accurate) choice was The Best Team award. But noooo, John thinks he would prefer the Nike Award for the person who ‘just does it’. Of course when I pointed out that he had perhaps chosen unwisely, John quickly saw the error of his ways and begged to change his answer for the Team award. Unfortunately it was too late. If John doesn’t think his group is easily the best then too bad for him, the rest of us know better. In his defence, he does have a tendency to get on with things, so I suppose his answer wasn’t completely without merit, but it was still wrong.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/J.png"><img title="J" border="0" alt="J" width="30" height="47" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/J_thumb.png" /></a>&#160; ohn has an interesting definition of ‘hobby’. For instance, his band is one of his hobbies. They have recorded 40 ‘tunes’ (musicians prefer the word ‘tunes’ to ‘songs’ for some reason. I don’t know why this is the case, but it seems widespread) in the past month. 40. I’m pretty sure that counts as a second job, not a hobby. And his other hobby? EATING and cooking. Cooking I can understand, but personally I can’t really see eating as a hobby, it’s more of a human necessity, but hey, that’s just me.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/I.png"><img title="I" border="0" alt="I" width="25" height="61" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/I_thumb.png" /></a>&#160; won’t bore you with the tale of John’s Squash winnings and losses. It’s like a short melodrama if you ask him. Yes, yes he used to play tennis but then he didn’t play tennis for a while and then he moved to squash and then the office team got set up and that was exciting and so he lost to <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/61/knowing-me-knowing-shui-hellip-ah-ha.aspx">Shui</a> in his first game but then he really came back from that and beat Shui when he played him again and now he’s won all of his games except for last night where he lost in an epic battle to <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/83/steve-elliott-escapes-the-squirrels.aspx">Steve Elliott</a> &lt;-- is what I mean.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'3a44385c'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/S.png"><img title="S" border="0" alt="S" width="40" height="56" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ProfileoftheWeekJohnPtheOfficeArtiste_F75E/S_thumb.png" /></a> o finally I will leave my reader with things to remember about John. He has some intense arachnophobia. Flip-out levels of arachnophobia. Also he laughs like a girl. If you’re quiet you can hear it sometimes, but you have to train your ears to pick up on those super high pitches. I let him read this profile before I published it and I couldn’t hear him laughing, but maybe I just couldn’t pick up the frequency. And finally, John is a snob about public transport, but I’m pretty sure that’s because we all know <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/guam/7904170/Ship-turned-away-after-spiders-started-pouring-from-cargo-hold.html">public transport is crawling with spiders</a>.</p> <p>And! Brand New Edition, a comic from Kris to complete the whole package</p> <p><img align="middle" width="600" height="148" alt="" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/john comic.png" /></p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/111.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/111.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 22 Jul 2010 11:11:00 GMT<div><table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="293"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24"><font color="#000080"><strong>September</strong></font></td> <td valign="top" width="16">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31"><font color="#000080"><strong>October</strong></font></td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">Sunday</td> <td valign="top" width="16">Monday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Tuesday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Wednesday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Thursday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Friday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Saturday</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">Sunday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Monday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Tuesday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Wednesday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Thursday</td> <td valign="top" width="20">Friday</td> <td valign="top" width="10">Saturday</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="16">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">1 <br /> &#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">2</td> <td valign="top" width="20">3</td> <td valign="top" width="20">4</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">1</td> <td valign="top" width="10">2</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">5</td> <td valign="top" width="16">6</td> <td valign="top" width="20">7</td> <td valign="top" width="20">8 <br /> &#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">9</td> <td valign="top" width="20">10</td> <td valign="top" width="20">11</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">3</td> <td valign="top" width="20">4</td> <td valign="top" width="20">5</td> <td valign="top" width="20">6</td> <td valign="top" width="20">7</td> <td valign="top" width="20">8</td> <td valign="top" width="10">9</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">12</td> <td valign="top" width="16"><strong><font color="#800000">Ten Year Anniversary</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="20">14</td> <td valign="top" width="20">15</td> <td valign="top" width="20">16</td> <td valign="top" width="20">17</td> <td valign="top" width="20">18</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">10</td> <td valign="top" width="20">11</td> <td valign="top" width="20">12</td> <td valign="top" width="20">13</td> <td valign="top" width="20">14</td> <td valign="top" width="20"><strong><font color="#800000">Oldham Gala Dinner</font></strong></td> <td valign="top" width="10">16</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">19</td> <td valign="top" width="16">20</td> <td valign="top" width="20"><font color="#800000"><strong>Travel Innovation <br /> Summit</strong></font></td> <td valign="top" width="20">22</td> <td valign="top" width="20">23</td> <td valign="top" width="20">24</td> <td valign="top" width="20">25</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">17</td> <td valign="top" width="20">18</td> <td valign="top" width="20">19</td> <td valign="top" width="20">20</td> <td valign="top" width="20">21</td> <td valign="top" width="20">22</td> <td valign="top" width="10">23</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">26</td> <td valign="top" width="16">27</td> <td valign="top" width="20">28</td> <td valign="top" width="20">29 <br /> &#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">30</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">24</td> <td valign="top" width="20">25</td> <td valign="top" width="20">26</td> <td valign="top" width="20">27</td> <td valign="top" width="20">28</td> <td valign="top" width="20">29</td> <td valign="top" width="10">30</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="16">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="31">31 <br /> &#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="20">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="10">&#160;</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>First, this September Web Applications UK will be announcing its TEN Year Anniversary. It seems amazing to us that it has been ten years since Lee and Gordon founded the company - and also that it has <i>only</i> been ten years, but there you have it. Web Applications staff will have an activity day out to celebrate this momentous occasion. The date of the anniversary is September 13, though our ‘Day Out’ will likely be on a weekend.</p> <p>Second, Web Applications UK will be sponsoring and attending Travel Technology Initiative’s Autumn Conference called <a href="http://www.tti.org/index.php?id=49">‘Travel Innovation Summit’</a> on September 21 in London. We <i>love</i> attending these events and getting a chance to visit London mid-week.</p> <p>Third, The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Oldham Gala Dinner on October 15. The dinner will give Oldham Businesses a chance to celebrate recent achievements with clients, friends and partners. The event will be held in Clough Manor in Denshaw and registration will be open shortly.</p> <p>When more details are available the events will be listed individually on our <a href="/Community/Events/tabid/88/Default.aspx">Events</a> section of the website as always.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/76.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/76.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 21 Jul 2010 12:44:00 GMT<div><p>On Friday, July 16 Web Applications held its first annual Genius Day. This event was to be made annual judging from its reception this year, but it was an all-out success. Twenty five members of staff participated in the competition, each one coming up with an original idea. The ideas represented a myriad of issues from streamlining issue tracker and Babel releases to an iPhone application and comic strips. Everything was covered and the amount of time and effort that went into each presentation was extremely impressive.</p> <p>Genius Day was a competition of sorts (the judging criterion is a bit murky) but after all was said and done the best presentations appeared to be decided by the level of passion, creativity, and usefulness for Web Applications. On Monday, July 19 each individual or team had between two and five minutes to present their work, and the winners were announced directly after all the presentations were complete.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'d3ad3fda'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayhascomeandgonebutideasarefriend_B312/genius1_2.jpg"><img title="Denva Typeface" border="0" alt="Denva Typeface" align="right" width="300" height="99" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayhascomeandgonebutideasarefriend_B312/genius1_thumb.jpg" /></a>Four individuals received an Honourable Mention:</p> <p><strong>John P</strong>: Denva – Display Typeface&#160;&#160; <br /> <strong>Claire</strong>: No One Like Conflict: Release Procedures <br /> <strong>Steve M</strong>: PHP Babel Helper <br /> <strong>Rashid</strong>: SQL Reports Deployment (Programmatically)</p> <p>And now the winners:</p> <p>1^st Place:<strong> Louise, Andrew and Cheryl</strong>: Jami Dodger, a Traffic Application <br /> 2^nd Place:<strong> Kris and Kerry</strong>: Three Topics, Babel Log, Testing Document, Panel Comics <br /> 3^rd Place: <strong>Steve E</strong>: MEF – Managed Extensibility Framework</p> <p>We would like to congratulate the winners and say thank you to everyone who participated and to those who covered the phones during the presentations, these events would not be possible without your sacrifices. And now, start brainstorming for next year!</p> <p>UPDATE-----</p> <p>I forgot to add that Chris H received an honourable mention as well for his presentation on SVN Commits Logger using jQuery/AJAX.&#160; I apologise for any distress caused by this omission.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/75.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/75.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 20 Jul 2010 15:57:57 GMT<p>Ahh, so Genius Day has come and gone; the presentations were Monday morning where everyone showed off their great ideas. I’m going to do a quick run-down of everyone’s project as succinctly and accurately as I can, some of them were quite technical and went completely over my head, so I’ll do my best. Everyone had to present for at least 2 minutes but no more than 5 minutes, which was followed by a Q&amp;A session. Now, if you concentrate you can hear it, it’s Oprah saying “Geeeeeeeeeeniusssssss”… and so we begin.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>First on the docket was Shaun.</p> <p><strong>Shaun: Form Validation Made Easy</strong></p> <p>This is exactly the kind of presentation that went over my head. Luckily I was able to track Shaun down after his presentation and find out what he was talking about. Shaun worked with HTML web forms to solve two recurring problems, duplicated code and some inconsistency in the way error messages are presented. Shaun was unfortunately unable to finish because when his five minutes were up, his presentation was shut-down…in mid-sentence.</p> <p><strong>Pete: Passing XML in C# –&gt; SQL Table Value Parameter</strong></p> <p>Okay, I talked to Pete after his presentation as well, and this is what we have: Pete found a way to pass XML in C# to SQL Tables much faster, reducing the speed that it takes from about 20 seconds to instantly, I think.&#160; It was pretty obvious from the title onwards that I wasn’t really going to understand this one.</p> <p><strong><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'085acf6a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/allan%20genius%20day_2.jpg"><img title="Allan, a relaxed man" border="0" alt="Allan, a relaxed man" align="right" width="160" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/allan%20genius%20day_thumb.jpg" /></a>Allan:&#160; Installing System Centre Essentials</strong></p> <p>Allan can correct me if I’m wrong here, but I’m pretty sure his project was to&#160;install some software that’s going to make his job a little bit easier. It’s a Network Management Tool, and his genius day project was…learning how to use it? Allan might have to explain this one to me again.</p> <p><strong>Alistair:&#160; Product Enhancement</strong></p> <p>Finding a way to enable customers to input extra information (such as the dimensions of a tent) and owner management in Acumen that when owner’s reserve their own properties.&#160; Owners&#160;now can change their mind and cancel their own booking without calling&#160;the head office. These enhancements are forum led.</p> <p><strong>Fahim:&#160; Wireless Internet</strong></p> <p>Fahim decided to look into the idea of wireless internet and wireless electricity (and also video SEO). If internet can be wireless, why not electricity too. Personally, I thought wireless electricity = batteries but I might be wrong there (apparently it’s a very trendy emerging topic for researchers). He explored the idea of speech recognition and how to upload a video (for example, onto YouTube) and instead of physically implanting metadata, let the content be trawled for words spoken instead of keywords. This might also be done through time-based metatags. It was also my personal favourite presentation, well done Fahim.</p> <p><strong>Ashley:&#160; Google Maps in Mercury</strong></p> <p>Ashely used the version 2 map API and looked into the feasibility of putting GoogleMaps into Mercury. Craig quickly pointed out that perhaps this might have been time better served with Bing, (sorry MS) but hey, moving on. Ashley documented 5 major steps in the map creation: Initial Screen, Loading Properties, Centre on Property, Zooming and Viewing Regions.</p> <p><strong><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'085acf6a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/jami%20dodger.png"><img title="Jami Dodger: Making your journey sweeter" border="0" alt="Jami Dodger: Making your journey sweeter" align="right" width="240" height="179" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/jami%20dodger_thumb.png" /></a>Infinity (AKA Cheryl, Andrew and Louise):&#160; Taking the Biscuit </strong></p> <p>This group came up with an ingenious project for our special day, an iPhone application called Jami Dodger with the tagline: Making your journey sweeter. This was the winning idea of the day, and I have been told to keep my little typing fingers to myself when it comes to describing this project, so all I’ll say is that it's a traffic app. There. Done. Please don’t shoot.</p> <p><strong>Jeff:&#160; Pat Testing Implementation (PATTI)</strong></p> <p>A Pat test ensures electric appliances are safe for use. Currently the date/outcome of these PAT tests is recorded manually on a sheet of paper…with a pen and paper. Well, this is a tech office - no one should <i>ever</i> have to use a pen and paper unless it is to label your food in the fridge. What Jeff has come up with is a web-based application that allows users to record their testing, separate logins will keep track of who did the testing and when, and it will be coded using MVC2 with SQL database.</p> <p><strong>Anthony:&#160; Client-Side Table Sorting</strong></p> <p>Anthony&#160;created a wrapper for <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/travel/tr_veller.aspx">Tr@veller</a> data tables.&#160;&#160;What will the wrapper do,&#160;you ask?&#160; The wrapper will eliminate the need to hit the server every time we want to sort the data contained within it.&#160; It is an extension of the TableSorter plugin for jQuery.&#160; Some of the benefits include improved page-load time, increased security and less time spent during development.</p> <p><strong>Saeed:&#160; Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Reports in Report Builder 3.0</strong></p> <p>Saeed’s presentation on Genius Day was a very in-depth guide to getting the most out of Report Builder 3.0. He explained how to create simple reports, sub-reports, how to set-up visibility controls, databases and basically discussed everything you need to know about creating a report. The step-by-step process was clear and informative for anyone just starting to use report builder or for someone who wants to expand their usage.</p> <p><strong>John P:&#160; Denva - Display Typeface, Work in Progress<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'085acf6a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/denva.png"><img title="A QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG = the legible version" border="0" alt="A QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG = the legible version" align="right" width="300" height="135" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/denva_thumb.png" /></a> </strong></p> <p>Well, the first thing John is going to tell anyone who asks about his typeface is that the name of the typeface as it is now (Denva) will change. That aside let’s look at what he did. John came up with his own font. He found a company logo, was struck by the image of it, and then styled an entire alphabet around it through a rather gruelling creative process.&#160; The alphabet is only in uppercase for a couple reasons, one is that it is not a font for mass consumption (it’s hard to read all together) but would work in single letter/word blocks, and the other is that letters like the I and J already incorporate the dots.&#160;</p> <p><strong>Claire:&#160; No One Likes Conflict</strong></p> <p>It took me a while to figure out this title, but I understand now, Claire’s project was on resolving conflicts between Issues in the release process. She wrote a Babel release process checker which can be used for UAT or Live Releases.</p> <p><strong>Shui:&#160; Getting Blood From A Stone</strong></p> <p>Basically, Shui detailed the process for answering the phone on weekends when there are fewer people available to help with queries. He lists the appropriate questions to ask, the basics of issue investigation and finally when, how and to whom calls should be escalated.</p> <p><strong>Steve M:&#160; PHP Babel Helper</strong></p> <p>Steve looked into a way to standardise Babel for Web developers. Apparently PHP web developers sometimes need a little help interfacing to .NET Web Services and the majority of people prefer clients like PHP/MySQL websites. Steve attempted to provide a standard class with an example method with mirrors the Babel message set. This isn’t a completed project but Steve was able to lay the foundation and hopes to find the time to finish it.</p> <p><strong><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'085acf6a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/steve%20genius%20day_2.jpg"><img title="Steve didn't win first place, even though he's doing the Hussain Bolt" border="0" alt="Steve didn't win first place, even though he's doing the Hussain Bolt" align="right" width="240" height="160" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/steve%20genius%20day_thumb.jpg" /></a>Steve E:&#160; MEF</strong></p> <p>MEF as in Manage d Extensibility Framework…not the recently banned substance. Okay, I’m going to admit, I definitely cheated on this summary, I have Steve’s slides, and I may plagiarise a bit here – sorry. So, what is MEF? MEF is a Microsoft library for .NET and provides a standard method for host applications to consume external extensions (plugins). So far, Steve has found that importing External Session providers works and it can scan a sub folder of the Host Application’s bin folder for dll’s, scans those for exported. Well, now you know as much as I do, and if you understood that, significantly more. Steve also joined Shaun’s club when he was cut-off mid-sentence due to timing.</p> <p><strong>Darren:&#160; Time Tracker</strong></p> <p>Darren wrote a program that was a stop watch. He added the options from Issue Tracker so you could use a drop-down menu and choose the type of work you are doing, and then start the timer. The clock has the extra capabilities of being able to manage more than one issue at a time, so if you stop working on something you can stop one timer, start a new timer, and pick the first back up later.</p> <p><strong>Chris H:&#160; SVN Commits Logger using jQuery/AJAX</strong></p> <p>Right, I have no slides to help me on this one, Chris wanted to create a program that auto-formatted files in different codes. Using AJAX he wanted to make it so issues were updated automatically when someone works on them. Chris also wanted to add breadcrumbs (the navigational tool at the top of pages, showing the progression from your original page to the one you’re on) for issue tracker. Apparently some of this stuff has already been accomplished somewhere, but Chris got points for independently deciding they were good ideas.</p> <p><strong>Noy:&#160; Picture Browsing Web Service</strong></p> <p>Noy created an application that harnesses the power of a web service to allow rapid image browsing (you know how long it takes to flip through pictures on Facebook…it fixes that). He used ASP.NET and Ajax to set up the slideshow. This application lets you flip through pictures without having to reload the page. It was built with a simple architecture using file system objects and http requests and is highly customisable.</p> <p><strong><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'085acf6a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/Kris%20Cartoon%203_2.jpg"><img title="Kris of Kris and Kerry" border="0" alt="Kris of Kris and Kerry" align="right" width="240" height="180" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/GeniusDayRecap_EE59/Kris%20Cartoon%203_thumb.jpg" /></a>Kris and Kerry:&#160; Three Topics </strong></p> <p>Kris and Kerry had three pieces to their project, a User Interface for the Babel Log, Updating Testing Document and some Panel Comics. Kris wanted to make the testing criterion for Reporting Services more formal than it is now. Kerry and Kris also wanted to make the Babel Log simpler to use for those less technically minded (a blow across the bow to Project Managers, grumbling in the audience ensued). They also added different ways of searching the log. Kris finally wanted to add some small comics into the Web Applications RSS feed, which I think is a great idea. It’s no secret I have love for those <a href="http://tvs2.comicgenesis.com/d/20060212.html">web comics</a>.</p> <p><strong>John S: MVC and jQuery Photo Blog</strong></p> <p>John wanted to create a place to view photos that looks better/more professional than Flickr. The intention of this photo blog is what it sounds like, photos connected to a blog, that way the photographer can write a summary for the photograph, explaining inspiration or why a particular picture was important. John really wanted to use jQuery to make everything look pretty.</p> <p><strong>Rashid:&#160; SQL Reports Deployment (Programmatically)</strong></p> <p>At the moment there are only two ways to deploy a report on a server, meaning choices are limited. Rashid came up with a new way to get a bunch of files on the server very quickly through a new deployment method. The participants include: SSRS Web Service, test reports, an application to exploit the web service, report server.