TeamDesk automation tool for Coghead users. Make it easier.

I just got an e-mail from Kirill Bondar with TeamDesk support team. And this is what he’s saying:

"While helping Coghead customers to migrate to TeamDesk, we thought of exporting their data from Coghead to CSV files and importing them to TeamDesk. However, since Coghead stores data hierarchically, this approach did not let us make complete data migration. After two days of hard work we are proud to announce the migration tool that restores the structure and the data from the Coghead backup file into TeamDesk application. Details are listed here and here."

Well, this is pretty exciting, but, as usually, I prefer to give it a try.

I decided to make sure that this migration tool really works as expected. This is my try to migrate Basic Project Manager Application, let’s see what happens:


The first thing you need to do is to Export Application to your computer. All details how it can be done in Coghead the user can find here.

Now we can click Coghead Migration Tool link from TeamDesk Offer for Coghead customers page:


In case you don’t have TeamDesk login the system offers to create your own account first. As I already have TeamDesk account, the system redirects me on needed page at once, where one can download Coghead application backup:


This is how the result looks:


And this is the look of the specific Project:


As one can see with the help of this migration tool all relations between tables were successfully restored.

Conclusion:

I think this tool can really be of a great help for those who decides to migrate to TeamDesk. It can really save a lot of time while migrating the data and allows to jump start within the system not from scratch, but from the base that can be developed afterwards.

It should be noted, the generated app requires some finalization, but in general this is not that complicated task, if compare it with creating the app from scratch. Good job TeamDesk.

QuickBase and Conditional dropdown: The Second Shot

In February release QuickBase announced about the support of conditional dropdown. I have already tested how QuickBase handles Dependent Dropdown, and made up my mind to give it another try and check how it works now.

I am going to use the same application with States and Cities I used before in previous test.

To setup conditional dropdown you need to process two steps: for the start you need to specify the field you want the user to pick a value from first (in our case State dropdown). Second, you need to specify depended dropdown filter field (in our case its State reference column from City table):


The set up is not that complicated, so let’s get down to business and check how it works.


For the start let’s try to choose the city before the state selection and you will get follwing message:


And now we select the State first. Now City dropdown contains only cities of the selected state:


Conclusion:

So, the picture with QuickBase Conditional Dropdown is a way better, if compare my second try to the first one with Dependent Dropdown. It works pretty well. Hope my previous review made its contribution the functionality got better.

Helping Coghead customers

It’s high time to take care of people that are affected with the consequences of Coghead downfall the most: Coghead customers.

They should quickly decide where to move their data, starting from the ground up. I think this time users will think twice before making a choice. So, in order to simplify their task at least somehow I listed below services which are ready to help and have even developed special offers to support former Coghead customers.

Company	Offer
QuickBase	Free 6 month of service Free 2 Hours with Expert Consultant Free Unlimited Support Free Daily Webinars
TeamDesk	Free migration of your Coghead application to TeamDesk Free Technical Support Free Trial
Caspio Bridge	Two month free use Free unlimited support Expert consultation services Free instructor-led training
TrackVia	Free Trial 20% discount
Zoho Creator	Free consulting for Coghead customers

These vendors offer their help too, can’t say anything about their functionality though:

Company	Offer
Qrimp	Free for the first 3 months Then 50% discount for the next 6 months Then full price for each month
Wolf	Free application transfer No payments for 60 days
Delivered Innovation	Migration service to the Force.com platform
OutSystems	Scope & size your existing applications and provide a complete migration plan for free Free 30 day trial
PerfectForms	Free multi-user account for 3 months
Cordys	Free subscription Free support 30% discount for additional services
Iceberg	Free migration
WorkXpress	Less than 10 users per month - 3 months free service More than 10 users per month - complete build of your current applications

Hope it will help to get over the Coghead collapse faster and not so painfully.

What Coghead customers are supposed to do?

