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TRACKER - A Software Development Tracking Tool
Version .99 BETA
Copyright (c) January 1993 - Paul Beverly
(803)735-6059
fidonet 1:376/32
HISTORY of TRACKER
I have been working on a massive OS/2 project for about three years now.
There have been times when there were up to 50 people working on this
project in 2 states. The last estimate was that there are over 10 million
lines of code for this product. That estimate was made over a year ago.
As testing got into full swing we started have massive amounts of
discrepancies writtin up. One person attempted to keep up with it all. It
was impossible. So one day I was in a discussion in which we we wondering
about a way in which to TRACK our project. It was decided that DB/2 was
the answer. The problem was that a non-technical person was doing the
tracking and we didn't feel Query Manager in itself was the way to go. The
next day I began writing TRACKER.
What can TRACKER do for you?
Tracker is design to monitor large software development projects.
It allows to see quickly who is working on what piece, when they
were assigned the task, when it is due to be completed, and when
it is actually completed.
Attach memos to individual task.
Monitor mulitple projects in a single database.
Maintain a list of Clients which list contacts, Product, Version, and
more.
Print reports, Assignment List for individuals, Assignment list which
shows all assignments by category, Open report which shows what task
all currently open, Closed report which shows what has been closed
within a given date range.
IF ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE TRUE, YOU CAN USE TRACKER!
1. You must have OS/2 1.2 or higher.
2. You must have the Database Services from OS/2 EE installed.
3. You must have the ability to create a database in Query Manager
and the needed tables to run Tracker.
Keep in mind, this is a BETA system, installation is not fun.
This is the 2nd and final Beta for Tracker 1.0. A lot of enhancements have
been made since the previous Beta of Tracker. The fixes and enhancements
will be listed next, as I can remember them, there are too many for me
to remember. The basic difference between the .99 version and the 1.0 will
be that I will have a real .DOC file that really looks half way decent. I
will also include a REAL installation program that will install the database
for you.
Release Fix/Enhancement
------- ----------------------------------------------------
.090 First Release
.99 Added Memo facility which allows mutiple memos to
be attached to a discrepancy.
.99 Added Client Tracker
.99 Added support table descriptions. This gives more meaning
to printed output.
.99 Added Summary screen so you can view what you are about to
print before you actually print.
.99 Changed Bitmap to something smaller that loads faster, I
still don't like it.
.99 Numerous fixes!
.99 There have been datbase changes. Are you need to do is add
what is missing. You don't have to start your database from
scratch. If you used Tracker 0.090, check your database tables
against what I have defined here before trying to use this
version. If you don't have it, add it!
I promise nothing with this software. If you lose data, OH WELL. If
it crashes, again, OH WELL. The word BETA is the KEY WORD here.
It was developed un OS/2 1.3 with the IBM C/2 Compiler. In theory
it should work just fine on OS/2 2.0.
If you have any comments or questions I may be reached via FidoNet
at 1:376/32 or you are welcome to call me at (803)735-6059. If you
call and I do not answer, you may leave me a message. I WILL NOT
return calls. You may leave a FidoNet address in the message and I
will answer your concerns in that fashion.
While TRACKER is still in a BETA mode, I will distribute it as
Public Domain. Once I go to v1.0 I expect any who use it to pay
for it. It will be released as some form of ShareWare.
This program was started because their was a need. A need to be able
to track software development. The project I am working on is huge
and we have serveral people from several areas working on it. The
day we started using TRACKER we had over 700 entries in it. In
a 3 week period it has grown to well over a 1000. We have also
started tracking a second product.
What can TRACKER do for you. First, it is meant for Software Development
companies, not individual users. No individual user would ever want it,
unless you are a developer and would like to keep up with yourself.
TRACKER allows you to keep up with discrepancies which are discovered
in the development stage. I have attempted to NOT make it TOO specific
to the particular project I am working on. Should you find it promising
for you but find it somehow limited let me know. We can discuss what
needs to be done in order for you to use it for your situation.
This being the first BETA of TRACKER, there is only enough
documentation to get you started. All you are going to get
is the layout of the database and a brief description of the fields.
If you do not have the OS/2 Database Services loaded on your machine
you may as well stop right now. You cannot run TRACKER without it.
If you are not familiar with Query Manager, STOP and find someone who is.
To get started:
Bring up Query Manager and Create a new database. It must be called
TRACKER.
Once it is created go to Tables and Views of the new database. Following
is a list of tables which need to be created and what fields should
be in each table.