</p> <p>So, at the end of the day, some prizes were awarded. First though, honourable mentions included John P, Claire, Steve M. and Rashid.&#160; Now, for the winners:</p> <p><strong><em>1^st Place:&#160; Cheryl, Andrew and Louise</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>2^nd Place:&#160; Kris/Kerry</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>3^rd Place:&#160; Steve E</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>UPDATE--------</em></strong></p> <p>I forgot that Chris H. received an honourable mention as well.&#160; I apologise to Chris for any distress caused by this omission.&#160; Please forgive me.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/110.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/110.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 14 Jul 2010 16:53:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Saturday (July 10)&#160;was the anniversary of our move into Windsor Works, and anniversaries usually feel like a&#160;good time to take a solid look back at what has been accomplished in the past year.&#160; One year ago the company outgrew Hollinwood Business Centre both physically and culturally. Web Applications wanted its premises to be somewhere that reflected its true personality, not a generic (though very respectable) corporate centre. After a great deal of research, we found Windsor Works, a converted mill by the Mumps Roundabout in Oldham, it needed work, but it felt right. Web Applications fitted out the office in Windsor Works with bespoke furniture and tailored the space to fit our needs and provide extensibility and flexibility for change. The open plan office area fosters communication and socialisation between colleagues whilst retaining areas for meetings and plenty of storage. The Oldham Evening Chronicle has written a <a href="http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/28873/windsor-palace-really-works">couple</a> of <a href="http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/29424/mayor-toasts-a-windsor-jewel">articles</a> describing the building and the degree to which it positively impacts the local community.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'a6850d23'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsUKEatsMilestonesforBreakf_ED83/Windsor-Works_2_2.jpg"><img title="Windsor Works" border="0" alt="Windsor Works" align="left" width="240" height="214" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WebApplicationsUKEatsMilestonesforBreakf_ED83/Windsor-Works_2_thumb.jpg" /></a> Web Applications is soon to celebrate its ten year anniversary, and like a ten year old it cannot sit still.&#160; What is meant by that is that Web Applications is changing, it changes every day, we are constantly moving forward (in a cohesive way) to meet our goals and challenge ourselves. Being too stable or static would mean we stopped moving, and started being afraid to make mistakes. This company is ten years old this year and still possesses all the precocity and all the impudence of a new-born, valuing ingenuity, daring and instinct. Web Applications is capable, confident and competent, but we still can’t sit still.</p> <p>Recently we have indulged in one of our MD Craig Dean’s favourite pastimes, office re-organisation. In case you haven’t been paying attention, Web Applications has been recruiting heavily in recent weeks, a stint which has only very lately come to a close. We have had six new full-time hires begin working in the past three weeks in addition to two new summer interns, and expect one more to begin soon. To accommodate our growing numbers the office was re-organised, desks were moved, teams were broken up and reformed and our world as we knew it ended…for the second time in three months. This is definitely a more substantial re-organisation than previously witnessed, generally <i>people</i> move but <i>desks</i> don’t, this time we had to find space for a number of new workstations. The office looks a little different.</p> <p>The growth at Web Applications is good but palpable. There is an obvious influx of full-time employees accentuated by interns and work experience students who happened to start at the same time. In another week or two they will all be old hands, complaining about the Web Applications shirts or the chairs in the kitchen as their ‘rite de passage’. In addition to the increase in numbers, the business has also seen some exciting additions. Br-ease is taking its first breaths of life, Babel is holding its own and Mercury has reached the surface, and that is just in our Travel Division. All these products and projects have really come to life in the past twelve months. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YWGoxHT9u4&amp;feature=PlayList&amp;p=65235797A8BE1C53&amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;index=0&amp;playnext=1">UGS clips</a> are a good place to hear about what we have been working on across the company in more depth.</p> <p>Web Applications continues to strive for excellence and grow our tight-knit community. This year has been an exciting year for us, but, like every year, next year will be even better. Thank you to all our customers and partners for making this a banner year for us. Happy Anniversary Windsor Works!</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/74.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/74.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 14 Jul 2010 15:19:31 GMT<p>Let’s get everything out in the open. Kerry is a lawyer.  Yeah, yeah, she’s a Project Manager now, but I personally believe once a lawyer always a lawyer.  You will have to excuse the occasional lawyer joke in this post that might not have anything to do with the topic.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>To be fair, hitherto and henceforth (though not heretofore) Kerry assents to the assertion that she does not engage in the practice of, adherence to, or aggregate more knowledge of, law, and has not actively engaged in the practice of law from the time of her completion of her Masters which shall henceforth be deemed ‘MA’ in the field of I.T.&#160; Enough of that I don’t have the legalese to keep it going anymore.&#160; Kerry realised at some point (obviously after her degree) that she did not in fact want to become a solicitor.&#160; Unfortunately for Kerry, she came to this understanding too late for me to hold back my abuse.&#160; Sorry Kerry, innocent until proven broke.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/KerryisaSecretLawyer_F953/milhouse_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'9f76ffe1'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Even the Simpsons &#39;enjoy&#39; lawyers" border="0" alt="Even the Simpsons &#39;enjoy&#39; lawyers" title="Even the Simpsons &#39;enjoy&#39; lawyers" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/KerryisaSecretLawyer_F953/milhouse_thumb.jpg" width="113" height="117" /></a>Moving on for a moment, let’s find out what Kerry does at Web Applications.&#160; She started in 2008 and enjoyed two full weeks of freedom before our uniforms were introduced, meaning Kerry has witnessed their full evolution.&#160; As a Project Manager, Kerry’s life is predominately occupied with writing and responding to emails. It’s an exciting life as a Project Manager, reading non-existent nuances into documents, and making up completely inadvertent hidden meanings.&#160; It’s a full time job interpreting completely straightforward correspondences, but someone has to do it.&#160; As a <i>former</i> lawyer it should not really come as a surprise the area where Kerry really excels.&#160; Specification writing.</p> <p>Whilst most people view specification writing (or spec-ing) as a necessary evil, a task where the importance is clear but the enthusiasm is lacking; Kerry sees it as an opportunity to shine.&#160; With a background that focuses more on I.T. Management than I.T., Kerry is ideally situated to explain processes in the least technical language<i>. </i>This proves Kerry is a bit of an enigma in that sense as she secretly wants to become a developer; we shouldn’t spread that around too much though, there’s no need to make developers’ heads even bigger.</p> <p>Sometimes, on really special days, we let Kerry out of the office to get soda cans for us from the store.&#160; She drives with <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/65/profile-of-the-week-naomi-the-gatekeeper.aspx">Naomi</a> to pick up the office’s supply of drinks - it is well known that this is Kerry’s favourite recurring task.&#160; I’m pretty sure can-day is <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/71/the-book-of-allan.aspx">Allan’s</a> favourite day as well.</p> <p>How do you tell when lawyers are lying?&#160; Their lips are moving.&#160; Whoa!&#160; In the spirit of fun with fiction, let’s look at some of Kerry’s favourite hobbies and one group she is particularly involved with is her amateur dramatics team (hold on, I think true artists call it a <i>troupe</i>).&#160; This season everyone in Web Applications is going to enjoy Kerry’s first foray into acting.&#160; She has been a part of the dramatics team for quite a while and most recently was their production manager, but this year Kerry has decided to move into a more on-stage role.&#160; Kerry will play Millie in one of the five plays that comprises Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Confusions’.&#160; This is some very exciting news and I am sure that all of us at Web Applications UK would like to support Kerry in this endeavour, I for one haven’t properly heckled someone on-stage in a long time; my skills need sharpening.&#160; You can visit her group’s Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20011099715#!/group.php?gid=20011099715&amp;v=wall">here</a>.</p> <p>And one last one for the road: You know what’s wrong with Lawyer jokes?&#160; Lawyers don’t think they’re funny and no one else thinks they’re jokes. </p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/109.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/109.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 14 Jul 2010 14:50:48 GMT<p>Well, as I’m sure anyone who is reading this is going to be aware, we like to do things differently at Web Applications UK. This Friday is our Genius Day. What is Genius Day? Wouldn’t you like to know…actually I’d like to know too.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'99e94749'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShowMeTheGenius_DEB8/einstein_2.jpg"><img title="Einstein? No thanks, I'll take 2." border="0" alt="Einstein? No thanks, I'll take 2." align="left" width="240" height="206" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShowMeTheGenius_DEB8/einstein_thumb.jpg" /></a>This is our first Genius Day, and assuming it’s as big a success as everyone who counts thinks it’s going to be, it will continue on as an annual event. Genius Day is going to be the best day of the year, and the best day of our lives. It will be hugely important. It will change the way everyone does everything. Did I say it was this Friday? Right, stalling time is over and now to let you know what I actually know about Genius Day, which might not amount to much.</p> <p>Genius Day is the one day of the year where Web Applications staff get the opportunity to spend the day being creative and showing off their skills. We can use the day however we like and pretty much do whatever we like (except stay home), with the caveat that our work is presented on Monday to everyone else. It’s good to keep that in mind, especially if you’re planning on napping. It’s the perfect time to show off a bit of code, try to learn something new, or do something a little but outlandish without being afraid of failing or backlash.</p> <p>For many of us Genius Day will be work-related, it’s an ideal moment to finish some niggling task that has slipped off the agenda for far too long. For a few of us though, our project will probably be completely unrelated and, knowing Web Applications staff, somewhat outlandish. I have it on less than perfect information that people are going *all out*, personally I can’t wait to see what people come up with. I hope it requires a trip off-campus – I like field trips.</p> <p>What is sometimes lost in translation between the tech industry and the rest of the world is that developers (and others in the IT sector) are naturally very creative. You should hear some of our excuses “Two weeks is such a vague time scale, so I interpreted it as two months.” Genius Day is essentially an ‘idea’ day, Google does them from time to time; what more proof do we need that it’s a good plan?&#160; For the nervous Nellys of the world, calm down, we will still be answering the phone.</p> <p>And so it was decreed that on Friday, July 16, 2010, Web Applications would host an office-wide day of genius - that unorthodox projects would be adopted and random acts of brilliance encouraged. Everything in history suggests that this is great use of our time because who knows what amazing idea will come of it. For those in the office who say they think best lying down or in the shower this is what I have to say to you: there is a shower in the Men’s Room (one at a time please) and plenty of floor space to spread out, you are welcome to bring your own pillow. Personally, I can’t wait to show everyone my genius idea…just as soon as I think of one.&#160;</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/108.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/108.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 07 Jul 2010 15:11:06 GMT<p>A number of weeks ago now Web Applications UK had some very special visitors. We try to tell everyone we’re a pretty cool place, as a tech company the odds of that are sadly stacked against us, but we really are down with the kids, honest! To prove our nascent <i>hipness</i> we’ve decided to let you in on a little secret. We’re so awesome übercool bands film their music videos in our office. Okay, it was just one, but still – pretty awesome. It’s okay to be jealous now.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'1690f52a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NewsflashSoldiersworkwithGuns.Itsnotwha_E34A/clip_image002_2.jpg"><img title="Bez poses for the picture" border="0" hspace="12" alt="Bez poses for the picture" align="left" width="184" height="244" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NewsflashSoldiersworkwithGuns.Itsnotwha_E34A/clip_image002_thumb.jpg" /></a>On June 4^th, after most of our staff left and went home for the night, our office was invaded by a group of people with pale skin, dark hair and lots of eyeliner, and those were just the technicians. Really though, <a href="http://www.sitcomsoldiers.com/">Sitcom Soldiers</a> are the production team who were responsible for making the music video (I’ll get to the band later) and were all at least mildly respectable looking and very polite. Sitcom Soldiers was founded about six years ago; since then it has undergone many changes and adaptations. The result is a core six-member group who have been operating as a collective for the past three years. As far as I can tell this ‘collective’ is fluidic, incorporating more or fewer members to accommodate any given job or circumstance. I had the opportunity to quickly meet a few members: Bez, Ben, Dave, Mitch and Malc. According to Bez, the group films about two videos a week and has 600-700 videos to its name. They are a committed production team, and, according to Dave, ‘We live for this!’</p> <p>Sitcom Soldiers have dabbled in other forms of new media in the past but are now fully focused on making videos. Music Videos are an important part of getting an artist exposure. Given the vast amount of social networking sites and music sharing platforms (e.g., YouTube) you do not have to be a huge artist to need a video, and even up and coming bands can have massive hits. Videos also give bands a chance to musically AND visually express themselves. It’s a win-win situation. Now, we know Sitcom Soldiers were here filming on Web Applications’ premises, should we find out whom they were filming? I’m sure they were just a couple of young guns…badum ching!</p> <p>Yes that’s right, Young Guns were here! Nominated for Best New British Band in <a href="http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2009/07/the_k_awards_2009_shortlist_re.html">Kerrang!</a> Magazine in 2009 this is one very exciting new arrival from Buckinghamshire. This is not the first time Young Guns have worked with Sitcom Soldiers, in fact it is the third. Sitcom Soldiers have shot two other videos for the Young Guns in addition to their latest video ‘Crystal Clear’ from their debut album, <i>All Our Kings Are Dead. </i>The narrative of this video is divided trichotomously, each storyline featuring a person who breaks out of a monotonous existence to follow a dream. One of those storylines was filmed at here at Web Apps, all three are meticulously weaved together and then come together at the end. It takes a keen imagination to make Web Apps the scene of corporate chains and misery but hey, artistic licence had to be used somewhere. All in all we expect avid viewers to be able to see about 30 seconds of Web Applications real estate. As the French say, ‘C’est Supercool!’ or, as Webbies say, ‘Is that my desk?’</p> <p>As I hope all of you are already aware the video is up and running on YouTube and can be found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOQ0F105otA">here</a>. The crew filmed for a couple hours which, like I said, resulted in 25-30 seconds of the film. I tallied up the number of times our office is shown (being hip doesn’t mean we can’t be obsessive as well) and we appear 14 times throughout the video, with segments lasting between one and five seconds. Whilst watching the video we hope you noticed that we are the opening scene. Behind the scenes pictures are available at <a href="http://www.rocksound.tv/index.php/photos/article/behind-the-scenes-young-guns/P9">Rocksound.tv</a> where you can find a couple of Young Guns around our office (ahh that joke doesn’t get old). First <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/87/web-applications-uk-we-rsquo-re-famous.aspx">GMTV</a>, now the Young Guns, who knew we were such hot property? Check out the video below.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p><object height="385" width="640"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOQ0F105otA&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;fs=1&amp;" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed height="385" width="640" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qOQ0F105otA&amp;hl=en_GB&amp;fs=1&amp;"></embed></object></p> <p>I couldn’t resist making one of these for <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/">Web Applications UK</a>.&#160;</p> <p>Doesn't everyone love these comics? You can find a couple more fun ones <a href="http://krapps.com/2010/05/19/steve-jobs-vs-bill-gates-comic-template/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Krapps+%28KRAPPS%29">here</a>.</p> <p>&#160;Enjoy:</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'1690f52a'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NewsflashSoldiersworkwithGuns.Itsnotwha_E34A/jobs%20gates%20web%20apps_4.png"><img title="Nothing wrong with a little fun" border="0" alt="Nothing wrong with a little fun" width="421" height="788" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NewsflashSoldiersworkwithGuns.Itsnotwha_E34A/jobs%20gates%20web%20apps_thumb_1.png" /></a></p> <p>&#160;</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/107.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/107.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 02 Jul 2010 09:47:40 GMT<p>I sat down today with Lauren and Dale, our resident Microsoft Apprentices. I had a pretty quick chat with them about what they’ve been up to since they started about two months ago and how they’re getting along.  The results are good.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Lauren and Dale are Microsoft Apprentices who receive their training through the <a href="http://apprenticeships.qa.com/">QA</a> Academy in Manchester. They are on the same course so their schedules are identical and they work with the same people in our office. They split their time between their classes and coming into the office - at the moment their time is weighted towards the classes but that balance will shift as their apprenticeship progresses.</p> <p>Lauren and Dale work with Web Application’s Network Engineer <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/71/the-book-of-allan.aspx">Allan</a><b> </b>(and occasionally Robin) doing the internal computer networking necessary for the office. At the moment Lauren and Dale are our own personal construction workers. Really.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/MicrosoftApprenticesReadySetandLiftWithT_96BF/Dale%20and%20Allan_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'6ae44fe7'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Dale and Allan assembling desks" border="0" alt="Dale and Allan assembling desks" title="Dale and Allan assembling desks" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/MicrosoftApprenticesReadySetandLiftWithT_96BF/Dale%20and%20Allan_thumb.jpg" width="240" height="180" /></a>You see, we have been recruiting lately, and we need to increase the amount of desks and PCs to accommodate our recent growth. Lots of desks are also getting switched for newer, slightly smaller desks to make room for the new ones. This means about 18 desks need to be assembled. In the last two days our esteemed apprentices have finished 4 desks so, I think it is probably a good thing that they are doing a Microsoft Apprenticeship instead of carpentry. Next week our apprentices will be back in class so it will be up to Allan to continue where they left off. That’s fine though, Allan considers assembling furniture the highlight of his job, just ask him.</p> <p>In addition to construction our apprentices are also setting up the PCs for the newcomers, making sure everything is connected properly and that each PC has the necessary software installed. Dale and Lauren also have the joy or mix and matching monitors, checking that everything is compatible and we have enough wires and things for hooking up all the machinery.</p> <p>With all of this going on it is not too surprising that these two feel that they get plenty of variety in their day to day tasks. Both Lauren and Dale are enjoying their classes and think that their classes and the time in the office are mutually beneficial. Everything they learn in class seems to relate directly to what they are working on in the office, and Allan is a great teacher himself, explaining why things are the way they are and correcting some of the out-of-date information from the textbooks.&#160; The I.T. industry is an ever-changing beast.</p> <p>The class sizes are pretty small, there are ten people in Lauren and Dale’s class, and they have a teacher they like which makes a world of difference. The balance between coming to work in the office and time spent in the classroom seems about right to the apprentices, especially as they will eventually be spending more time in the office environment. The work they have been given in the office has not only met but exceeded expectations, they didn’t think we would give them so much responsibility. We have faith in our apprentices!</p> <p>After they finish their year, Dale and Lauren will have a number of qualifications, including CompTIA A+ Technician, Network+ Technician and be Microsoft Certified. When asked whether they had any advice for other people considering the Microsoft Apprenticeship, Lauren replied, ‘You have to put your best into it, you really need to make sure it’s what you want to do and you need to have a passion for it to succeed.’ Dale responded, ‘It’s a great program but you need to make sure you do plenty of work at home or you won’t get everything you’re taught.’ Sounds like good advice to me. Things are going well, we enjoy having Lauren and Dale around and hope that they enjoy being here too!</p> <p>Visit our <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/about_us/recruitment.aspx">Recruitment</a> page to learn about apprenticeships and jobs available. </p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/106.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/106.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 30 Jun 2010 15:36:19 GMT<p>22 Competitors. 4 Rounds. 