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Yes, You Need a Website (A Modern, Responsive Website)

Are you a small, local business courting local clients? See how a website can help you grab customers in your geographic service area.

By Kurt Knippel, eXcelisys Project Manager / VP of Production

It’s 2025 and the times, they are a-changin’. If you’re one of those holdouts still relying on word-of-mouth referrals and a Facebook business page, it’s time to act. Sure, social media platforms are great for establishing a digital presence and providing potential customers with your contact information, but building a modern, responsive website will serve you better over the long haul.

What do we mean by modern? It’s pretty simple. A “modern” website prioritizes the user eXperience by offering site visitors clean, uncluttered webpages that load fast and are easy to navigate so users can find the information they need quickly.

And what do we mean by responsive? A responsive website is built to “respond” to different device display sizes. This allows a site to maintain its features and appearance whether it is accessed on a phone, tablet or desktop. A responsive site will automatically scale and resize features to ensure page setups and navigation don’t become jumbled or confusing when viewed on devices with smaller screens.

Every small, local, family-owned business needs a website – especially if you are in the service industry. 

Maybe you already have a website – but is it doing great work? These days, having a website is not enough. To compete in search rankings, you need a modern, responsive website. If your website looks (and acts) like it was built during the days of dial-up internet, it’s time for an upgrade to boost your web reach.

A company website allows you to tell your story your way and present your small, local business however you want. In addition, a website gives your business an instant credibility boost, allowing you to pitch your product and/or services in a professional environment. A website signals to customers that you have invested in your business and you are here to stay.

Top Four Benefits of a Modern, Responsive Website

1) Improved Search Engine Rankings

To build your business, you need to be seen. Consider this: Google processes about 8.5 billion search requests per day. That’s 99,000 per second. If you don’t have a website, you can’t appear in Google search results and your digital reach is limited. 

If you dig deeper into the metrics, you’ll find you need a responsive website because search engines (like Google) prioritize responsive web design in their rankings.

In addition, a modern, phone-friendly site with fast load times stands a better chance of appearing at the top of the search results because most web searches are conducted on mobile devices. You also need to consider “voice” searches conducted on Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. Voice searches return the same results as a searcher would get typing their search terms into a mobile device. Keeping this in mind, it becomes clear that to compete in today’s web-search world you need a mobile-friendly (aka responsive) website.

2) Better Visibility and eXposure in Local Search Results

Let’s say you’re a plumber and you operate in a particular service area. When residents in your area type “plumber” or “plumber near me” into the Google search bar you want your business to appear in the local search results. How do you do this? To start, you need to ensure Google knows your location. The more Google associates you with a specific location, the more you will show up in relevant searches for your area.

How do you let Google know your location? Through your website. On your website, you can add a footer with your address so it appears on every page. You can also embed a Google map of your service area on your website to ensure Google knows your location. Then, you can optimize your Google Business Profile, which Google uses to show your business on maps. This, in turn, will improve your local search visibility. In addition, you can add a website link directly to your Google Business Profile to bring potential customers straight to your site. Look below to find the search results for “pond care Indianapolis.” Our client, ASAP Aquatics, sits at the top of the results.  

Check out our client -- ASAP Aquatics - whose business is located right at the top of the local listings in searches for pond care companies located in Indianapolis.

3) Increased Credibility & Professionalism

A well-designed website conveys professionalism and stability. While you may be able to engage potential customers through word-of-mouth and social media, a well-made website will help you close the deal. 

Customers want to know WHO you are, WHAT you do and WHY you do it. A small, local business website allows you to showcase your services, credentials, products and pricing alongside contact information and FAQs. In addition, a website can help you build credibility through testimonials, case studies and product/service reviews. 

4) Better Conversion Rates

Responsive web design makes browsing hassle free by eliminating problems like distorted layouts and navigation issues, which can frustrate users into fleeing your site and never coming back. The easier it is for customers to find the information they need (without eXcessive zooming and scrolling), the more likely they are to take the desired action, such as contacting you or making a purchase. Streamlined user journeys and clear calls-to-action contribute to higher conversion rates. Check out the responsive web design eXample below for our client, River View Campground. 

Above: The desktop display for the River View Campground website. Menu items (such as River Trips, Camping, Cabins, FAQ, etc.) are listed across the top of the screen and can be accessed directly from the home page. Below: Notice the mobile display for the website, which lacks the space to list all menu items. Instead, when users select the menu icon, it opens a drop-down of menu options. This "responsive design" ensures the website stays uncluttered and easy to navigate on mobile devices.

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A Tale of Two Property Owner Association Websites

See how one landowners association in Colorado turned to eXcelisys for help when its website got hacked and how one Florida association is leaning on eXcelisys to make updates to its website to comply with new state laws.

Tale #1 – Sheep Creek Landowners Association – A Mountain Community in Southern Colorado

In 2014, the Sheep Creek Landowners Association found itself up a sheep creek without a developer to paddle its troubled website to safety. The association’s board did everything right – they built a Joomla site in-house, then contracted with a maintenance company to provide updates for security purposes.

Everything was going well until April 2014 when Sheep Creek’s internet service provider suspended the site and plucked it offline because of suspicious activity. Turns out, the maintenance company did not provide any maintenance or updates, leaving the Sheep Creek website vulnerable to attack. 

Seeking help, Sheep Creek hired eXcelisys to sort out the issues. In a quick fix, eXcelisys cleansed the site and got it back online; however, the damage was so eXtreme eXcelisys worried about future vulnerabilities because the malware prevented developers from updating Joomla to the latest, most secure version. Instead of investing time (and money) to scrub every nook and cranny of code and complete the updates manually, eXcelisys suggested a fresh start via a migration to WordPress.

One unique feature included on the Sheep Creek website is the live camera and weather feed, which residents rely on during the snow season to check weather conditions and ensure safe travels in and out of the area.

In the years since the website rebuild, Sheep Creek has relied on eXcelisys HOA eXpertise to provide regular web maintenance, updates and tech support. For Sheep Creek, the investment has paid off — the eXcelisys-built Sheep Creek website has been stable and unhacked since its launch in 2016.

Not only that, eXcelisys provides “as-needed” support for the Sheep Creek website. Like many property owner associations and HOAs, the Sheep Creek community is run by a Board of Directors and countless volunteers. As such, Sheep Creek web administrators come and go and sometimes have little eXperience working with websites. The transition goes smoothly, though, because eXcelisys is there to guide the new “webmasters” in their admin duties and get them up to speed on WordPress so they can post content like board minutes, community announcements, governing documents and so forth. 

For the past four years, Christy Keenan has been the Sheep Creek web administrator. Keenan said she appreciates being able to lean on eXcelisys WordPress developer Shane Glover when she needs assistance. “He’s so easy to contact and get hold of, so good at helping and problem-solving.”

Keenan praised Glover’s guidance. For eXample, in August he helped resolve an issue with a Sheep Creek member who was having trouble re-setting a password to access a members-only, password-protected area of the site. After some digging, Glover found an email authentication issue and he helped Keenan resolve the problem to get the community member access.

Over the years, Sheep Creek has benefitted from eXcelisys eXpertise in several areas:

• Tech guidance: eXcelisys provides advice for decisions like signing up for the most favorable web hosting plans and installing the most helpful WordPress plug-ins.
• Troubleshooting: Sheep Creek runs a live camera feed for residents to check the snowy mountain conditions and ensure safe travels in and out of the area. The webcam, linked to the website, has issues from time to time – i.e., weather widgets break or new cameras with new IP addresses need to be linked to the site.
• New content: In 2018, Sheep Creek wanted a facebook logo and link added to the web navigation menu to direct users to “like” and “join” the association’s facebook page to share pictures and post messages. Sheep Creek requested the addition and eXcelisys added it.
• Security: eXcelisys runs monthly maintenance checks to ensure the WordPress site and all eXtensions stay updated, functional and secure.