On the tables which mention SCREEN FIELD, this is referring to the
actual TRACKER screens. These are dropdowns. The program loads the
dropdown from these tables.
DATABASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = ACCESS
DESCRIPTION = FUTURE USE - Will be used with RDS for security.
Column Name Type Length Attributes
ACCESS Character (Fixed) 2 Data required, Text
USER_ID Character (Fixed) 7 Data required, Text
PASSWORD Character (Fixed) 7 Text
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = DATE_RANGE
DESCRIPTION = Used if you want to create your own Queries and Reports
through Query Manager.
Column Name Type Length Attributes
BEG_DATE Date Data required
END_DATE Date Data required
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = LOB
SCREEN FIELD = Line of Business
DESCRIPTION = SUPPORT TABLE for the LOB (Line of Business) DROPDOWN.
Value this table with whatever codes you want to
represent your lines of business.
Column Type Length Attributes
LOB_TXT Character (Fixed) 10 Text
PRODUCT_CODE Character (Fixed) 5 Text
LOB_NAME Character (Fixed) 25 Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = PRODUCT_CODE
SCREEN FIELD = Product
DESCRIPTION = SUPPORT TABLE to place the codes for your different
products
Column Name Type Length Attributes
PRODUCT Character (Fixed) 5 Data Required, Text
PRODUCT_NAME Character (Fixed) 25 Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = STATUS
SCREEN FIELD = Status
DESCRIPTION = SUPPORT TABLE to place your status codes.
Column Name Type Length Attributes
STATUS_TXT Character (Fixed) 10 Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = TRACKER_INFO
DESCRIPTION = Where TRACKER stores all its data.
Column Name Type Length Attributes
SI_TYPE Character (Fixed) 4 Data required, Text
SI_NUMBER Character (Fixed) 5 Data required, Text
PRIORITY Character (Fixed) 2 Data required, Text
LOB Character (Fixed) 3 Data required, Text
STATUS Character (Fixed) 20 Data required, Text
COMMENTS Character (Fixed) 120 Data required, Text
ECD Date
ASN_DATE Date
CLOSE_DATE Date
LAST_UPDATE System Date and Time
PROGRAMMER Character (Fixed) 25 Text
ITEM Small Integer
PRODUCT_CODE Character (Fixed) 5 Text
LOCKED Character (Fixed) 7 Text
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = TYPE
SCREEN FIELD = Discrepancy type
DESCRIPTION = SUPPORT TABLE for Type of discrepancy
Column Name Type Length Attributes
TYPE_TXT Character (Fixed) Length Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = TRACKER_MEMO
DESCRIPTION = Memo information is stored here.
Column Name Type Length Attributes
SI_TYPE Character (Fixed) 4 Text
SI_NUMBER Character (Fixed) 5 Text
ITEM Small Integer
NAME_TO Character (Fixed) 25 Text
NAME_FROM Character (Fixed) 25 Text
SUBJECT Character (Fixed) 25 Text
LAST_UPDATE System Date and Time
MEMO_DATE Date
MEMO_TEXT Character (Variable) 3000 Text
MEMO_ITEM Small Integer
PRODUCT_CODE Character (Fixed) 5 Text
LOCKED Character (Fixed) 7 Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE = CLIENT_INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION = Where Client information is stored.
Column Name Type Length Attributes
CLIENT_NUMBER Character (Fixed) 20 Data required, Text
STREET_ADDRESS Character (Fixed) 60 Text
STREET_ADDRESS2 Character (Fixed) 60 Text
CITY Character (Fixed) 30 Text
STATE Character (Fixed) 2 Text
CLIENT_NAME Character (Fixed) 60 Text
PRIMARY_CONTACT Character (Fixed) 60 Text
ALTERNATE_CONTACT Character (Fixed) 60 Text
PRODUCT_ID Character (Fixed) 30 Text
PRODUCT_VERSION Character (Fixed) 10 Text
BRANCH_MANAGER Character (Fixed) 60 Text
ACCOUNT_REP Character (Fixed) 60 Text
COUNTRY Character (Fixed) 30 Text
PHONE Character (Fixed) 30 Text
FAX Character (Fixed) 30 Text
ZIP_CODE Character (Fixed) 10 Text
LOCKED Character (Fixed) 7 Text
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
You will find a TRACKER.INI file in the .ZIP file. It simply contains
the default PRODUCT which will show up in the PRODUCT field. You
edit this file and enter in the PRODUCT CODE which you are likely
to be working with most. Only one entry is allowed in this file.
