Serendipitous Cerebration (Part 2 – Project Planning)

Serendipitous Cerebration as a problem solving technique can only be applied in the rare cases when normal logical troubleshooting has failed.  As much as we hate to admit it, when all logical problem solving avenues have been exhausted and our troubleshooting prowess to a flummoxed state of tentation, this is when we begin to enter the realm where serendipitous cerebration hides in dark, dank crevasses.  In reviewing this project, our hopes are that you can see how the process of Serendipitous Cerebration can develop.

The Project was to integrate a line of Accounting Software (PeachTree) to an Imaging Document Repository (ILINX®Content Store).  The purpose for the integration was to speed the process of document retrieval.  We selected ILINX Integrate to work as a gangplank stretching out from the PeachTree Galleon to the ILINX Content Store docks for the transferring of cargo, Account Payable and Account Receivable (AP and AR) Customer and Invoice Numbers for a seamless document look up.  The mechanism for initiating the document retrieval process will be a set of floating pop up buttons, one for AP & one for AR.  So when an end user opens an invoice in PeachTree, the type of invoice is recognized and prompts a “Magic Button” to materialize like a Superhero to save the day (think Batman and gadgets, cause gadgets are cool.  Unfortunately this has no real relation to this project).  One button press and clickety-clack you’re looking at the requested document in a browser window.

 

 

 

Once we understood what the involved components were, what the final expected behavior of said components should be, and set our timelines, and formulated a plan of attack, we were ready to get started on the construction phase.  So please stay tuned for the next thrilling installment in this 5 part series!

 

Co Authors: Random Kurt-Patrick Duncan McParks & John Hart
ImageSource Inc.

The Nexus Scoop

It’s been a while since I posted anything new to the ECM support blog.  If you want to know why, see Brandon’s post from a while back- Support: A Day in the Life Of.  I feel his pain!  But there have been some exciting things happening here and you should know about them.

First of all, I got the low-down on Nexus ’11 the other day!  It seems that the goal is to make every year bigger and better then the next.  This year there are some very well-known and engaging speakers (such as Dr. James Brown), break-out sessions held by ECM professionals, deep dives with ECM field specific experts and of course the after-hours social events.  If you have not been to Nexus, you need to register for this event.  If you sign up early, you get a pricing discount!  Tell us if you want to attend!  (The best way to get a hold of us is put in a support ticket and in the description put that you are interested in Nexus.)

On the software front, I have been busy working with development teams on ILINX® products!  Content Store specifically has been really taking off and there are new improvements being added all the time!  The whole goal of ILINX is to provide a simple user experience, while providing a powerful administration interface, all though thin-client technology.  The ILINX Products Suite has everything covered – conversion, workflow, storage and integration.  Tell us if you want a demo – we have great people that know their stuff in the world of Content Management that would love to work with you to see if ILINX is right for you!

Last but not least, I want to thank all the reader’s outside of Washington State.  Thank you for finally sending us some warmer weather – it took ‘til August but summer is finally here as well!  As always, any questions or comments, please call or email me and we will give you an answer!

Mike Peterson
Support Engineer
ImageSource, Inc