Please help non-programmer

[Wyman]

I posted a message eariler this week entitled "programming question". The
ones who responded back gave me good advice, but I'm still lost. I don't
know where to begin in writing this time and attendance program(labor scheduling)
and I've checked out a couple of books on C++ and still don't understand
it. Maybe I should give a couple of examples to be clearer:

1)Let's pretend I was given an assignment to write the program MS Office,
how would I start it?

2)If I was the Front End supervisor for Best Buy and wanted to write a program
for the scheduling of my crew, where would I begin? Actually, this is what
I'm trying to do without buying expensive packages and plus I'm trying to
learn the language. I want something that's automated. I'll see if I can
send a link to an example.

http://www.vitrix.com/Library/screenshots.pdf

The final output would be a weekly schedule that prints the days of the week,
scheduled times and total hours.

Please help if you can.

Thanks in advance!

Wyman

[jonnin]

1) ms office was created over about 10 years, using probably well over a
hundred programmers at various levels. And it still has bugs galore.

2) create the calander. Build a database of employees, (could be simple
text files). Then pick a scheme for scheduling. You need, for example,
a manager /assist mgr at each shift, + various employees. Do they get the
same hours when possible, random but =, or what?? Design the whole thing
based on what you want to do, and how you want it done, then code with our
help. Is the final for one person or the lot?

You really should be able to do this in office, using excel or access if
you have that, for a small business.


"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>I posted a message eariler this week entitled "programming question". The
>ones who responded back gave me good advice, but I'm still lost. I don't
>know where to begin in writing this time and attendance program(labor scheduling)
>and I've checked out a couple of books on C++ and still don't understand
>it. Maybe I should give a couple of examples to be clearer:
>
>1)Let's pretend I was given an assignment to write the program MS Office,
>how would I start it?
>
>2)If I was the Front End supervisor for Best Buy and wanted to write a program
>for the scheduling of my crew, where would I begin? Actually, this is what
>I'm trying to do without buying expensive packages and plus I'm trying to
>learn the language. I want something that's automated. I'll see if I can
>send a link to an example.
>
>http://www.vitrix.com/Library/screenshots.pdf
>
>The final output would be a weekly schedule that prints the days of the
week,
>scheduled times and total hours.
>
>Please help if you can.
>
>Thanks in advance!
>
>Wyman

[Wyman]

Hello Jonnin:

Thanks for replying.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by a scheme for scheduling??? I have a
design in mind, having 50 different shifts. The employees will not have
the same shift every week. I want to create a program that I can built shift
templates and have it automatically generate the schedule for me. It should
also include a database(or I can create one in MS Access) where I can enter
employee info and allow me to interface with a payroll program. If I was
to do this in MS it would take more time than I'm willing to work on a schedule,
where as I can point & click and it will be done. If you want, you can download
this program I'm referring to from
http://www.vitrix.com/Solutions/HourTrack/features-benefits.htm
It takes about 5 min for installation.

I want my program similar to this one, but after I save the employee information,
I want that employee information to disappear. Also when I print the schedule
I want a total hours column. Check it out and see if you can help me out.
Are there any free c++ programs out there?

