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Job Details

Category:IT/Web/Programming > Application development

ID:95902

Title:Crop Location -AS3

Location:Anywhere

Job Description

Request for Proposal
Orange County History Project
Crop Location Program
ActionScript 3.0
10-8-2011




Overview: Using agricultural census data, the author has built a database of individual farmers and their products. This database has been converted to a two dimensional array structure (one array per farmer) which serves as the "database" for an AS3 program that accepts user requests and plots out the coordinates of specific crops by owner location on a map.

Prototype and fla provided: My prototype of the program is provided. The prototype uses a subset of the actual data, and attempts to plot locations based on x y coordinates within the array structure. (note: The top section of this program handles coordinate locations on the stage - this is not part of the finished project and will be commented out at publication time. It serves to help identify coordinates for the input of the array data.) The symbols and the stage size should be maintained as they are now. I will add more crops more symbols and more coordinate locations in the future. The complete file for the fla is attached.

You will provide:

1. Although the program does not generate any compiler errors, it does show an output error which is concerned with the combo box component. This needs to be investigated and fixed.

2. Currently, the program does not plot all the data that fits the criteria. It appears to stop a third of the way through and quits. For example there are three arrays that list "Rye" as a product (see element 19 for arrays od9, od12, and od39. Only od9 is plotted. This happens with the other products as well. Find out what's going on and fix this.

3. Right now, the program allows the user to continue to select any number of products and see their plots at the same time. I need a button and associated code to clear the screen, so that the user could start over again.

4. Ultimately I will add approximately 500 more arrays each representing a farmer and his output. Currently the program plots data from one column in every array if that data is available (i.e., not "0"). Thus, with 500 arrays, there could be too many coordinates plotted to make sense. To cut this number down we need to qualify what gets plotted. For example: show all plots above the average, or show all plots in the top 10%, or show all plots between the range (beginning number) and (ending number). Because the original data will never change, I will calculate the exact averages and percentiles, by hand and hard code into the program's case statements. Therefore the program does not need to calculate any statistical measures. WHAT I NEED is the sample code to filter for these choices ('above average', 'top n percent,' 'within this range,' etc. on the stage. I also need a separate dropdown combo box or buttons so that the user can indicate how he wants to filter the data for the specific crop he has requested.

Note: All coding you do must include detailed comments - line by line if necessary. I need to understand what's been done and why. You are providing the basic code structure. I will extend what you have done. For example, I will add more case statements to fit more crops. Let me know if you have any questions.

Job Budget

Type:Fixed Price

Budget:$50 - $150

Additional Information

Attached Files:
CropLocation-8-27-11.fla

Bidding ends:Bidding Closed

Job Posted:08/10/2011 22:00

Bidding activity on this Job

Bids:1

Who has Bid:

Clarification Board

P. A. on 09/10/2011 00:25
Interesting project, miniscule budget. I'm out.

Reply from Client

M. L. on 09/10/2011 16:32
Glad you find this project interesting! Now, what would make the budget interesting? I look at what I have asked for and don't think the tasks are that difficult or would take very long for a skilled programmer. The existing program is less than 100 lines long (not including data). It works (pretty well). How much time does it take to fix the loop, add the filter function, and create a combo box and a button from the AS3 components section? I look at average PPH pay rates ($15-$20 per hour) and figure the job would take one 8 hour day including Murphy's Law.
Apparently what I have asked for is very difficult and will take a great deal of time to program. Either that or I have failed to communicate what I want done. I need a programmer's perspective here. This budget is not written in stone.

C. S. on 09/10/2011 01:37
I got paid more per hour in 1994 as a paperboy aged 12

Reply from Client

M. L. on 09/10/2011 15:19
I'm very impressed at your earning power at age 12. That's helped you set high goals along the way. However I'm unclear about your point. Is it that I've grossly underestimated the time it would take YOU do the job? I have written some AS3 programs. It seemed to me that it would not take very long for an experienced AS3 programmer to finish my job. There's no image to create, the program structure is done except for (1) adding code to create a 'greater' than filter function, (2) checking why the loop doesn't seem to get all the data (3) adding a combobox for the data filter and a button to stop/restart both of which AS3 can quickly create from the components section. Yes, I want commented code but I expect that from any professional programmer.
I understand how this open bid might provoked your response, but I think it would have been more productive to explain what you would have considered a fair fee and why. Clients, like me, need to be educated and they can always raise the amounts if they so wish. Otherwise, given that your time is as valuable as you state above, I would have thought you would have just passed this job by instead of voicing your rather unhelpful opinion.

J. R. on 09/10/2011 19:15
Where there are errors of unknown cause, there is an unknown time to fix element. You\'ve stated what you believe to be average hourly pay rates, therefore it would be fairer to offer hourly rather than fixed fee.

Reply from Client

M. L. on 09/10/2011 20:14
A helpful response. I agree with the concept. The way I see my request is:. Item 1 is not a compiler error - it basically says I need to embed the fonts I use - it doesn't otherwise interfere with how the program runs. Item 2 is a functional error - and fits the "unknown cause" criterion. Items 3 and 4 ask for a button, a combo box and a filter for case statements which include pretty standard coding used in all Flash programs. That said, I assumed that bidders would look at the attached program, run it one or twice, and then make their decision if they wanted to deal with it or not. Do you think the $ range is too low to consider even that much investigation? My budget is a starting point, but bidders have to bear in mind that I am not a business enterprise - and I do not possess a large amount of funding, thus open ended arrangements are not possible. Another point: I'm not in a big hurry. That might be another factor to consider. Or I could restructure my request to make it simpler. I'll think about that. Thank you for your input.

J. R. on 09/10/2011 22:29
As far as I am aware, the program is not attached. Please post it as an attachment (or send it via private message).

Reply from Client

M. L. on 09/10/2011 22:40
Thanks, I edited the job, reattached the file, resubmitted and then asked PPH to look into it to see whether or not it was attached. The message says it is attached, gave the file name and all that, just like the first time. 1.7 MB so it's under the limit. I'll check again. Folks can't do much if they don't see this attachment.

M