On 3/18/2013 6:17 PM, Denny Esterline wrote:
> Short version:
> I'm looking for some data management tool that crossbreeds a flowchart
> front end with a database back end.
>
> Long version:
> We build a device that gets used on lots subtly different types of
> equipment. Same set of core functions, but a
> different set of parameters that define action sequences and various text
> strings to the display. Some are simple
> checklist items, some are more complicated dynamic menu items (ver A has
> four items, ver B has six items, etc)
> I have a mechanism with a set of functions that allows me to drive these
> behaviors from some data tables in
> EEPROM and I'm working on a USB interface to allow me to change the data
> table from a PC tool.
>
> Problem I see is that very shortly I'm going to have to manage several
> hundred variations of this data table,
> one for each of the different types of equipment, then history has shown
> that when we install these in the field
> we'll likely have to tweak some of the parameters for each individual
> client site... 100s of types times dozens of
> sites times how many revisions leads to a data management headache.
>
> At the moment, I'm keeping a spreadsheet for each variation. This is
> quickly going to crumble when I have dozens
> of subtly different versions of them in a folder and I have to keep track
> of them. And I can see an absolute nightmare
> when I start letting other people access them...
>
> I can pull this into a database and impose some rules and versioning on i=
t
> easy enough, but I need a
> "soft and fuzzy" front end for it. Ideally something very much like a
> flowchart where each box maps to a record
> in a table. Each record then becomes a menu item or an action of some typ=
e.
> Each of those has a small, finite
> number of outcomes and each leads to another menu item or action. The
> description is probably more complex than
> the functions.
>
> Mapping all the menus and actions into a table, I have. Linking them all
> together to get the desired behavior, I got
> that too. Mapping them all out in some type of GUI that other people can
> understand.... There I need a little work :-)
>
> Thanks
write an AUTOIT script. Its a free "batch file" that you can add menus,=20
pictures, just about
anything.

Or let me create a LAZARUS (Pascal) program for you. I work cheap these=20
days.

--Bob A

--=20

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

VINCE LOMBARDI

--=20
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