1 Winner.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><b>Wii Sport Tournament</b></p> <p>Once again Web Applications UK held its office tournament and this year’s game was Wii Sport Resort. The purpose of the set-up of this tournament is to incorporate as many games as possible to reward the all-rounder, those players who are very good at a variety of games. Each full round will feature a different game, for example round .5 will be Wii Golf, Round 1 Wii Bowling, Round 2 Wii Table Tennis and so on. The .5 round was created to accommodate the uneven number of players in the tournament; the player with the lowest accumulated swings for Wii Golf will advance into the full tournament. Those playing in the .5 round were chosen at random. Due to a very busy schedule the games have been spaced out quite far but we’re doing our best. The games started on March first, and the final game was June 29^th, so it lasted less than four months! Let’s get right to the results:</p> <p><b>Round .5</b></p> <p>The office Wii Sport Resort Tournament kicked off with a bang and a massive upset. First to play were Mark and Shui in the 3-hole Golf round. Shui, last year’s tournament winner was slated to gain an easy victory, but a gap in his Wii knowledge led to a very disappointing score of 21 on the par 12 course. Mark, equally unfamiliar with the game, racked up an easy victory scoring two under par with a final tally of 10. Mark has moved onto the next round, and with a shocking turnaround, Shui is out! Next in line, Mark will play Bob, a formidable opponent.</p> <p>Next in line were Darren and Naomi. I was unable to witness the proceedings of this game, but have been reliably informed that the end score left Naomi 8 over par and Darren a comfortable 3 over par. Darren proceeds to the next round but will need to improve his game if he wishes to go any further. For his next round, Darren will play newcomer John.</p> <p>Nick and Kerry had the closest game of all so far. After the first two holes the scores were tied, both one under par. Nick and Kerry played very well, and brought entirely different skill sets to the match. Whilst Nick was not an avid gamer, he was a very experienced golfer. Wii Golf is intended to mimic the movement and stances of real golf, so with minimal practice Nick was able to do quite well. Conversely Kerry is an excellent Wii competitor, and golf is one of her many strengths. It was the par 5 third hole that held the deciding shots. Kerry’s second shot left her in the bunker, but Nick was having trouble controlling his distance. A struggle ensued, but Kerry managed to pull out another birdie to grasp the final victory. Nick ended up with a bogey, leaving him at par for the three holes, with Kerry at two under. Kerry’s next victim, I mean opponent, will be Steve.</p> <p>Vivienne had a stormer of a round against Alistair; she played consistently well, managing a respectable par for each hole. Alistair took some time to get his legs, though performing consistently better as the game went on. Unfortunately for Alistair, it was too little too late as his par on hole 3 was not enough to conquer Vivienne and he lost with 6 shots over par to Vivienne’s perfect par. If only Alistair had been able to avoid the drink on his first shot of the game, the outlook from the start might have been a bit sunnier. As it was, he spent the entire game trying to catch up, but there was just too much to do in too little time. His unfamiliarity with the game cost him the tournament. Vivienne moves on to the next round to play Kris.</p> <p>Next up, Melanie (yours truly) played Richard. For many reasons this was a bit of a throwaway round, neither Richard nor I really knew what we were doing, but we muddled ahead none the less. While I’m having trouble remembering what the actual end score was, I do know that we were both over par by varying degrees BUT none of that matters because I managed to win. This is good for one reason. The longer I’m in the tournament the more interested I remain, which means you might actually find out who wins. All in all the score went something like 2 over par against 5 over par, just to give a general idea. I will now battle ahead to take on Rob in what I’m sure will be my final stand. Who knows, this tournament is truly anybody’s game.</p> <p>This ends the opening round; the five winners will progress into the full tournament as well as the other three pairings who did not play in Round .5, totalling eight projected match-ups for Round 1. Next round: Bowling.</p> <p><strong>Tournament</strong> Round 1: Wii Bowling <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="74"> <p><font color="#008000">Claire</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="62"> <p><strong><font color="#008000">Jeff</font></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="23">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="62"> <p><font color="#800000">Bob</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="64"> <p><b><font color="#800000">Mark</font></b></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="28">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="77"> <p><b><font color="#808000">Andrew</font></b></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="68"> <p><font color="#808000">John P</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><font color="#000080">Steve</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><b><font color="#000080">Kerry</font></b></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><font color="#000080"><strong>C</strong>hris</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="74"> <p><u><strong><font color="#008000">141</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="62"> <p><font color="#008000">131</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="23">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="62"> <p><u><strong><font color="#800000">182</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="64"> <p><font color="#800000">152</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="28">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="77"> <p><u><strong><font color="#808000">150</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="68"> <p><font color="#808000">144</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><font color="#000080">145</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><u><strong><font color="#000080">155</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71">&#160;</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="74"> <p><font 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<td valign="top" width="23">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="62"> <p><font color="#800000">144</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="64"> <p><u><strong><font color="#800000">207</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="28">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="77">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="68">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="71">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><u><strong><font color="#000080">181</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><font color="#000080">132</font></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> <p>&#160;</p> <p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="722"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="80"> <p><strong><font color="#800080">John S. </font></strong></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><b><font color="#800080">Darren</font></b></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="83"> <p><b><font color="#ff0000">Kris</font></b></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="83"> <p><font color="#ff0000">Vivienne</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="82"> <p><font color="#008080">Melanie</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="72"> <p><b><font color="#008080">Rob</font></b></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="38">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="76"> <p><font color="#ff00ff">Cheryl</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="87"> <p><b><font color="#ff00ff">Robin</font></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="80"> <p><font color="#800080">117 </font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><u><strong><font color="#800080">157</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="83"> <p><u><strong><font color="#ff0000">171</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="83"> <p><font color="#ff0000">136</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="82"> <p><font color="#008080">115</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="72"> <p><u><strong><font color="#008080">191</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="38">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="76"> <p><font color="#ff00ff">138 </font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="87"> <p><u><strong><font color="#ff00ff">154</font></strong></u></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="80"> <p><font color="#800080">130</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="71"> <p><u><strong><font color="#800080">147</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="83"> <p><u><strong><font color="#ff0000">190 </font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="83"> <p><font color="#ff0000">160</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="82"> <p><font color="#008080">111</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="72"> <p><u><strong><font color="#008080">178</font></strong></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="38">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="76"> <p><u><font color="#ff00ff"><strong>174</strong> </font></u></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="87"> <p><font color="#ff00ff">173</font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="80">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="71">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="83">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="83">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="24">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="82">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="72">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="38">&#160;</td> <td valign="top" width="76"> <p><font color="#ff00ff">132</font></p> </td> <td valign="top" width="87"> <p><u><strong><font color="#ff00ff">165</font></strong></u></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> <p>End of round synopsis? Jeff and Claire had the closest match, averaging only 15 pins difference between them per match. Mark had the biggest turnaround against Bob, losing by 30 in the first match, to winning by an average 50 pins in the next two rounds. Bob was expected to do quite well so this early exit is a bit shocking. Andrew and John had the highest strike to split ratio (for every strike Andrew got, John got a split). Steve wins the give-up award for quitting after losing his first round, which coincidentally, was a very close match with Kerry. Darren and John had by far the slowest game even though it only lasted two rounds. Kris and Vivienne’s game began very slowly as well but managed to pick up some speed as it progressed. In Rob L’s and my game, Rob takes the prize for most consecutive spares, almost never leaving a pin standing at the end of his turn. Cheryl and Robin had the closest round, with one finishing 174 to 173. Finally, Kerry (who agreed to play again in a match against late addition Chris) had the biggest difference in scores with the opening round of 244 to 93, and, Kerry had the highest average score in this round of the tournament, averaging 193.</p> <p>Those are the results for the full Round 1, these are the match-ups for Round 2:</p> <p><b>Tournament Round 2: Table Tennis</b></p> <p>I said when I got knocked out I’d stop caring, and well, it happened. The table tennis round consisted of 4 matchups,</p> <p>Kris vs. Jeff,&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Mark vs. Darren,&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Andrew vs. Robin,&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Rob vs. Kerry</p> <p>Each group played 2 games of table tennis and we operated on a first to 11 basis. Due to a shortage of meeting room availability, it behoved me to make the rounds a bit shorter, so players did not play the usual ‘best of three’. Seeing as the scores are rather uniform (wins with 11, wins with 11), I’ll just let you know who won. Kris defeated Jeff, Darren beat Mark, Andrew succumbed to Robin, and Kerry lost to Rob. Next round will be basketball.</p> <p><b>Tournament Round 3: Basketball</b></p> <p>Basketball was my favourite round. While it may have required less skill, basketball definitely needs some finesse, and the way this basketball round was conducted, a certain amount of endurance was needed. This round required three full games, but it was not best of three, the score was cumulative.</p> <p>First up: Kris vs. Darren</p> <p>Darren dominated the first round scoring 19 compared to Kris’ 13. Kris was a quick learner though and leapfrogged Darren scoring 20 and 23 the next two rounds to Darren’s static 16. All in all Kris scored 56 compared to Darren’s 51 in a very exciting match-up.</p> <p>Last up: Rob vs. Robin</p> <p>Rob L. was expected to win against Robin but fate had a different idea. Rob struggled to get the hang of basketball and trailed in all three rounds while Robin steadily improved. At the end of the day Rob managed to accumulate 26 points as Robin blew past with 52. Next round will be the last with Swordplay.</p> <p><b>Final Round: Swordplay</b></p> <p>It is Kris verses Robin in this final round of Wii Sports Resort. Kris and Robin played each other in a practice round and then got stuck in. At the first go Robin comes out of the gate with his sword blazing and knocks Kris off the edge for a quick early lead. Kris battles back in Round 2 and slowly but surely hits an equaliser point. Finally, in what was something of an anti-climax, Robin quickly knocks Kris out in a final round that lasted all of 5 minutes. Robin is the winner!</p> <p>Shui, last year’s tournament winner, hands over the trophy to Robin to proudly display on his desk until a new winner emerges. A big thank you goes out to all of our participants, it was great to have so many people sign up to play and I hope the same spirit continues onto the next game.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'8f855a41'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tour2_2.jpg"><img title="Robin is victorious" border="0" alt="Robin is victorious" width="140" height="187" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 30px 0px 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tour2_thumb.jpg" /></a><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'8f855a41'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tour1_2.jpg"><img title="Kris is defeated" border="0" alt="Kris is defeated" width="140" height="187" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 30px 0px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tour1_thumb.jpg" /></a><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'8f855a41'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tour3_2.jpg"><img title="Shui hands trophy to Robin" border="0" alt="Shui hands trophy to Robin" width="240" height="180" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tour3_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'8f855a41'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tourn.png"><img title="tourn" border="0" alt="tourn" width="646" height="397" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/WiiSportTournamentWinnerAnnounced_E05A/tourn_thumb.png" /></a></p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/105.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/105.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 28 Jun 2010 17:07:00 GMT<div><p>On Monday, June 14, Web Applications UK won the Community Service Shield, presented by <a href="http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.asp?PgID=153964&amp;ClubCtteeID=1447&amp;ClubID=309">The Rotary Club of Oldham</a>. Rotary clubs foster community involvement at home and overseas. Rotary members are men and women from all backgrounds who have an interest in helping others. Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) has over 55,000 members in 1,840 clubs. RIBI is an integral part of Rotary International, the world’s first service organisation. The <a href="http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.asp?PgID=153964&amp;ClubCtteeID=1447&amp;ClubID=309">Community Service Award</a> was originally a ‘one off’ initiative that was created to celebrate the millennium but has flourished into an annual award. The Shield is given to local companies who demonstrate strong ties to and active participation in the local community. Previous winners include companies like Warburton’s and the Oldham Evening Chronicle; this year it’s Web Applications UK’s time to shine.</p> <p><img hspace="10" alt="President of Rotary Club Alan Whitehead with Craig and Shaun" vspace="10" align="left" width="139" height="160" src="/Portals/0/craig with shield.png" />Web Applications UK demonstrates its commitment to the local community in a number of ways. Our rich mentor scheme, numerous work experience students and apprenticeships are catered to making the work place an exciting and inviting place for young people, encouraging them to think about their career choices and find the right path to reach their goals. Web Applications UK is involved in a variety of community events, from hosting networking events to sponsoring local business awards. We invest our time, money and experience to make Oldham a wonderful place to live and a great place to work.</p> <p>Web Applications currently has twelve of its more than forty employees, fully CRB checked (Criminal Records Bureau) who act as mentors to young people, five who have mentees at this time and four who have mentees in Oldham, aged 16 through 19. Our mentor scheme is conducted through the <a href="http://www.careeracademies.org.uk/">Careers Academy UK </a>and lasts for eighteen months. Mentors have their students from February and continue to connect with them until the students finish their college course. This is the first year that this program has been available for the IT industry and we became involved with it as soon as we could. Our employees offer guidance and support for their mentees. Our mentors meet with their young people once or twice a month, discuss how they’re doing and participate in an activity together; it can be as relaxed as coffee or as active as a game of football.</p> <p>In the past few months we have had eight work experience students come into our office. They are given a project and a couple of small tasks to complete. The purpose is to give these students a chance to see what it is like working in an office environment and experience the real world. The students spend a full week in our office before returning to school. This program has been so successful that we occasionally have students return for a second week.</p> <p><img alt="Web Applications UK on the Shield" vspace="10" align="right" width="200" height="150" src="/Portals/0/web app shield.png" />At the moment Web Applications UK has two Microsoft Apprentices. These students split their time between working at our office and receiving training towards industry qualifications provided by <a href="http://apprenticeships.qa.com/apprenticeship-programmes/microsoft-advanced-apprenticeship">QA Apprenticeships</a>. These apprentices gain valuable IT experience whilst working with us in addition to the opportunity to spend time working in a real business. We try to vary the work for the apprentices as much as possible to give them exposure to a number of different aspects of our business as they will spend a full year working with us.</p> <p>In addition to hosting students in our office, many Web Applications UK staff have travelled outside the office to visit schools, training students on interview skills through <a href="http://www.positivestepsoldham.org.uk/">Positive Steps</a>. Positive Steps is an independent service based in Oldham that offers a series of services, one of which is <a href="http://www.connexions-oldham.org.uk/">Connexions Oldham </a>which pairs Web Applications staff members with schools that might benefit from our tutorship. Another service provided by Positive Steps is the Job Club, which staff members attend monthly, to teach interview technique and life skills, to some of our most disadvantaged young people. In the past year members of our staff have visited various schools at least ten times, all within the Oldham area. Schools we have visited include St. Augustine, North Chadderton, South Chadderton, Grange School and Blue Coat School (to name a few). Web Applications feels that students who are properly prepared for interviews will exhibit more confidence when it is most needed later in life.</p> <p><img alt="The Community Service Shield" align="left" width="300" height="400" src="/Portals/0/community she.png" />On November 19, 2009 Web Applications hosted a Webinar titled<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/events/beat_the_recession.aspx">‘Beat the Recession’ </a>in association with many local entities including: Oldham Council, Oldham Evening Chronicle, and Business Link. The seminar was aimed at highlighting issues facing local business and answering crucial questions that can sometimes fall through the cracks. The seminar was free and was very successful, and is still available online on the Web Applications UK Website (it can be found <a href="/community/events/beat_the_recession.aspx">here</a>).</p> <p>Web Applications UK sponsors a number of local organisations and events which range from sporting clubs to business awards. We sponsor Inter Web F. C. which operates within the <a href="http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/buxtontavernersleague/">Buxton Taverner’s League</a>, and we are a founding sponsor of <a href="http://www.oldhambusinessawards.co.uk/">The One Oldham Business Awards</a>, supporting it for the last two years. Web Applications UK has also participated in many local gatherings, including sponsoring the Mayor’s Emerald Charity Ball which took place on March 12, 2010 and attending the Pride of Oldham Awards Luncheon. Web Applications has had meetings with local Council leaders and recently we spoke to our MP, Phil Woolas about problems facing local businesses. We are also the lead sponsor of the Oldham Works Campaign.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/25150/spirit-of-oldham">Oldham Works Campaign </a>was launched by The Oldham Chronicle last year to highlight local success stories, sparks of light on a town suffering from the recession. Web Applications believes that great things are happening in Oldham and that they should be singled out and given a place to shine. Web Applications UK understands that our company is organically linked to our local community and we support and are involved in that community from its smallest members to its most powerful ones. We continually invest in the young people of this community, giving them our time, experience and guidance, as well as sponsor larger organisations and services with any funds we can spare. Our commitment to Oldham is strong and is based in the foundations of Web Applications UK.</p> <p>The Rotary Club of Oldham presented the Community Service Shield to Web Applications on Monday June 14, 2010. Craig Dean and Shaun Austin represented Web Applications and attended a luncheon to celebrate. The award was presented by Rotary Club of Oldham President Alan Whitehead and the luncheon included around 20 Rotary club members. The Shield is now hanging proudly in our foyer and we feel extremely honoured to have been granted this prestigious award.<script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></p></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/73.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/73.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 25 Jun 2010 11:20:25 GMT<p>If you are sitting there thinking, hmm,<em> I thought you were already a Small Business Specialist</em>, well, you would be correct, but SURPRISE! We are now re-certified. The emotions you are looking for are relief and elation.