THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700


S U M M A R Y


DIARY: December 6, 1997 06:11 PM Saturday; Rod Welch

Scope, history of HTML/Internet and new linking features for SDS.

1...Summary/Objective
..................Procedure
..................Procedure
.............Procedure
.............Procedure
2...Background
3...HTML Formal Correspondence Format Different from HTML SDS Data Base
.....SDS Memo - Formal Notices from SDS Record
.....HTML SDS Data Base Format
.....HTML Record Format for SDS
4...Anytime, Anywhere Business Intelligence
5...Improvements Needed


..............
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CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Intranet, HTML Code
Memos, 022F05, and ASCII for Internet
Transferring Records, Intranets
Paperless Office
HTML Access by Web Browser
Intelligence, Correlation with military
Anytime Anywhere Management Support
Aligning Communications to Maintain Shared
Anytime Anywhere All Documents Analysis
Internet Integrate with SDS 1st Phase Complete

3112 -    ..
3113 - Summary/Objective
3114 -
311401 - Follow up ref SDS 18 3900, ref SDS 17 0900.
311402 -
311403 - Completed first pass on system to use the Internet for delivering
311404 - business intelligence (see below, ref SDS 0 4862), as formulated on
311405 - 971021. ref SDS 5 1211, and on 971105. ref SDS 6 1459.
311406 -
311407 -
311408 -                   Anytime, Anywhere Intelligence
311409 -
311410 -
311411 - This may support Dave Vannier's expression of Intel's approach to use
311412 - technology for improving management and leadership, as formulated for
311413 - PMI Asilomar Conference in 1996. ref SDS 3 3913
311414 -
311415 -     [On 980316 began testing access of SDS records as Web pages on
311416 -     Internet. ref SDS 24 1437]
311417 -
311418 -     [On 980321 had first successful test. ref SDS 25 4345]
311419 -
311420 -     [On 980226 IBM announced plans to market "business intelligence"
311421 -     ref SDS 23 3342]
311422 -
311423 -     [On 990422 Dave feels SDS on Internet is effective; asks where to
311424 -     take it from here. ref SDS 27 4590]
311425 -
311426 -     [On 990907 Dave advised SDS on Internet accomplishes objectives of
311427 -     POIMS. ref SDS 28 0149]
311428 -
311429 -
311430 -
311431 -
311432 -  ..
3115 -
3116 -
3117 - Progress
3118 -
311801 - The system has three main elements:
311802 -
311803 -     1.  HTML conversion of SDS records based on subject content, using
311804 -         06116 to select specified records for conversion by 070405,
311805 -         ref SDS 18 5521.  It is called from Subject Index main menu.
311806 -
311807 -         This has two features:
311808 -             ..
311809 -         a.  Create initial data base for a particular subject,
311810 -             e.g., a project or component within a project, such as a
311811 -             specification, personnel, marketing, equipment, etc.
311812 -
311813 -                  Procedure
311814 -
311815 -                  General
311816 -
311817 -                      Select a subject in the Subject Index; click on
311818 -                      HTML in the menu bar to set up a report screen.
311819 -                      Set the dates to specify the period and click
311820 -                      Start.  HTML Web pages are written to e: and h:
311821 -                      Those on h: have the IP address and can be sent
311822 -                      to the Web site with FTP for access on Internet.
311823 -
311824 -                      Reports over a year can take 5 or 10 minutes
311825 -                      depending on the subject selected.
311826 -
311827 -                  1.  Open Subject Index
311828 -
311829 -                  2.  Select a subject by moving in the Subject Index
311830 -                      to a subject level for converting the data base
311831 -                      to HTML.  Typically, this should be at the
311832 -                      Project level or in the case of projects with a
311833 -                      very large data base, one level below.
311834 -
311835 -                      An example is SDS under "Projects." It has
311836 -                      10,0000 records. Typically, development files are
311837 -                      not needed in HTML, but "Marketing" files are
311838 -                      useful because they have information on the
311839 -                      concepts of Communication Metrics.
311840 -
311841 -                      Another is "Jobs" which has records for PG&E and
311842 -                      U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
311843 -
311844 -                  3.  Place the cursor on the subject of choice and
311845 -                      click the right mouse button to open the menu
311846 -                      bar.  Select...
311847 -
311848 -                                    "HTML/Internet".
311849 -
311850 -                      ...this will open a report screen for the
311851 -                      selected subject.
311852 -
311853 -                  4.  Set the dates for the period of the record to be
311854 -                      converted to HTML.  Typically, you can just
311855 -                      click back a year or two on the beginning date.
311856 -
311857 -                  5.  Click "Enter-Start" to run the conversion.
311858 -
311859 -
311860 -              ..
311861 -             This can now process 2 years plus, depending on the number
