Services - Custom Software Development

Format Conversion, Data Extraction, Data Transformations, and Special Interfaces

XML Solutions

While NetLogex is not in the business of contracting to do general software development, when a client's use of XML for e-commerce or electronic publishing requires custom software for data conversion or special interfaces, we are able to provide such services. Examples of the types of custom software we can provide include the following:

Format Conversion - taking existing legacy data and converting it to XML for use with e-commerce and electronic publishing tools. For example, we have developed tools to analyze the structure and content of a Folio Infobase and convert the Folio Flat File representation into an XML document. See Content Transformations - Folio Infobases for more information.
Data Extraction - extracting the subset of data that a client wishes to have in XML from existing databases, document collections, web sites, and other repositories; and organizing it in such a way the structure of the information can be preserved in its XML representation. In some cases, this may include explicitly adding structural information that was only implied in the original data from schematic information or externally documented definitions and rules. For example, in a publication, a line following a section heading in a particular format might imply the name of the author.
Data Transformations - providing XSLT and other transformation software that will allow a client's XML data to be manipulated to meet a variety of purposes such as generating custom subsets of the data for various users, and formatting the data to fit the characteristics of a variety of target display devices and communication access links. See Content Transformations for additional information.
Special Interfaces - custom interfaces can be provided both for programmatic access to active data repositories that have COM interfaces for extraction and maintenance of data to be converted to XML, as well as custom graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for those cases where human intervention is required for the editing, maintenance, or preparation of data to be converted to XML format.

Delivery of Service

NetLogex can provide custom software services as either a fixed-bid or on a time-and-materials basis. In either case, we will first consult with the client to produce a precise statement of the problem to be solved, and we will generate a Statement of Work that outlines the nature of the proposed solution and the process required to achieve that solution.

Fixed-Bid

In the case of a fixed-bid proposal, there will be a preliminary General Design phase in which all aspects of the problem and the proposed solution will be defined in enough detail to be able to scope the cost of each and arrive at a bid price for the project. If the proposed bid is acceptable to the client, work will begin on a Detailed Design which completely defines all aspects of the software product and its development project. A schedule with specific checkpoints will be provided and code development will begin. When development is complete, the custom software and/or transformed data (in the case of an XML deliverable) will be provided to the client.

Time and Materials

Some clients prefer to work on a less-rigid time-and-materials basis. Under this arrangement, the same phases as outlined above are followed, but are not so fixed and modular. NetLogex works with the client in more of a team mode, working together on the problem definition and solution design. Some implementation work may begin before the entire project design is complete, offering the capability of using rapid-prototyping techniques and getting client feedback at every stage of the design and development process. In this mode, the client is regularly updated on the progress of the project, and continuation of the project is dependent on the ongoing satisfaction of the client with the results.

Contact NetLogex for further details of either of these custom development processes.

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