</p><p><img hspace="5" alt="Small Business Specialist" vspace="5" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/Systems/SBS2010-151x76.png" />So, why should you care? Well, maybe you should ask yourself, am I a small business? Am I partnered with a small business? Do I know of anyone who works in a small business? Yes, okay good, that’s why you should care. Small businesses have separate and specific needs that require a specialised skill set. A skill set we possess.</p> <p>Microsoft outlines 5 good reasons you should care about that little badge, and since they probably know best, I’m going to let you know what they say.</p> <p><strong>1) You can trust your IT is in good hands. </strong><br /> Microsoft Small Business Specialists are trained and supported by Microsoft. They're the experts - and they've got the badge to prove it.</p> <p><strong>2) They’ll save you from costly and time-consuming mistakes </strong><br /> Microsoft Small Business Specialists work quickly, efficiently and accurately. They are able to recommend and supply the latest and most appropriate Microsoft technology for your business. They make the job look easy, because it is - for them.</p> <p><strong>3) They specialise in small businesses (and no business is too small) </strong><br /> Microsoft Small Business Specialists look after small businesses day in, day out. They understand the issues you face, and enjoy solving them.</p> <p><strong>4) They have access to specific resources for small businesses </strong><br /> Our specialists are provided with a wealth of invaluable resources that are specific to small businesses like yours.</p> <p><strong>5) They do what they do best, so you can to what you do best </strong><br /> IT solutions can improve your company's productivity. Our specialists have extensive experience managing small business networks. They know what IT solutions will address your business needs. They can also offer valuable IT support.</p> <p>There you have it and I must say, we sound pretty great, and well, we are. We have been re-certified. It’s an interesting word, re-certified. Technically speaking ‘Small Business Specialist’ isn’t a certification per se, it’s a designation (and soon to be a competency). ‘We are re-designated Small Business Specialists’ doesn’t sound as great but it’s ostensibly more accurate. This little wording dispute will take care of itself next year because in October 2010 Microsoft is adding Small Business Solution Provider to its burgeoning list of competencies.</p> <p><img alt="Volume Licensing Competency" align="right" width="100" height="35" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/MS VL.jpg" />Well, that’s that. Oh and we have received the Volume Licensing Competency. Visit our <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/about_us/microsoft_gold_certified_partner.aspx">About Us</a> section for more information on that and our other competencies or you can visit Microsoft’s page on the <a href="https://partner.microsoft.com/UK/program/competencies/compvolumelicensing">Volume Licensing Competency</a>. Volume Licensing doesn’t have a pretty badge like the Small Business Specialist, it’s such a nice shade of blue…</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/104.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/104.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 22 Jun 2010 16:09:13 GMT<p>On May 17, 2010 <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/">Web Applications UK</a> had its annual User Group Seminar.&#160; Around June 1 the video from the event was ready to be uploaded onto YouTube.&#160; 3 Weeks, about 18 aborted/failed uploads (the mysterious disappearance of 9 clips) and at least 10 migraines later, the job is complete.&#160; The clips are ready and available for your consumption and viewing pleasure.&#160; So please, enjoy!</p><p>All the clips from that special afternoon in the Castlefield Rooms are available via our Youtube page <a href="http://www.youtube.com/WebAppsUK">www.youtube.com/WebAppsUK</a>.&#160; However! Due to a barrage of video upload failures, there is no discernable order to the clips (other than their clear numbering clip 1, clip 2…).&#160; This was remedied by placing all the videos onto their own <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#g/c/65235797A8BE1C53">playlist</a> which allowed me to&#160;add the clips in order and make finding specific videos easier.&#160; Below I have listed each clip and provided a short summary of what is covered in that segment, along with a link to the specific video.&#160; You can either access all the link this way, or use the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#g/c/65235797A8BE1C53">playlist</a>, it is up to you.&#160; Hope you enjoy!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/0/6YWGoxHT9u4">Clip 1</a> – <b>Introduction</b> Craig delivers his opening gambit. He welcomes everyone and thanks them for attending.&#160; Craig laments the absence of those who couldn’t make it due to the ash cloud. He goes through the agenda and explains why different parts of the agenda are important and applicable to everyone. He explains our theme and introduces the three topics he is going to be discussing, the past, present and future of Web Applications UK.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/1/TWx4SB6v8qo">Clip 2</a> – <b>Introduction </b>Craig goes into detail on Web Applications past and how we have delivered what was asked of us. A lot of how we move forward as a company is by making use of new technologies. A big issue that customers have often talked about is a new reporting engine, and now we have it, called Br-ease. Craig moves into Web Applications Present and how we Achieve What We Promise, listing 6 specific things we promised to do. In the end of this clip, Craig makes it through the first 2 promises: we have moved premises and become a full Unified Communications based business. The rest will be continued in Clip 3.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/2/ChdG06HxfjE">Clip 3</a> – <b>Introduction </b>Continued from Clip 2, Craig details the promises we have fulfilled. In this clip, Craig talks about how we have grown the business, made additions to the Support Team, introduced Direct Debit and introduced monthly billing. We have stabilised the Acumen Division and frozen prices. In addition to this we have added new customers and improved communications.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/3/GvgnJijengU">Clip 4</a> – <b>Introduction </b>Craig moves on to the future of Web Applications and the ways in which we will Anticipate Future Needs. We plan to guard ourselves against the future through improved communications and improved standards, security with convenience – without compromise, cloud computing and social integrations.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/4/fuVTfA6TvSQ">Clip 5</a> <b>– Introduction </b>Craig continues talking about the importance of social integrations and introduces Web Application’s new 363 days a year policy, meaning that Web Applications is open on Weekends! The office will now only be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day from here on out and weekends will include the same hours as weekdays, 8am to 6pm.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/5/08Hn9njfHwM">Clip 6</a> – <b>Introduction </b>In order to illustrate the full potential of UC Craig initiates a video conference, speaking first to Vivienne and then to Robin, who discusses the new Microsoft partnership programme.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/6/_u2SL5mDGoQ">Clip 7</a> – <b>Introduction </b>This is really part 2 of the video conference. In this segment it is Allan’s turn to speak and he talks about Web Application’s network infrastructure and our Microsoft Apprenticeship scheme. Next up is Jeff from the support team who discusses release procedure and the 363 days a year scheme. This is the end of the Video Conference and Craig moves on to highlight some of the advances the Systems Division has made.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/7/5_t_PR1SXoU">Clip 8</a> – <b>Introduction </b>In this, the final segment of Craig’s Introduction, we take a look at Web Application’s involvement in the community, the clubs and events we sponsor, our partnership with local businesses and our involvement in school placements, apprenticeships, and internships.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/8/HJHUaJMWAmw">Clip 9</a> <b>– Tr@veller </b>Steve Morgan outlines what he is going to be discussing in his presentation, Tr@veller enhancements and Mercury. Mercury is a light-weight, fully hosted, version of Tr@veller. It is built as a SaaS, and will feature community led changes as well as be configurable. Steve goes through how to find Mercury on our website, what it would look like, and the benefits of Mercury to Tr@veller customers. He moves on from there to start looking at Tr@veller enhancements, first up to be seen here is the new Menu (with collapsible side bars).</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/9/gko2k_b2fs8">Clip 10</a> <b>– Tr@veller </b>Steve goes into more detail about Tr@veller’s new Menu and demonstrates exactly what it looks like. He discusses the technologies that were used in making these enhancements. He also illustrates how to move and remove bookings through the new User Interface, accessing the Booking Management Screen.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/10/z0F2hMMEG7A">Clip 11</a> <b>– Tr@veller </b>In this segment Steve discusses how to tap the full potential of Babel and Tr@veller through new third party integrations (Hotel Beds, low cost flights, chartered flights, UK rail and Eurostar). Steve also illustrates how Babel can be used for pricing, especially when using a packaging system and relying more on third parties.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/11/GPkaCYZtPpo">Clip 12</a> <b>– Tr@veller </b>Steve picks out some of the specific screens that have been improved, screens he affectionately calls ‘Old Favourites’. These screens include Rates, Discounts and Payments. The Rates Screen now has improved usability, better range selection, and better highlighting of selected rows. As always, when Steve says something has been improved, he backs it up with screen shots illustrating the enhancement.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/12/NvQLL0_OK5A">Clip 13</a><b> – Br-ease</b> Steve Elliott talks about the Wonder of Br-ease. Br-ease is Tr@veller’s new Reporting module. It was built using the latest Microsoft technologies, it adds a lot of great new features and its modular design allows us to build even more in the future. Steve defines Deliverables, a key component to Br-ease, and then does a demonstration to further illustrate their functionality.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/13/zlv6eByqakE">Clip 14</a><b> – Br-ease </b>Steve next talks about the different reports Br-ease is capable of, including Reporting Services Reports (SSRS) and Quick Reports. The two together make up a detail report which can either be sent to one person, probably using a Stand Report, or to many people using a Batch Report. Steve illustrates this using a sample report.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/14/gB2KhFw-7jg">Clip 15 </a><b>– Br-ease </b>Steve picks up where he left off and moves from Quick Reports to Standard Reports. Standard Reports are meant for a single recipient and are good for MIS reports. Next up are Br-ease’s Batch Reports, the power behind all of Br-ease. Batch Reports output multiple reports to different destinations using deliverables. Steve uses a sample to illustrate Batch Reports as well.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/15/_pPuEUe0gTs">Clip 16</a><b> – Br-ease </b>Br-ease is specifically engineered to be able to allow reports to be sent at specific times, for example, MIS report in MD’s inbox at 8am every morning, or all confirmation emails for the previous day to be sent at 2am. Br-ease has a granular security model and a sophisticated Schema Admin which provides flexibility when viewing exec reports and optimising quick reports.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/15/_pPuEUe0gTs">Clip 17</a><b> – Br-ease </b>Steve talks about how Br-ease Integrates with existing products from Web Applications. Br-ease has deep integration with Tr@veller and Mercury, though can also stand alone as a separate reporting engine and can integrate into any SQL Server Database. Steve finishes up his presentation with a quick history of Br-ease.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/17/5yJFeiTBqC0">Clip 18</a> – <b>SQL </b>Andrew Fryer, a guest speaker from Microsoft, begins his presentation on SQL Server 2008 and Business Intelligence. He starts with a quick introduction to SQL 2008 then goes through the Microsoft BI vision and Strategy policy and how Microsoft has made Excel and SQL much simpler and easier to use.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/18/crxfTcTkbRU">Clip 19</a> <b>– SQL </b>Andrew talks about some of the biggest Reporting challenges. He mentions Office 2007 and the Ribbon in particular in relation to Reporting Service’s integration into Office and SharePoint which maximises data organisation. Andrew demonstrates how to edit reports in the Report Builder and make use of the full SQL functionality.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/19/buxXnN9ZNbc">Clip 20</a> <b>– SQL</b> In this segment Andrew discusses how Collaboration gets the most out of SQL Server. Andrew talks about how it can be difficult sometimes, to see what is going on. He makes use of some of the new visualisation tools to illustrate what the numbers in his report are describing. He also explains how to manage enterprise-wide workloads, basically how SQL Server handles vast amounts of numbers through an enterprise-scale platform, central deployment and strong manageability.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/20/P38JianF8RA">Clip 21</a> <b>– SQL </b>Andrew gives us a quick summary of Reporting services from Authoring to Management to Delivery (and thus back to Management). He moves from here to Power Pivot for Excel 2010. Andrew discusses how, not all data relevant to your business comes from within your business, it is important that it’s simple for everyone to be able to access information, not just the IT people within an organisation.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/21/iDnMzA-SXNU">Clip 22</a> <b>– SQL </b>Andrew finishes up an example from the last segment. In these clips he goes into detail with a demonstration of Power Pivot for Excel. He illustrates the power of Power Pivot as he shows it process thousands of rows of data, defining relationships and creating graphs to compare different sets of data. Andrew goes into greater analysis of the integration of SQL into SharePoint and then finishes off with useful places to find more information.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/22/o1jj70EpcV0">Clip 23</a><b> – Q&amp;A </b>Steve Morgan, Steve Elliott, Andrew Fryer and Craig Dean sit on the panel to take questions from our attendees. Questions in this segment cover topics on corporate fonts to use in Br-ease, Br-ease availability in Acumen, Outlook integration in Acumen and browser support in Mercury and Tr@veller.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/23/MjzdHsbYSTg">Clip 24</a> <b>– Q&amp;A </b>Questions were on topics covering Style Sheets in Reports, setting features in Tr@veller, Br-ease in relation to Tr@veller, and SagePay.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WebAppsUK#p/c/65235797A8BE1C53/24/voHkCZBtMWk">Clip 25</a> <b>– Q&amp;A</b> Questions included our experience migrating people to SQL Server 2008 and whether Br-ease would support Fax Gateways. This is the End.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/103.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/103.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 17 Jun 2010 16:29:31 GMT<p>On Tuesday a small delegation from Web Applications UK went to London to participate in Travolution’s Question Time. This is their story.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'b50953a5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/trav1.png"><img title="Our Illustrious Panel" border="0" alt="Our Illustrious Panel" align="right" width="240" height="186" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/trav1_thumb.png" /></a>The Question Time panel was made up of five industry leading representatives. Craig Dean from Web Applications had the technology provider for end users covered and Steve Tassell from Microsoft illustrated the power of some of their latest technologies. Seamus Conlon from Cruise.co.uk very much represented your everyday holiday provider and Marko Balabanovic had an interesting angle from Lastminute.com. Finally, David Parfect represented Facebook, the king of social networking, apparently ignored by the travel industry thus far.</p> <p>These five panellists had a pretty good idea of what they were getting into. They did not know the questions they were going to get asked but they did know the structure of the debate and who else was going to be there. The Web Applications team arrived early to set our things up (did you see our <a href="http://www.unifyingcommunication.co.uk">Unifying Communication</a> sign in the corner?) and completed a run through of the&#160; demonstration that Steve Tassell would conduct. The event had been sold out, so all that was left to do was sit and wait for our eager guests to arrive.</p> <p>TW group’s Simon Ferguson gave a short introduction to start off the event and then Steve Tassell jumped into his Unified Communications demonstration. The demo began with Unified Messaging, Voicemail in particular, as well as a seemingly unintentional “Can you hear me now?” joke. I thought it was funny. The voicemail was left by Steve’s co-worker Brett concerning a document. Steve listened to the message in Outlook and saw that Brett was online, and so sent him an Instant Message. Brett had a few questions so the IM was promoted to a voice call, and then video for good measure. Steve was unable to answer the question and so dragged Vivienne into the video conference. Brett shared the document with Steve and Vivienne so that Vivienne could not only see the document in question, but also edit it. What was perhaps the most impressive part of the demonstration was finding out that Reading not only had its own football team, the team had fans…crazy.</p> <p>After the demonstration, Travolution’s Editor Lee Hayhurst took over and became the moderator for the panel; the questions began.&#160; For ease of use I have shortened the names to initials: <br /> <strong>CD</strong> = Craig Dean, <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/">Web Applications UK</a> <br /> <strong>ST</strong> = Steve Tassell, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> <br /> <strong>MB</strong> = Marko Balabanovic, <a href="http://www.lastminute.com">Lastminute.com </a><br /> <strong>SC</strong> = Seamus Conlon, <a href="http://www.cruise.co.uk">Cruise.co.uk </a><br /> <strong>DP</strong> = David Parfect, <a href="http://www.facebook.com">Facebook</a></p> <p><strong>Question 1: These (Unified Communications) seem to be an application for business, where are these applications for the consumer?</strong></p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: Putting Unified Communications in people’s homes is very simple. It’s extremely useful for temp staff and people working from home and is a much more cost effective solution than fitting out a PABX.&#160; We have a complete Unified Communications solution in our office and love it, we don’t have a single phone.</p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: I see problems within a call centre environment and the order in which people do their work.</p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: This technology is smart and knows (or can be programmed to know) who the best person to contact is at any time. I think you’ll find that in actual usage in an office environment, this isn’t an issue at all.&#160;</p> <p><strong>Question 2: Did the market say this is a product [Unified Communications] we want? Or did Microsoft put it together just because they could?<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'b50953a5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/nicktrav.png"><img title="Web Apps' Nick and Glen from Travolution" border="0" alt="Web Apps' Nick and Glen from Travolution" align="right" width="164" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 15px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/nicktrav_thumb.png" /></a></strong></p> <p><strong>ST</strong>: In many ways UC is the coming together of things that already exist, and make them easier to use together. The market it always looking for things to get simplified, and the market is changing as the younger generation becomes a more prominent member of the work force. This new generation are very much driven by a sense of immediacy and products like UC make sense for them, get in contact with who you need to right now, or find someone else who can help you.</p> <p><strong>DP</strong>: For successful products in this market you need to follow three simple rules, it needs to be Quick, Simple and Easy. Chat is what we’re focusing on right now, but then again, we’re largely consumer to consumer so it is a little different for us.</p> <p><strong>MB</strong>: In our company [lastminute.com] we have this kind of technology already, and have for a while. It isn’t that big of a change.</p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: But it’s presence that makes it all so importance. When you’re working with agencies and suppliers, knowing who is available and being able to message them questions whilst on the phone to the people asking them, it makes a huge difference in time saved and sheer convenience.&#160;</p> <p><strong>Question 3 from Paul Hastings, Hostel Booking: Does the advent of mobile technology like the iPhone and iPad mean the Mobile Revolution is really here? </strong></p> <p><strong>MB</strong>: This is one of those things, if you get a lot of mobile bookings, great, we will all probably have to go into mobiles eventually. If you don’t get a significant number of mobile bookings however, it is very expensive to be an early innovator in the mobile realm, and it will not necessarily be worth the money.&#160; For some people the Mobile Revolution is here and has been here for a while, for others it is still a few years away.</p> <p><strong>DP</strong>: The problem that we face now is advertising on mobile platforms. It’s not being done effectively yet. We are Facebook though, you can be sure when we do start mobile ads, we’ll do it differently to everyone else.</p> <p><strong>ST</strong>: Mobile is very important to us. Microsoft does not discriminate against different mobile clients; we want to work within every major mobile network, even if it’s not a Windows phone. Things will get cheaper, all technology gets cheaper as time goes by.</p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: There are statistics that state that by 2013 there will be more phones capable of web browsing than PCs. That alone means it’s going to be a huge opportunity.&#160; The gears have starting moving on the Mobile revolution, it is imminent, you just have to make sure it doesn’t pass your business by.</p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: As a company you need to be everywhere that people are. We need to be present everywhere that people spend time. People still read newspapers, so even if they aren’t the future, they are still the present, and we need to be there. Everyone needs to forget the ROI (Return on Investment) because you just can’t calculate it with Mobile right now.</p> <p><strong>Question 4: What commercial opportunities will open up due to Mobile?<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'b50953a5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/travolution%20qt%20pic%203.png"><img title="The Panel, Relaxed" border="0" alt="The Panel, Relaxed" align="right" width="240" height="191" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/travolution%20qt%20pic%203_thumb.png" /></a></strong></p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: Everything is now. SMS is important for sending deals to people, especially when they leave on holiday. It’s also great for up-selling. Many people go on holiday these days and don’t have everything planned in advance; they are much more open to opportunities that catch their eye.</p> <p><strong>MB</strong>: Location based vouchers. Sending people through your door is the <u>new</u> advertising. There are still some things that have to be done on paper, that’s a problem, eventually though that should be less of a problem.