I don’t know how many users Coghead had and what kind of apps they’ve developed, but what I can say for sure, is that the migration to other systems won’t be an easy affair, especially for those who have sophisticated business process and workflow logic. The specifics of each business, reflected in the app structure, should be taken into account.

Coghead customers with really complicated applications should consider QuickBase or TeamDesk. As these services satisfy the most sophisticated requirements and don't require any coding or scripting.

In case javascript or deluge script programming doesn't scare you, Caspio Bridge or Zoho Creator are there for you.

If you had relatively simple single table application, apart from the above mentioned solutions, one can take a look at Dabble DB or TrackVia.

Did you like Coghead because of Adobe Flex? Then Blist can be considered as Coghead substitution here. If you have a single table app - it should work well.

Well, Coghead users will be able to access and download their data through April 30, 2009.

So, who else is going to give Coghead customers a hand and help them with their app migration?

Coghead heads to the deadpool. Who is next?

In such difficult times for the world economy a lot of companies reach a deadlock and close their doors.

Coghead went down. Customers are thunderstruck. Just yesterday I received the letter from Ralph Noble what was going to happen:

"Not sure if you know this but Coghead is pretty much gone -- supposedly to be swallowed up (and probably never heard from again). Rollbase is gone, Longjump is doing primarily consulting from what I can tell, and the other small players are having a rough time. Caspio has probably been around the longest, so maybe it isn't affecting them as much."

The times a tough and its difficult to predict the outcomes, but how vendors are going to hold the line?

And who is the next?

Update:

SAP has aquired intellectual base of Coghead. But it doesn't change the situation all users are in right now. Just Coghead technology is moved. The users are still on their own.

Challenging Caspio in data modifying

Painless data changes within the app contribute immensely to any business. For this feature is really mission-critical and does the heavy lifting within any app. So, it’s better to focus on this more carefully, giving Caspio Bridge a go this time.

To change the column type in Caspio Bridge in the Tables view you should select necessary table and click "Design" on the toolbar.


After this the table structure is opened in the Table Design window.


So, let’s get down to the data modification and see what happens, how the system handles it. For field data type changes I selected the field I wanted to modify and picked the new data type from the data type list.


Everything is pretty clear from the message that pops up on the screen. Caspio Bridge solves the issue with incompatible data in a simple manner – it will be lost.


The system also deletes this column from dependent objects such as Views and DataPages, so you as the user should pay attention when modifying a table and read all on-screen warnings carefully, because your modification can simply make dependent objects unusable. And thats not what you are looking for, I guess.

Conclusion:

I think in this case more contorol is required concerning incompatible data changes, and better diagnostics, what specifically will happen with dependent objects.

Why Blist isn’t a killer app for business needs?

If one person is running the business there is no better method for all processes automation and tracking as Microsoft Excel.

But in case the need to secure simultaneous information processing by multiple users arises the user faces 2 major problems: how to organize info sharing and access permission and Excel can’t help here, but just holds you back. What blist can offer to fix these issues?

The system resolves only one task – sharing, but what about access permissions? There is no way to handle it.

It means you can’t set user permission to secure different people personal access levels to the data records. For example, you can't configure blist so, that each user can modify only own records, he has created, or which are applied to his personal responsibility.

Besides, you also can't set permission on column level. It means you can't hide any particular column or restrain the possibility to edit it for the particular group of users.


There is only one option you have. Any person you share your blist with can see all data you have in your app.

This is the reason why blist is useless for business needs on this level of functionality. Yes, you can share the list of your favorite movies or receipts, and embed it in your blog or website, using blist. But that's it and it’s definitely not enough.

Your service! What a godsend!

Being web 2.0 junkie I couldn’t help but notice one interesting trend. If take into account the latest Obama craze, who wouldn’t join the hype, just passing the chance to be on the crest of the wave? Nonsense! Of course, nobody would.

Blist wasn’t an exception here. Well, blist is chosen by the very Obama Team, guys! It’s not something to be brushed aside!

