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UM-SSW Database-Web Integration

As UM-SSW Webmaster, I championed and worked on an ongoing project integrating a heterogeneous mix of central administrative databases with the UM-SSW web site, intranet, kiosk, and information channel. From 2002-2004, this became part of a larger project of consolidating most UM-SSW operational information into a single FileMaker database.

Goals: The project had both user-oriented and technical goals. The user-oriented goals were to create a single point of data access+management, and to enable UM-SSW staff to manage data on the web site via FileMaker. The related technical goals were to transparently incorporate data from several database systems, and to enable return of data from web applications to the central FileMaker database.

Challenges: The primary user challenge was to get UM-SSW staff to work with the various database systems. The creation of the central administrative FileMaker database reduced this challenge because it presented an easy to use interface and was pushed by upper administration. The primary technical challenge was to develop a mechanism for two-way flow between FileMaker and the UM-SSW web site.

Role: My role was to manage everything in the integration and web layers of the technical diagram below. This required frequent collaboration with the staff who worked with the central administrative databases. It also required ongoing development of web applications to work with changes and additions to the central databases.

Outcome: Large portions of the UM-SSW web site are now updated automatically, giving students and staff more timely information, and reducing the load on the web team. Some administrative processes are streamlined using web-based front-ends.