</p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: It is a big move forward that you know your customers can check their email all the time while abroad. So you can send them emails of offers while they’re abroad and you know they’ll get them.</p> <p><strong>DP</strong>: I think people are getting way ahead of themselves here. We’re a long way away from all of this. You do definitely need to take a look at the ROI.</p> <p><strong>Question 5: Thomas Cook is branching in London Centre. Is this a good thing? Seamus?</strong></p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: I know nothing about this. It probably won’t be called Thomas Cook if they bought someone else.</p> <p><strong>MB</strong>: Of course it would be called Thomas Cook. You don’t throw away a brand name like that. It’s a good thing, it drives competition which is good.</p> <p><strong>Question 6: IS there a new phase of OTA innovation to come?</strong></p> <p><strong>MB</strong>: The cost of selling over the internet is significantly cheaper than using a call centre today. But we might see the resurgence of travel agents due to increases to PPC (pay per click) bookings.</p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: In theory anyone can come and disrupt the OTA space.</p> <p><strong>MB</strong>: Internet booking sites all look kind of alike. The average consumer has no idea what OTA or Metadata is, nor would they be able to spot it. Thomas Cook may disrupt the City hotels, who knows? Any big brand can come in. Nike might be doing something soon in this space. Really, it could be anyone.</p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: Do you want to see disruptive? Go to TripAdvisor, it’s hugely disruptive.</p> <p><strong>Question 7: Will there be a way to manage all by social networking platforms?<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'b50953a5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/ipad%20jeans.png"><img title="iPad Jeans" border="0" alt="iPad Jeans" align="right" width="110" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AQuestionofTravel_F570/ipad%20jeans_thumb.png" /></a></strong></p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: Yes, it’s all about getting the right technology provider. If you have a technology provider that understands your business and what you’re trying to do, then you can really get whatever you want and whatever your business needs. People say they can’t calculate an ROI for mobiles?&#160; We can, you just have to know what you’re doing.</p> <p><strong>ST</strong>: This is one of those areas that would need a killer app. It might not be there yet, we’re still looking for that perfect UC App.</p> <p><strong>DP</strong>: People think it’s all the same, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, but they’re not, we’re very different to everything else out there, we’re not competing.&#160; I think you could use these social networking platforms much more than the travel industry does at this time.&#160; It’s free to create a group on Facebook.&#160; Where is everyone?&#160; We have 450 Million users.&#160; I think maybe you should look into leveraging the power of social networks before thinking about how you’re going to manage them.&#160; The way these are used are completely different as well.&#160; Businesses should definitely make this more important.</p> <p><strong>Queen 8: Is the Man-bag coming back into fashion with the advent of the iPad?</strong></p> <p><strong>CD</strong>: I think Germany came up with some jeans for you.</p> <p><strong>SC</strong>: Absolutely, bring on the man-bag, I love it.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/102.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/102.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 10 Jun 2010 09:34:35 GMT<p>For Kris’ profile I have taken a different approach. The following are six Haikus which I feel cover the length and breadth of Kris’ time at Web Applications. Haikus are short and punchy, and I believe reflect Kris’ artsy side. I hope you enjoy. (A Haiku is characterized by 3 lines consisting of 5-7-5 syllables.)</p> <p></p> <p align="center">Kris kips at lunchtime <br />Works hard whilst awake all day <br />Kips again at home <br /></p> <p align="center">Kris wins at wii sports <br />Many competitors lose <br />Next the final match <br /></p> <p align="center">Software engineer <br />Works on <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/travel/tr_veller.aspx">Tr@veller</a> et al. <br />Made <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/acumen/mercury.aspx">Mercury</a> black</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/">Super Smash Brothers</a> <br /><a href="http://www.kirbykirbykirby.com/">Kirby</a> is his favourite <br />The brick’s a cheap move</p> <p align="center">Began on Blue Team <br />With Cheryl very briefly <br />Now on Kerry’s team</p> <p align="center">Kris writes some <a href="http://tvs2.comicgenesis.com/d/20060212.html">comics</a> <br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcomics">Webcomics</a> to be exact <br />Maybe more in time?</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/101.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/101.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 09 Jun 2010 15:56:51 GMT<p>On June 15, 2010 Web Applications’ Craig Dean will take his place on a five-person panel discussing the changing face of Office Communication. The event is now fully booked, but make sure to register your interest if you haven’t already and get yourself on that waiting list!</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.travolution.co.uk/">Travolution</a> has announced its first Question Time of the year, sponsored by Web Applications UK. The event will be held on Tuesday June 15^th at the <a href="http://www.firmdale.com/index.php?page_id=13">Charlotte Street Hotel</a> in London. Question Time will have a panel of five travel industry and communication experts, including our very own Craig Dean, Seamus Conlon from <a href="http://www.cruise.co.uk/">Cruise.co.uk</a> and Andy Washington from <a href="http://www.lastminute.com/">Lastminute.com</a>, as well as Steve Tassell (Unified Communications Product Manager) from <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> and <a href="www.facebook.com">Facebook’s</a> David Parfect. Also on stage will be Lee Hayhurst from Travolution acting as the debate moderator. The topic of discussion will be ‘A communication revolution is coming. Is your business ready?’</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TravolutionQuestionTimeiscomingtoavenuen_EDFC/charlottestreetscreeningroom%20(2)_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'ee1ab1da'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Charlotte Street Hotel" border="0" alt="Charlotte Street Hotel" title="Charlotte Street Hotel" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TravolutionQuestionTimeiscomingtoavenuen_EDFC/charlottestreetscreeningroom%20(2)_thumb.jpg" width="204" height="191" /></a>In a climate dominated by Apple’s latest products, social networking, live document sharing and cloud computing it is clear that things are changing in the world of business communication. The question is - can the travel industry afford not to be an early adaptor? If you have any questions about how communicating through digital interactions is going to affect your business in the next ten years, this is your opportunity to find the answers. The panel chosen looks ideally designed to discuss the topic from both a travel and technology standpoint, with Web Applications perfectly intersecting the two perspectives.</p> <p>Web Applications plans to have a 15 minute presentation before the discussion begins to illustrate the full power of the latest communication technology so that our audience can grasp the extent of this revolution.</p> <p>Registration for this event is now closed because it is <b>fully booked</b> but, if you are an eternal optimist visit Travolution’s Question Time <a href="http://www.travolutionquestiontime.com/">webpage</a> and register your interest with Angela. We are thrilled that so many people are coming to hear our thoughts! Well, it’s always possible they are coming to hear other people speak too, but we can’t be sure. Web Applications is very excited to be a part of such an important debate and we are confident this will be a landmark discussion. The event will begin at 6pm and will last approximately 2 hours. If you are planning on attending, make sure to send us a message (or leave a comment) and let us know!</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TravolutionQuestionTimeiscomingtoavenuen_EDFC/image_2.png" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'ee1ab1da'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="TW Group" border="0" alt="TW Group" title="TW Group" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TravolutionQuestionTimeiscomingtoavenuen_EDFC/image_thumb.png" width="240" height="74" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.travolution.co.uk/">Travolution</a> is part of the TW Group which also includes <a href="http://www.gazetteers.com/">gazetteers</a>, <a href="http://www.twacademy.co.uk/">TW academy</a> and <a href="http://www.travelweekly.com/events.aspx">Travel Weekly</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TravolutionQuestionTimeiscomingtoavenuen_EDFC/image_2.png"></a></p> <p>&#160;<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TravolutionQuestionTimeiscomingtoavenuen_EDFC/image_2.png"></a></p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/100.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/100.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 07 Jun 2010 15:43:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Sage Pay will once again be performing some scheduled maintenance overnight.&#160; The maintenance will take place between 10pm and midnight on Tuesday night (June 8, 2010).</p> <p>What is <b>NOT </b>affected:</p> <p>This maintenance will not affect any new Payment, Deferred and/or Authenticate transactions processed during the maintenance window.</p> <p>What <b>IS</b> affected:</p> <p>During the scheduled hours of maintenance (again, 10pm to midnight) users will be unable to view or perform actions such as Refund, Void, Repeat, RepeatDeferred, Release, Abort, Cancel and Authorise against any archived transactions.</p> <p><b>WHO</b> is affected:</p> <p>This includes anyone with a Direct integration into Sage Pay Go and those using Sage Pay’s Reporting and Admin API.<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'892b9439'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/SagePayScheduledMaintenance_DC0B/Sage%20pay_2.gif"><img title="Sage pay" border="0" alt="Sage pay" align="right" width="127" height="34" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/SagePayScheduledMaintenance_DC0B/Sage%20pay_thumb.gif" /></a></p> <p>You can find the original email from Sage Pay <a href="http://sagepay-email.com/8Z4-6DMW-971EP5BU8C/cr.aspx">here</a>.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/72.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/72.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 04 Jun 2010 17:00:21 GMT<p>As Web Applications prepares to head down south for Travolution’s Question Time, I thought we’d spend a minute looking at the topic of the debate, Unified Communications.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Unified Communications (UC) provides a centralised resource for all your methods of communication and simplifies and amplifies the way to connect to the people you need to. There are a number of accessible resources to find out more about UC, from providers like <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> and <a href="http://www.cisco.com">Cisco</a> to relaxed discussions with real users that can be found in <a href="http://whitepapers.theregister.co.uk/search?q=Unified+Comms">The Register</a>. If you would like to find some sources in print, the March 2010 edition of Travolution (www.travolution.co.uk) featured the top 10 technologies of 2010 which discusses multiple facets of UC, and Computing magazine (<a href="http://www.computing.co.uk">www.computing.co.uk</a>) did a series on Unified Communications throughout its March issues. To get the Web Applications take, visit the <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/systems/unified_communications.aspx">UC section</a> of our <a href="">website</a>.</p> <p>The premise upon which Unified Communications is based is simple, make it easier to get in touch with people you need to – and that is exactly what it does. UC has five key features: Unified Messaging, Presence, Video Conferencing, Collaboration and IP Telephony. Unified Communications is the integration of real-time communication services such as <b>Instant Messaging</b>, <b>Presence Indication</b>, <b>Telephony</b>, and <b>Video Conferencing</b> with non-real-time communication services like <b>Voicemail</b>, <b>Email</b> and <b>Fax</b>.</p> <p>Unified Messaging (UM) is a centralised mailbox for all your messaging communications, such as email, instant messaging (IM), text messaging (SMS), group chat, fax and voicemail. The key enhancement UM provides is the time saved through getting more from your applications. Each component of UM is connected and stored in your mailbox so all correspondence is easily retrievable.&#160; We recommend Microsoft Outlook as your Unified Messaging client.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4437f3f4'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UnifiedCommunicationsTheFutureIsNow_FC00/communicator_2.jpg"><img title="Communicator with Presence Status" border="0" alt="Attendant Console with Presence Status" align="left" width="455" height="333" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UnifiedCommunicationsTheFutureIsNow_FC00/communicator_thumb.jpg" /></a>Presence is one of the most talked about and celebrated new features of Unified Communications. Intimately linked with Direct Line technology, Presence provides real-time information that indicates whether a person is free to take a call, receive an Instant Message (IM) or start a conference; this influx of information is vital to improving your business’ productivity. Presence is a key player to helping UC determine the best medium for establishing a connection. For example, if a person is at the office, and someone calls their mobile, UC software knows that you are at your desk and can automatically route that call from their mobile phone to their desktop phone for a cheaper rate. Common Presence status include: Available, Away, Busy, In a meeting and Do Not Disturb.&#160; You can see to the left is an Attendant Console, the different coloured circles next to peoples name indicate their levels of availability, green = available, yellow = away or be right back, orange = busy/do not disturb/in a meeting.&#160; You can also customise these settings to say out of the office, available but don’t IM, or anything you want to describe your status.</p> <p>Video Conferencing is a great new addition to the network of features belonging to Unified Communications, integrating Web based conferencing with audio and video, providing an almost intimate setting for meetings. Video Conferencing is a real-time solution that allows people to communicate face to face despite vast distances, making it a great function for anyone who works from home or wants (or needs) to cut down the time they spend travelling to remote sites. It also provides a way to hold in-depth impromptu meetings across any distance. Video Conferencing is especially enhanced by presence and collaboration. The presence setting will update to indicate that you are in a conference, but it is collaboration which makes Video Conferencing truly exciting.</p> <p>Collaboration is an extremely useful function stand-alone or in conjunction with Video Conferencing. Collaboration adds a massive amount of value to video conferencing and transforms video conferencing into a completely interactive experience with the added functionality of shared window viewing. With Collaboration you can be sure that the numbers on your screen are in fact the same as the numbers your counterpart has, no matter how different your interpretations. Each side of the video conference chooses which windows to share so that only pertinent information makes it into the conference, and your twitter feed will not interrupt a presentation.</p> <p>The voice part of the equation, or IP telephony, is often the most critical element, and one that the majority of end-users organisations use as the basis for their initial UC roll-outs. IP telephony translates into voice conversations for the end user. Software-driven Voice over IP (VoIP) is widely heralded as the future of business voice communication. This is the solution that enhances communication for information workers, allowing them to start voice connections for the platform of whatever application they are working with, as well as receive calls when connected to a wide range of networks without a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VoIP also works with Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or through a media gateway and Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs).</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4437f3f4'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UnifiedCommunicationsTheFutureIsNow_FC00/travolution%20group_2.jpg"><img title="TW Group" border="0" alt="TW Group" align="right" width="240" height="74" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UnifiedCommunicationsTheFutureIsNow_FC00/travolution%20group_thumb.jpg" /></a>Unified Communications is truly the future of business correspondence and is one of the most exciting technical enhancements that companies are adopting. At Travolution’s Question Time we will be discussing the future of how businesses communicate and what the travel industry should be doing to mark its role as an early innovator. In case you haven’t seen the <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Community/Events/tabid/88/ctl/Details/Mid/449/ItemID/14/Default.aspx?ContainerSrc=%5bG%5dContainers/_default/No+Container&amp;SkinSrc=%5bG%5dSkins/Community/Horizontal-Tabbed">Event</a> listing, Web Applications UK is&#160; sponsoring Travolution’s Question Time which will take place at 6pm in the Charlotte Street Hotel in London and will last approximately two hours. The panel in the debate includes representatives from Microsoft, Facebook, Lastminute.com, Cruise.co.uk and our very own Craig Dean. The debate will be monitored by Travolution’s editor Lee Hayhurst. To make a reservation and hear all about the future of communication, visit <a href="http://www.travolutionquestiontime.com">www.travolutionquestiontime.com</a>. We hope to see you there!</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/99.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/99.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 25 May 2010 12:34:35 GMT<p>This will only work with SQL Server 2008 and above as it requires a new feature of SQL Server only present in 2008 and 2008 R2: Table Value Parameters.</p> <p>Previously when we wanted to provide SQL with a set of data, e.g. a table, we had to pass in XML and parse that within the SQL. SQL’s parsing of XML isn’t great when dealing with large quantities of data. Additionally we want the data in table form anyway, so why bother with the XML? Ideally we just want to be able to pass in a table to SQL, just like we can get tables out.</p> <p>In this post I’m going to go through the steps in both SQL and C# to allow you to do this. My examples use C# 3.5 and above (through use of Linq) but it could be easily converted to .NET 2.0.</p> <h3>Step One – Create the Data Table Type in SQL </h3> <p>Use SQL Server Management Studio to navigate to the correct database. First thing we need to do is define a Table Type. This is a requirement of passing Table value parameters to a Stored Procedure. In this post I’m going to use an example of passing in a set of products.</p> <p>To create a data table type, you can use the following syntax:</p> <div style="border-bottom: silver 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: silver 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px; line-height: 12pt; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding-left: 4px; width: 97.5%; padding-right: 4px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; max-height: 200px; font-size: 8pt; overflow: auto; border-top: silver 1px solid; cursor: text; border-right: silver 1px solid; padding-top: 4px" id="codeSnippetWrapper"> <div style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px" id="codeSnippet"> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum1"> 1:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">CREATE</span> TYPE [dbo].[Product] <span style="color: #0000ff">AS</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">TABLE</span>(</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum2"> 2:</span> [ID] [<span style="color: #0000ff">int</span>],</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum3"> 3:</span> [Name] [nvarchar](<span style="color: #0000ff">max</span>),</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum4"> 4:</span> [BestBefore] [datetime] <span style="color: #0000ff">null</span></pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum5"> 5:</span> )</pre> <!--CRLF--></div> </div> <p>This creates a type with three columns: <b>ID</b>, of type integer, doesn’t allow nulls, <b>Name</b>, of type nvarchar(max), again, doesn’t allow nulls, <b>BestBefore</b>, a date time that does allow nulls.</p> <p>Once the data table type is created it can be found within: Programmability -&gt; Types -&gt; User-Defined Table Types on the target database and is ready to be used in stored procedures.</p> <h3>Step Two – Add the parameter to the Stored Procedure</h3> <p>Now that the Data Table type has been created, we can add the parameter to the stored procedure. When passing table types as parameter values, they must be marked as Read-Only, this is another requirement enforced by SQL Server. The syntax below shows the head of a stored procedure that will add a list of products to the database. Once inside the body of the stored procedure, the parameter can be used like any other Temporary Table Variable.</p> <div style="border-bottom: silver 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: silver 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px; line-height: 12pt; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding-left: 4px; width: 97.5%; padding-right: 4px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; max-height: 200px; font-size: 8pt; overflow: auto; border-top: silver 1px solid; cursor: text; border-right: silver 1px solid; padding-top: 4px" id="codeSnippetWrapper"> <div style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px" id="codeSnippet"> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum1"> 1:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">ALTER</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">PROCEDURE</span> [dbo].[spProductAddList] ( </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum2"> 2:</span> @SessionID uniqueidentifier,</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum3"> 3:</span> @ProductList <span style="color: #0000ff">as</span> dbo.Product readonly )</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum4"> 4:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">AS</span></pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum5"> 5:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">BEGIN</span></pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum6"> 6:</span> …</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum7"> 7:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">END</span> </pre> <!