When asked about the pros and cons of working with eXcelisys Keenan said, “I can’t think of any cons.”

Tale #2 – Epping Forest – A Residential and Recreational Community in Northern Florida

In 2017, Epping Forest came to eXcelisys seeking help with a login issue involving its members-only website. Epping Forest had built the site years earlier and used it as an internal tool to share information with residents. eXcelisys fixed the issue and gained Epping Forest’s trust as its go-to web support company. 

Fast forward to 2024 when Epping Forest found itself in need of a web developer to assist with site updates mandated by new state legislation. In 2024, the Florida legislature passed a couple of new laws aimed at increasing transparency and accountability within HOAs and condo associations. The new laws require online posting of governing documents, including articles of incorporation, bylaws, covenants, annual budgets, board meeting agendas and so forth. 

Epping Forest webmaster and board member Bob Coffee is working to ensure his community’s website meets the requirements of the new legislation. In doing so, he has turned to eXcelisys for help. For eXample, Coffee asked eXcelisys to add a new tab – “Contracts, Documents and Financial Information” – to the web menu along with a corresponding page and set it up as a blank template he could work with.

eXcelisys WordPress developer Shane Glover added the page, headings and document names requested by Coffee, then made a quick, step-by-step video showing Coffee how to edit the page and attach the appropriate documents. This process makes it quick and easy for Coffee to make updates without having to fuss with web formatting. 

Luckily, for Epping Forest, there’s not a ton of web work to be done. “We have 85 percent of what we need,” said Coffee, who plans to keep using eXcelisys to refine the current site to meet the new guidelines. 

Tale #3 –  This has yet to be written. This tale involves YOUR partnership with eXcelisys. We think it’s called “Tranquility Lane.”

For volunteer-run homeowner and condo association boards, building and maintaining a website can be time-consuming. Just as you turn to professionals when you need a new roof, you can rely on a professional web-development company like eXcelisys when your website needs a new feature – or remodel. Outsourcing web development allows volunteer HOAs to focus on community-building activities instead of devoting time to complex technical tasks.

For anyone who has served on a property association board, you know there is plenty to do. Let us take care of the website because websites don’t manage themselves. Links break, updates fail, sites get hacked and server PHP updates from webhosts can disrupt a site. Do you want to deal with that? When you work with eXcelisys, help is always on the way.

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If you need help fixing, updating or maintaining your HOA or condo association website, contact eXcelisys today. Our solution consultants will be happy to discuss your HOA website needs. Let us build and maintain your website so you can focus on the important things in life. 

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Audio Post-Production Firm Finds Harmony with Custom-made Studio Booking Software

We Heard Our Client Loud & Clear — Build Us a FileMaker Solution to Manage Bookings, Staff Schedules, Studio Space, Invoices, Project Notes, Files & More

As a boutique audio post-production facility, Heard City specializes in sound design and mixing for commercials, television and film. Clients include ad agencies and editorial outfits from around the globe who rely on Heard City to sculpt soundscapes for the creative content they produce. Heard City has contributed to ad campaigns for McDonald’s, Mercedes Benz and Powerade, as well as Netflix and HBO series. Football fans are acquainted with their work, as Heard City mixers contributed to Super Bowl 58’s fan-favorite CeraVe and Paramount+ spots, to name a few.

Located in Manhattan, Heard City operates in a competitive industry where premium, gear-packed workspaces are essential. Heard City has a Dolby-certified 7.1 cinema room and multiple 5.1 surround-sound studios. On the creative end, the team relies on Pro Tools software for audio post production.

As for the back-office software — you know, the boring but essential stuff like scheduling, invoicing, client contact management, and so forth — Heard City has used a software solution built specifically for the recording industry. For a number of years, this system did the job, but eventually, customization was needed.

In 2022, Heard City decided to upgrade its backend software, seeking a new solution to streamline its workflow, eliminate efficiencies, and create a database for reporting business metrics.

Heard City Partner Evan Mangiamele eXplored options – from purchasing another pre-built software package to building a custom app. Mangiamele looked into Airtable, but eventually, his eXplorations led him to FileMaker and the eXcelisys development team, who spent months scripting a custom app to manage backend operations. Heard City affectionately dubbed its new FileMaker-based studio booking software “Jobby.”

Introducing Jobby

In September 2023, Jobby … went on the job. Jobby is the big brain behind operations – an electronic portal that keeps tabs on everything from contacts, bookings and projects (including associated Notes/Activities and Files), along with deliverables, schedules and invoices.

A favorite feature is the calendar integration that allows Heard City staff to access their schedules on their phones. “Being able to quickly see our schedule is a huge game changer,” said Mangiamele. Before, much of the staff lacked access to the booking software. To keep everyone informed about their schedules and projects, producers had to send out multiple emails and updates each day. Now, staff can check on their own. Heard City still sends out a daily schedule, but Jobby automates the tedious manual entry of details, alleviating producers from administrative duties so they can concentrate on the creative side of the business. 

Jobby’s mobile view allows Heard City staff to access their schedules from their phone.

Another huge improvement with Jobby comes when booking studio space and staff. Heard City operates eight audio/mixing suites at its Manhattan headquarters. In addition, most staffers have their own home studios. This means that on any given day, Heard City has 16 to 20 physical spaces to book and move personnel in and out of. 

To utilize its studio space and staff efficiently, Heard City wanted a way to visualize availability. To meet this need, eXcelisys developers incorporated a “bar graph” schedule view into Jobby. This allows Heard City management to see who is working and where they are working from at any given moment so they can identify empty blocks of time to book projects.

Jobby offers managers a panoramic, hour-by-hour view of each day’s schedule so they can see when each staff member is scheduled, which studio they are scheduled to work from, and the job they are scheduled to complete. The display is color-coded. Pink is PTO (paid time off); yellow indicates a hold; green, a confirmed booking; and blue, bumper time.

To improve workflow, Heard City also requested that Jobby be able to show “holds,” which are soft reservations made by clients. Heard City needs to follow up on holds to see if the client wants to confirm it as a booking or release the time so the studio space and personnel can get booked for another project. 

Jobby also:

• Tracks estimates (when an estimate is approved, Jobby turns it into a booking)
• Calculates invoices after jobs are completed (these are complex, involving the cost of using the physical studio space, along with personnel hours, additional post-production processing, FTP/transfer time, etc.)
• Tracks employee holidays, PTO, vacation time, billable rates
• Performs conflict checking to ensure personnel and spaces are available when a booking is being schedule
• Offers custom business metrics reporting (with filters to track such things as mixer hours billed over a certain period of time)

Jobby on the Job

Jobby is in the post-launch phase of development. As with any custom app, deployment is eXciting but it’s not the end of the process – no app can ever be dialed in until the customer puts it to use in their day-to-day. Over the past several months, as Heard City staff have used Jobby for production purposes, they have identified layout and workflow adjustments to make Jobby even better.  

Through the long development process, Mangiamele has served as the development intermediary – the go-to point person who decodes the needs of the Heard City end-users and translates their requests into developer-speak. Currently, Mangiamele is working with eXcelisys FileMaker developer Joe Cellino to put the finishing touches on Jobby. These final tweaks are moving along well. “Joe gets it really quickly and is fast to pick up on the stuff we are asking,” said Mangiamele.

