Project Scope: A New Jersey-based consulting firm needed assistance in making a historic collection of a public library in upstate New York available online.  Our role in this project was twofold: 1) To make the FileMaker database that they had started work in the way that they needed it to, and 2) To make the database available on the web using the look and feel that they had decided upon.

Solution:  When we first examined the database, we determined that the relationships that had been established were not effective.  As a result, we re-structured the relationships using new keys to make the database function properly and created portals to ease data entry.  We also created an intuitive user interface, as we knew that the data entry -- much of which was to be done by volunteers -- would be critical in getting the database up and running.

With respect to getting the database on the web, we used CDML (Claris Dynamic Markup Language) to allow the web pages the consulting firm had created to dynamically publish the data from the database.  However, we also faced a unique challenge in that the client wanted to allow a keyword search on the database, but needed keywords to be restricted to data from certain fields.  We were able to accomplish this by creating a separate keywords field that concatenated the text from the fields identified as those that would contain keyword information.

The end result is that users from all over the world now have access the library's Hudson River Collection online.

To discuss your needs with one of our developers, please call us at 404.847.9585 or toll-free at 1.877.720.8115.  You can also contact us via e-mail or by using our web form.