--CRLF--></div> </div> <h3>Step Three – Create an Explicit Cast Operator</h3> <p>There are several different options for passing the data to SQL; we found a couple of articles on this but none provided the quality of solution we wanted:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/CSharpAndTableValueParams.aspx">http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/CSharpAndTableValueParams.aspx</a> - This is the original article we found; it has a good introduction to how the principles worked, but we weren’t happy with the use of an ad-hoc DataTable implementation. </li> <li><a href="http://orionseven.com/blog/tag/c/">http://orionseven.com/blog/tag/c/</a> - In this article Bryan Smith uses a custom IEnumerable implementation to create his own GetEnumerator method which outputs SqlDataRecords of the correct structure/value. We preferred this method but felt we could build on it to create a nicer OO solution without the need for a separate, specific collection class. </li> </ul> <p>With this in mind we settled on a method that used an explicit cast operator on the class in question to create a SqlDataRecord from the base object. </p> <p>In the application for our example we already have a “Product” class; to this class we’re going to add the following method:</p> <p></p> <div style="border-bottom: silver 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: silver 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px; line-height: 12pt; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding-left: 4px; width: 97.5%; padding-right: 4px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; max-height: 200px; font-size: 8pt; overflow: auto; border-top: silver 1px solid; cursor: text; border-right: silver 1px solid; padding-top: 4px" id="codeSnippetWrapper"> <div style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px" id="codeSnippet"> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum1"> 1:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">public</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">static</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">explicit</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">operator</span> SqlDataRecord(Product product)</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum2"> 2:</span> {</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum3"> 3:</span> SqlDataRecord sqlDataRecord = <span style="color: #0000ff">new</span> SqlDataRecord(</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum4"> 4:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">new</span> SqlMetaData(<span style="color: #006080">&quot;ID&quot;</span>, SqlDbType.VarChar, -1),</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum5"> 5:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">new</span> SqlMetaData(<span style="color: #006080">&quot;Name&quot;</span>, SqlDbType.VarChar, -1),</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum6"> 6:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">new</span> SqlMetaData(<span style="color: #006080">&quot;BestBefore&quot;</span>, SqlDbType.VarChar, -1)</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum7"> 7:</span> );</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum8"> 8:</span>&#160; </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum9"> 9:</span> sqlDataRecord.SetInt32(0, product.ID);</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum10"> 10:</span> sqlDataRecord.SetString(1, product.Name);</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum11"> 11:</span>&#160; </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum12"> 12:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">if</span> (product.BestBefore &gt; DateTime.MinValue)</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum13"> 13:</span> sqlDataRecord.SetDateTime(2, product.BestBefore);</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum14"> 14:</span>&#160; </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum15"> 15:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">return</span> sqlDataRecord;</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum16"> 16:</span> }</pre> <!--CRLF--></div> </div> <p>This creates an explicit cast operator from the type product to the type SqlDataRecord. First thing we do is create the SqlDataRecord instance, in the constructor we add 3 SqlMetaData objects which define the columns of the Data Table Type we defined in step one.</p> <p>Once we’ve created the record, we need to set the values; this is done using the SetString/SetInt32/SetDateTime methods. When this is done we return the sqlDataRecord object which contains the data from our object in the same format as the Data Table Type in SQL.</p> <h4>Step Four – Passing the data from C# to SQL</h4> <p>Now we have a way of generating our SqlDataRecords and have told SQL what format to expect the data in, we have to program the C# to provide this to the SQL. We have to create a parameter in ADO.NET, but give it a type of “SqlDbType.Structured”. This tells SQL that it should expect a Table Variable for the value of the parameter. </p> <div style="border-bottom: silver 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: silver 1px solid; padding-bottom: 4px; line-height: 12pt; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding-left: 4px; width: 97.5%; padding-right: 4px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; max-height: 200px; font-size: 8pt; overflow: auto; border-top: silver 1px solid; cursor: text; border-right: silver 1px solid; padding-top: 4px" id="codeSnippetWrapper"> <div style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px" id="codeSnippet"> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum1"> 1:</span> <span style="color: #0000ff">using</span> (SqlCommand command = <span style="color: #0000ff">new</span> SqlCommand(<span style="color: #006080">&quot;spProductAddList&quot;</span>, connection))</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum2"> 2:</span> {</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum3"> 3:</span> command.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum4"> 4:</span>&#160; </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum5"> 5:</span> SqlParameter productsParameter = <span style="color: #0000ff">new</span> SqlParameter(<span style="color: #006080">&quot;@ProductList&quot;</span>, SqlDbType.Structured)</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum6"> 6:</span> {</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum7"> 7:</span> Value =</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum8"> 8:</span> products.Count() &gt; 0</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum9"> 9:</span> ? products.Select(</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum10"> 10:</span> p =&gt; (SqlDataRecord)p)</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum11"> 11:</span> : <span style="color: #0000ff">null</span></pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum12"> 12:</span> };</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum13"> 13:</span>&#160; </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum14"> 14:</span> command.Parameters.Add(productsParameter);</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum15"> 15:</span>&#160; </pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: #f4f4f4; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum16"> 16:</span> command.ExecuteNonQuery();</pre> <!--CRLF--> <pre style="border-bottom-style: none; text-align: left; padding-bottom: 0px; line-height: 12pt; border-right-style: none; background-color: white; margin: 0em; padding-left: 0px; width: 100%; padding-right: 0px; font-family: &#39;Courier New&#39;, courier, monospace; direction: ltr; border-top-style: none; color: black; font-size: 8pt; border-left-style: none; overflow: visible; padding-top: 0px"><span style="color: #606060" id="lnum17"> 17:</span> }</pre> <!--CRLF--></div> </div> <p>Using LINQ we cast our products into SqlDataRecord objects using the explicit cast from step 3. The result of the LINQ Select is an IEnumerable&lt;SqlDataRecord&gt; which is provided to SQL as the value. If there are no products then “Null” is provided to SQL. SQL does not seem to like a value of “default” for Table Variable parameters.</p> <p>And that’s it, C# passes the collection of SqlDataRecords to SQL, which can then do as it pleases with the data it has without having to resort to XML. </p> <p>As mentioned this will only work on SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 and the example was written using C#/.NET 3.5; however it could be easily ported to .NET 2.0 by removing the use of LINQ and replacing it with a foreach loop.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/98.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/98.aspxStephen ElliottMon, 24 May 2010 15:51:08 GMT<p>There were riots at the door as people vied for seats at Web Applications’ prestigious UGS. Luckily no one was seriously injured during the stampede, except of course our humility. What an awesome response. Really though, we love the support our faithful clients showed us in their attendance - and if you happened to miss it, here’s the run-down of the seminar. Get ready for a long post.    </p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/GEN%20-%20DSC_0091_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Naomi Welcomes People" border="0" alt="Naomi Welcomes People" title="Naomi Welcomes People" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/GEN%20-%20DSC_0091_thumb.jpg" width="165" height="244" /></a>We had a great time at the User Group Seminar last week. In case you were unable to attend, here is a brief synopsis of what you missed. There were four presentations in addition to the Q &amp; A session which closed the seminar. The talks included (in chronological order) Craig Dean’s Introduction, Steve Morgan on Tr@veller Enhancements, Steve Elliott on Br-ease and Andrew Fryer from Microsoft discussed SQL Server 2008.</p> <p>Craig opened the seminar with a run-through of the Agenda, reminding everyone of all the great things we were demonstrating. He talked about the theme (and our theme tune) and how it was decided upon. He then presented the past, present and future of Web Applications UK; how we were working hard to: <b>Deliver </b>what our customers ask for; <b>Achieve</b> what we promise; and <b>Anticipate</b> future needs. Craig thanked our customers in their continuing faith in us, he illustrated some of our recent achievements and how we do everything we can to maintain our reputation as a capable customer focused business. There was a great demo of our new website which showcases our skills and products much better via the Mercury Registration System, cutting edge ASP.NET MVC (model view controller) framework, AJAX and jQuery (We’ve gone anagram mad!). We are implementing a whole new User Interface for core products making the most of our new in-house designer and, as always, continuing with our commitment to provide the best solutions to our customers.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/CD%20-%20DSC_0122_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Craig tells everyone what&#39;s on the screen" border="0" alt="Craig tells everyone what&#39;s on the screen" title="Craig tells everyone what&#39;s on the screen" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/CD%20-%20DSC_0122_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a>Craig announced the new Web Applications <b>363 program</b>, meaning the only days our office will be closed from now on are Christmas and New Year’s Day. The other 363 days a year our office will be open from 8am to 6pm, there is no additional charge for this service (meaning no increase in Licensing and Support fees) and our of hours support is still available for its fixed fee. What’s even better is this 7 day a week approach has already begun!</p> <p>Craig discussed the new things that are happening in our Systems Department. The Systems division is supporting Travel and Non-Travel’s IT infrastructure, managing key partnerships and creating new solutions. Web Applications UK counts Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, HP and Gateway as valued partners and we work to maintain these relationships whilst building upon them. We currently have two Microsoft Apprentices who are trained through QA in addition to our involvement in our local community as evidenced in our <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/87/web-applications-uk-we-rsquo-re-famous.aspx">cameo</a> during GMTV on April 14. Web Applications is also working on finding new solutions to existing problems and are working to find a ‘Business in a Box’ solution to help support businesses.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/CD%20-%20DSC_0140_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Video conferencing is fun" border="0" alt="Video conferencing is fun" title="Video conferencing is fun" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/CD%20-%20DSC_0140_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a>Our upcoming news and events section was passed through very quickly because Craig was already a bit behind schedule (shocking I know). On June 15 two things are happening, Parkdean is hosting a Pro-Am Golf Tournament at the Belleisle course in Ayr to support Ayrshire hospice (we’ve previously mentioned this <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/68/web_applications_sponsors_a_charity_golf_tournament.aspx">here</a>) and Web Applications will be participating in <a href="http://www.travolutionquestiontime.com/">Travolution’s Question Time</a>. We are sponsoring both events and hope both of these events garner a lot of support. In regards to Travolution’s Question Time we are not only a sponsor but Craig will be sitting on the panel to answer questions on the Communication Revolution that is happening across UK businesses. Also on the panel are representatives from Microsoft, Facebook, Cruise.co.uk and Lastminute.com, we’re pretty excited about this discussion because of our passion for Unified Communications which we displayed during the live video Craig had with Vivienne, Allan, Robin and Jeff during this introduction – more on Travolution’s Question Time to come. In terms of our commitment to the community, Web Applications UK is involved in a number of local club sports including <a href="http://www.duffa.org">DUFFA</a> Ultimate Frisbee, Inter Web F. C. (our sponsored football club, which incidentally won the Cup Final), we sit on the board for the IT Careers academy and offer a number of work placement and work experience opportunities for local members of the community who want to see what life in an IT company is like. We do our best not to put them off. To top it off we currently have our own Internal Squash club as well as an on-going Wii tournament which is in its final stages.</p> <p>Many of the things Craig talked about in this introduction will be described in <i>even more</i> detail in the weeks to come. I know it’s all very exciting, please try to stay calm and keep an eye out for updates.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/GEN%20-%20DSC_0092_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="They came for the news, they stayed for the tea" border="0" alt="They came for the news, they stayed for the tea" title="They came for the news, they stayed for the tea" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/GEN%20-%20DSC_0092_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a>After this was a quick tea and coffee break.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SM%20-%20DSC_0205_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Steve demonstrates things" border="0" alt="Steve demonstrates things" title="Steve demonstrates things" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SM%20-%20DSC_0205_thumb.jpg" width="165" height="244" /></a>Next on the docket was Steve Morgan’s presentation on some new Tr@veller enhancements and an introduction to <a href="http://www.mercuryreservations.com/">Mercury</a>. Some of the new Tr@veller features discussed were the New Menu, Availability Grid improvements, Moving Bookings, New Integrations and its use of SQL 2008 R2. After quickly outlining what he was going to be talking about in regards to Tr@veller, Steve introduced Mercury, a light-weight, fully hosted version of Tr@veller.</p> <p>Mercury is a SaaS (Software as a Service) which means you only pay a transaction fee, other than that it is completely free. It will publish stock to market leading portals, there is a ‘Try before you buy’ process and will include community-led changes (giving YOU the power). Reports are created by a hosted version of Br-ease and will plug into the existing AcuWeb solution to provide a low cost website.</p> <p>Steve moved on to talk about the new Tr@veller menu. One of the additions includes side panels which will allow for designs that break out of the typical Tr@veller header/details design and will accommodate phone wizards, recent bookings and CSR guides and notes. Steve illustrated many of the additions through a series of demonstrations.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SM%20-%20DSC_0198_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Doesn&#39;t Steve look thrilled?" border="0" alt="Doesn&#39;t Steve look thrilled?" title="Doesn&#39;t Steve look thrilled?" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SM%20-%20DSC_0198_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a>The discussion turned to Babel and third party integrations, picking out a number of situations that are optimised by Babel, then Steve used an example of a Packaging System to illustrate his point. This was an example of a packaging system where stock is pulled from various third party sources in real-time; price is created from commission rules and supplier prices in real-time. In this case Tr@veller is used as a bookings repository and a stock provider.</p> <p>Steve provided tons of demonstrations to illustrate what he was discussing; watching little pictures move definitely saved the day.<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/FILM%20-%20DSC_0267_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Stick to the script!" border="0" alt="Stick to the script!" title="Stick to the script!" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/FILM%20-%20DSC_0267_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a></p> <p>After Steve was finished we had lunch. Excellent food was provided by Albert’s Shed, though, I don’t think the Castlefield Rooms has an in-house Engineer. Craig’s table managed to spontaneously collapse on itself, giving everyone in the room a little chuckle. After lunch I tried to start cornering people talk to the camera for a minute, just stare into the lens…</p> <p>Steve Elliott was next in line and gave his talk on ‘The Wonder of Br-ease’.</p> <p>Br-ease is a completely new reporting engine that takes all the positives from Tr@veller and adds some great new features. It’s a modern platform that uses the latest Microsoft technologies and its modular design allows for lots of future growth.</p> <p>In addition to the wonder of Br-ease, there was also an element of the wonder of Steve. I have never seen anyone use a floating mouse like that in my life.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SE%20-%20DSC_0235_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Steve and his amazing floating mouse" border="0" alt="Steve and his amazing floating mouse" title="Steve and his amazing floating mouse" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SE%20-%20DSC_0235_thumb.jpg" width="165" height="244" /></a>Br-ease reports are easy to use and configure; they combine reports from different sources to create intelligent reports. Deliverables ensure you can choose the right report for the right time. Deliverables are made up of one or more Detail Reports (Quick Reports or Reporting Services Reports), they support a wide range of delivery methods and are intelligent – meaning it will choose the best deliverable based on the circumstances.</p> <p>Reporting Services Reports (SSRS) are built into most versions of Microsoft SQL Server, individual reports can be imported into Br-ease as required, there are multiple rendering options (PDF, Excel, Word, HTML, etc.) and there is a wide range of support and documentation. Quick Reports are a new addition to Br-ease and are available in Br-ease version 2. Quick Reports are built with simplicity and ease of use in mind, and allow report authors to leverage existing data structures within the data source. Are you still with me? Good.</p> <p>Br-ease Standard Reports are great for sending reports to one recipient. They are good for MIS reports and use deliverables, but only one deliverable is sent when executed.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SE%20-%20DSC_0227_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Br-ease Architecture, you don&#39;t get graphs like this in Kansas" border="0" alt="Br-ease Architecture, you don&#39;t get graphs like this in Kansas" title="Br-ease Architecture, you don&#39;t get graphs like this in Kansas" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/SE%20-%20DSC_0227_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a>Br-ease Batch Reports are extremely powerful. They can output multiple reports to different destinations. Deliverables are split into groups. A Selector Report chooses who gets which report, and then the first valid deliverable from each group is sent per Selector row. Valid deliverables are determined by Selector output and Data Protection information. Selector is not related to Skynet or the Decepticons, though it is a distant cousin to Number 5 in Short Circuit – we checked. </p> <p>There is a sophisticated security system within Br-ease that allows granular security controls, allowing for varying levels of user access. In the Schema Admin you can modify what database objects are available when authoring Quick Reports. The Schema Admin also provides huge flexibility for optimising Quick reports without having to delve into SQL Management Studio.</p> <p>Finally, Br-ease integrates seamlessly into Tr@veller and Mercury, and can also stand alone as a separate report engine, integrating into any SQL Server Database. There are many plans for Br-ease at Web Applications, and soon we hope to add even more functionality by enabling Cloud Printing Services. Best of all, Br-ease is free! Almost. The license for Br-ease is free, but there is an integration cost. Contact your Project Manager for more details.</p> <p>Last on the structured presentations was Microsoft’s Andrew Fryer, technical evangelist, discussion SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/PANEL%20-%20DSC_0313_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="The Panel, Steve, Steve, Andrew and Craig" border="0" alt="The Panel, Steve, Steve, Andrew and Craig" title="The Panel, Steve, Steve, Andrew and Craig" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/PANEL%20-%20DSC_0313_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a>Andrew focused on two new version of SQL Server, SQL Server 2008 R2 and SQL Azure. The focus of this discussion was the massive potential in SQL Server for optimising Business Intelligence and its massive power to deliver the <b>right information </b>at the <b>right time</b> and in the <b>right format.</b></p> <p>Andrew’s presentation had a lot of information in it. He addressed many of the current reporting challenges that businesses have to deal with, and then went through all the functionality of the new SQL Server to illustrate how much easier it is to use. He discussed author compelling reports and how to manage enterprise-wide workloads with its enterprise-scale platform, central deployment and strong manageability. You can also deliver personalised reports, which means these reports can be delivered to whatever location you choose, it includes interactive reports and can come in whatever format you want. I think it took a special sort of person to follow Andrew’s presentation, which is why this review is based on the slides from his talk which I happen to have squirreled away.<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/PANEL%20-%20DSC_0317_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'88ecd3d8'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Look at the Brochure!" border="0" alt="Look at the Brochure!" title="Look at the Brochure!" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/UGS2010BestOneYet_EC36/PANEL%20-%20DSC_0317_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="165" /></a></p> <p>Andrew demonstrated the power of Excel and PivotTables, looking at how quickly data can be analysed (lots of data). He also talked about the new location services, namely map analytics. His example was a pretty crazy one, dealing with how many birds collided with American planes, breaking down the data by breed of bird and US State the, er, unfortunate events happened in.</p> <p>After Andrew’s presentation was another quick break and then came Question Time. If you watch the video you’ll see me with a classic deer in headlights look on my face as I ferry the microphone around the room. The video for the seminar should be available sometime this week. Once again we’d like to thank everyone who participated in the event, and we’ll begin working soon to make next year’s even better.</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/96.