Software for Certs

[hightower]

So a little while ago I started a thread with a digitally fillable MIWC I created with a promise of creating an EIC and EICR too, however, I hit a stumbling block with the limitation of the Adobe Reader software and the needs of those forms.

I'm in the process of creating an app - primarily Android/Apple to do this, but just wondering if anyone would be interested in using this too.

There's already a couple of apps that I know of that can do this and much more advanced stuff than I plan, but those apps also charge. My plan is to create a free app that allows you to complete certificates and then email them as needed.

The app would be aimed at one-man bands who typically work in a domestic setting. It wouldn't have any sync abilities so the data is only available on, say, your iPad - if you open the app on your phone you can create a cert but the data wouldn't copy across from what you'd previously done on your iPad.

As I've said, I know there's apps out there that do this sort of stuff for a fee, but I'm mainly creating this for me, and wondered who else might be interested.

As for release date, I've no idea yet - it's early days.

 

[shanky887614]

hightower if you want to do it for free add a donate option inside it.

 

[hightower]

hightower if you want to do it for free add a donate option inside it.

I'm not looking for anything out of it to be honest, whenever I write software I tend to add a 'donate to charity' option and normally select Cancer Research. It's not totally self-less, makes me feel good about doing something like this

 

[Hellmooth]

Great idea, I'd love to see it and would definitely donate to a charity!

 

[Richard Burns]

It sounds like a good idea, it is not something I would use, but should be useful to others.
Just remember not to put anything too good in it or it will be reverse engineered and sold as an add on to a costed one!!

 

[hightower]

Ok, so when I put pencil to paper I had a drastic change of heart of what I think my requirements would be. I didn't want something where I was limited to just using my iPad or my phone, I wanted the possibility of being able to sit at a computer to complete certificates too - I wanted the flexibility of using whatever device I wanted, and the easiest way for me to achieve that was web based.

However, this comes with a downside - you need a web connection to be able to complete certificates, which is a trade off I wasn't bothered about since my iPad has a sim card and I can still theoretically use it on the go. With this downside there is a massive upside though, that certificates you create follow you - you can create a certificate on your phone, then finish it off on your computer when you get back in the house. I know not everyone will have an internet connection on the move, but I hope this is still useful for those that do or for those that are just wanting to digitalise certificates once they get back in the house.

Anyhow, I've started with the Minor Works Cert again, and you can view my progress here:

uCert

It currently offers no user logon (so if you create an example cert to try it out please use fake data as everyone will be able to view it) and I know there's an issue with some of the formatting of the PDF, but it's enough to give you an idea about how it works and will let you decide if it would be useful for you.

Appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions for features. P.S. Give it a go on your mobile device too, it should look pretty good if I've done my job right.

Thanks,

 

[Nuvo]

Brilliant mate love the idea cant wait to see finished product will deffo bookmark and use

 

[plantpot]

Sorry
web based is no use to me .work in country so no mobile web most of the time.sounds good for others thou.

 

[thattkyle]

Impressive, will be bookmarking this!

 

[hightower]

Hi all,

Just to keep you all in the loop, I've been working hard on the EIC section. It's quite the face ache as it's somewhat more complex than the MIWC. I've just completed the Schedule of inspections sections. I have the Schedule of test results section to write, and then I have to setup the PDF writer, but I'm hoping by the end of this week I'll be well on with it and will hopefully have the EIC part live for people to have a play with.

 

[hightower]

I've made really good progress on the system this week and I am close to having a working prototype of the EIC functionality ready to play with. I was hoping that was going to be by the close of play today but it turns out I forgot about a meeting this morning I was scheduled for so instead spent the morning pushing pencils around a desk while people mutter on about nothing important. Anyway, I've only got the Schedule of Test Results template to create for the EIC and then I'll publish that functionality, so maybe close of play Monday.

 

[Nuvo]

looking forward to it:teeth_smile:

 

[Hellmooth]

Ok, so when I put pencil to paper I had a drastic change of heart of what I think my requirements would be. I didn't want something where I was limited to just using my iPad or my phone, I wanted the possibility of being able to sit at a computer to complete certificates too - I wanted the flexibility of using whatever device I wanted, and the easiest way for me to achieve that was web based.

