1. Web_Design_Sacramento : Part I
Keeping Software Simple - Part 1 - Introduction / Installation
Install, Configure, Test, Use, Tune, Maintain
We get so mired in the details we tend to forget the big picture. software that has moved
from the development phase to either alpha, beta, or general availability involves six things.
1. Install
2. Configure
3. Test
4. Use
5. Tune
6. Maintain
These items will certainly require iteration. For instance, we typically do not know how to
tune something optimally until we begin using it in its intended environment. Then once we
tune it for a particular environment we use it some more. And of course tuning usually
requires going back and tweaking the configuration, which in turn requires us to re-test.
We certainly need to drill down on each of these entities and provide more detail, but before
doing so we need to come to consenus that these are the actions items involved in any
piece of software.
Without getting too wrapped up for the moment in the "how" let us try to answer the
following questions.
First up: Installing Software
QUESTION
Is there any software out there that you know of that does not need to be installed?
Somehow it just magically appears and we can begin using it :-). Of course not.
MISSION STATEMENT
With the exception of configuration, we cannot test, use, tune, or maintain software until we
have figured out how to install it. So might it be a good idea to put together a procedure for
installing the software?
SOME NORMS
* We should always strive to install software in a manner that can be fully automated. No, I
did not fall off the turnip truck and realize that this is not achievable for all software. But, if
this is not doable you better have some compelling (in writing) reasons why not.
* If we cannot install software via a fully automated process then we should achieve to

2. install software in manner that we could train a chimp to do. In other words the procedure
should be so easy to understand that anyone could pick it up and accomplish it. Of course if
we can achieve this then we are pretty much back to the first bullet.
* Staffing a configuration management team costs money and resources. The more
complex the software the more of this you need. The more complex and/or convoluted your
software development methodology is the more of these people you need. Frankly, a good
software development methodology should seeks to minimize this function. Sorry, I have
nothing against configuration management. It certainly is a needed and vitial function. My
point is that it largely exists to deal with the crap and kludge, and general mess the
development staff has lobbed over the fence.
* If your configuration management team is unable to move and manage files, directories,
and do builds through an automated manner that can be accomplished by toolsets then it is
likely that you have 1) hired a bunch of doofs to serve this role, or 2) are having some
degree of crap being lobbed over the fence by your development staff. If you do not like
these two choices you had better be prepared to defend in writing, in detail just what the
problem is. The goal is reduce variance. By reducing variance we reduce installation
complexity. As a trivial but common example to this point I work with a product that in each
of last five releases the development staff have relocated the same set of files that make up
our runtime application api. They have had absolutely no compelling reason for doing this.
Does this causes our configuration management group to have to redo tool and redo
deployment procedures and processes. I am not advocating that there is never a reason to
do something like this, I am merely stating that if you do you need to have 1) a compelling
and bone-fide written reason for doing this (as in an engineering order, or new design
requirement); and 2) you had better articulate this up front so everyone can prepare for the
impact this change is going to have downstream for everyone that will be accepting these
changes.
* For software installation that requires configuration during the installation process itself
you will need to ensure that your procedure contains a pre installation requirements section.
For example, oftentimes one is required to create a default directory, or set a default
location, enter a url, select a communcation protocol, have a password and login, a license
key etc, etc... . Make sure the person doing the install has all of this information before they
begin. Seldom have I seen where an installation does not actually requires a decision point
(a fork in the road). Generally you can provide the answers to these forks in the road up
front. For example, installing SQL server askes you to select a communication protocol.
This is a decision point that should be known up front and provided to the installer.
* Installing software on different operating systems or different version of an operating
system can be quite variant. As a general rule of thumb if the variance is more that 10%
(collectively, no more than!!!) create a separate procedure.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop

3. simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
WEB_DESIGN_SACRAMENTO : End of Part I
Web_Design_Sacramento : Part II
Keeping Your Mobile Sales Team Organized
Keeping a mobile sales team properly organized is a bit little juggling; you need to keep
your eye on the ball, several of them, at all times. However, unlike a lone juggler, today's
manager and his sales force in the field, can keep track of what's going on through
dedicated computer programs that offer synchronization of data from multiple sources.
These programs are known as customer relationship management programs, or CRM.
One of the most efficient customer relationship management programs is the GoldMine'
Product Suite from FrontRange Solutions Inc. This suite has a number of component
modules, each designed for specific tasks. The GoldSync component is the key to efficient
contact management. It is capable of performing automated synchronization. This means
that important information on customers can be updated throughout an organization
regardless of where any of the members may be located.
The mobile sales team of an organization will probably spend most of their time working in
the field, or at home. From time to time, though, they may require to be temporarily back in
the office. The office team, by and large, will be permanently based in the office. It has
always been a serious challenge for any manager to ensure that all parts of the team have
instant access to the most up to date customer data available. This is especially so
considering how widely dispersed the mobile sales team might be at any given moment.
FrontRange Solutions' Goldmine' software and its GoldSync component in particular solves
this dilemma. Unlike other Internet-based CRM programs, GoldSync allows a field operative
to input data from anywhere, and at anytime of the night or day, and not only while
connected to the Internet. This is because the software is desktop based, residing on the
local machine and not on a remote server. Only when it is necessary to send and receive
information to or from the database is it essential to go online.
The level of security provided by GoldSync is impressive. There are no less than three
levels of synchronization security. These operate through the use of a serial number, a site
ID and optionally the validation of a user password can also be employed.
The GoldSync administration center is where remote Goldmine users and their sites can be
managed. The interface is in a familiar Windows Internet Explorer style. From here, contact
information can be distributed to individual GoldMine users and sites. In order to control
what content is sent where, filters can be set up. This can avoid any possible conflict

