Our company bought a software solution specific to a portion of our industry. We are having some problems with the software the way it is, but the company we bought the solution from cannot deal with our specific needs. It is not a totally custom application. The front end and back end are both in Access and we were hoping that there was some utility that would give us an idea of exactly what was going on in the system. The company recommended using the documenter in access but that really doesn't help. Does anyone know of any utilites that may be of help in finding out exactly what is happening on the back end? I know this is a general question but I really don't have time to go in and use the system and start the layout from scratch. We don't use half of the system and the only part we have access to is the table contents, so we have a dozen tables that are useless to us. We were hoping to make use of these tables, but flowing out the effects of the changes are turning out to be a real hassle.
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General Question
- Thread starter stazza18
- Start date
I would recommend contacting that company that produced the software you are using. I would not have purchased software without reviewing their documentation first. I had a similar issue with a Banking/FedWire software that my company purchased. The company had little of no documentation since they were a garage (virtual) based company. I eventually (after 2 years) got an ERD, Table Summary and partial Data Dictionary.
If they want your current and future business, they should offer to help you... and themselves. If they do not document their apps, be wary.
htwh,
Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"
Chester County, PA Residents
Please Show Your Support...
If they want your current and future business, they should offer to help you... and themselves. If they do not document their apps, be wary.
htwh,
Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"
Chester County, PA Residents
Please Show Your Support...
- Thread starter
- #3
We are in the same boat, it is banking/case management software application that I feel is from a similar type of company. They too only offer somewhat of a data dictionary, if you can call it that, but since it is a non relational database and there are no foreign keys listed in the dictionary I am having one heck of a time flowing out anything. We just got off of a conference call with the company and all of there recommendations and what they have to offer are terrible. I was just hoping there may have been an add on or something that may do a better job then the docmenter in Access now.
Not really aware of any tools other than documentor. I acutally created my own data dictionary tool in MS Access awhile ago, looping through tblDefs, etc. to at least list table names and fields. I then stored that information in a tbl_DataDict that also had a column for description for each column.
What I found was that since the company had little or no documentation, you could not readily see the major flaws in their data model design.
Sorry can't offer any other advice... I can understand your situation, and it is not fun. Especially, if the company has already poured lots of $$$$ into the drain. Perhaps attempt to escalate the issue to your management, who can call the upper management of the software company. We got a some $$$ off of our licences and some other stuff... but, still ahd to wait a long time for documentation; which I scapped an created my own version. They then wanted a copy of my documentation...
Good Luck!
Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"
Chester County, PA Residents
Please Show Your Support...
What I found was that since the company had little or no documentation, you could not readily see the major flaws in their data model design.
Sorry can't offer any other advice... I can understand your situation, and it is not fun. Especially, if the company has already poured lots of $$$$ into the drain. Perhaps attempt to escalate the issue to your management, who can call the upper management of the software company. We got a some $$$ off of our licences and some other stuff... but, still ahd to wait a long time for documentation; which I scapped an created my own version. They then wanted a copy of my documentation...
Good Luck!
Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"
Chester County, PA Residents
Please Show Your Support...
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks for the help. I actually voiced alot of my concerns about the product from the day I walked in the door but I have no power whatsoever so it didn't do any good. I have to try to come up with the fixes myself and this one is turning out to be a huge headache. Too bad upper management doesn't know anything about computers. Thanks again.
Not to drag it out, but...
I did document my concerns and a list of system deficiencies along with the business, technical and compliance risks associated. Upper Management eventually, pushed the software vendor to fix numerous defects on their nickle and document some stuff. And, like you, When I walked in the door the software was already purchase for some big $$$'s. I also created an MS Access Tool to produce reports and generate email alerts to compensate for the purchased software system short-comings.
Obviously due-dilligence and product assessment was not performed. I have called existing clients to get feedback before buying in the past.
htwh, I feel your pain... Good Luck
Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"
Chester County, PA Residents
Please Show Your Support...
I did document my concerns and a list of system deficiencies along with the business, technical and compliance risks associated. Upper Management eventually, pushed the software vendor to fix numerous defects on their nickle and document some stuff. And, like you, When I walked in the door the software was already purchase for some big $$$'s. I also created an MS Access Tool to produce reports and generate email alerts to compensate for the purchased software system short-comings.
Obviously due-dilligence and product assessment was not performed. I have called existing clients to get feedback before buying in the past.
htwh, I feel your pain... Good Luck
Steve Medvid
"IT Consultant & Web Master"
Chester County, PA Residents
Please Show Your Support...
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