Thanks,
Wyman


"jonnin" <jonnin@vol.com> wrote:
>
>1) ms office was created over about 10 years, using probably well over
a
>hundred programmers at various levels. And it still has bugs galore.
>
>2) create the calander. Build a database of employees, (could be simple
>text files). Then pick a scheme for scheduling. You need, for example,
>a manager /assist mgr at each shift, + various employees. Do they get the
>same hours when possible, random but =, or what?? Design the whole thing
>based on what you want to do, and how you want it done, then code with our
>help. Is the final for one person or the lot?
>
>You really should be able to do this in office, using excel or access if
>you have that, for a small business.
>
>
>"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>I posted a message eariler this week entitled "programming question".
The
>>ones who responded back gave me good advice, but I'm still lost. I don't
>>know where to begin in writing this time and attendance program(labor scheduling)
>>and I've checked out a couple of books on C++ and still don't understand
>>it. Maybe I should give a couple of examples to be clearer:
>>
>>1)Let's pretend I was given an assignment to write the program MS Office,
>>how would I start it?
>>
>>2)If I was the Front End supervisor for Best Buy and wanted to write a
program
>>for the scheduling of my crew, where would I begin? Actually, this is
what
>>I'm trying to do without buying expensive packages and plus I'm trying
to
>>learn the language. I want something that's automated. I'll see if I
can
>>send a link to an example.
>>
>>http://www.vitrix.com/Library/screenshots.pdf
>>
>>The final output would be a weekly schedule that prints the days of the
>week,
>>scheduled times and total hours.
>>
>>Please help if you can.
>>
>>Thanks in advance!
>>
>>Wyman
>

[jonnin]

I can and will help, but please reconsider your tools. Access + visulal basic
can create this in a weekend; lack of expertise would drag a c++ program
out for over (a) month(s). Using access + visual c++ is possible but much
harder than the basic. There is so much free c++ code you have to really
refine your searches to get the one you want, but its all as is and usually
requires above average skills to read, understand, debug + modify. Sometimes
you get lucky, but ...



"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>Hello Jonnin:
>
>Thanks for replying.
>
>I'm not quite sure what you mean by a scheme for scheduling??? I have a
>design in mind, having 50 different shifts. The employees will not have
>the same shift every week. I want to create a program that I can built
shift
>templates and have it automatically generate the schedule for me. It should
>also include a database(or I can create one in MS Access) where I can enter
>employee info and allow me to interface with a payroll program. If I was
>to do this in MS it would take more time than I'm willing to work on a schedule,
>where as I can point & click and it will be done. If you want, you can
download
>this program I'm referring to from
>http://www.vitrix.com/Solutions/HourTrack/features-benefits.htm
>It takes about 5 min for installation.
>
>I want my program similar to this one, but after I save the employee information,
>I want that employee information to disappear. Also when I print the schedule
>I want a total hours column. Check it out and see if you can help me out.
> Are there any free c++ programs out there?
>
>Thanks,
>Wyman
>
>
>"jonnin" <jonnin@vol.com> wrote:
>>
>>1) ms office was created over about 10 years, using probably well over
>a
>>hundred programmers at various levels. And it still has bugs galore.
>>
>>2) create the calander. Build a database of employees, (could be simple
>>text files). Then pick a scheme for scheduling. You need, for example,
>>a manager /assist mgr at each shift, + various employees. Do they get
the
>>same hours when possible, random but =, or what?? Design the whole thing
>>based on what you want to do, and how you want it done, then code with
our
>>help. Is the final for one person or the lot?
>>
>>You really should be able to do this in office, using excel or access if
>>you have that, for a small business.
>>
>>
>>"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>I posted a message eariler this week entitled "programming question".

>The
>>>ones who responded back gave me good advice, but I'm still lost. I don't
>>>know where to begin in writing this time and attendance program(labor
scheduling)
>>>and I've checked out a couple of books on C++ and still don't understand
>>>it. Maybe I should give a couple of examples to be clearer:
>>>
>>>1)Let's pretend I was given an assignment to write the program MS Office,
>>>how would I start it?
>>>
>>>2)If I was the Front End supervisor for Best Buy and wanted to write a
>program
>>>for the scheduling of my crew, where would I begin? Actually, this is
>what
>>>I'm trying to do without buying expensive packages and plus I'm trying
>to
>>>learn the language. I want something that's automated. I'll see if I
>can
>>>send a link to an example.
>>>
>>>http://www.vitrix.com/Library/screenshots.pdf
>>>
>>>The final output would be a weekly schedule that prints the days of the
>>week,
>>>scheduled times and total hours.
>>>
>>>Please help if you can.
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance!
>>>
>>>Wyman
>>
>

[Wyman]

Jonnin:

If using Access and Visual Basic can do this within a weekend, then that's
the route I'll go. So tell me, how do I get started??? Please let me know.