Jobby is powered by FileMaker WebDirect and hosted in AWS, offering quick access through any web browser and eliminating the need for Heard City to mange its own server locally.  

Overall, Mangiamele says the eXperience has been positive – though not without its challenges. He acknowledged the development ups and downs. “I had some dark moments, wondering is this ever going to come together? It’s come together and really changing how we work.”

eXcelisys Project Manager Kurt Knippel acknowledges that building a custom solution from ground zero takes time and patience — especially when customers need high-end software to manage complex, valuable files with custom workflows, different kinds of user permissions, and custom layouts and reporting. “Commercial, off-the-shelf apps are fine if your business needs are the same as those on which the software was modeled or if your needs are very generic. Custom can pick up where those solutions leave off. Custom solutions, however, can be time-consuming and costly to implement, as they are specifically designed and built just for your company and your specific workflows. A huge competitive advantage in many cases, the only option in others.”

If you’ve discovered that “off-the-shelf” software solutions just won’t cut it in your specialized field and you’re interested in working with eXperts who can create a custom app that works the way you work, contact our solution consultants today to discuss the endless possibilities.

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Shunned by Other Developers, Angery American Mobilizes Forces with the eXcelisys Website Development Team

A while back, Chris Weatherman – famed prepper, survivalist, podcaster and contestant on the History Channel’s first season of “Alone” – found himself alone, once again. The backdrop of his isolation this time was not Vancouver Island, but the wilderness of web development. Weatherman – best known as the “Angery American” and author of the best-selling “Survivalist” book series – could not find a developer willing to touch his site.

After seeing this post, eXcelisys Production Manager and VP Kurt Knippel reached out to Weatherman, telling him eXcelisys would be happy to take on the project. “Kurt was willing to say, ‘This guy might be a little controversial, but we’re not afraid of the cancel culture crowd’ – that means a lot to me.” As “A. American” (that’s Weatherman’s pen name), Weatherman was also pleased to work with a company like eXcelisys that employs only U.S.-based developers. 

Weatherman had a website, but it was old, dated and built by a friend who no longer had time to mess with it. For months, www.angeryamerican.com sat off-grid as Weatherman sought a developer to build a new site for fans who rely on his tips and tricks to learn self-reliance and skill-up for eXtreme catastrophes.

This week, angeryamerican.com is back online, thanks to work from the eXcelisys web development team. The new WordPress/WooCommerce site offers Weatherman fans and aspiring preppers a one-stop shop where they can find all things Angery American, including Weatherman’s books, YouTube content, podcasts and social media. And MERCH. Lots of merch, from Angery American-branded tumblers to T-shirts, camp mugs and hats. Site visitors can also join the Angery American forum or sign up for the newsletter. 

Besides launching a website, Weatherman is in the process of launching a new book, “Exploring Home,” the twelfth volume in his million-selling Survivalist series. Weatherman is what you might call an accidental author. He wrote his first book in several installments posted to a survival forum and discovered an eager audience.

While his books are fiction – telling tales of survival in the context of societal collapse – they pass on real-world practical tips for surviving independently and acting as your own first responder in case of emergency (whether that’s a hurricane or an EMP event).

While following the narrative arc, readers pick up tips on providing their own security, shelter and nutrition (in book 8 the characters eat kudzu).

Busy with his ongoing Facebook Live activities, podcasts and appearances at self-reliance eXpos, Weatherman left his management team – aka Holly Bonnette — to oversee the website development. As the point person for the Angery American rebuild, Bonnette worked closely with the eXcelisys development team. “Everybody has been a class act,” said Bonnette. “It’s such a can-do environment.” 

Bonnette said she appreciates that eXcelisys always comes with a “How can we help you? How can we make that happen for you?” mindset – no matter the request. She pointed to a conversation with eXcelisys developer Shane Glover. Bonnette asked Glover if he could integrate, into the Angery American website, book and product reviews from other websites. As the conversation ended, Glover told Bonnette he was not sure how to do that and would look into it. “The next day, the reviews were there,” said Bonnette.

eXcelisys Solutions Services Consultant Laura Vie says Angery American was the perfect client for eXcelisys – as eXcelisys isn’t concerned with the social stigma and judgment that might surround certain clients, nor afraid of what others might say about our association with voices outside the mainstream message.

“We take all kinds,” said Vie, noting eXcelisy developers never let ideologies bias outcomes. “Our partnership is to make sure the client succeeds in whatever their thing is. We don’t let personal bias flavor the way we do a project. It doesn’t matter who you are – we don’t care about your philosophical bent and ours never comes into play.”

Knippel echoed the sentiment, saying the only agenda eXcelisys pushes is the daily agenda of “doing what is best – and right – for each client and their project.”   

If you’re angery ‘cuz you can’t find anyone willing to take on your website development project, contact eXcelisys today. Our website solution consultants would be happy to discuss your website repair, design and development requirements! 

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eXcelisys Saves Stalled Website Development for Online Notary Directory

Freshly Launched, NotarizeIt! Offers Online Directory and Booking Services to Link Notaries with Clients in Need

Struggling to find a way to put her notary public stamp to wider use, Lakema Howard took the initiative and founded NotarizeIt! In May 2023, the NotarizeIt! website went live, thanks to a web development rescue from eXcelisys. NotarizeIt! hooks up trusted notaries with individuals and businesses in need of a notary.

Howard birthed the idea back in 2019 while working in hospital medical records and health informatics. The job required her to maintain a commission with the state of Georgia as a notary to provide backup for birth certificate documentation. But her seal was rarely needed.

“I was sitting around with this notary stamp thinking I could be doing something with this – but how do you go out and find customers?” Howard figured there must be some place to advertise her services to potential clients in her area but soon discovered that was not the case.

After 18 months of research, legal consultations, and meticulous strategic planning, Howard had a plan and hired a web designer to bring her vision to life. Howard planned to launch a website – searchable by ZIP code – that would allow people to find a notary and finalize a booking. To get listed in the directory, notary publics would sign up for a subscription to advertise their services and service area. 

Several months and development dollars later, Howard discovered that the web firm she had hired did not fully grasp the depth of development know-how required to add the features and workflows she had so carefully laid out. Eager to get the site up and running, Howard decided to hire someone else to finish the project. She interviewed three web development firms and ultimately chose eXcelisys, trusting that a company with more than 22 years of eXperience would get the job done right. In January 2023, eXcelisys dug into the site. The design was there but the backend features did not function properly.

 To get the site functional, eXcelisys:

• Built a custom plugin to hook and filter the broken functions of the ineffective plugins that had been built into the site. Essentially, eXcelisys’ custom plugin was a bandaid in the middle. Untangling this mess involved following code in five different plugins to see what was working and what was not, then writing custom code to fix the issues so the search and booking features would run smoothly.
• Created two payment gateways (using WooCommerce and Stripe), one for subscription transactions, the other to collect the booking fees from customers. 

NotarizeIt! allows users to conveniently book a notary in advance, or for same-day services, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Howard is in the process of attracting notary publics to sign up for subscriptions to get listed in the NotarizeIt! directory. As such, it will take time to get every state covered, but Howard envisions having notary publics available in cities across the United States. 

