[Gllug] Gaining feedback

[general_email at technicalbloke.com]

On 04/10/11 10:23, James Courtier-Dutton wrote:
> Hi,
>
> At work we have a system of sending out documents we have written to
> other 3rd parties.
> The job of the 3rd party is to review the document and feedback their comments.
> We then collect all the comments from all the 3rd parties and import
> them into a master list of comments, which we then use to improve the
> next document release.
> Currently this process uses Excel for people to enter their comments,
> and then we import the Excel comments into a database.
> The problem is that the Excel format does not seem to be restrictive
> enough. I.e. We wish to restrict some fields to specific range of
> values etc.
> The users invariably enter the data slightly differently, and this
> causes problems with the import.
> Does anyone know of an opensource package that we present a form to
> the user, with drop down boxes for values to put into the form, and
> one or two free text box.
> It must be possible for the user to enter as many records as they wish.
> We then need the form to be exportable to XML format, so that we can
> import it easily into our database.
> The solution must also be stand alone. I.e. Not web server or web
> service/clound based.
> I.e. A person with a laptop that is not connected to the network
> should be able to raise comments.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Kind Regards
>
> James
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>


Sorry I don't know of a specific package that will do that (though I'm
sure many can be cajoled). I'm writing because I'm wondering when it
might _ever_ be easier for the third parties in question to export a
file to a portable medium and physically send it to you rather than fill
in a form online? What medium do you use now? Floppies are obsolete,
CD/DVD are a pain in the arse and USB sticks are still too expensive to
just give away randomly. Even then you've got the problem of how to make
sure your software chooses the correct portable medium to write to as
some users will have more than one available and you probably also have
to make sure it runs well across multiple platforms. Are you sure the
number of potential respondents who require an offline solution is high
enough to warrant all that effort?

PS: I hate it when people question my seemingly strange yet well thought
out requirements instead of answering my god damned question already so
do please tell me to piss off if you like ;)

Cheers,

Roger

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