OFIS Notes from 10 Jul 2009

Past Tasks:

• Daniel: open software that performs same functionality as sharepoint (as far as we need?) Will ask online about open-source gui form-builders with mysql data views.
  • discussion on ofis-list about recommendations from local Linux group: drupal looks promising, if we want to shift development focus in that direction.
• Ray: add Daniel to ofis host for shell access <-- done.
• Daniel: does htmltidy clean up TeX4ht? <-- not very well.

marlon asked about "naming service categories" in various databases.

• who has an overall data model? Nobody? tried secretariat's office, didn't find anyone who would know.

Office of Research typos: there were 10 or so, campus-wide, involving students who didn't match up. He's meeting with someone from the office next week. He will also ask about the Quest data on course critiques, to fill in historical campus-wide data.

• Office of Research is involved with "Government Count Date" once per term: they're fully occupied answering those q'ns at that time.

• Daniel will ask Peter for the histograms.
• Electrical Engineering uses their own OFIS alternative. CE does use OFIS. [check histogram]

• Noki: working on Beth's questions about imput/output methods similar to sharepoint.
  • adobe lifecycle designer: produces interactive forms, via jboss java server, MySQL db.
  • adobe acrobat pro -> turn a .doc into a .pdf, edit the pdf -> form that interacts with mysql.
  • noki will look into drupal plus alfresco's PHP version, in an online sandbox for next week.
    • not looking further at "red dot" in IST: using Oracle, not using mysql

Marlon asked what are our overall priorities?

• admin staff needing new reports in the fall? Marlon suggests first step: csv downloads.
  • also they want formatted PDFs? Can we do that with HTML and style-sheets?
  • overall need to talk to admins about their needs.
• want to see Daniel able to produce reports in styles CS needs.
• lastly: peter wants NSERC Form 100 part 2. Seems "Easy": just a list of research contributions.
  • however: need to bold the grad student involved; and note the source of funding for the research. Both making it NOT easy.

Upcoming Tasks

• Daniel: report to list on http://www.tug.org/utilities/texconv/textopc.html and bibtex exporting (xml, other formats?)
• Daniel: remind Peter about report on usage <-- asked peter via email
• Daniel: get information from current OFIS users
• Daniel: next steps toward output template development

-- DanielAllen - 15 Jul 2009