4. between individual territories.
The advantage of using GoldMine' software is simply that a manager and the mobile sales
team receives the same benefits and convenience, whether they are on the road or in the
office.
GoldMine' software is not the only customer relationship management solution available.
ACT!' by Sage Software also operates to a high standard for anyone with customers and
contacts who is in need of better organization. ACT!' offers features and benefits similar to
the Goldmine' Product Suite.
Other CRM programs can be web based through a web page interface. This means that
mobile sales team users and office management must be connected to the Internet in order
to use it. For the office staff this is usually not a problem. For the individual in the field,
however, this may represent an unacceptable inconvenience, especially if he or she is
frequently on the move.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
WEB_DESIGN_SACRAMENTO : End of Part II
Web_Design_Sacramento : Part III
Keeping Your Mobile Sales Team Organized
Keeping a mobile sales team properly organized is a bit little juggling; you need to keep
your eye on the ball, several of them, at all times. However, unlike a lone juggler, today's
manager and his sales force in the field, can keep track of what's going on through
dedicated computer programs that offer synchronization of data from multiple sources.
These programs are known as customer relationship management programs, or CRM.
One of the most efficient customer relationship management programs is the GoldMine'
Product Suite from FrontRange Solutions Inc. This suite has a number of component
modules, each designed for specific tasks. The GoldSync component is the key to efficient
contact management. It is capable of performing automated synchronization. This means
that important information on customers can be updated throughout an organization
regardless of where any of the members may be located.
The mobile sales team of an organization will probably spend most of their time working in
the field, or at home. From time to time, though, they may require to be temporarily back in

5. the office. The office team, by and large, will be permanently based in the office. It has
always been a serious challenge for any manager to ensure that all parts of the team have
instant access to the most up to date customer data available. This is especially so
considering how widely dispersed the mobile sales team might be at any given moment.
FrontRange Solutions' Goldmine' software and its GoldSync component in particular solves
this dilemma. Unlike other Internet-based CRM programs, GoldSync allows a field operative
to input data from anywhere, and at anytime of the night or day, and not only while
connected to the Internet. This is because the software is desktop based, residing on the
local machine and not on a remote server. Only when it is necessary to send and receive
information to or from the database is it essential to go online.
The level of security provided by GoldSync is impressive. There are no less than three
levels of synchronization security. These operate through the use of a serial number, a site
ID and optionally the validation of a user password can also be employed.
The GoldSync administration center is where remote Goldmine users and their sites can be
managed. The interface is in a familiar Windows Internet Explorer style. From here, contact
information can be distributed to individual GoldMine users and sites. In order to control
what content is sent where, filters can be set up. This can avoid any possible conflict
between individual territories.
The advantage of using GoldMine' software is simply that a manager and the mobile sales
team receives the same benefits and convenience, whether they are on the road or in the
office.
GoldMine' software is not the only customer relationship management solution available.
ACT!' by Sage Software also operates to a high standard for anyone with customers and
contacts who is in need of better organization. ACT!' offers features and benefits similar to
the Goldmine' Product Suite.
Other CRM programs can be web based through a web page interface. This means that
mobile sales team users and office management must be connected to the Internet in order
to use it. For the office staff this is usually not a problem. For the individual in the field,
however, this may represent an unacceptable inconvenience, especially if he or she is
frequently on the move.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
WEB_DESIGN_SACRAMENTO : End of Part III

6. the office. The office team, by and large, will be permanently based in the office. It has
always been a serious challenge for any manager to ensure that all parts of the team have
instant access to the most up to date customer data available. This is especially so
considering how widely dispersed the mobile sales team might be at any given moment.
FrontRange Solutions' Goldmine' software and its GoldSync component in particular solves
this dilemma. Unlike other Internet-based CRM programs, GoldSync allows a field operative
to input data from anywhere, and at anytime of the night or day, and not only while
connected to the Internet. This is because the software is desktop based, residing on the
local machine and not on a remote server. Only when it is necessary to send and receive
information to or from the database is it essential to go online.
The level of security provided by GoldSync is impressive. There are no less than three
levels of synchronization security. These operate through the use of a serial number, a site
ID and optionally the validation of a user password can also be employed.
The GoldSync administration center is where remote Goldmine users and their sites can be
managed. The interface is in a familiar Windows Internet Explorer style. From here, contact
information can be distributed to individual GoldMine users and sites. In order to control
what content is sent where, filters can be set up. This can avoid any possible conflict
between individual territories.
The advantage of using GoldMine' software is simply that a manager and the mobile sales
team receives the same benefits and convenience, whether they are on the road or in the
office.
GoldMine' software is not the only customer relationship management solution available.
ACT!' by Sage Software also operates to a high standard for anyone with customers and
contacts who is in need of better organization. ACT!' offers features and benefits similar to
the Goldmine' Product Suite.
Other CRM programs can be web based through a web page interface. This means that
mobile sales team users and office management must be connected to the Internet in order
to use it. For the office staff this is usually not a problem. For the individual in the field,
however, this may represent an unacceptable inconvenience, especially if he or she is
frequently on the move.
Hiring a web designer to come up with the custom solution that you need can set you back
a few thousand bucks. But you can do the whole thing yourself and make it drag and drop
simple for mere pennies with a tool like Breezy Websites. See http://breezywebsites.com
for details!
WEB_DESIGN_SACRAMENTO : End of Part III