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/96.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 24 May 2010 11:01:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Inter Web F. C. had a tough battle on Sunday. Great Rocks were the previous champions of the Les Pountley Cup and had been at the top of the League table for the majority of the season. With hopes high and determination set Inter Web dominated the match with a resounding 5 – 1 victory.</p> <p><a href="/community/blog/entryid/68/profile-of-the-week-darren-mitchinson.aspx">Darren</a> was kind enough to provide pictures from the match which gives us a slide show of how the game went. Let’s take a look.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4e57bafc'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image002_2.jpg"><img title="Team Photo" border="0" alt="Team Photo" width="244" height="165" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image002_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Sound the Horn!!! Pre-match expectations are sky-high.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4e57bafc'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image004_2.jpg"><img title="Ready...Set..." border="0" alt="Ready...Set..." width="244" height="165" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image004_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>It doesn’t appear to be a very high speed match…everyone appears to be standing still.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4e57bafc'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image006_2.jpg"><img title="Run!" border="0" alt="Run!" width="244" height="165" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image006_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Oh! Look at that, movement!</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4e57bafc'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image008_2.jpg"><img title="King of the Pitch" border="0" alt="King of the Pitch" width="244" height="165" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image008_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Darren obviously has no idea his picture is being taken, that’s his natural stance.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4e57bafc'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image010_2.jpg"><img title="Where is the Cup?" border="0" alt="Where is the Cup?" width="244" height="165" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image010_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Good game everyone, come in for an orange slice.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'4e57bafc'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image012_2.jpg"><img title="Oh - There It Is" border="0" alt="Oh - There It Is" width="244" height="165" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/FortheWinInterWebF.C_9AB6/clip_image012_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>No one is ever letting Darren hold the cup again.</p> <p>To find out more information visit the Buxton Taverners’ League <a href="http://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/buxtontavernersleague/Home">Website</a>.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/71.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/71.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 18 May 2010 15:43:00 GMT<div><p><img alt="Bupa Great Manchester Run" align="left" width="175" height="263" src="/Portals/0/bupa_great_manchester_run.jpg" /></p> <p>On Sunday Steve ran 10k to support charity and on Monday he managed to catch enough breath to talk for 45 minutes on Br-ease.</p> <p>That’s right, our very own <a href="/community/blog/entryid/83/steve-elliott-escapes-the-squirrels.aspx">Steve Elliott</a> managed to complete his mini marathon in ten minutes <i>faster</i> than he had hoped and anticipated. As <a href="/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/69/hero_is_spelled_stephenelliott.aspx">previously stated</a>, Steve participated in Bupa’s Great Manchester Run on Sunday, May 16, in support of the <a href="http://www.cbf-uk.org/index.php">Children’s Burn Foundation</a>. We’re very proud of Steve and this particular achievement. Not only that, but through his and Claire’s fundraising, they managed to raise their target amount of money which will fully cover a week of camp in the Lake District for one special child.</p> <p>On a side note, Steve enjoyed this run so much that he might do more of them! There is another 10k run coming up in Leeds this July which Steve is considering running as well. Looks like Steve caught the Run bug.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div> <p>&#160;</p></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/70.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/70.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 12 May 2010 11:24:35 GMT<p>Web Applications’ Darren Mitchinson will be going to the Buxton Cup Final this Sunday in a bid to win the Championship with his team, Inter Web.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>&#160;<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/68/profile-of-the-week-darren-mitchinson.aspx"><img title="Real Queen kit" border="0" hspace="5" alt="Real Queen kit" vspace="5" align="left" width="116" height="121" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/DarrensGoingForTheLesCup_ADF1/darren_thumb.jpg" />Darren</a>, formerly a Real Queen (see picture) is a key member of the team Inter Web, sponsored by Web Applications UK. This is Inter Web’s first year in the tournament and we are very proud of how well the team has performed. The Buxton League finished with Inter Web in third place, and now the top four teams will grapple to see who will ultimately come out on top for the Les Pountley Cup. So far they have won their first game 3-0 against Kinder Lodge which leaves them against Great Rocks for the final match.</p> <p>Inter Web has not had the smoothest ascent into this final. The team had a promising start but saw injuries derail the team’s hopes at an early stage around Christmas. Rallying together the team has seen a massive comeback to finish their year as a strong contender for ultimate glory. Darren, Inter Web’s star midfielder, has managed to avoid any more own goals giving his team a chance at victory and is hoping to finish his year in style. Considering their Goal Difference at the end of the league was -6, it’s pretty amazing they’re in the final at all.<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'14a9db4f'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/DarrensGoingForTheLesCup_ADF1/inter%20web%20f%20c_2.jpg"><img title="Inter Web F. C." border="0" hspace="5" alt="Inter Web F. C." vspace="5" align="right" width="240" height="180" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/DarrensGoingForTheLesCup_ADF1/inter%20web%20f%20c_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>The Buxton Taverners’ League is divided into divisions one and two, though division one seems to have a delusion of grandeur and calls itself the Premier League. Which is odd, I thought there was already a premier league out there somewhere…I guess it must be Chelsea and Tottenham who are just pretending. Yes, Web Application’s Darren is a Premier League footballer, words I’m sure he’ll cherish for years to come.</p> <p>Great Rocks are the current holders of the cup and have been the team to beat throughout the season. This is no longer just a contest of skill and perseverance, there are some pretty big egos on the line. The final will be played at the Silverlands Stadium in Buxton and Kick-off is at 2pm this upcoming Sunday May 16. We have it on a less than reliable source that tickets cost £2 payable to Darren on the pitch (in reality tickets don’t even exist, just show up to the stadium and find a seat – it’s free). Silverlands Stadium reportedly can hold up to 5000 supporters, personally I fear this might not be enough space for the Inter Web fanatics whom I’m sure will be lining up in droves to watch this historic game, but the organisers seem confident that this will be enough space so I suppose I’ll have to leave it to their better judgment.&#160;</p> <p>Good luck Darren and all the members of Inter Web F. C.</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/95.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/95.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 11 May 2010 16:52:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>&#160;</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'fb853568'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/HeroIsSpelledStephenElliott_EC94/steve%20elliott%20hero_2.jpg"><img title="Our Hero" border="0" alt="Our Hero" align="left" width="180" height="240" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px 10px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/HeroIsSpelledStephenElliott_EC94/steve%20elliott%20hero_thumb.jpg" /></a>Steve will be racing in the Great Manchester Run to support the Children’s Burns Foundation, Charity Registration No. 1121682. Steve’s fiancée Claire is a sister in the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital Burns Ward, which is the impetus for supporting this particular charity. Money raised from the event will go to help burn-injured children have a fun week away at a camp located in the Lake District. The camp is run purely on donations and fund raising by the charity so Claire and Steve are very excited to be a part of this great opportunity.</p> <p>Steve and Claire have been training for this 10k run since January and hope to complete the race in a respectable time. They will be racing in Pink so keep a look out for them in Manchester City Centre this Sunday; their start time is 12:20pm. More information on the Children’s Burns Foundation can be found <a href="http://www.cbf-uk.org/index.php">here</a>. If you would like to read Steve and Claire’s story and donate to help support them, their information can be found <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/claire-diamond">here</a>.</p> <p>Everyone here at Web Applications is pulling together to give Steve the confidence that he’s going to do amazingly well and exceed his expected finish time. At the moment Steve has only made it to 5k in practice runs but we’re sure he’ll be fine. Web Applications UK is a proud supporter of Steve and his cause. Go Steve!</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/69.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/69.aspxMelanie TownsendTue, 11 May 2010 12:32:00 GMT<div><p>Web Applications is very pleased to be sponsoring <a href="http://www.parkdeanltd.com/index.htm">Parkdean Holiday Parks’</a> Pro-Am charity golf tournament. We are very happy to be involved in this wonderful event, the proceeds of which will go towards the Ayrshire Hospice.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.ayrshirehospice.org/">Ayrshire Hospice</a> is a wonderful charity that was established to improve the quality of life for people who are suffering from advanced or terminal illness and gives support for families and carers across Ayrshire.</p> <p>The setting for this Pro-Am charity tournament will be Belleisle Golf Course in Ayr and will be June 15, 2010. Those who have attended this event in previous years will be well acquainted with the Belleisle Golf Course as it has hosted this charity tournament in previous years. Three-man teams will play with a top Scottish Professional over one of Scotland’s most picturesque courses. The tournament will be closely followed by a presentation dinner.&#160; Find more information <a href="http://www.ayrshirehospice.org/fundraising-events-info.asp?id=32">here</a>.</p> <p>Web Applications UK is proud to be a sponsor of this charity golf tournament and we wish all the participants the best of luck!</p> <p><img alt="" vspace="10" align="absMiddle" width="100" height="35" src="/Portals/0/Web-Applications-Logo.gif" /><img alt="" width="113" height="64" src="/Portals/0/parkdean_logo2.gif" /></p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"> <p>&#160;</p> </div> <p>&#160;</p></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/68.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/68.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 10 May 2010 17:30:00 GMT<div><p><img alt="" align="left" width="113" height="160" src="/Portals/0/UGS2010.jpg" />Below is the agenda for the UGS. For the sake of making the agenda as accessible as possible these details can also be found in the events section of the website, but be warned it is exactly the same. As the agenda shows, we will have presentations from a Senior Engineer and a Project Manager, as well as the Keynote delivered by Chief Executive Craig Dean who will provide all the information you need on Web Applications and where we’re heading. The seminar will be held in the Castlefield Rooms, 18-20 Castle Street, Castlefield M3 4LZ on Monday, May 17^th 2010. Parking around Castlefield Rooms is limited so come early, but don’t fret if you miss out, there’s an NCP across the street.</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>&#160;</p> <div><b><u>Schedule</u></b></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>10.00am&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 10.30am&#160; <b>Registration</b></div> <div><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Tea, coffee, bacon sandwiches and egg sandwiches will be available.</span></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>10.30am&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 11.30am&#160; <i>Don’t Stop Believin’ by Craig Dean, Chief Executive</i></div> <div><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Craig Dean will be giving the keynote speech which will delve into Web Applications UK’s past and future.&#160;He will be touching on what Web Applications has accomplished in the past year with an emphasis on responses to clients’ wishes and requests. &#160;Craig will also be revealing an exciting new initiative and taking a look at some of things you can expect in the coming year. </span></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>11.30am&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 11.45pm&#160; <b>Break </b></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>11.45am&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 12.45pm&#160; <i>Tr@veller enhancements and an introduction to Mercury by</i> <i>Steve Morgan, Project Manager</i></div> <div><i><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </span></i>Steve Morgan will be giving a presentation of the latest future-proofing enhancements to Tr@veller including the new framework and menu system which utilises the latest ASP.Net MVC and jQuery technologies.&#160;Steve will also focus on some of the new features added to Tr@veller in the last year.</div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>12.45pm&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 1.45pm&#160;&#160;&#160; <b>Lunch </b></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>1.45pm&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 2.30pm&#160;&#160;&#160; <i>The Wonder of Br-ease by Stephen Elliott, Senior Engineer</i></div> <div><i><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </span></i>Stephen Elliott, a Senior Engineer and lead architect of Br-ease, will be giving a presentation on the new Batch Reporting System.&#160;Steve will be highlighting the key features of this exciting new product whilst demonstrating its power and flexibility.</div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>&#160;2:30pm <span>&#160;&#160;– &#160;&#160;2:45pm&#160;&#160;&#160;<b>Break</b></span></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>&#160;2.45pm&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 3.30pm&#160;&#160;&#160; <i>SQL 2008 Reporting Services</i> <i>by Andrew Fryer, IT Pro Evangelist</i><b>&#160;</b></div> <div><b><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </span></b>Andrew Fryer will be our Microsoft Representative for the afternoon.&#160;As an IT Pro Evangelist he is passionate about SQL 2008 Reporting Services and Business Intelligence; his presentation will ensure you harness the full potential of these products.</div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>&#160; 3.30pm&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 3.45pm&#160;&#160;&#160; <b>Break </b></div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>&#160; 3.45pm&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 4.30pm&#160;&#160;&#160; <i>Question Time chaired by Craig Dean</i></div> <div><i><span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </span></i>As always the day will end with the opportunity for our customers to ask questions about everything they’ve heard throughout the day.&#160;The Q&amp;A session also provides an excellent forum for networking with the Web Applications’ customers in attendance and helps us understand our clients’ priorities.</div> <div>&#160;</div> <div>4.30pm&#160;&#160; –&#160;&#160; 4.45pm&#160;&#160;&#160; <b>Finish</b></div> <p>We can’t wait to see everyone there and are anticipating a very informative and entertaining User Group Seminar. Don’t Stop Believin’!</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/67.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/67.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 07 May 2010 17:40:00 GMT<div><p><img hspace="5" align="right" width="300" height="54" alt="" src="/Portals/0/ms_aer1.gif" />Web Applications once again made the grade to be an Authorized Education Reseller for <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a> products. What does this mean? The AER program allows Web Applications to sell Microsoft products at discounted prices to qualified educational users. This certification only lasts a year at which point it must be renewed and the qualification criterion must be satisfied. We told you about our certification <a href="/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/27.aspx">last year</a>, and we’ve done it again.</p> <p>In order to be considered for certification Web Applications had to pass a Microsoft online testing module and already be part of the Microsoft Partner Network in addition to a few other qualifications. If you would like more information about this certification, contact us at <a href="mailto:info@WebApplicationsUK.com">info@WebApplicationsUK.com</a>.</p> <p>You can also find out more information on this program from <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/">Microsoft</a>&#160;<a href="https://aer.microsoft.com/aer/default.aspx">here</a></p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div> <p>&#160;</p></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/66.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/66.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 29 Apr 2010 17:27:00 GMT<div><p>Web Applications has converted its Media Room into a separate Server Room to house our new DMP 2010, located on the other side of the building from the main server room. This new server is a keystone solution in the Web Applications Disaster Recover Strategy and will ensure continuity of service to our customers in the event of a catastrophe.</p> <p>This new server is the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/data-protection-manager/dpm-2010-overview.aspx">Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2010</a> (DPM 2010), the latest in data protection technology. The server is hot off the presses from Microsoft and will constitute an upgrade from our previous version, the DPM 2007. What we are running at the moment is the Release Candidate until the Release to Manufactures (RTM) is available at the end of May, at which point we will migrate over. One of the key improvements of DPM 2010 is the Bare Metal recovery it provides. This means that if something happens to the regular servers, you can go to your local computer store, pick up another server, connect it to your network and restore all your data. In this way you have the infrastructure to rebuild your entire pool of data without losing anything.<img hspace="5" alt="DPM 2010" vspace="5" align="right" width="200" height="267" src="/Portals/0/server.jpg" /></p> <p>DPM 2010 also allows users to recover data with extreme ease and protects against accidental data deletion. If a user changes or deletes a file, the DPM 2010 can restore that file if this was done in the last five days. Even more, since the DPM 2010 performs a back-up three times a day; if a user changes something in the morning and has a change of heart in the afternoon, they can easily restore the specific previous version from earlier in the day.</p> <p>Our DPM 2010 has its own room in the front section of the office. The reason this server is in its own room (along with some air conditioning) is to provide extra protection. The DPM 2010 backs-up all the data from the other servers, so if something happens to them we are fully capable of providing continuity of service to our customers which is of paramount importance to us. The Server Room is, in a way, a hazard proof vault, consisting of fire proof walls and door so that if some sort of disaster occurs and there is a fire that destroys our main servers (located in the back of the office), the DPM 2010 is on the other side of the building and completely insulated against the hazard. There are fire proof doors and a firewall that separate the entire front section of the office from the back section which would provide ample time for the fire brigade to come to the rescue if a fire ever starts in the building. As you can see the server has its own (very tall) server rack which provides room for expansion. Within the server are 12, two terabyte disks ensuring plenty of space. The DPM 2010 does not need much power to operate, but still has three separate power sources in addition to a back-up battery.</p> <p>Web Applications takes disaster recovery and data protection very seriously and we strive to do everything in our power to guard against unforeseen circumstances. In addition to being a Microsoft reseller (meaning you can purchase your own DPM 2010 through us) Web Applications UK offers consultancy services to assess the needs of businesses of any size. If you would like to know more about disaster recovery or have any other technical queries, make sure to get in touch either over the phone at +44 161 682 6565 or by emailing us at <a href="mailto:info@WebApplicationsUK.com">info@WebApplicationsUK.com</a> and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Data loss is devastating, and in many cases, highly preventable; protect yourself and your data by taking the time to make sure your business has a disaster recovery infrastructure, it’s worth it.</p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/65.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/65.aspxMelanie TownsendThu, 29 Apr 2010 14:17:24 GMT<p>There are two significant changes that will be taking place in the forthcoming redesign of the Web Applications UK Website which are near and dear to my heart. These changes are the subject of much office discussion - and just because I’m talking to myself, don’t assume it’s not a conversation worth having. For one, pictures of current Web Applications employees will grace many of the pages. The second? The death of the interactive user surveys.</p><p>Whilst we are sure everyone would love having our smiling faces at the top of various Web Applications’ webpages, that’s not quite the way it’s going to play out. There will be some general office photos featured in the pages’ top panels which will be taken on premises and with Web Applications’ staff, but these photos are not expected to include any close-ups of our faces (collective sigh of relief). However! There will be a smattering of our lovely smiling faces (with name, rank and serial number) on an assortment of pages throughout the website. It will be great to have that extra connection with our partners and customers so that they can put faces to names, and know exactly who we are as a company. It can be difficult finding ways to personalise the tech industry sometimes, but we’re certainly making a go of it and doing all we can.</p> <p>It’s not really the addition of the pictures that has piqued my interest - it’s the imminent death of our polls (well...poll). Any situation where our customers get to directly interact with us is a good thing, and surveys are a great way for you to tell us what you want, what your company is like, etc. Now, I understand that our current survey situation is in need of updating, but what better time to enact change than during the redesign of the Website! Now, perhaps I’ve been remiss in my duties in regards to the current poll, but I feel it’s my obligation to inform our valued readers that the survey is in danger of not finding a place in the redesigned website. There is a general consensus that the polls are widely, well, ignored. I’ve seen the numbers, and while the nays have a case, this doesn’t have to be the end. I know the poor survey section has been neglected, but it shouldn’t have to die.