You now need to BIND the program to database.
From the OS/2 Command line type:
SQLBIND TRACKER.BND TRACKER /FISO
If you created your database tables correctly you should receive no
errors.
If you run TRACKER from PM/WPS make sure your Working Directory is
pointing to where your TRACKER.INI and STRINGS.DLL are located.
You can now attempt to execute TRACKER. I will attempt to explain the
screens at this point. I would advise having them up so you will
see what I am talking about.
TRACKER DATA - SCREEN
This is the main screen when you manipulate the data.
Product
This must always be valued. I recommend a code which contains a Product
code and version number. WP50 would mean Word Perfect 5.0
Discrepancy type
The type discrepancy you are tracking. It could be edit for edit errors
under Word Perfect. It could be Print for printing problems.
Discrepancy number
The number of the discrepancy.
Priority - The priority of the discrepancy.
Line of business
If you track different types of code this is where you would make the
difference. Codes could be WORD for Word Processing or DATA for database.
Current Status
This is where you show the current status of the item. For example:
OPEN CLOSED TEST
Comments
Free form. It is scrollable and you have 120 characters.
Resource
The programmer assigned to the task or person assigned to test it.
It says to use last name only, this isn't required.
Date Assigned
Date you assign it to a resource.
ECD Date
Estimated Completion Date. When resource plans on finishing task.
Close Date - Date Item is closed.
The listbox is a typical listbox. Once information is entered it may
be added to the listbox. It is also saved to the database at this time.
Double clicking on an item in the listbox will bring it up to the fields
and you may then manipulate the data and then CHANGE it.
There are two CLEAR buttons. The one next to the listbox will CLEAR the
listbox. The one at the bottom will CLEAR the entry fields, except Product.
SEARCH
As mentioned before, Product must always be valued. You may SEARCH with
nothing else valued and it will bring up everything for that Product.
You can also add more information in which to SEARCH for. The more you
provide the less the SEARCH will find. Which is really what you want.
The following fields can be used with the SEARCH; Discrepancy type,
Discrepancy number, Priority, Line of Business, Current Status, Resource.
Any combination of the above will work as long as there is valid data.
HINT
All information should be entered in CAPS. I will eventually either force
CAPS LOCK on or will perform an edit to convert the field to CAPS. Comments
is the exception here since it is not used for any searches.
Search dates
The subpanel is so you can add dates to you search. You will find three
check boxes here. If you use this screen you must enter both dates. You
may check more than one box at a time. If you check the Date Assigned box
and enter in the dates of 10-01-1992 and 10-31-1992 and perform a SEARCH
you will then SEARCH for all items assigned within the given date range.
This will stay this way until you go back in and change it or CLEAR it.
Memos
FUTURE USE - This will eventually allow you to enter Memos and attach
them to whatever is highlighted in the listbox. You would then be able
to print them out.
REPORT GENERATOR - SCREEN
Simply Prints out reports. The Search information works just like
the SEARCH on TRACKER DATA. If you leave them all blank, then everything
gets printed. The more information you enter, the smaller the report.
The Beginning and Ending dates are only valid when printing a Closure Report
and they are required in this situation.
The PRINT function works. That is all I will say. I am far from satisfied
with it. It is slow and you can't use the system while it is printing. BUT
IT WORKS! <GRIN>
REPORT SUMMARY - Subpanel
FUTURE USE
When going here it will simply load a listbox with everything that would
be printed if you were to hit PRINT. So you can browse before printing.
PROBLEMS - Yes there are problems!
- Entering data in mixed case is a problem. If you enter it lowercase
and search on it in uppercase, you aren't going to find it. I will
fix this one way or the other.
- Print function, as mentioned above, it is slow and the system is hung
until it is finished. I have never played with printing in PM, and
I did not have fun doing this. Howver, it works.
If you find problems, LET ME KNOW!
Personal Requirements for release of 1.0 Version
- Real User Documentation and Installation Procedures
- An installation program to automatically do installation of Database.
ENHANCEMENTS for the Future
- Set focus to the logical field as some functions. Such as ADD, CHANGE,
or DELETE.
- Icon and Bitmap. They look like crap. I am no artist and this is not real
high on my priority list.
- Add Remote Data Services capibility, along with this will come security.
- There is a Tools menu, it is there just to be there. It will function
someday.
- Add PM Help Facility.