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Web Publisher at Work

Contributed by Bruce Ritchie

Advanced Communications & Business Resources, http://www.acbr.com

Reprinted with Permission

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1. In 1995 I asked the telephone company for the number of any T-shirt manufacturers in Toronto. Many were listed in that city's Yellow Pages, but she could not look anything up without a specific company name. I could, however, pay them $35 and they would sell me a copy of the local Yellow Pages. I was rather annoyed as I lived only 45 miles from Toronto but could not get such basic information. To make matters worse, Toronto had been subdivided into 11 separate directories and I would have to purchase each directory to get full coverage.

askSam was just introducing Web Publisher at that time. We acquired the basic data on CD for Canada for businesses, including the SIC codes(Standard Industrial Classification). I exported the data from the CD, modified it and imported the data into askSam databases, one for each Area Code. The search form strung them together. Online, the directory became the All Canada Business Registry, the first online "Yellow Pages" in Canada. There were more than 2 million listings. Searches were incredibly fast and flexible. We then added a front-end file where any business in Canada could self-register. 25% of businesses are home-based and most use only the owner's personal phone; therefore, they cannot be found in any Yellow Pages. This directory provided a free opportunity for a basic business listing. Enhanced listing with logo, graphics, more text, HTML formatting, was on a fee basis.

2. Web Publisher has been extremely useful for a number of online applications.  I am Moderator of FASlink, an online discussion forum for families, professionals, caregivers and individuals dealing with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The discussions have been archived in askSam. As some families must remain "anonymous" (such as foster families), I use askSam to strip the identifying headers from each e-mail and show the Subject, Date and Message only. The FASlink Archives are available online using Web Publisher at http://www.acbr.com/fas/faslink.htm and with more than 60,000 letters and FAS articles are now the largest information resource on FAS in the world. Not all the letters are elegantly formatted, but the information is there.

3. With several hundred members on FASlink at any time, I also receive many humorous or inspirational messages. I have collected those I particularly like into a Thoughts & Musings file and make them available, using Web Publisher, on my website at http://www.acbr.com

4. I also publish a collection of key articles on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome using the askSam Electronic Publisher. The basic package zips the data and viewer into a file that will fit on a diskette. It is available as a free download from the website and is to be duplicated and distributed to family, teachers, doctors, social workers and anyone else who will impact the FAS child's life. It is a mini-encyclopedia on FAS. Those who wish to download the FAS InfoDisk (several thousand do annually) fill out an online form within an askSam file under Web Publisher. This lets me collect data so I know who is using system and it provides credibility when I apply to agencies for funding for FASlink.

A more extensive FAS InfoDisk is available on CDROM, including text files, music, poems and audio narrative. Donor information will be automatically collected in an online askSam database.

5.  Among many other projects, I use askSam to write law enforcement and intelligence analyst packages. Those packages are promoted online at http://www.acbr.com/law.htm

The promotional pages include a database of police services and suppliers based on Ira Wilsker's data. With his permission, I imported the data into an askSam file. Again, demo programs go through the askSam file registration process first.

6. I have also placed local business directories on my website, using askSam's Web Publisher. They cover Sarnia-Lambton Ontario and Port Huron Michigan. Useful local stuff draws potential local clients to my Home Page.

7. For the past 6 years, using the askSam Electronic Publisher, I have published the Redbook Plus, Community Services Directory for Community Information Services Hamilton-Wentworth. Marketing is on a joint-venture basis and a basic version has been online under Web Publisher. I have used this system on numerous other directories for the non-profit sector.

I am delighted with the new version of Web Publisher 4 and have recently made the transition. It is a terrific tool for anyone building a website.