However, this comes with a downside - you need a web connection to be able to complete certificates, which is a trade off I wasn't bothered about since my iPad has a sim card and I can still theoretically use it on the go. With this downside there is a massive upside though, that certificates you create follow you - you can create a certificate on your phone, then finish it off on your computer when you get back in the house. I know not everyone will have an internet connection on the move, but I hope this is still useful for those that do or for those that are just wanting to digitalise certificates once they get back in the house.

Anyhow, I've started with the Minor Works Cert again, and you can view my progress here:

uCert

It currently offers no user logon (so if you create an example cert to try it out please use fake data as everyone will be able to view it) and I know there's an issue with some of the formatting of the PDF, but it's enough to give you an idea about how it works and will let you decide if it would be useful for you.

Appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions for features. P.S. Give it a go on your mobile device too, it should look pretty good if I've done my job right.

Thanks,

Are you sure you're in the right trade lol?

 

[Vitesse]

Top marks Hightower very impressive. I had a play around with the MWC and I am looking forward to the EIC. As someone else has stated are sure you want to be a sparks as your computers skills are really top notch.

 

[hightower]

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately IT is soul less and I can't wait to be out

 

[shanky887614]

Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately IT is soul less and I can't wait to be out

could be worse, you could have been a programmer.....

 

[hightower]

could be worse, you could have been a programmer.....

Cheers mate, that's about 70% of my job at the minute [emoji38]

 

[shanky887614]

Cheers mate, that's about 70% of my job at the minute [emoji38]

dont mention it, i bet you cant wait till you use these today

shutdown -f -s -t 2

or poweroff.


i started learning c++ and its not too bad but it helps writing instructions to thicko's.

XD

 

[hightower]

I quite enjoy my programming work as it's finding solutions to problems most of the time, and the results are fairly tangible. That's what I like about electrics too - problem solving and tangible results

 

[hightower]

Morning all, I've just uploaded to my server my current version. It's still lacking user login so beware any information you insert is public domain - in other words, don't create any real certs with it yet, just use test data to have a play.

So, what's changed? Well I now have a working version of the EIC on as well as the MIWC. I know the formatting of the PDFs aren't perfect yet so please bare with that.

The EIC was a bit of a slog, but I've made it so each EIC can have any number of Schedule of Test Results and Schedule of Inspections. I've tested quite extensively and seems to work well on computers and mobiles alike. The PDF generation might take a second or two as there is loads of data to process.

Appreciate any comments/feedback/suggestions. Got plenty of features still to implement so watch this space.

 

[happysteve]

Hey hightower,

Some feedback:

Looks cool! Have only tried it on a desktop, the layout is clear and simple and I'm sure it works fine on mobile. Great stuff!

On the Schedule of Inspection Results, I wasn't so keen on "only ticking things that apply, if you don't tick it, it'll insert N/A." It's not consistent with the rest of your form-filler. I personally would prefer a conscious decision about what to press. So a radio button that is initially not set to anything, then once something is selected it is either "tick" or "N/A". Ultimately, it's a house style decision, and it's up to you.

From a layout point of view (on the PDF forms that are created), I'm not keen on the use of both ticked boxes indicating "yes" and boxes with crosses in indicating "no." If every box needs something in it - and there are arguments for making this a requirement - then I would prefer "N/A." Or if the options are "only one" then there's an argument for leaving the non-selected options remain blank (e.g. earthing system).

Some bug-testing:

- clicked "TN-C-S" but PDF says "TT"
- EIC says "save MWC" etc (all forms)
- no option to fill the "time to next inspection" field (maybe because I was doing an addition?)
- two questions on inspection schedule ask: "No basic insulation of a conductor visible outside encl"
- managed to fill out circuit info that was somehow not saved. Probably user error, would be nice to have a "looks like you've entered some stuff, are you sure you want to leave this page without saving it?" popup
- not sure what "name" is - would this be your cert ref (e.g. invoice/job number)? Maybe a hint on the form-filler?

Wish-list: option to export/import data in plain text format. I can imagine either editing the data off-line to upload in one go, or using the data to create a prettier form (and also just to get hold of the data in the event you shut the website).

All super-cool, though, don't want to detract from the effort you've put in and your general "good karma" outlook of creating stuff and releasing it because you think others will find it useful.

 

[hightower]

Thanks for such in depth feedback Steve. Still early days but I will be making my way through your feedback point at a time and working on a solution/better setup.