Notaries can meet customers at title offices for loan closings, an attorney’s office for a will, or perhaps at a coffee shop when dealing with an advanced directive or other official medical document. Mobile notaries might even travel to a client’s home or business to put their stamp on such things as vendor contracts or articles of incorporation. The site also includes a discrete review system for notaries and clients alike.

When the NotarizeIt! site finally went online in May 2023, Howard was happy to see her years of hard work and planning finally come to fruition. Working directly with eXcelisys web app developer Michael Suhrbier, she was able to get the site completed. “He gets it,” said Howard. “As soon as I explained what I needed, he got it, instantly.” eXcelisys project manager Kurt Knippel says this is not the first time eXcelisys has taken over a project from another developer. Knippel says it’s not uncommon for developers to overestimate their abilities and get into trouble.

While eXcelisys’s work has wrapped up, Howard is just beginning the next phase. To find out more about the Atlanta-based NotarizeIt! visit https://notarizeitbooking.com

For tips on hiring a developer, check out our seven-part series for tips on how to find, hire and work with a developer successfully.

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When We Say, “Made in the USA,” We Mean, “Made in the USA” — Our Development Team is 100% Pure American Ingenuity & Innovation in Action

A message from our founder:

As companies across the United States work to reshore jobs and #americanmuscle hashtags eXplode all over social media, I wanted to take a moment to get clear about the way we do things here at eXcelisys, where our development team has been – and will always be – firmly rooted in the USA.

As a U.S.-based custom web, mobile, desktop-app database development company with NO overseas IT-outsourcing, we applaud and support businesses that keep their workers here, in the good ole U.S. of A. Sure, we’ve received multiple offers from firms wanting to match us with “low-cost offshore developers” who could replace our stateside staff to reduce costs and optimize earnings. But no, we won’t do that because we understand that low costs often come with a high price.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” ~ Ben Franklin

The eXcelisys philosophy is to source our consulting and development talent from America’s stateside innovators. Polls indicate that two-thirds of Americans prefer products “Made in the USA” – and software solutions shouldn’t be any different.

There are many benefits to investing in U.S.-made goods and services. Consider:

• Worker eXploitation. Foreign labor standards and cultures permit poor salaries and working conditions. When you hire American you support American families and American workers, safe working conditions, and child labor laws. No, we can’t compete with countries willing to eXploit and cheat their own people, but when you buy American, you insist on a higher standard.
• Lost jobs. When the work goes abroad it rarely returns. When you buy goods and services produced in the U.S., you help keep the American economy growing.
• Innovative capacity. When production leaves the U.S., we lose our engineering and production know-how, along with our design and product development skills. Innovation has been the backbone of America. After all, we’ve been churning out badass technology since the 18th century (consider the lightbulb, telephone, personal computer, weed whacker and microwave popcorn). We need R&D and manufacturing to feed our economic ecosystem for a strong future—a strong America.
• Dependence on foreign suppliers. When you seek out U.S.-based goods and services, you foster American independence. Recent supply-chain holdups and empty store shelves prove the point that we need to keep products and production at home. We don’t want access to vital goods impacted by political conflicts, and we don’t want to be dependent on nations that don’t share our values or political systems.
• Super-sized trade deficits. When a nation imports more than it eXports, its trade deficit grows, leading to massive, unsustainable borrowing from other countries (i.e., DEBT).

When it comes to web apps, e-commerce sites, and database and software development, the benefit to hiring U.S. developers multiplies.

Consider:

• Cybersecurity. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology) lays out standards to mitigate cybersecurity risks. With overseas developers, there is no guarantee that critical safety and code development standards will be followed. Be sure to vet companies that are based in the states to ensure they don’t outsource parts of your project overseas. It’s not unheard of for malicious developers to hold websites or site data ransom with back-door hacks. Pro tip: When you give someone access to your server, vet them well and only open permissions for the minimum amount required for the work to be completed.
• Consumer protection. When you hire U.S. developers, you can rest easy, knowing that U.S. consumer protection laws are in place to protect you. Ever try to litigate overseas?
• Culture. Our eXperience in working with other U.S.-based businesses across a variety of industries gives us an edge in making recommendations and guiding the effort. Outsourced (i.e., overseas) developers tend to do eXactly what you ask and nothing more. If you don’t know what to ask for (or what possibilities eXist), then the outcome will inevitably fall short of the goal.
• Location & time zone. At eXcelisys, we cover the USA from sea to shining sea, available to our customers across the spectrum of North American business hours. With multiple development centers across the states, we cover all “normal” business hours, as well as early and later “after-hours” situations. Got a 6 p.m. East Coast issue? It’s only 3 p.m. in Vegas.
  • eXcelisys Headquarters – South Bend, IN
  • East Coast Development Center – Warrensburg, NY
  • West Coast Development Center – Las Vegas, NV

At eXcelisys, Our Web App & Database Development Runs on USA Brainpower

So get out there and be a citizen consumer. When you buy American, you keep local businesses strong and support domestic jobs and local communities. We need to keep jobs here and keep our people working so future generations will be able to find relevant, solid-paying jobs on their own soil. Buy American to keep your friends and neighbors – and even yourself—earning a living wage and living the American dream.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and chew on the ideas. Meanwhile, have a happy summer enjoying all this land has to offer from sea to shining sea. I’ll see you out there, as I’ll be spending my summer vacation in a Winnebago, traveling the U.S. scenic byways with my family. What’s more American than that?!?

In closing, I’d like to wish you a happy 4th of July — may yours be filled with family, friends and fun!

Christo

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How eXcelisys is helping a large-scale K-12 curriculum distributor close the book on its content management misery

The Client: A leading developer, publisher and distributor of K-12 learning materials with annual revenue exceeding $27+ million (according to Dun & Bradstreet). The client distributes 15,000+ titles from 1,000+ publishers and produces its own materials through imprints.

The Task: Upgrade client’s FileMaker databases (v. 6 & 12). The company used two databases – one by the editorial/art department to manage product descriptions and layout information for a physical catalog, the other to populate the website. The goal: streamline to eliminate task redundancy (i.e., copying, pasting & re-typing information). Earlier, the client had hired a separate web developer to re-do its website and needed the new FileMaker database ASAP to allow time for the web developer to integrate the systems.

The Hiccup: Several months and development dollars later, the other web developer tanked the project. The client hired eXcelisys to fix the flawed website, integrate the new Claris FileMaker database, and sync the FileMaker and WooCommerce data fields.

“We became their go-to development team. We didn’t just build a solution. We built a whole ecosystem of solutions.”

~ eXcelisys Project Manager Kurt Knippel

Task 1: Build a FileMaker Database to Populate the Website Catalog

The old system. To make a long, labyrinthine story short, let’s just say the process involved running Word-created product descriptions through a macro for conversion to a .TXT file that could be copy/pasted into FileMaker. After a little dance with the ERP to grab pricing information, the resulting file was eXported to FileZilla, then pushed to website folders before making a grand entrance onto the website catalog.

Drawbacks to the old system:

• Multi-step
• Time-consuming
• All-or-nothing: There was no way to simply update 1 product; everything in the FileMaker database was pushed to the website and updated each time the update process was launched

The new system. Product description and related details are keyed in FileMaker (v. 17). When complete, the user hits a “Go live” button to update the product on the website. As before, the system is connected to the client’s ERP to grab inventory information like pricing, ISBN, etc. Web catalog details are coded directly in FileMaker, eliminating the need for macro conversions. “Now, they have a whole pallet of HTML format options available right in FileMaker,” said eXcelisys developer Joe Cellino, the mastermind behind the new database. “They can insert HTML code to make it bold, change the text color, and so forth. When it exports to the website, it’s all set.”