311862 -             of records that occur in the specified period, ref SDS 17
311863 -             1814, rather than week or so that was able to be produced
311864 -             initially. ref SDS 14 1067
311865 -
311866 -             The limitation on the amount of data that can be converted
311867 -             is the file size capacity of SDS, which is about 2000
311868 -             records. ref SDS 18 1713
311869 -
311870 -              ..
311871 -         b.  Update data base for particular subject. ref SDS 20 0630
311872 -
311873 -                  Procedure
311874 -
311875 -                  Follow same procedures, except in the report screen,
311876 -                  click on "Update" instead of "Enter-Start."
311877 -
311878 -              ..
311879 -             This can do up to 10 years, depending on the number of
311880 -             records that require updating.
311881 -         ..
311882 -     2.  Individual SDS records can be saved to HTML data base,
311883 -         as an update, rather than run a report on "subjects" update
311884 -         under 1b.  070405 is called per ref SDS 19 4444, only from the
311885 -         SDS record "File" menu, per ref SDS 18 1522,
311886 -
311887 -         Personal phone numbers and cell phones are suppressed for
311888 -         security, reported on 981205. ref SDS 18 4978
311889 -
311890 -
311891 -             Procedure
311892 -
311893 -             Open the File menu in an SDS record and click on the 3rd
311894 -             menu choice:
311895 -
311896 -                         Save in HTML for Internet
311897 -
311898 -         ..
311899 -     3.  HTML conversion of an individual SDS record and format
311900 -         as an official memo for submssion by a formal letter, 070405,
311901 -         called only from the SDS "Report" menu.  HTML links memos into
311902 -         the SDS record using the HTML data base, so that the Web
311903 -         Browser is the access medium to the SDS record, and the
311904 -         Internet or intranets can support "business intelligence."  It
311905 -         uses standard list numbering for the Executive Summary and
311906 -         Action Items, to give it a conventional appearance. ref SDS 18
311907 -         2168
311908 -
311909 -              [On 980405 decided to eliminate this feature because Web
311910 -              pages can be generated just as easily with procedure #2.
311911 -              ref SDS 0 3192, explained at ref SDS 26 4354]
311912 -
311913 -
311914 -              ..
311915 -             Procedure
311916 -
311917 -             In an SDS record open the "Report" menu and click on
311918 -
311919 -                              Internet/HTML Conversion
311920 -
311921 -             This will instantly make the current record into an HTML
311922 -             file with the cursor on a field where you can enter a
311923 -             Document ID, e.g., 03 00050 97121601, if needed.
311924 -
311925 -             Hit Home key and type "file [filename] e.g. bill.htm.
311926 -
311927 -             The filename must have an htm or html extension.
311928 -             ..
311929 -             This file is now in the SDS 10 directory.  You can
311930 -             attach it to an email message in Eurdora or Netscape, etc.
311931 -         ..
311932 -         Macro 0704013 which was first used to begin development
311933 -         of an HTML formated SDS memo, has been changed back to simply
311934 -         provide an SDS memo in ASCII. ref SDS 18 3233
311935 -
311936 -
311937 -  ..
311938 - Background
311939 -
311940 - These systems are derived from earlier work on 070405, 0041,
311941 - ref SDS 15 1760 and reducing use of Cut File, and on 0704013,
311942 - ref SDS 13 1519, ref SDS 15 4270, and earlier on 0704021, 0703, 07031,
311943 - ref SDS 12 4446.  Original idea was on, 971111, ref SDS 7 4299, and
311944 - earlier on 971105. ref SDS 6 1459  Increased performance of HTML data
311945 - base creation and updating comes from combining these files into
311946 - separate processors, per above, and from eliminating use of the cut
311947 - file.
311948 -
311949 -
311950 -  ..
311951 - HTML Formal Correspondence Format Different from HTML SDS Data Base
311952 -
311953 - Took some effort to get the appearance of the record so it is
311954 - somewhat professional.
311955 -
311956 - The Web browser provides more acceptable image than does the prior
311957 - method of sending printed documents and conventional ASCII email, per
311958 - planning on 971105, ref SDS 6 4927, but it is difficult to achieve
311959 - sepcific spacing needed for the SDS record to convey information
311960 - structure, ref SDS 18 2420, which is a component of "intelligence,"
311961 - i.e., organization, per USACE report. ref DRP 1 0536, received on
311962 - 970418. ref SDS 4 3053
311963 -
311964 -  ..
311965 - Format of formal correspondence memo is different from the data base
311966 - record layout.
311967 -
311968 -
311969 -      ..
311970 -     SDS Memo - Formal Notices from SDS Record
311971 -
311972 -     070405 - Internet SDS Memo uses a separator between the Executive
311973 -     Summary and the primary record.
311974 -
311975 -     The SDS record has a separate heading, so that the Executive
311976 -     Summary is presented as a supplemental document.
311977 -
311978 -     SDS line numbers are replaced by conventional single place
311979 -     numerals for listing Executive Summary items and Action Items.
