Pete, Do you want this as a desktop application (i.e VFP) or a web based application (PHP) or Desk based but with a web interface? Also, why have you mentioned PHP specifically? Is it just because you saw the survey example or do you have a requirement for PHP?
These are basic questions that you need to get set from day one. Whatever your answer is, have you got a clear idea whet this means in terms of deployment and/or maintenance as the two modes of operation are virtually diametrically opposed in terms of design and storage and changing horses in mid stream will be difficult. I think it is worth while generating a simple "mash up" of screen designs if possible however simple as this will concentrate your mind as to what it is you are looking for in the final product as well as giving the developer(s) a better and clearer insight into your requirements. Any chance you can do this? Let's see if we can help you along the line a little. Dave Crozier -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Pete Theisen Sent: 04 July 2007 17:20 To: ProFox Email List Subject: Re: [NF] Defining purpose On Tuesday 03 July 2007 11:17, Dave Crozier wrote: Hi Dave! > With the greatest respect you have been talking about this for years as you > say - and are still no further forward. Doesn't this tell you something? Your criticisms are helpful to me, and I appreciate them. I realize that we use different jargon terms in our separate professions. I think that is the lesson of the many years, I ask questions and then misunderstand the answers. Bugs everybody that I can't speak the same English they do, but that part is [OT]. > I offered myself to help you out about 18 months ago now but found that > your overall understanding of the requirements relating to the "computer" > interface and you view of the finished product was lacking to say the > least. I remember your offer, thanks. > 1. You must have a good idea of how you want the finished article to look. Look? Gee, I was just using the default interface of whatever I was using. I am glad you brought this up. > If you haven't got this then how do you expect to convey the finished > produce concepts to the developer? Now that you force me to think about it, I want a very plain look in a small window - more an applet than an application. I want it to be low bandwidth with modest system requirements and my thought is that plain and small will be low bandwidth and modest system requirements. > 2. You must define all the industry specific terms as completely as > possible. You may well understand the meaning "Medical History" but it > means absolutely "diddly squat" unless you give examples and more > importantly where and how you use this information. Medical History is the text of the questions and responses that comprises the first interview with the patient. Usually it doesn't mean as much as the patient's current examination findings, but the law requires it to be in the patient's record. > 3. You need to know what you need "in to" and "out of" the system. I have a series of questions, mostly Yes or No, a few such as No, Seldom or Frequent. Some pick lists, and a very few text box answers. > Let the developer decide how to transform the data from one form to >another. You just put your magic hat on and decide what you would like to do When there is a positive (non No) response to the question, I want that question and its answer recorded. The negative answered questions would be left out of the report. The law requires an "Acupuncture Impression" which I have been using as the title of the system's data output. The law also requires the record to contain a "Treatment principle", which would be a text statement drawn from whatever the acupuncture impression was. The law also requires that the acupuncture points used in the treatment be listed, I have a heading called "Possible Points" where I put that. I also include a heading called "Herbal Pills". My "System" at this point is just a word processor document. The first part is the medical history which usually doesn't mean a lot and is just there to satisfy the law. A few screens down is the "Four Pillar Examination" which is just Acupuncturist jargon for a four part examination. Considering the first question of these: Unhealthy complexion. Yes or No. (no spirit) If the answer to this first question is "no" it is omitted from the report, if it is "yes" it is included, and the (no spirit) is what an unhealthy complexion indicates in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Once I get this purpose defined I was going to try to develop this into a questionnaire in PHP Survey, or some similar open source web question thing. http://sourceforge.net/project/screenshots.php?group_id=109356 I would need someone to do the first question. From that example I could dope the next so many together myself until the form of the question or answer changed, then I would need another example. Once I had it all together I would run it off a website for a while and see what happened. This is somewhat like these on line personality tests you can take and at the end it spits back an interpretation. -- Regards, Pete http://www.pete-theisen.com/ [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