Benefits of new system:

• No more macro conversions.
• Control over website updates. Updates are no longer an automatic, all-or-nothing proposition. “They wanted to push updates at their own will,” said Cellino, who devised a workflow that allows the client to conduct a search to find everything that’s been updated, then test it, and go live. This gives the client the ability to update an entire product line without worrying that half-completed updates will be pushed to the website before they are ready.
• Easy product linking. With a complex product structure (many products have supplemental texts, workbooks, maps, DVDs, etc.) the client needed the ability to connect products for web searches. The new FileMaker database allows the client to set workflows to link products as needed.
• Super responsive. Keeping the product updates in FileMaker instead of making them directly in WooCommerce eliminates latency issues with loading web pages. “They can zip through products, updating data quickly in FileMaker,” said Cellino.

Task 2: Rescue Website / Sync FileMaker & WooCommerce Data Fields

eXcelisys delivered the FileMaker web catalog system (described above) in ample time to allow the other developer to integrate the solution with the new website before the scheduled launch. However, six months after eXcelisys completed its portion of the project, the website remained unfinished and the frustrated client asked eXcelisys to take over. eXcelisys web app developer Michael Suhrbier dove in, tidying up the dysfunctional build to get the new site launched. One of the main issues involved syncing the FileMaker and WooCommerce data fields — a task the other developer struggled to complete. 

Website Issues that Needed Fixing

• Data syncing. Suhrbier tinkered with the API to create flawless linking between FileMaker and WooCommerce. As he explained it, there are many custom/specialty fields available only in FileMaker and the same for WooCommerce. The trick to FileMaker/WooCommerce integration is getting those specialty FileMaker fields to show up in the WooCommerce shopping experience in a usable fashion. “We use Advanced Custom Fields to fill in the blanks – the missing holes – for fields that exist in FileMaker but not WooCommerce. This is the missing link for a lot of people when they decide they want to get their FileMaker to WooCommerce. Sure, there’s an API that will do it, but only stuff that matches — like the title and quantity — will work. Lots of data gets dropped off. That’s where developers get stuck and give up.” By using WordPress’ Advanced Custom Fields function to load and display the custom field values, Suhrbier did not have to write any .php code to configure the data fields for the client’s eCommerce site, thus saving development time.
• A plethora of messy plugins & customizations. Suhrbier found that the previous web developer had used some 50 plugins and heavily modified the WordPress parent theme to get the site to look right on the front end. Suhrbier said the developer should have created a child theme to make the customizations instead of editing the actual theme. This setup meant that the client would never be able to update the WordPress theme to the latest version (as needed for security) because it would overwrite all customizations and wreck the site. Suhrbier fixed this issue, parsed unneeded plugins, and devised a system to make plugin updates quickly to reduce downtime in maintenance mode and keep the staging and production sites synced to ensure web orders are not missed.

“We got it across the line to where it could launch.”

~ eXcelisys web app developer Michael Suhrbier

Task 3: Rework FileMaker Database that Populates Print Catalog

Along with the eCommerce web catalog, the client offers its products through print catalogs distributed to school districts. To facilitate the catalog-production process, eXcelisys took the client’s eXisting FileMaker solution (v. 6) and added the features necessary for print catalog production. This involved removing unneeded fields and ensuring the data would eXport into InDesign to speed print production. The physical catalog shares much of the same core information as the web catalog, so the systems were linked to share data. The team that deals with the web catalog listings is separate from the editorial/art team that produces the physical catalog so having separate customized FileMaker modules allows each team to see the data logged in the way that fits their specific workflow.

Task 4: Streamline Auxiliary eCommerce Sites

Aside from its flagship eCommerce website, the client operates a half-dozen other websites that offer the same products broken down into narrower curriculum categories. Each has its own domain, its own look, and its own shopping cart. Currently, eXcelisys is working to bring those auxiliary sites under the umbrella of the main site’s WordPress platform to allow the sites to share underlying functionality.

The current setup is a nightmare for the client’s IT team, which has to oversee maintenance on each site, including seven shopping carts. In addition, every product update must be made separately on each site. eXcelisys is working to fix this.
 

Who is the super-satisfied client?

The client prefers to fly under the radar and did not want to get involved with our case study, but we can tell you this – the client gave us a 5-star review and called us eXcellent and accommodating in meeting their needs.

If you need a little help syncing those tricky FileMaker/WooCommerce data fields, or care to discuss some other type of customization to automate workflows, contact us today. Our solution consultants will be happy to discuss the possibilities.

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MailChimp Web Form Development Simplifies Candidate Selection Process & Emails

Hagen/Sinclair Research Recruiting is in the business of rounding up articulate, qualified respondents for online studies and in-person focus groups. Seeking a MailChimp web form developer, the market research firm contracted with eXcelisys for a custom web app and MailChimp integration to streamline its candidate selection and email processes.

Lacking a Magic 8-Ball to consult for answers to burning questions, many entrepreneurs, health-care enterprises and NGOs turn to market research to assist with decisions about new products and services. But the key to acquiring key qualitative data lies in finding the right respondents. That’s where Hagen/Sinclair Research Recruiting comes in.

Since 2001, Hagen/Sinclair has been tracking down target audiences for market research projects. Say a client needs 150 people with diabetes for a focus group, or a start-up wants to interview married males who earn more than $75,000/year and who reside in metro areas of 250,000 people or less. Hagen/Sinclair will find them–no matter the niche or quirky demographic desired.

Monkeying Around with MailChimp

For years, Hagen/Sinclair relied on a FileMaker database to store and sort its ever-expanding participant pool. When someone filled out the participant intake and consent form on the website, the demographic data was captured by FileMaker. The recruitment process looked like this: Hagen/Sinclair recruiters would scour the FileMaker database to locate potential candidates for a project. The recruiter would create a “project list” in MailChimp to communicate with the candidates.

But MailChimp got wary of the ever-evolving Hagen/Sinclair subscriber lists. The campaigns began triggering Omnivore warnings for suspicious activity and getting shut down (i.e., MailChimp thought Hagen/Sinclair was sending spam).

At her wits’ end, Hagen/Sinclair Chico President Cynthia Hagen Cross contacted eXcelisys for help. As far back as 2009, eXcelisys had been taking care of Hagen/Sinclair’s FileMaker needs. Satisfied with eXcelisys’ FileMaker development work, Cross decided to give their web app developers a try. After discussing her needs with Project Manager Kurt Knippel, they came up with a plan — build a custom web app that would integrate the website intake form with MailChimp so all data and contacts would be captured in one master “respondent” database (or audience) in MailChimp, which would be custom-coded with tags for searching and segmenting populations.

Instead of transferring emails in and out of FileMaker, the emails would be stored in MailChimp, thereby complying with MailChimp’s terms of use and subscriber opt-in requirements. One of the biggest benefits Cross received from the project was relief in “feeling like I am clean in my email operation.” 

With the new system built by eXcelisys, the market research recruitment process looks like this: 

1. To launch a new project, Hagen/Sinclair recruiters open the new web app (hosted by Amazon Web Services).
2. The recruiter sets up the new project by entering the search parameters (say “women” in their “40s” who like “wine”).
3. The web app connects to the MailChimp API and queries the MailChimp database to compile a list of candidates who meet the criteria.
4. Using this list, the recruiter creates a new “segment” audience in MailChimp to communicate about the specific market research project.