</p> <p>Ladies and gentlemen of the Web Applications community, only you can save the survey. Participate in the survey below to show your support, if there aren’t enough ‘Yes’ votes then we’ll let the survey silently slip away to a better place, where it can sleep peacefully forever. If lots of people click ‘no’ I’ll count it as a strike against the survey while basking in the irony of your participation. If you do end up with a reignited faith in the value of the poll (and my ability to maintain it) then I will diligently campaign for it to be included in the new website redesign. So, do you think the polls are worthwhile? You decide.</p> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://www.micropoll.com/akira/MicroPoll?id=250341"></script><noscript><div><a href="http://www.micropoll.com/akira/mpview/899332-250341">Click Here for Poll</a><a href="http://www.questionpro.com" title="online survey">Online Survey</a><BR><a href="http://www.surveyanalytics.com/enterprise-feedback-management.html" title="Enterprise Feedback Management">Enterprise Feedback Management</a><BR> | <a href="http://www.micropoll.com" title="Polls">Polls</a><BR> | <a href="http://www.contactpro.com" title="email marketing">Email Marketing</a><BR><BR> | <a href="http://www.ideascale.com/" title="crowdsourcing software">Crowdsourcing Software</a><BR><a href="http://www.micropoll.com/akira/MicroPoll?mode=html&id=250341">View MicroPoll</A></div></noscript><!-- END MICROPOLL JAVASCRIPT CODE --><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/94.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/94.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 26 Apr 2010 16:51:04 GMT<p>The User Group Seminar is coming up quickly and you only have two weeks left to confirm your attendance.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>The User Group Seminar this year is going to be phenomenal. Personally, this will be my first UGS which makes me extremely excited and curious to see what is going to happen. Fortunately for me, I get a little insider knowledge, and let me tell you, it’s going to be great.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TwoweekslefttoRSVPfortheUGS_FA71/UGS2010_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'d40fc3d2'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="UGS2010" border="0" alt="UGS2010" title="UGS2010" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/TwoweekslefttoRSVPfortheUGS_FA71/UGS2010_thumb.jpg" width="174" height="244" /></a>First off, does it get much nicer than the <a href="http://www.thecastlefieldrooms.com/">Castlefield Rooms</a>? I think not. I was given the opportunity to have a look around the venue a little while ago and I think I’m looking forward to <a href="http://www.albertsshed.com/">Albert’s Shed</a>’s food almost as much as anything else. It’s going to be delicious.</p> <p>Next, we have a ton of great announcements to make. This has been a very ambitious year for Web Applications UK and we’ve seen a lot of growth. We’re going to be announcing some pretty big things and explaining our presentations in great detail, so it’s truly worth it to be in attendance, you’re not going to want to miss it. We have demonstrations prepared and a ton of new ideas bouncing around that we can’t wait to channel towards you, our clients and partners. These announcements, well, they’re huge, optimistic, and you really don’t want to miss out on the first-hand experience. I can’t give away any more than that.</p> <p>We have a great speaker from <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en/gb/default.aspx">Microsoft</a> coming. Now, if SQL and BI don’t immediately sound enthralling, just wait until you hear what they are going to do for your business and you’ll be hooked. Just remember a good public speaker can make anything interesting, and we’ve bagged a great one. Andrew Fryer has been known to talk about a range of subjects and part of his job is doing these kinds of presentations. Microsoft doesn’t let just anybody represent them - so you know Fryer is going to be good. If you need any more convincing just check out his <a href="http://blogs.technet.com/andrew/">blog</a>, it will blow you away.</p> <p>This is your opportunity to ask us questions directly. User Group Seminars are designed to foster discussion and interaction; we want your feedback and your questions. This is a specially created opportunity to let you tell us what you like and what we could improve.</p> <p>Please let us know if you wish to attend within the next two weeks, the last day we will be accepting RSVPs will be Friday, May 7. If you would like some more information, don’t hesitate to email us at <a href="mailto:info@WebApplicationsUK.com">info@WebApplicationsUK.com</a> and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can. The Seminar will be held on May 17, 2010. Don’t forget lots of information can be found in our <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Community/Events/tabid/88/ctl/Details/Mid/449/ItemID/10/Default.aspx?ContainerSrc=%5bG%5dContainers/_default/No+Container&amp;SkinSrc=%5bG%5dSkins/Community/Horizontal-Tabbed">Events</a> section. Hope to see you there! </p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/93.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/93.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 26 Apr 2010 16:17:17 GMT<p>Nick is one of the new recruits at Web Applications and the first recent addition to be profiled. As our Sales Manager Nick is our designated ‘people person’ and we love him dearly for it. Nick has two jobs really, one is Sales Manager, and the other is battling the sands of time. At both he is remarkably successful.</p><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>&#160;</p> <p>Nick started working at Web Applications in the middle of January, straight off the back of a holiday in Thailand to visit his son on a world trip. As our Sales Manager his main responsibilities consist <a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'2848c9d5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NickDrivesServesandSlices_F284/squash_2.jpg"><img title="Nick the Squash Player" border="0" alt="Nick the Squash Player" align="right" width="122" height="84" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NickDrivesServesandSlices_F284/squash_thumb.jpg" /></a>of seeking out new opportunities and processing which opportunities are viable and which are less feasible. Aside from that he spends a lot of his time going to conferences, promoting the company, making company brochures: such as a corporate brochure and specific product brochures, and exercising, lots of exercising.</p> <p>Though Nick has been in Sales since he left University (sometime in the 70s I suspect) where he received a degree in Finance, and is relatively new<b> </b>to the Travel industry. “New” is a relative term, to me a decade sounds like a long time, to Nick it probably doesn’t seem quite as long. One of the things Nick has noticed about Travel is that it’s an interesting industry, and once you’re in, you’ll never leave it. Wise words from a well travelled man.</p> <p><a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'2848c9d5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NickDrivesServesandSlices_F284/bat1_2.jpg"><img title="No Battlestar Here" border="0" alt="No Battlestar Here" align="left" width="170" height="139" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NickDrivesServesandSlices_F284/bat1_thumb.jpg" /></a>Nick has found his new home at Web Applications a bit strange, in a good way I think. I don’t think we are quite what he expected. Web Applications prides itself on its technical knowledge and expertise. Somehow when joining the technology provider, Nick didn’t expect everyone to be quite so <i>geeky</i>. It’s not you, Nick, they only start talking about Battlestar Galactica when they see you coming.</p> <p>I said Nick exercised a lot, well, it’s kind of impossible to talk about Nick without mentioning sports. I guess when you’re addicted to sports; you get into a routine where you’ll do almost anything to get the full experience. This includes occasionally driving from Manchester down to Plymouth to watch Plymouth Argyll matches; that ladies and gentlemen is a 600 mile round trip. It is also what I call dedication.</p> <p>Nick is a bit of an Athletics freak, though it’s more than watching sport, he actively participates almost every day. Rarely does a day go by that he doesn’t go to the gym. He plays football twice a week, he plays tennis, golf and is currently pre-emptively listed at the top of the upcoming company Squash league. It seems he has the corner on ‘gentlemen’s sports’. This is all quite impressive for a man who saw the Sex Pistols live in concert...in 1978.<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'2848c9d5'})" href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NickDrivesServesandSlices_F284/kylie_2.jpg"><img title="Kylie" border="0" alt="Kylie" align="right" width="124" height="124" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/NickDrivesServesandSlices_F284/kylie_thumb.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Nick gives the impression that he enjoys the finer things in life, as well as some things that are decidedly less refined, like James (I’m talking about the band). Nick recently purchased tickets to go see James in concert when they come to Manchester in December. When I say recently I mean it. According to the James Website, those tickets only went on sale this morning. I am beginning to see that Nick does nothing by halves.</p> <p>There’s a list Nick has compiled of 50 things to do before he dies. His top thing to do is Kylie Minogue. I haven’t a clue as to what else is on the list; I thought it best to nip that line of conversation in the bud. Also, in line with the finer things in life, Nick likes his fashions. This is a shame since we have Web Applications uniform shirts. Looking at the bright side, it’s very easy to accessorise with black.&#160;&#160;</p><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/92.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/92.aspxMelanie TownsendWed, 21 Apr 2010 14:36:07 GMT<p>Andrew Fryer is the Microsoft representative who is going to be gracing us with his presence and presentation at the User Group Seminar May 17^th. With the User Group Seminar less than a month away, we decided it was time to let you know a little about our guest presenter. He has been with Microsoft for a number of years and specialises in Business Intelligence as well as other topics, like remote desk-topping (<i>sic</i>), web virtualisation, and the topic du jour, SQL Server 2008.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AndrewFryerTechnicalEvangelist_DA73/podium_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'9b0e6ba7'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Speaker&#39;s Podium" border="0" alt="Speaker&#39;s Podium" title="Speaker&#39;s Podium" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/AndrewFryerTechnicalEvangelist_DA73/podium_thumb.jpg" width="175" height="131" /></a>Yes, Mr. Fryer from <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en/gb/default.aspx">Microsoft</a> is going to be speaking at our seminar on his favourite topic, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/bi/">Business Intelligence</a>, and <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/uk/sql/default.mspx">SQL 2008 Reporting Services</a> (SSRS). His job will be to educate the masses (the attendees) on the ease of using reporting services, and how to get the best results from it. In case you’re unsure how this relates to Web Applications, Br-ease, our new Batch Reporting System, can use SSRS when creating Detail Reports (A full explanation of Br-ease is coming to theatres soon.)</p> <p>Some of you may be thinking, ‘Who is this mystery man coming from Microsoft?’ Well, instead of sitting there reading what I write about him, you can look him up for yourself by reading his <a href="http://blogs.technet.com/andrew/default.aspx">blog</a>. I’ve spent some time on this blog, and it really is quite interesting, especially his videos. Personally, I recommend <a href="http://www.powerpivot.com/">PowerPivot</a> cookery, a video you can find by looking at his January posts. There is also an interview that has been posted with him talking to a colleague about what <a name="_GoBack"></a>he does at Microsoft which I found very informative. Don’t be intimidated by these videos, the longest of them (that I found) is only about five minutes, ideal for a quick introduction to his speaking style.</p> <p>I’m very excited about Andrew, he comes across as an exceptionally dynamic speaker, and I think if anyone could make SSRS interesting, it’s definitely him. The UGS is in less than a month now and Web Applications is gearing up to make it the best seminar yet. Menu choices have been sent out so make sure to reply with your preferred dishes. If you’d like to attend but still haven’t contacted us, make sure to get on that pronto because time is definitely running out. See you all there! </p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/90.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/90.aspxMelanie TownsendMon, 19 Apr 2010 12:37:00 GMT<div><script type="text/javascript" src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>&#160;<a class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'26615ed3'})" href="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/Acumen9UsersGetNewEnhancements_B091/AcumenLogo_hi_4.gif"><img title="Acumen" border="0" alt="Acumen" align="left" width="59" height="64" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" src="/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/Acumen9UsersGetNewEnhancements_B091/AcumenLogo_hi_thumb_1.gif" /></a> There have been a number of enhancements made to the Acumen 9 system which were released this past week. These enhancements can be found in a range of additional features throughout the system, from general enhancements to Booking Details Screen, Customer Details Screen, Unit Details Screen, Owner Details and Availability. When all the new enhancements were added-up there were just too many to go into detail, so please excuse the abridged version.</p> <p>Some of the General enhancements for Acumen 9 include making the display of the background image and background logo on the main screen user-configurable (are able to be turned on or off), adding new user configuration options like ‘Cancel Brochure Requests for New Bookings’ and ‘Prompt for Bed Make-Up When Booking’ and little things, like making it so the system will offset screens to ensure one screen does not completely hide another.</p> <p>The Booking Details Screen has been given a load of additional functionality. Some of the new enhancements include newly displayed buttons, for instance shortcuts that were previously only available through F-Key assignments, or a ‘Modify Deposit Info’ button which users can click to edit deposit information for the booking. The system will also now warn users when transferring bookings from a unit that allows pets to one that doesn’t. In addition to this, the booking screen has been given the added functionality of an auto-centre feature which allows users to configure the form to be automatically centred in the main form when initially displayed. This last feature is available through the right-click form menu.</p> <p>The Customer Details Screen has added a couple things that are sure to make life easier for the user. First off, the system will now allow searching for customers by their email address and postcodes can be resolved on demand. The system will now ignore ‘Mc’ and ‘Mac’ in customer surnames when generating new customer references. And, like with the Booking Details Screen, the Customer Details Screen can also be configured to be automatically centred when initially displayed.</p> <p>The Owner Details Screen has been revised to make owner data more readily accessible through the page frame tabs, and has been enhanced with the same auto-centre feature as the Booking Details Screen and Customer Details Screen. The Unit Details Screen has been given the same added accessibility.</p> <p>Lastly, Availability – the system now mitigates the impact of extraneous TAB characters when performing a standard availability search and accepts the ‘PgDn’ key as a shortcut to immediately execute the availability search from any availability input text box.</p> <p>In addition to all of these new enhancements, several other little changes have been made to improve the entire Acumen 9 user experience. Web Applications UK works towards the continual improvement of all of our products and offerings, as always we take pride in putting our customers first.<a name="_GoBack"></a></p> <div class="d_itc_f" style="height: 11px; clear: both"><script src="/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/m.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/64.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/news/articletype/articleview/articleid/64.aspxMelanie TownsendFri, 16 Apr 2010 16:54:38 GMT<p>Once Shaun starts talking, it really doesn’t stop.</p> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/DesktopModules/itcMetaPost/js/ca0c21fbdc85f6a1597417732d450607.ashx?hs=1"></script> <p>Shaun is a Senior Engineer here at Web Applications. He has been with the company since May 2006, which puts him at nearly four years. As a Senior Engineer he spends the vast majority of his time on new and bespoke developments, working with most of Web Applications’ various products and offerings. I wonder sometimes what the difference is between a senior engineer and software engineer, so I asked Shaun. His answer? Senior engineers are <i>harder</i>. Awesome, that’s all cleared up for me. But really, senior engineers look after the software engineers, they check their work, make sure they’re doing okay, and get final say on technical issues. If the senior engineer isn’t happy with something, it’s not getting released. The relationship between a software and senior engineer is a beautiful thing, full of encouragement and gentle correction, steering the software engineer towards professional improvement. Shaun’s on <a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/84/8-out-of-10-cats-agree-cheryl-is-a-good-owner.aspx">Cheryl</a>’s team, who we know and love.</p> <p>Sometimes Shaun tries to export his helpfulness to other areas as well. Shaun is very useful pointing out any mistakes I make (Full Disclosure: There is a chance I’m not prefect) in fact, it’s almost like his second job, not that I mind, I welcome Shaun’s comments and encourage him to continue his constructive criticism. I only wish I could return the favour. Shaun’s kindness doesn’t stop there, he reportedly encouraged a colleague to join a five a side football team. This colleague, blissfully unaware of his surrounding area, managed to drive his head into another player’s abdomen. Shaun, far from angry, applauded the participation of his colleague and thanked him for providing copious amounts of personal amusement.<a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShauntheSheepisnoRelation_FAB9/clip_image002_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'0c998c81'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="That&#39;s Gotta Hurt" border="0" hspace="12" alt="That&#39;s Gotta Hurt" title="That&#39;s Gotta Hurt" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShauntheSheepisnoRelation_FAB9/clip_image002_thumb.jpg" width="142" height="95" /></a>&#160; In addition to his helpful personality, Shaun has an excellent memory. He can even remember exactly which brand of beer was on tap at various events he has participated in over the years. Very impressive.</p> <p>Shaun enjoys his sport. He continues to play five a side football weekly near Huddersfield, though the amount of free time he has to watch his local football team, Oldham Athletics, has been limited now that he’s a father. When the weather is nice Shaun likes to bike ride into work since the new office location is very close to his home. In fact, our new offices are one of Shaun’s favourite things about working here. While riding his bike was originally supposed to save him money, it has ended up being more expensive than driving due to the amount of kit and equipment required. Sorry Shaun, no one forced you to mount turbo boosters on the back of the bike, and yes, push bikes have to abide by road laws. Shaun has lived in Oldham all his life and is without a doubt a ‘real person’ (subtext found <a href="http://tinyurl.com/yynjje2">here</a>). In fact, his crippling fear of sheep has ensured he has never travelled outside the town limits.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShauntheSheepisnoRelation_FAB9/nemo_2.jpg" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'0c998c81'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="nemo" border="0" alt="nemo" title="nemo" align="left" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShauntheSheepisnoRelation_FAB9/nemo_thumb.jpg" width="124" height="94" /></a>Now, Shaun has at least one thing in common with his Project Manager, he has pets. Well, he had pets. In the recent weeks Shaun has tried to raise a variety of goldfish. Sadly, none of them have lived to tell their story. Walter and Walter 2 lived with Shaun and his family for a few weeks before succumbing to a mysterious illness. Sadly, Benny and Dude, the next two goldfish, managed to survive for an even shorter amount of time. Shaun has informed us that he will suspend acquiring any more fish in the near future for fear of an investigation by the RSPCA; I think this is a wise move.</p> <p><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShauntheSheepisnoRelation_FAB9/clip_image005_2.gif" class="itcexpando" onclick="return mp.expand(this,{slideshowGroup:'0c998c81'})" ><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 5px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="The Washing Machine Revolts" border="0" hspace="12" alt="The Washing Machine Revolts" title="The Washing Machine Revolts" align="right" src="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/Portals/0/images/%5BProvider%5D/%5BFolderFilePath%5D/WLW/ShauntheSheepisnoRelation_FAB9/clip_image005_thumb.gif" width="108" height="108" /></a>Apart from being a would-be pet owner, Shaun recently moved house and has been busy trying to decorate it. I think his kitchen is a member of PETA. The appliances have formed an alliance against Shaun, and are slowly mounting an offensive attack in a clear retaliation for the death of his fish. Three of his five major kitchen appliances have been on the fritz, including his washing machine, oven and freezer. There is a silver lining to his broken washing machine at least, when attempting to do a wash his family is treated to the R2D2 dance it performs around the kitchen. I find it funny, but that machine goes too far when it adds bleach to itself while chanting ‘Help me bleach, you’re our only hope.’ This would be less upsetting if the machine was not new, and all three appliances broke within their first two weeks of use. The freezer has now broken twice. Shaun is looking into the government body that oversees Appliance Conspiracy. </p> <p>I will let the readers judge Shaun’s choice of entertainment for themselves. He has begun watching House, borrowing the box sets from co-workers. So far he’s finished season one and has begun season two. Just a hint Shaun, the patients always lie. One of his favourite movies is ‘The Gift’, a thriller with taglines like ‘The only witness to the crime wasn’t even there’ and ‘It was the perfect crime...except someone saw it all.’ You’ll find that Shaun’s favourite actress, Katie Holmes, is one of the film’s stars. He names ‘The Matrix’ as his favourite movie but I’m pretty sure that’s for appearances only.</p> <p>In closing, Shaun is definitely an interesting character. He has an excellent sense of humour, especially when talking about himself, and completely lacks self-censorship. Whether you laugh with him or at him, Shaun takes the prize for life of the party.</p> <br/><a href="http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/89.aspx">Go to article</a>http://www.webapplicationsuk.com/community/blog/entryid/89.aspxMelanie Townsend