Wyman



"jonnin" <jonnin@vol.com> wrote:
>
>I can and will help, but please reconsider your tools. Access + visulal
basic
>can create this in a weekend; lack of expertise would drag a c++ program
>out for over (a) month(s). Using access + visual c++ is possible but much
>harder than the basic. There is so much free c++ code you have to really
>refine your searches to get the one you want, but its all as is and usually
>requires above average skills to read, understand, debug + modify. Sometimes
>you get lucky, but ...
>
>
>
>"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>Hello Jonnin:
>>
>>Thanks for replying.
>>
>>I'm not quite sure what you mean by a scheme for scheduling??? I have
a
>>design in mind, having 50 different shifts. The employees will not have
>>the same shift every week. I want to create a program that I can built
>shift
>>templates and have it automatically generate the schedule for me. It should
>>also include a database(or I can create one in MS Access) where I can enter
>>employee info and allow me to interface with a payroll program. If I was
>>to do this in MS it would take more time than I'm willing to work on a
schedule,
>>where as I can point & click and it will be done. If you want, you can
>download
>>this program I'm referring to from
>>http://www.vitrix.com/Solutions/HourTrack/features-benefits.htm
>>It takes about 5 min for installation.
>>
>>I want my program similar to this one, but after I save the employee information,
>>I want that employee information to disappear. Also when I print the schedule
>>I want a total hours column. Check it out and see if you can help me out.
>> Are there any free c++ programs out there?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Wyman
>>
>>
>>"jonnin" <jonnin@vol.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>1) ms office was created over about 10 years, using probably well over
>>a
>>>hundred programmers at various levels. And it still has bugs galore.
>>>
>>>2) create the calander. Build a database of employees, (could be simple
>>>text files). Then pick a scheme for scheduling. You need, for example,
>>>a manager /assist mgr at each shift, + various employees. Do they get
>the
>>>same hours when possible, random but =, or what?? Design the whole thing
>>>based on what you want to do, and how you want it done, then code with
>our
>>>help. Is the final for one person or the lot?
>>>
>>>You really should be able to do this in office, using excel or access
if
>>>you have that, for a small business.
>>>
>>>
>>>"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>I posted a message eariler this week entitled "programming question".
>
>>The
>>>>ones who responded back gave me good advice, but I'm still lost. I don't
>>>>know where to begin in writing this time and attendance program(labor
>scheduling)
>>>>and I've checked out a couple of books on C++ and still don't understand
>>>>it. Maybe I should give a couple of examples to be clearer:
>>>>
>>>>1)Let's pretend I was given an assignment to write the program MS Office,
>>>>how would I start it?
>>>>
>>>>2)If I was the Front End supervisor for Best Buy and wanted to write
a
>>program
>>>>for the scheduling of my crew, where would I begin? Actually, this is
>>what
>>>>I'm trying to do without buying expensive packages and plus I'm trying
>>to
>>>>learn the language. I want something that's automated. I'll see if
I
>>can
>>>>send a link to an example.
>>>>
>>>>http://www.vitrix.com/Library/screenshots.pdf
>>>>
>>>>The final output would be a weekly schedule that prints the days of the
>>>week,
>>>>scheduled times and total hours.
>>>>
>>>>Please help if you can.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks in advance!
>>>>
>>>>Wyman
>>>
>>
>

[jonnin]

Design and build the database to start, from access. Keep it in 3rd normal
form (should be ok for this sized prob); this mostly means abstract out repetative
data. For example, if you have 500 people but only 15 shifts, make the shifts
a table and the people a table and reference the shifts from a field in people.
Saves a lot of space and makes life easier.

Any time you find that you should type the same, letter for letter, data
over again for several people, it must be pulled out into a new table. That
gets most of 3rd form, I'll look it up monday.