Putting it All Together

As eXcelisys delved into the project, Mailchimp web form developer Michael Suhrbier initiated several upgrades to Hagen/Sinclair’s web technologies, including migrating the site to a new, responsive WordPress design; implementing SSL to ensure data transfers would be encrypted; and securing access points for Hagen/Sinclair recruiters working from virtual offices.

The project included many moving pieces. Here are some highlights:

• New Intake Form with MailChimp Integration: eXcelisys created a new participant sign-up form for the website. 
  • Data captured on the form auto-populates the master MailChimp database 
  • Sign-up form now conforms with MailChimp’s consent and privacy policies
•  Migration to WP Engine for hosting with setup for nightly backups

Left: Old intake form; right, new intake form, complete with privacy and consent statements to meet MailChimp guidelines.

That’s a Wrap

One of the things Hagen/Sinclair co-founder Cynthia Hagen Cross liked about the engagement with eXcelisys was the help Kurt and Michael provided with decision-making and project management. “They supported me through all of the platform changes we needed to make,” said Cross, who admitted her eyes have a tendency to “glaze over” when she has to delve into the technical nuances of running her business.

“As a small business owner, you have all of this critical infrastructure to handle by yourself. Having eXcelisys there to recommend how best to do things, the steps needed, and reviewing and taking it forward … their being there helped. They chaperoned me through picking the technology and putting it all together.” ~ Cynthia Hagen Cross

 

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When old snapshots pile up, so do costs – try these slick tricks to trim the bloat

By Leif Hanson, Full Stack Developer

So the billing department calls to inquire about eXtra eXpenses from AWS due to 14,000 32GB snapshots having piled up.

Unbeknownst to you, some backup script has gotten away from your team and started backing up repeatedly. Maybe you’re intentionally keeping around petabytes of backup data? Or maybe you need a pruning script?

Even worse, when you try to select and delete 50 snapshots at a time in the AWS Console manually, you get random cryptic warnings and failures to delete.

When this happened to me, I considered calling AWS support at this point before eXhaling through my nose heartily at the indignation and deciding to do it myself. Why not use the power of AWS Lambda to work around one of Amazon Web Service’s own bugs?

Well, script kiddies, grab a coffee and dust off your Python skills because, like Leeroy Jenkins, we’re going in!

“Oh no, Leeroy, STOP!!!” one of your edge devs yells. Why? Because like most things AWS, we can’t just go around writing Python scripts all willy-nilly. First, we need an IAM user role and some permission policies.

“Jeez Leeroy, you’re gonna get us killed here,” mumbles upper management.

How to Delete Snapshots to Reduce AWS Bill

1. Head to IAM -> Roles and make yourself a new role.
2. Add the AWSLambdaBasicExecutionRole and AWSXRayDaemonWriteAccess permission policies as usual for a Lambda role.
3. Because we’re working with EC2, add the AmazonEC2FullAccess permission policy. There may be some lesser access level worth investigating if your company’s policies are tight surrounding IAM permissions, but I’ll leave that to a future episode.

For now, these three Permission policies should be enough to run the Lambda script and your IAM Role summary should look about like so:

With our IAM Role set, we can catch back up to Leeroy over in AWS Lambda.

4. Create a standard Python 3.7 script. Attach the IAM Role. For your “Test” scenario just choose the “Hello World” settings; they are irrelevant to this script as it will be returning void.

5. In lambda_function.py add the following script:

import boto3
import datetime
import getopt

############################################################
# leifCleanAwsEc2Snapshots                                                                                     
# Script will delete all snapshots created before dateLimit.                                
# ALL SNAPSHOTS OLDER THAN THIS DATE WILL BE DELETED!!!                       
dateLimit = datetime.datetime(2018, 1, 1)    # yyyy, mm, dd                           
############################################################

#AWS Settings
client = boto3.client('ec2',region_name='us-east-1')
snapshots = client.describe_snapshots(OwnerIds=['1111111111111'])

def lambda_handler(event, context):
    
    # Calculate the number of days ago the date limit is.
    dateToday = datetime.datetime.now()
    dateDiff=dateToday-dateLimit
    
    # Could base this clean-up on the number of snapshots too.
    #snapshotCount=len(snapshots['Snapshots'])

for snapshot in snapshots['Snapshots']:
        a=snapshot['StartTime']
        b=a.date()
        c=datetime.datetime.now().date()
        d=c-b
        try:
            if d.days>dateDiff.days:
                id = snapshot['SnapshotId']
                started = snapshot['StartTime']
                print(id + "********************")
                print(started)
                #Uncomment below line for "live run"
                #client.delete_snapshot(SnapshotId=id)
                print("DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^")
        except getopt.GetoptError as e:
            if 'InvalidSnapshot.InUse' in e.message:
                print("skipping this snapshot")
                continue

6. Once you’ve saved the script, you could click the “Test” button to run it, as Leeroy is over in the corner currently doing. However, it’s not going to run yet.

7. Enter your AWS details for Region and OwnerID. In my case, the OwnerID was our main IAM Role, but your mileage may vary depending on your EC2 setup. Anyway, find the owner IAM of those snapshots and enter that for the OwnerID.

No, Leeroy, not yet, stop pressing that Test button.

8. We still need to set our date. The core purpose of this script is to delete all EC2 snapshots before a certain date, so we have to make sure we set the “dateLimit” variable to whichever date we want. I recommend starting long ago, and working your way forward.

Now, since we’ve got our dateLimit set, and we’ve got the right AWS Region and OwnerID, and because Leeroy is still hammering that Test button over there, our script finally produces a “dry run.”

What you should eXpect to see is a list of snapshot names (and the dates they were created) in the console. Should look about like so:

leifCleanAwsEc2Snapshots

July 28, 2020

Run 1:
Set date limit: 1-1-2019
Perform dry run. OK
Set execution time: 5 minutes
SUCCESS: Removed 1308 snapshots.

Log:
snap-073d12f68267c9178********************
2018-07-08 15:36:21+00:00
DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
snap-0bfef6b0debd78d6a********************
2018-07-08 15:37:21+00:00
DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
snap-0432066f851a8b197********************
2018-07-08 15:36:21+00:00
DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
snap-00b67e45a0a84ec32********************
2018-07-08 14:02:08+00:00
DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
snap-0554604daa7202a4b********************
2018-07-07 15:37:21+00:00
DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
snap-07b7d235e82414dda********************
2018-07-07 15:36:21+00:00
DELETED^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Number Deleted: 19

9. While Leeroy celebrates his victory, you head back to EC2 and check and note that no snapshots have been deleted. That’s because in order to run this script in a “live run” you must uncomment the line:

client.delete_snapshot(SnapshotId=id)

10. Assuming the above console output does list only snapshots you want deleted, and assuming Leeroy hasn’t broken anything, you can uncomment that line, save, and then walk over to the corner and slap Leeroy’s hand before finally pressing the “Test” button like the responsible Dev Ops engineer you are.

Depending how many snapshots meeting the delete criteria are found, this script can take a long time to run. I estimate about 300 – 350 snapshots can be deleted every 5-minute run. Using the 15-minute max Lambda eXecution time, you can wipe out about 1,000 snapshots in a single run.

Conclusion: This script could be easily adapted to be fired when an EC2 or other kind of snapshot are created, and in such a way, one could tie their pruning script to the creation of new snapshots automatically (if one were so inclined).

