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Specification Printing System

Jun 29, 20253 min read

A central document for organizing, tracking, and reflecting on the progress of the Specification Printing System. This serves as a single source of truth for all stakeholders and contributors.

Overview

Purpose

  • The Specification Printing System was developed to automate the generation of product specification sheets for printing and in-store display. Previously, spec sheets had to be manually designed for each product during promotions, which was time-consuming and inefficient.

Scope

  • Includes:
    • Integration with the Odoo database to retrieve product data.
    • A user-friendly interface for managers to select products.
    • Automated generation of 3x3 inch spec sheets.
    • Compilation of multiple spec sheets into an A4 layout for efficient printing.
  • Excludes:
    • Direct modification of product data within the app.
    • Advanced graphic design features beyond template-based spec sheet generation.

Key Deliverables

  • A Laravel-based web application with a product selection interface.
  • Automated spec sheet generation and A4 layout compilation.
  • Seamless integration with the Odoo database.
  • User documentation for managing and printing spec sheets.

Objectives and Success Criteria

Objectives

  • Eliminate the manual effort required to design spec sheets.
  • Ensure accurate product data retrieval from Odoo.
  • Provide an efficient and easy-to-use tool for managers.
  • Optimize printing layouts to reduce paper waste.

Success Metrics

  • Time reduction in creating spec sheets compared to manual design.
  • High accuracy in product details retrieved from Odoo.
  • Positive feedback from managers on usability and efficiency.
  • Minimal errors or adjustments required before printing.

Roadmap

Milestones

  1. Phase 1: Develop Laravel application with Odoo integration (Completed)
  2. Phase 2: Implement spec sheet generation and A4 compilation (Completed)
  3. Phase 3: Optimize UI/UX for manager selection process (Completed)
  4. Phase 4: Improve print quality and layout customization (On Hold)

Timeline

gantt
    title Specification Printing System
    dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD
    axisFormat %d-%m
    excludes friday
    section Requirement Analysis
        collect requirements          :a1, 2023-01-10, 1d
        finalise scope                :a2,after a1, 1d
    section Design and Development
        finalise tech stack           :a3, after a2, 3d
		develop software functions    :a4, after a3, 1d
    section Testing and Deployment
        test fucntion                 :a5, after a4, 1d
        deploy live server            :a6, after a5, 1d
    section Training
        train store managers          :a7, after a6, 3d
		train logistics               :after a7, 1d

Tasks and Responsibilities

Key Tasks

  • Establish connection with Odoo database.
  • Create selection interface for managers to choose products.
  • Develop spec sheet generation logic and template system.
  • Implement A4 compilation to fit multiple spec sheets efficiently.
  • Optimize printing resolution and formatting.

Team Roles

  • Developer: Maintains Laravel application and database integration.
  • Manager: Selects products and manages printing workflow.
  • Design Specialist: Refines spec sheet templates for clarity and readability.

Current Status

Progress Overview

  • The system is functional and in use for generating spec sheets.
  • Product selection and printing workflow have been streamlined.
  • Work is ongoing to refine the print layout and customization features.

Challenges

  • Ensuring consistent print quality across different printers.
  • Handling edge cases where product descriptions exceed the template size.
  • Potential need for additional customization options for different promotions.

Next Steps

  • Enhance print customization features to allow slight adjustments.
  • Improve error handling when fetching product data from Odoo.
  • Test and refine layout for different product categories.

Resources and Tools

  • Documentation: Laravel project setup and Odoo API integration guide.
  • Tools: Laravel (Backend), Odoo API (Data Source), Bootstrap (UI), PDF Generation Library.
  • References: Printing best practices, Laravel PDF generation techniques.

Communication Plan

  • Meeting Cadence: Regular check-ins for feedback and improvements.
  • Key Contacts: Redacted

Retrospective

  • Lessons Learned:
    • Automating spec sheet generation significantly reduced workload.
    • Standardized templates ensure consistency across promotions.
    • Additional flexibility in customization may be needed for varied marketing needs.
  • Outcomes:
    • Successfully automated a previously manual process.
  • Future Opportunities:
    • Implement direct editing of spec sheets within the app.
    • Explore dynamic templates for different promotional needs.

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