Once you have all you need, you have 2 options:

use access itsself to make queries that will do the work,
or do in vb. Depends on user, but the second will be easier to use.

design it slowly; adding to database means rewrite program if you are not
careful in design.

Email me when you need a hand, this doesn't need to be on c++ anymore...




"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>Jonnin:
>
>If using Access and Visual Basic can do this within a weekend, then that's
>the route I'll go. So tell me, how do I get started??? Please let me know.
>
>Wyman
>
>
>
>"jonnin" <jonnin@vol.com> wrote:
>>
>>I can and will help, but please reconsider your tools. Access + visulal
>basic
>>can create this in a weekend; lack of expertise would drag a c++ program
>>out for over (a) month(s). Using access + visual c++ is possible but much
>>harder than the basic. There is so much free c++ code you have to really
>>refine your searches to get the one you want, but its all as is and usually
>>requires above average skills to read, understand, debug + modify. Sometimes
>>you get lucky, but ...
>>
>>
>>
>>"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>Hello Jonnin:
>>>
>>>Thanks for replying.
>>>
>>>I'm not quite sure what you mean by a scheme for scheduling??? I have
>a
>>>design in mind, having 50 different shifts. The employees will not have
>>>the same shift every week. I want to create a program that I can built
>>shift
>>>templates and have it automatically generate the schedule for me. It
should
>>>also include a database(or I can create one in MS Access) where I can
enter
>>>employee info and allow me to interface with a payroll program. If I
was
>>>to do this in MS it would take more time than I'm willing to work on a
>schedule,
>>>where as I can point & click and it will be done. If you want, you can
>>download
>>>this program I'm referring to from
>>>http://www.vitrix.com/Solutions/HourTrack/features-benefits.htm
>>>It takes about 5 min for installation.
>>>
>>>I want my program similar to this one, but after I save the employee information,
>>>I want that employee information to disappear. Also when I print the
schedule
>>>I want a total hours column. Check it out and see if you can help me
out.
>>> Are there any free c++ programs out there?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>Wyman
>>>
>>>
>>>"jonnin" <jonnin@vol.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>1) ms office was created over about 10 years, using probably well over
>>>a
>>>>hundred programmers at various levels. And it still has bugs galore.
>>>>
>>>>2) create the calander. Build a database of employees, (could be simple
>>>>text files). Then pick a scheme for scheduling. You need, for example,
>>>>a manager /assist mgr at each shift, + various employees. Do they get
>>the
>>>>same hours when possible, random but =, or what?? Design the whole thing
>>>>based on what you want to do, and how you want it done, then code with
>>our
>>>>help. Is the final for one person or the lot?
>>>>
>>>>You really should be able to do this in office, using excel or access
>if
>>>>you have that, for a small business.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>"Wyman" <wgrant2002@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>I posted a message eariler this week entitled "programming question".
>>
>>>The
>>>>>ones who responded back gave me good advice, but I'm still lost. I
don't
>>>>>know where to begin in writing this time and attendance program(labor
>>scheduling)
>>>>>and I've checked out a couple of books on C++ and still don't understand
>>>>>it. Maybe I should give a couple of examples to be clearer:
>>>>>
>>>>>1)Let's pretend I was given an assignment to write the program MS Office,
>>>>>how would I start it?
>>>>>
>>>>>2)If I was the Front End supervisor for Best Buy and wanted to write
>a
>>>program
>>>>>for the scheduling of my crew, where would I begin? Actually, this
is
>>>what
>>>>>I'm trying to do without buying expensive packages and plus I'm trying
>>>to
>>>>>learn the language. I want something that's automated. I'll see if
>I
>>>can
>>>>>send a link to an example.
>>>>>
>>>>>http://www.vitrix.com/Library/screenshots.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>>The final output would be a weekly schedule that prints the days of
the
>>>>week,
>>>>>scheduled times and total hours.
>>>>>
>>>>>Please help if you can.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks in advance!
>>>>>
>>>>>Wyman
>>>>
>>>
>>
>