I think, so few people have already forgotten the name Bill Clinton. Have you? If so, that’s ok. You’ll get your reminder, for without fail the vendor will inform you Dabble DB databased Clinton Foundation donor list.

But that’s not it! If we are through with alive American presidents worth mentioning along with the service (that can really add value to the product) there is no problem. Santa Clause has also a lot of stuff to do, try to imagine the volume of records of presents Santa handles with QuickBase! So there is no wonder why the service gets PC Magazine award.

Wait a minute! Has the Pope already chosen web-based system to track donations? Not yet? Guys, you’d better hurry up. Just think of it, invaluable contribution into the Right Cause.

Whose turn is next? It won’t be that hard to get in touch with Dalai Lama, a bit harder with Gautama Buddha.

Tricks of data changes within QuickBase

It’s vital to be aware of what to expect from the web-based system if talk about further data modifying.

And testing different systems functionality, such service as QuickBase can’t be ignored. So, let’s kick off with it and try to change the field type in QuickBase.

One should click “Change Type” link above the Properties tab of the specific column.


Then from the Select a field type drop-down list, choose the new field type, and then click Convert Data.


By this data modifications QuickBase shows a message what is going to happen: If the data cannot be converted, it is lost.

It should be noted that aside from the simple change field type QuickBase offers also advanced feature of data restricting, such as Convert a Field into a Table.


To simplify the process of data modification a dialog box appears on the screen, which shows you the unique values that QuickBase found in the field. So you can see that each value listed will be a record in the new table:


By pressing Next button such dialog box is displayed, so you can type in a name for the new table and click OK:


You will be informed that the system has created a new table by such massage.


How is it done within the system? Your new table is automatically related to the existing table as the master table. You can find out more about this feature here.

To sum up:

Despite the fact regular field change type of QuickBase has nothing special and the system handles the data that can’t be converted in a quite primitive way, QuickBase stands out against the background of competitors because of the possibility to Convert a Field into a Table.

Starting working within the app you can’t foresee all the future data modifications and all tricks you’ll face, but in case there is a need to change the data structure, QuickBase won’t let you down.

The service clearly shows how to handle it.

Viability of Zoho Creator modifying data

It has been always tricky to test Zoho Creator. What the system has prepared this time in point of data modification functionality?

You'll never know until you try.

To change the field type in Zoho Creator the user should enter table edit mode and select “Edit this field” option form popup menu:


After that you must choose the new type and save changes. Converting the field into “Choices”, Zoho Creator functions unassisted building up the list of database values.


This is how Zoho Creator resolves the issue, when the field value of the record can't be converted into the new type:


Conclusions:

Zoho Creator offers good methods for data modification and it functions pretty well. But what would be also of a help for common users is gaining more control over mismatch between the old and new field type, just field with blank values is definately not enough.

Data restructuring? Then TeamDesk.

Trying different services its better not to rush to conclusions, no matter what. For I had cases when robust and wide-spread systems failed in resolving tasks smaller vendors cracked as nuts. Simply give it a go. The results are always very conspicuous. So, how everything is arranged in TeamDesk?

To change existing column’s type in TeamDesk you need to enter Setup mode and select column type you want to modify and press "Change Type" button.


Within TeamDesk you can easily convert Data column to another type of Data column and "formula" column to the different type of Formula column or to Data column as well.


The system will notify you in case when selected conversion is not supported or when it is not possible to convert column values to the specified type. Your data will not be modified in this case.


Skimming through TeamDesk blog site I stumbled upon one post worth mentioning: how one can use formula column and change type for data alerting you can check here.

Conclusion:

In general, TeamDesk offers robust methods for data modification. But there is stuff to work on. The developers should pay attention to usability issue for cases it’s impossible to convert specific value(s): The system displays only the first error and one can’t figure out which record/row in the table is not correct. The system has no means for users to filter and correct values in invalid records.