Disclaimer: Use at your own risk. Once the “live run” line above has been uncommented, this script can and will delete hundreds of snapshots without further warning. With great power comes great responsibility and I recommend you play with the script in “dry run” mode without uncommenting that line for several Tests to understand eXactly how the script will work before running a live run. Indeed, the word “Test” on the button to start this script is a misnomer here since we’re hand-firing a script that will do much more than simply “Test.” It will lay waste to potentially petabytes of snapshot data.

Avoid Snapshot Pileups with Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager

Unlike Leeroy, you may prefer to engage in meaningful planning and strategizing so those snapshots don’t pile up again. One tool for this task is the Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager, which allows users to configure settings to automate the creation, retention and deletion of snapshots. Using the Data Lifecycle Manager you can create a policy that stipulates eXactly when snapshots are taken and how long they are retained before deletion.

Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager: The Basics

• Step 1 – Open the Data Lifecycle Manager. Look in the Amazon EC2 console, under Elastic Block Store.
• Step 2 – Tags. Create and assign tags to the EBS volumes (instances) slated for backup since lifecycle policies identify which instances to snapshot based on tags.
• Step 2 – Create Snapshot Lifecycle Policy. Choose how often to run the policy (such as every 2 hours), select the starting time (such as 0700 UTC), and retention type (by number or age, such as retain only the 5 most recent snapshots).
• Step 3 – Enable policy.

Sounds simple enough, but beware that you could still end up with way too many images being stored, depending on how the policy is configured. After setup, you’ll want to monitor your snapshots to ensure they are being created and deleted as planned.

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One of these things is not like the others … One of these things is in a class of its own

The Excelsior. It’s a tank, a rugby club, a Federation starship, a brewing company … and now, a digital “get-out-of-jail” card for New Yorkers. Launched this week, the Excelsior Pass is a mobile app that allows gate-keepers to verify a customer’s COVID-19 vaccination status prior to entering a people-populated place. Flash the pass and you, too, can re-enter society from the fringes of sci-fi-solation.

Excelsior. Excelsior. Oft-uttered by the super-hoaxer P.T. Barnum and serving as New York State’s official motto, Latin for “ever upward.” Here, at eXcelisys, we provide our customers with database solutions and web app fusions that take their businesses ever upward.

By now, you’re probably scratching your head and figuring out that you’ve landed in the wrong place. Excelsior. eXcelisys. Tomato. Tomahto.

No, we’re not related to the Excelsior Software Company or the Excelsior Pass. Type “excelsior” into the search bar and you get 57,500,000 results. So many excelsiors, but only one eXcelisys.

We get the confusion. We’ve got mad development skills. We coulda built an application called the “eXcelisys Pass” to eXtract data on a user’s vaccination status or recent PCR/antigen test, but no one bothered to ask.

But we coulda. That’s the kind of thing we do. We help our customers take data from here and send it there (securely!). Just as the Excelsior Pass Wallet App queries a database to retrieve the user’s vaccination status and return the results, we’ve built tons of apps and databases that do the same thing. (Check out our blog to learn more.) We’re also into phone apps, like the Milcarb App we built to send CO2 tank data right to the phones of beverage-gas distributors so they don’t have to drive all over the earth to physically check the tanks at the restaurants they service. Oh, we build iPad apps, too.

We could go on and on, but you get the picture. Databases, web apps, websites, WordPress, FileMaker, PHP, AWS IoT, we’ve got it!

As tech companies across the globe scramble to cash in on the digital vaccine passport craze, building apps with Frankensteinian abilities, we’re here for you – the real guys, running real businesses in need of real software solutions.

Contact us today! Our Solution Services Consultants offer no-charge consultations, complete with a needs analysis & estimate.

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Try FMXData!

by Duane Weller, eXcelisys FileMaker/Web Developer

I’ve built a number of FileMaker Custom Web Publishing (CWP) websites using the FileMaker Data API. With this eXperience I have learned that writing the PHP code to connect to the FileMaker Data API can be tedious and time-consuming. In order to eXpedite development, you need a library of simple, pre-built functions that give you easy access to the features of the FileMaker Data API. Fortunately, Claris publishes such a list and it includes not only PHP libraries, but libraries for many other programming languages.  Check it out: Data API/Admin API Packages/Wrappers For FM 17+

I reviewed the four PHP libraries included in the list — FMDataAPI, fmPDA, fmREST and fmRESTor — but I wasn’t sold on any particular one. They are all fine libraries, perfectly acceptable for including in many PHP projects; however, I found them all a little awkward to integrate and some of them just wouldn’t work as a library for larger projects. What I discovered is that they are not structured well for use in PHP frameworks where webpage logic and database queries are often coded independently.

In the end, I got tired of playing around and wondered, Can I build a better mousetrap?

I got to work and developed my own open source PHP library: introducing the FMXData PHP Library for the FileMaker Data API. It is specifically designed for use in PHP frameworks but will work well in most PHP applications. It features a single file design that’s easy to include in a framework or any other PHP project. It includes a PDF manual covering all of the supported functions. It supports connecting to and disconnecting from the FileMaker Data API. You can get FileMaker Server information; list available databases; list scripts and layouts; add, edit and delete FileMaker records; perform finds and sort the results; run scripts; set global fields and even upload container field files. 

FMXData Features:

• Singe File Design
• PDF Manual Included
• Separate Functions for Connecting and Disconnecting
• Get FileMaker Server Info
• List Available Databases
• List Layouts & Scripts
• Add, Edit and Delete FileMaker Records
• Perform Finds and Sort the Results
• Run Scripts
• Set Global Fields
• Upload Container Field Files

Guess what? The source code, eXample files and documentation for FMXData are available as a free download from GitHub: FMXData: A PHP Library for the FileMaker Data API

Download it and try it out. I’ve posted it on Github as a beta release. Everyone is welcome to review it. You can post any bug reports or feature requests right on Github. So far, it has worked well for me but I’d love for it to be put through the paces to ensure it’s a comprehensive solution for every developer in every situation!

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eXcelisys Sets Up Video-Sharing Platform for Christian Musicians

Imagine a cozy, happy space on the internet dedicated to positivity, to encouraging people to be the best versions of themselves. Imagine a platform devoted entirely to providing Christian musicians and writers with a place to share their work. Imagine “Massive Miracle” – a new Gospel-inspired web community launched by brothers Bedcy and Rops Previl. 

Born in Haiti, Bedcy came to the United States at 14 and got into the entertainment business. He worked as a club promoter and music eXecutive before being called to ministry. Currently, Bedcy leads the youth ministry at the Tabernacle Evangelique de Louange in Lynn, Massachusetts. 

A few years ago, Bedcy was promoting a gospel music event and thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place where people could watch this concert?” That thought quickly moved from whisper to nudge, becoming the genesis of Massive Miracle.

To turn the idea into a reality, Bedcy hired eXcelisys to help him get the website up and running. Bedcy took care of the content and vision for the site, while eXcelisys took care of the form and function, setting up a site that allows users to integrate and embed videos. 

“They are very professional and able to bring my ideas to life eXactly how I wanted.”

~ Bedcy Previl on working with eXcelisys

What is Massive Miracle?

Massive Miracle is intended to be a digital “Garden of Eden” – a place where the faithful can flock to find music, articles and inspiration to keep them on the path of positivity and enlightenment, while also providing an outlet for Christian musicians. “YouTube is oversaturated,” said Bedcy, noting gospel artists can get lost on the platform. “The idea is to create a space for them.”