311980 -
311981 -
311982 -      ..
311983 -     HTML SDS Data Base Format
311984 -
311985 -     06116 and 070407 produce a data base record that shows the SDS
311986 -     line numbers for the Executive Summary and Action Items.  This
311987 -     reflects their true positon in "knowledge space."
311988 -
311989 -
311990 -      ..
311991 -     HTML Record Format for SDS
311992 -
311993 -     The data base created for SDS in HTML has the following major
311994 -     fields:
311995 -
311996 -         Executive Summary
311997 -         Action Items
311998 -         Contacts
311999 -         References
312000 -
312001 -            SDS Records (Prior Related Events)
312002 -            Documents
312003 -
312004 -               Received Prior
312005 -               Received Today
312006 -               Issued Prior
312007 -               Issued Today
312008 -               Other Files
312009 -                  ..
312010 -                  Formal analysis of particular subjects
312011 -                  Spreadsheets, Graphics, Schedules Software coding
312012 -                  Publications ...etc., any kind of file
312013 -
312014 -         Control Fields
312015 -
312016 -            Time
312017 -            Mileage
312018 -            Employee
312019 -            Billing Customer Account
312020 -            Cost Control
312021 -            Schedule
312022 -            Action Item Status
312023 -            Subject
312024 -
312025 -          ..
312026 -         Subrecords for Each Control Field
312027 -
312028 -            Headings Action Item identification Text Highlighted
312029 -            text Links
312030 -
312031 -  ..
312032 - Regular email, has only "text," per above.
312033 -
312034 -
312035 -  ..
312036 - Anytime, Anywhere Business Intelligence
312037 -
312038 - We seem to have a system that enables creation of automatic and custom
312039 - linked records with SDS, completed on 971119, ref SDS 11 PN8I, that
312040 - could be said to comprise a "web" of connected knowledge for
312041 - delivering intelligence anytime, anywhere on the Internet, as planned
312042 - on 971021, ref SDS 5 9999 and ref SDS 5 3636, and analysis on 971114.
312043 - ref SDS 9 6722
312044 -
312045 -     [On 990422 Dave Vannier at Intel feels SDS on Internet is
312046 -     effective; asks where to take it from here. ref SDS 27 4590]
312047 -
312048 -     [On 990907 Dave advised SDS on Internet accomplishes objectives of
312049 -     POIMS. ref SDS 28 0149]
312050 -
312051 -  ..
312052 - This data base can then be converted to HTML format so that others can
312053 - use the record without having to learn SDS, by delivering it through
312054 - the Internet and Web browser technology.
312055 -
312056 -  ..
312057 - The new linking system and tools to convert the SDS record based on
312058 - subject content, supplements the HTML memo conversion tools completed
312059 - initially on 971113. ref SDS 8 4674
312060 -
312061 -  ..
312062 - This overcomes the slowness of creating links in HTML, so that
312063 - business intelligence is a practical objective.
312064 -
312065 -  ..
312066 - It provides a method to issue an SDS record as a memo that is linked
312067 - into the SDS record to provide "business intelligence" that can trace
312068 - orginal sources to support "root cause" analysis.
312069 -
312070 -  ..
312071 - This may solve the problem of the Internet lacking "content" as noted
312072 - by Gates and others, reported on 960304. ref SDS 1 2044
312073 -
312074 -      [See meeting with Bill DeHart on application at PG&E. ref SDS 22
312075 -      4387 and ref SDS 22 1272.]
312076 -
312077 -  ..
312078 - Internet/intranet delivery provides the SDS record as "content"
312079 - anytime, anywhere, per Dave Vannier's objective. ref SDS 2 3502
312080 -
312081 -     [On 990422 Dave feels SDS on Internet is effective; asks where to
312082 -     take it from here. ref SDS 27 4590]
312083 -
312084 -     [On 990907 Dave advised SDS on Internet accomplishes objectives of
312085 -     POIMS. ref SDS 28 0149]
312086 -
312087 -  ..
312088 - It supports alignment of people through communication.
312089 -
312090 -  ..
312091 - We still need a way to update the data base once it has been created.
312092 -
312093 -     [This was created next day. ref SDS 20 0630]
312094 -
312095 -
312096 -
312097 - Improvements Needed
312098 -
312099 - I think over the next few weeks, I made these improvements, but did
312100 - not make separate records:
312101 -
312102 -    1.  Action Item links need to standout more readily...
312103 -            ..
312104 -        a.  Different color Different font Bold and underline
312105 -
312106 -        Went back and accomplished this, but reported work in record
312107 -        for 971205. ref SDS 18 4587
312108 -        ..
312109 -    2.  Avoid underlining source of links, color is adequate, per
312110 -        analysis at ref SDS 13 1968.
312111 -
312112 -    3.  Add ledgend with links to main record headings.
312113 -
312114 -        Executive Summary
312115 -        Action Items
312116 -        Contacts
312117 -
312118 -        References, etc. per ref SDS 0 1255,
312119 -
312120 -    4.  Develop distinctive ID for links in body text, try itallics.
312121 -
312122 -        Went back and accomplished as recorded in record on 971205.
312123 -        ref SDS 16 3950
312124 -
312125 -
312126 -
312127 -
312128 -
312129 -
312130 -
312131 -
312132 -
312133 -