This document presents a summary of the points discussed during the ELECTrack Users Group meeting held at the State Board of Elections' office. Those points have been divided in 5 categories:
From the comments made during these meetings, the Users Group, the State Board of Elections, and the software project manager have agreed on a list of issues that must be addressed first:
Those priorities are being examined by the software developers who have already defined some functional design changes for ELECTrack.
Several users expressed interest in having ELECTrack provide a backup facility. Backup was envisioned as the ability of the user to perform on-call backup of the database and the ability of the system to prompt the user to backup his/her file. Some concern was expressed over what would be the most appropriate time and interval to have the system offer these automated backups.
Unrelated to backups but perceived by the users as relevant to the preservation of their data is the ability to easily copy and transport their database from one system to another. Users identified excessive file size to be the main impediment to their ability to manage their backups with flexibility.
Users agreed that ELECTrack should let them enter default values to speed up their data entry. When asked to identify fields for which this feature would be the most desirable users uniformly named form of payment and address related fields.
One user suggested that these default entry settings should be easily modifiable to allow users to switch between different default 'scenarios' since default values may vary from one type of fundraising event to the other.
While all users agreed that ELECTrack should allow their data to flow in and out of the system no consensus came out on how to achieve this goal at this point. The definition of standard import and export formats and easy access to this definition were generally recognized as important steps to take toward the resolution of this problem. The idea of using existing proprietary format (Excel for import, Access for export) also had supporters.
One user suggested that to keep the import process as flexible as possible, one should be able to import data incrementally or by defining data subsets and being able to focus exclusively on those until they can all be assembled to recreate the complete set with which ELECTrack is expected to work.
Back to TopAs expected, providing AutoFill capability was identified by the users as a much needed interface improvement. Other similar issues included the re-ordering of the tabbing sequence of active widgets throughout the application, the activation of the 'Enter' key as the default key to call search procedures where appropriate and the modification of the current resize/expand behavior of some of ELECTrack's forms/windows which occasionally hides active widgets (search button).
Back to TopA few users expressed the wish to see a more complete manual for ELECTrack. One in particular suggested a user manual that would relate campaign account filing guidelines and requirements to the operating of the software.
Extended help desk hours was mentioned by several users as desirable. A majority of users agreed that weekly evening hours would be more helpful than week-end hours.
Back to TopThe flagging of incorrect values and error proofing of those values came up in the discussion as an area of the software needing improvement. While ELECTrack currently alerts the user of some incorrect entries, users seem to be unsure about how much checking is done.
Users also expressed the wish to see ELECTrack calculate aggregate receipt amounts for them. This issue was generally viewed as an extension of the AutoFill problem.
The errors messages provided after the creation of reports are not intelligible and users said they could not use them to accurately trace their mistake(s). A few users also indicated that they did not know how to keep a printed copy of the error log.
The procedure to modify existing entries is not clear enough; some users expect to be able to act directly upon the faulty record(s) and expressed frustrations for not being able to do so. The idea of an entry journaling system was mentioned as a possible solution.
Back to TopBeside their comments about the current state of usability of the software, users also had questions about some of the details of ELECTrack's implementation and about other more loosely related issues.
One user remarked that item numbers shouldn't have to be exposed to the user. Another wished a system existed to accommodate electronic signatures. This issue, it was indicated, is greater than ELECTrack alone but possible solutions are being evaluated. Finally, a user commented that an Internet based application would provide many advantages over the current electronic filing system, the most preeminent one being that the burden of upgrading the software would be lifted off the users. While this is being considered by the State Board of Elections several crucial issues need to be addressed among which security and the Board's level of responsibility of the filers' data.