In addition, Bedcy sees Massive Miracle as a safe space for spiritual seekers to find uplifting content without getting bogged down by the negativity plastered across the web. “We are looking for anything that reflects positivity, or brings positive things into people’s lives. Anything that helps people connect with their creator, with loving one another and sharing that connection with the people you share the planet with. This is what we strongly believe in – promoting positivity into people’s lives.”

Who Can Contribute Content?

“People who take their art seriously,” says Bedcy. To contribute music and articles, the user must register for an account. Items posted to the site can be viewed by anyone. Bedcy’s goal is to generate an income from the site through advertising. He plans to divvy up the earnings amongst site contributors, with the largest share going to those who have the most followers and views.

A Bit About the Website

Development of the video-sharing platform began with the client selecting the VidoRev WordPress theme. This provided a solid foundation for eXcelisys Web App Developer Michael Suhrbier to build upon. As with many non-profit organizations, the budget was tight, requiring Suhrbier to work strategically, weaving desired features in with the necessities. “Bedcy had a long list of wants and needs. As we built it, we tried to get as many wants while completing the needs.”

A few development maneuvers: 

• Increasing WP Engine’s maximum file upload size. Multimedia-rich sites like Massive Miracle frequently bump up against upload limits. WP Engine, the selected host for the site, has a default of 50MB (as do many other hosts). The client wanted to increase the size to 250MG, as 50MB provides only about 30 seconds of video. Suhrbier accomplished this feat by calling WP Engine to get the limit raised and then reconfiguring the code on the back end to allow uploads of that size.
• Integrating & Wrapping YouTube videos. The website integrates with YouTube. A user can submit an embedded URL link from YouTube and it will play inside the Massive Miracle website overlaying the ad content from Massive Miracle’s paid ads (in other words, the video won’t play from the YouTube interface and the viewer won’t even know that’s where the content originated).
• Painting over WordPress. Suhrbier spent development time turning Massive Miracle into a membership site. As part of this process, he customized the WordPress login page to give the client the look and feel he wanted site contributors to see. (Note: anyone can view the site, but content providers must become members to get a login to upload content).

Into the Future

Long-term, Bedcy has more development goals. As funds permit, he would like to add the ability for users to upload audio files. Bedcy said working with eXcelisys was a “good eXperience” and he thought the back-and-forth communication went well. He says he also appreciated never hearing the word “can’t” when he had an idea, suggestion or desire for the site. “I hate the word ‘can’t.’ Once I hear the word can’t, I don’t feel comfortable working with you.”

For now, Bedcy is happy to see the site go live, to see what will come of it. He doesn’t think of Massive Miracle as his website, but more like humanity’s website. “This is their website,” says Bedcy, referring to users and contributors. “We can work together to make it something everyone can use. We can make a difference in the world. I’m not the owner of the website, just the manager.”

If you need a little help configuring your multimedia-rich website to skirt those upload limits or desire some customizations beyond your skill-set, hire an eXcelisys developer today.  Our solution consultants will be happy to discuss the possibilities.

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eXcelisys Builds Monitoring Tool to Track & Audit Disk-Wiping Process

When banks, insurance companies, and health-care systems get the urge to purge, they call Archive Data Solutions. With a home base in Westerville, Ohio, Archive Data Solutions dispatches techs nationwide to wipe sensitive data from decommissioned hard drives and SSDs when they reach end-of-life.

“It’s not rocket science,” said Andy Haenszel of Archive Data Solutions, “but it can be overwhelming.” Haenszel said the issue is the sheer number of drives a company may have coming offline from servers and workstations, combined with the increasing capacities of those drives, making it a laborious process. Haenszel said many IT teams simply don’t have time to deal with it — plus, having an independent, third-party firm wipe the data helps with compliance.

How Does Data-Wiping Work?

To sanitize data, Archive Data Solutions uses a popular disk-wipe software program that runs on Linux. The software makes multiple passes over each disk, overwriting the data with zeros and ones until the “prior state,” or echo, can no longer be recovered.

Think of it like removing graffiti. If you wash it off the wall, remnants remain faintly readable underneath. A better solution is to “paint” over the wall until the graffiti is undecipherable. That’s essentially what data-sanitization software does.

The Quest for a Better Wipe

For years, Haenszel has been trying to make peace with the imperfect, off-the-shelf data-wiping software. “It functions very well for the average user trying to wipe a couple of drives at a time, but to use it at scale was just painful.” The problem was a lack of feedback, and lack of an end-to-end audit process.

Haenszel said Archive Data Solutions needed a better way to track every drive that entered the wiping process, view the progress along the way, and have a clear audit trail of the results. As Haenszel pointed out, many issues that can derail the process are out of their control — such as an onsite power failure, an OS that hangs, or a drive with power connectors that are bent. “If 100 drives were hooked up to wipe and the entire system went down for one of those reasons, we were not able to see eXactly where each drive stopped in the process.” The only option was to be safe and start the hours-long wiping process over again on every disk in the job. A wipe cycle can easily take 16 hours, so these “do-over” errors added up.

“I’m going to send someone halfway across the country and I don’t know what I’m walking into,” said Haenszel. “If I can’t track eXactly what’s going on in every drive in that system and have to repeat drives to be sure, I lose days and the project might not be profitable any longer.”

Seeking a data sanitization tool to help monitor the process, Haenszel contacted eXcelisys. He eXplained his pain points to web app developer Michael Suhrbier, who utilized the LEMP stack (Linux, NginX, MySQL & PHP) to create a wipe-monitoring tool. The stand-alone system runs on a Linux machine, isolating each drive in a job. When the drives are plugged in and the wiping starts, the monitoring tool displays the drives, models and serial numbers in the job, along with a color-coded process bar for each one.

Techs use the color coding to make a quick, accurate assessment of the destruction in process. Red indicates the process has been terminated, yellow indicates there is an issue needing attention, and green means all is well, the disk-wiping has completed successfully. “Michael’s framework allows me to see which need to be reprocessed and which finished,” said Haenszel. “Having full, 360-degree visibility is a night and day improvement over the software’s out-of-the-box functionality.”

Other features:

• Remote monitoring. With the new data sanitization tool, techs can monitor a job off-site from a laptop or phone. When the project started, Haenszel was not even thinking about remote tracking. “It’s a nice add,” he said,  “because it allows us to stay out of our customer’s way as much as possible. We can leave the site and return back hours later when it’s time to swap out the next round of drives.”
• Certificate of Destruction. Once the cycle has finished, the tech can click one button to generate a PDF “Certificate of Destruction” that lists the serial numbers of the drives destroyed in that job. The PDF can then be filed away for compliance.

Wiping out the Competition

The new data-wipe monitoring tool helps Archive Data Solutions complete jobs efficiently and accurately. Now, when a job finishes, the tech knows eXactly what happened with each disk and can even perform a cross-check audit of serial numbers in the run to ensure accuracy. Haenszel said the monitoring and auditing tool helps Archive Data Solutions outshine the competition because of the transparency and peace-of-mind it offers clients in knowing the job will get done right. “It definitely makes us stand out among the competition.”

Likewise, Haenszel thinks eXcelisys stands out among the competition. Before hiring eXcelisys, Haenszel worked with a couple other developers who “failed miserably” in figuring out a way to build a monitoring tool. Then, he remembered eXcelisys. Since 2008, Archive Data Solutions has used eXcelisy for FileMaker support. “I thought, ‘Hey, the FileMaker community is quirky and they tend to know Linux.’ ” A phone call later and the job was under way. “You guys have been really great,” he said. “eXcelisys took this four steps past what I would have even asked about.”

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