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Is There Already Software That Does This

by Marie Pugh
7 replies
OK - so I know absolutely nothing about programming or developing or anything like that - so I am hoping someone can help me.

I want to have something developed that I don't think would be hard, but I don't really know what I would need. I need a software program that can be downloaded to a person's computer where they can make their own digital scrapbooks. There is already tons of software like this all over the internet, but if I am selling digital scrapbooking through my own site, under my own business name, I can't use these software programs, right?

So, I need something of my own, that is part of my own business - kind of like Creative Memories has (it is a scrapbooking company that has software that does this). I need it to be simple so that people can use it themselves, and that will upload the finished product to my website. I also need to be able to put custom templates into the software for people to use. Then, to publish it from my site, it needs to be converted to PDF to be ready to go to print.

Any ideas of what I would need? I guess I can go to scriptlance or somewhere like that, but I just want to be sure I know exactly what I am asking for so that I don't get taken advantage of in my naivety

As I said, I am just kind of looking into what all I would need. Kind of a program like open office that is just simple to use, that can have templates brought in and make the books, then converted easily to PDF.

I would certainly appreciate any help anyone could give me! Maybe there is already something out there that is open source that I could use - but I have searched and can't find what I need.

Thanks!

Marie
#software
  • Profile picture of the author colinredk
    Originally Posted by Marie Pugh View Post

    So, I need something of my own, that is part of my own business - kind of like Creative Memories has (it is a scrapbooking company that has software that does this). I need it to be simple so that people can use it themselves, and that will upload the finished product to my website. I also need to be able to put custom templates into the software for people to use. Then, to publish it from my site, it needs to be converted to PDF to be ready to go to print.

    Any ideas of what I would need? I guess I can go to scriptlance or somewhere like that, but I just want to be sure I know exactly what I am asking for so that I don't get taken advantage of in my naivety
    Hello Marie,

    I've been into software development before. I may not be able to help you find the software, but I can tell you now what you need to do to get started on a solution. Also if you keep these things in mind, at least you would know what you really want.

    There are some simple things you need answered.
    -- what do you want to happen? Can you draw it on paper, a drawing of the process? The user goes to your site, is a download available, or do you want everything on the web page with no downloads necessary?
    -- refine the drawing. Think as if you're the user and not the site owner. (Okay, I click here, a separate page appears, I have options for a frame, and other design, and accoutrements are on this other page.)
    -- what functionalities do you want to offer. You mentioned printing to PDF. Do you also want to save the file on the user's local computer? Or do you want the output to be on the server?

    The more questions you have, the clearer the idea becomes. At some point, you'll see what your business model is. And if the site design conforms to the business model or not.

    I hope that helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
      Just a warning, expect to pay, as a minimum, in the thousands for something like this.
      If anyone says they can do it for under a thousand, they are lieing and are preying on your naiveness.
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      • Profile picture of the author Marie Pugh
        Thanks for the feedback guys! I am kind of already finding that out - that it is going to be a bit expensive on my end.

        I have been in contact with someone on guru.com who said they would take a look at what I am needing, and that is pretty much what he said. So, unless I can miraculously figure out how to program something like this myself (not likely in this lifetime:rolleyes, I am going to need to try raising the money I need. I am applying for small business grants where I live, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

        Thanks!

        Marie
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        • Profile picture of the author ravijayagopal
          Marie,

          It's not just about cost. It's about finding an audience.

          Just because I give free email id's at a new domain (however fancy that domain may be) a la Gmail or Yahoo, it's not going to get people to switch over from their existing web mail accounts.

          There's a reason why the likes of Google and Yahoo pay millions of dollars to buy out companies like Flicker and Picasa.

          It's no longer just the tool. It's the whole "integrated experience", and all supporting services that follow.

          You should quit trying to reinvent the wheel, and offer something very "niche" and "specialized" for your target audience.

          My $0.02.

          - Ravi
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          • Profile picture of the author electrobooks
            Hi Marie,

            Im not sure if I understood all of your info correctly but a flash application built into your website that used XML to change templates and store temporary data prior to a database should work.

            As its flash it should cost considerably less than a desktop application, and as its integrated with your site your customers would have to come to you (well your site) to use the software which eliminates any platform issues that your customers may have (Pc or Mac).

            As I said Im not too sure I understood all of your request but if its a simple scrapbooking application for someone to store photo's and write the odd message under the photo then flash would be sufficient.

            Scan the internet for someone who has a similar flash project that they havent finished and offer to buy it if they change it to your idea.
            Many developers learning new skills build stuff on a whim only to leave it unfinished (speaking from experience) so this may be a cheap 'back door' into what you need.

            I hope that helps a little.

            Good Luck

            Chris
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            • Profile picture of the author Joshua.Taylor
              Just a word about developing anything in Flash. I work in a fairly large IT market in Sacramento, CA. Mostly due to all state offices being located here, as well as sac being fairly well insulated from most calif earthquakes, there are a ton of IT companies located here, including most of the big high tech companies like Intel, HP, etc...

              Anyway, I was consulting at EDS a couple of months ago and they had a legacy Flash app that needed changing. They put out the word in the area for Flash developers and couldn't find any. They eventually gave up and rewrote the app in java because there were a ton of java people available.

              So, if you have something written in Flash, your pool of available resources will probably be much more limited, possible resulting in longer delivery times and higher rates being paid to developers.

              By the way, you can go to elance or rentacoder and put up a request for flash developers. You'll probably get a ton of guys from India telling you they've done it before and it's a piece of cake. Then, 8 weeks after the deadline and still no product, you'll learn that they said they could code it, but they had never done it before. You'll get your money back, but you'll now be 4 months behind. Been there, done that...
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              • Profile picture of the author ripsnorta2
                Why not approach one of these developers who already has a product like this and see if you can bundle their software with your product. It's kind of like a joint venture, they get to sell a copy and you get to enhance your offering.
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                Cheers, John

                Codeboss -- Useful Software Tailored For Your Business

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