We created the BlueInk Content Management System in response to our clients' frustrations with open source content management systems. The concepts behind BlueInk center around ease of use, content reuse, and future growth of the web sites built with BlueInk.
BlueInk uses AJAX and other JavaScript technology to provide a desktop-like experience for the user. AJAX is used for the transportation of all content viewing and editing screens. JavaScript is also used for interface “widgets” such as sortable lists and the page/content trees. The desktop-like experience is seen best in the Media section of BlueInk where users can drag and drop images, files, and folders within the sites media folder hierarchy. Uploads are managed via an upload “cart” where multiple files can be added and then uploaded as a group into a specific folder. Images automatically have thumbnails created for them, so finding the correct image is much easier than remembering a file name.
Precise Imprintable Products (PIP) needed an ordering system to integrate with their installation of the dotProject Project Management System. Eric wanted to be able to use dotProject to track and report the progress of each PIP's projects. BigBlueHat created an order form that customers can use to create accounts, enter orders, and receive e-mails with login information for their new dotProject accounts.
We built the forms with PHP and accessed the dotProject database via SQL. By accessing the dotProject database directly, the order form allows for the creation of users, setting of permissions, and creation of new projects. The form presented to the user focuses only on the information related to placing an order, but that information is then combined with the data and tasks of template project to create the final new project for Eric to use for his tracking and reporting purposes. Eric and the customer both receive e-mails when the project is created and ready for viewing. The customer also receives login information for use in tracking current orders and placing future orders. When making orders, the user's contact information is loaded from dotProject allowing them to focus on their new order and removing the need to repeat data entry.
“Benjamin tailored a software system to meet our needs in developing an online order tracking system that has kept our clients coming back for every promotional need they may have. I recommend Benjamin for any needs you have in developing web applications and solutions for your company."
— Eric Hargraves, Owner of Precise Imprintable Products
Excalibur Youth Services, a South Carolina accredited group home, has developed a ground-breaking proprietary system for tracking each client's behavioral history and change. Unfortunately, that system involved folders upon folders of unwieldy, unsearchable paperwork.
BigBlueHat has completed and implemented the first two phases of an application that will replace the paper work flow. Once completed, the application and process will be franchised by Excalibur to other group homes.
Beyond tracking clients' general and behavioral information, the application tracks medications, appointments, treatment plans, and other process documents needed by Excalibur internally or for Medicaid or CARF compliance. Multi-user, role-based, secure access to the data is also an integral part of the application. Certain parts of the application restrict the editing of data for auditing purposes, and an auditing system was put in place to track all changes to data that can be edited.
BigBlueHat used PHP and MySQL for the application. The front-end interface uses AJAX via the Prototype and Script.aculo.us libraries. Graphs for behavioral info are generated via PHP. Other reports are being integrated using Microsoft's SQL Server Reporting Services. Each client has a files section where clinical staff and upper management are able to keep scans of older paper documents for each client. In addition to scanned files, forms for Medicaid and CARF compliance will be generated as PDF's from within the application and be available via each client's file repository. Each file repository is available within the application via an AJAX file manager.
BigBlueHat built Jobazon.net using PHP/MySQL. The application handles processing Credit Cards via PayPal's Payments Pro system. The software holds each job posting in limbo confirmation until credit card authorization is received. At that time the job posting is shown on the front of the site as well as the appropriate category page. CRON jobs remove the job postings after 30-days have passed.
The Jobazon.net site includes RSS feeds for each job category as well as the top 10 most recent job postings.
Because BigBlueHat provided such a flexible product, 17 West North now plans to create further software pieces on top of the Jobazon application.
As head of the conversion from static HTML files to the XML-based Cocoon system, Benjamin designed the XML files for the various content types, built many of the XSLT stylesheets, and worked with IT to setup and configure the IBM servers for the new system.
The project was the largest one faced by the Web Technologies team. By using standard XML files, Benjamin could delegate much of the actual conversion work to the content managers. The team designed each section of the site, implemented examples, and then allowed the content managers to complete their own sections. This division of labor helped keep the project running smoothly and allowed the site to scale over time.
“When I worked with Ben, he always had a very good grasp of technology and of how he wanted to fit together the various pieces to accomplish his goals. He was very good to work with and open to new ideas or changes to his ideas.”
— Andrew Miller, Network Engineer, BJU“I had the privilege of working with Ben Young while working at Bob Jones University. Ben has an incredible grasp of technology and design. He knows what works and what doesn't. His work is always top notch.”
— Allen Vailliencourt, Web Technologies Manager, BJU
Rather than requiring a database back-end, Dirness instead manipulates flat HTML files. This design decision allowed the existing infrastructure of the BJU Intranet to remain intact with minimal changes, and allowed the greatest freedom for editing and designing each section of the site. Dirness provides both a basic templating system and the ability to upload and resize images. In addition to these core features, Dirness has a user management system that is connected to the campus LDAP server, an auditing system to record when and by whom a file is added, edited, or deleted. A special user-friendly interface for creating and updating RSS feeds allows for intra-campus content syndication.