We are a satellite ISP who uses iDirect as our sat hub platform (mysql db), quickbooks for back end billing, and methodintegration.com for our
front end customer portal and account management. We are trying to figure
out how to tie them all together...mainly how to tie together the mysql
database which we have read only access and qb and mi.com...qb and mi.com
are fully integrated but neither poll info from the hub database which is
only accessible via Cisco VPN client. What we lack is this:
Our customers are either pay per use or have a monthly bandwidth cap
Our customers need notifications sent before they hit their limits and
when they hit their limits
Our helpdesk needs to receive notifications when customers have reached
their caps so we can restrict usage (capped customers only) or the sites
need to be automatically restricted via some type of custom program/app
The mysql database keeps track of the bandwidth usage but qb keeps track
of the actual monthly limits. Or a spreadsheet exported from qb.
The 3 platforms we use are utilizing the following:
Mysql is accessible using proprietary iDirect GUI (ibuilder and iMonitor)
and mysql query browser....keep in mind it is only accessible via VPN
currently
Qb uses a type of SQL base
Methodintegration.com is a web based solution using frames and aspx and it
does have an API for programmers
Our hub has Cisco ASAs and 2600 cisco switches accesible via vpn as well
I am not a programmer but I can setup Macros and do basic Ruby and VB
programs...I also have accces to winautomation to build windows macros
and batch sccripts
So where do I get started and which path should I choose?
Hire a freelancer...but which type?
Setup custom winautomation macros for each step on standalone PC
Keep living in unintegrated spreadsheet purgatory
Use Ruby and VB slowly but surely
Use the mi.com web based api slowly but slowly
Use a spreadshhet and DB excel CONNECTORS to integrate
Install another network device at our hub....I havee not found one that
does all this stuff
Your advice is appreciated...
-Josh
WOW! This is a lot of stuff to cover!
I would like to comment on some of the points that you mentioned in your post, and are related to WinAutomation:
Database Integration
WinAutomation allows you to connect to pretty much any database as long as WinAutomation is installed in the same machine with the database server.
GUI automation
There are a lot of ways to perform standard GUI automation with WinAutomation. You can choose to send keystrokes and mouse clicks that are coordinate based, or you can choose to use the image recognition system that allows you to move the mouse to a specific image on the screen.
Retrieving the information
If you manage to get the bandwidth information to Excel (or a text file with a standarized format or a local database for that matter), then you can do pretty much anything that you may need to with it:
- You can get only a part of it and create new reports automatically
- You can have email notifications be sent to you automatically when a specific value gets higher/lower than a specific threshold, or you can do any other action based on a specific value
Web Interfaces
In general, you can automate any web interface by treating like any other GUI and using the image recognition system, the clipboard (to temporarily store the values) and keystrokes. However, in some cases, you can automate data entry in web forms, data mining processes etc through the "Download from Web" action. This action is basically a GUI-less browser that can "talk" with any web server in a language that the server can understand: HTTP.
To answer to the most important questions of your email:
So where do I get started and which path should I choose?
You can just send an email to the professional services department of WinAutomation, and arrange a remote desktop session with one of their specialists. This way, you will be able to show them each part of the process that you want to automate, and get their input on this. The specific "consulting service" is free, but if you decide to hire them in order to do the job for you, you will have to pay a standard fee per hour.
In any case, these guys know exactly what they are talking about, and will be able to provide you very specific information about each step of the process, so it would be a good idea to start from there. For more information about professional services, check the link below:
http://winautomation.com/professional-services
==Dedicated Automation Solutions==
==Dedicated Automation Solutions==