Hi all,
I am in a bit of a troubled spot at the moment. I am NOT a programmer, and I have never had any training. I have always been fiddling around on my own with things like Access. I work for a company, but not at all in the IT industry/Programming or anything like that. My line manager is aware of my programming skills, although I am not qualified. (and my skills are pretty much Amatuer-ish to say the least)
What it boils down to...My manager has asked me to do a simple db to do a certain office function. I have done this, the idea was that it would only be used as a pilot to see whether it will be worth investing in buying a software package designed for the specific purpose.
I have done that, but continued to improve the db on my own time, as I found it interesting. No use just playing about with Access if you havn't got a purpose for the software you are creating. NEVER have I had the intension of letting them use the "newer" version of the software. ("newer" meaning the version of the software that I have been playing around with in my own time)
However...in April of this year, the newer software has been taken into use, since the older version was very useful, but lacked a few vital functions. The older version was on a stand-alone machine, while the new one was installed by splitting the db and creating 5 front ends. This was still ok with me, Please note that I have not received any payment for this.
Now, we are just about to launch the 3rd version of the software, the newer version has got advanced admin functions, and ;user level security. It will also be running as a stand-alone programme, not as an Access Aplication anymore. Still only on 5 machines though. I have also been told that we need to get the software onto cd, if in 2 or 3 years time the company installs a new computer system, the software will have to be re-installed as well. This was not the origanal idea at all.
So..I have decided, that before I wil allow them to burn the software to disk, I will have to discuss the matter of payment, since this is no longer software that will only be used as a pilot. This has been proven to be sufficient in doing it's functions. I have been told that there will be no need to purchase any software, since the program that I have created has been more than was expected from software that they would have had to be purchased.
I will be leaving the country permanently at the end of the year to go and study abroad for 5 years, I will not be coming back at all during this period, so I will not be able to give support all. Bearing this in ind, what is a reasonable figure for me to propose for the software. I have spent many hours on it, mosly because I did'nt know what I was doing, but if I had known how to do everythin first time, it would have taken about three weeks to complete. That is excluding the time spent consulting with the actual users about what functions they would like, layout, etc etc.
I don't want them to walk over me, but I wouldn't like to let myself look silly in proposing a ridiculous figure.
Please advise.
I am in a bit of a troubled spot at the moment. I am NOT a programmer, and I have never had any training. I have always been fiddling around on my own with things like Access. I work for a company, but not at all in the IT industry/Programming or anything like that. My line manager is aware of my programming skills, although I am not qualified. (and my skills are pretty much Amatuer-ish to say the least)
What it boils down to...My manager has asked me to do a simple db to do a certain office function. I have done this, the idea was that it would only be used as a pilot to see whether it will be worth investing in buying a software package designed for the specific purpose.
I have done that, but continued to improve the db on my own time, as I found it interesting. No use just playing about with Access if you havn't got a purpose for the software you are creating. NEVER have I had the intension of letting them use the "newer" version of the software. ("newer" meaning the version of the software that I have been playing around with in my own time)
However...in April of this year, the newer software has been taken into use, since the older version was very useful, but lacked a few vital functions. The older version was on a stand-alone machine, while the new one was installed by splitting the db and creating 5 front ends. This was still ok with me, Please note that I have not received any payment for this.
Now, we are just about to launch the 3rd version of the software, the newer version has got advanced admin functions, and ;user level security. It will also be running as a stand-alone programme, not as an Access Aplication anymore. Still only on 5 machines though. I have also been told that we need to get the software onto cd, if in 2 or 3 years time the company installs a new computer system, the software will have to be re-installed as well. This was not the origanal idea at all.
So..I have decided, that before I wil allow them to burn the software to disk, I will have to discuss the matter of payment, since this is no longer software that will only be used as a pilot. This has been proven to be sufficient in doing it's functions. I have been told that there will be no need to purchase any software, since the program that I have created has been more than was expected from software that they would have had to be purchased.
I will be leaving the country permanently at the end of the year to go and study abroad for 5 years, I will not be coming back at all during this period, so I will not be able to give support all. Bearing this in ind, what is a reasonable figure for me to propose for the software. I have spent many hours on it, mosly because I did'nt know what I was doing, but if I had known how to do everythin first time, it would have taken about three weeks to complete. That is excluding the time spent consulting with the actual users about what functions they would like, layout, etc etc.
I don't want them to walk over me, but I wouldn't like to let myself look silly in proposing a ridiculous figure.
Please advise.
