Michael Phillips - Résumé
March 2023
Michael
Phillips
3
Brentwood Avenue
Point
Clare NSW 2250
Australia
Telephone +61 (2) 4325-0031
Email mphillip@pcug.org.au
1984-1987
Canberra College of Advanced Education (now the
University of Canberra)
Bachelor of Arts in Computing Studies degree
I also studied the Computer Architecture, Computer
Audit, Cryptology & Computability, Data Communications, Expert Systems,
Languages & Compilers, and Machine Intelligence electives as part of my
degree.
I have
completed the Microsoft Course 4994 - "Introduction to Programming
Microsoft .NET Framework Applications with Visual Studio 2005".
Skills
People /
Customer Skills
·
Internal
and external consulting
·
Technical
support
·
Customer
service
·
Mentoring,
tutoring and presenting/training junior staff
Technical
skills
·
expert in
Pascal, 80XXX Assembler
·
competent
in C, C++, C#, BASIC
·
extensive
experience with VAX and PC computers and software
·
extensive
experience in networks, TCP/IP
·
extensive
experience in hardware device communications (cash registers, modems, PDE
units)
·
experienced
in hardware / software / network troubleshooting
·
experienced
in providing technical support
·
worked
with and developed for multi-user, multi-tasking environments
·
experienced
in writing / proofreading technical documentation
Programming
Languages
Used on a regular basis:
·
Pascal -
Delphi - Visual C# - C - Assembler 80XXX
Also used on various occasions:
·
Fortran -
Basic - Assembler 6502
2012 – 2020
SIMPLE RETAIL
Programmer
·
My work
has been in the HealthCare software area. Currently I am working on converting Delphi
6 applications to Delphi XE 10.2.
2010 – 2011
Relocated to Central Coast from ACT
2009 – 2010
SELF EMPLOYED
Various Consulting Assignments
1993 - 2009
CHEMDATA / AMFAC / DYNSOL / COSMOS / CORUM (ACT)
Consultant Programmer / Technical & Network Support
/ System Administrator
·
Since
late 1992 my main employment has been doing consulting work specialising mainly
in modem communications, playing with networks, writing code to interface to
hardware (POS registers, handheld PDE units) & operating systems, and
trouble-shooting.
·
Most of
my work has been in the area of software for the HealthCare area. Over the
years I have worked for Chemdata, Amfac, Faulding,
Mayne, Dynsol, Cosmos and Corum.
·
I helped
write a user interface in C so that FDAPX (FrontDoor
APX) can be easily used by pharmacies to contact a bulletin board system called
HealthNet to collect daily price updates, program
updates, and transfer mail. Also wrote numerous utilities to help with the
maintenance at the BBS end.
·
I have
modified some dispensary software (Borland Pascal v7.0) to use a new data
source. It was changed to use Paradox database files based upon Micromedex drug
information.
·
I have
written software for Windows 95/NT (using Delphi 3) to display / print Consumer
Medicine Information that can be given to the patient by the doctor.
·
Spent
time implementing backup strategies and providing assistance for various
hardware and software problems.
·
Wrote
software to extract data from various Portable Data Entry (PDE) units.
·
Wrote a windows
version of some of my modem programs. The programs are used in warehouses to
receive orders and send invoices electronically.
·
Wrote a
windows DLL to perform drug-drug interaction checking to be used in pharmacy
software. Later modified to perform drug-allergy, drug-disease interactions.
·
Wrote
various C# programs to convert price update data into a single XML format for
subsequent importing into an SQL database. The source data comes from numerous
outlets which seem unable to provide data in a specific format. Also wrote a
program that extracts the SQL data into text file formats which existing
software can use.
·
I wrote
specifications for new server equipment and installed the hardware, operating
systems and necessary software for the office. Some of the software for Windows
desktops and servers, included FTP servers and clients, VNC (remote control
software), various databases (Paradox, Interbase,
Firebird, MS SQL 2005). I also wrote various programs to customise the
administration of the systems.
INTERACT TECHNOLOGY GROUP (ACT)
Field Technician
·
InterAct is an ISP for end users and commercial businesses.
·
I would
provide onsite technical support and problem solving for the business customers'
networks and internet connectivity.
·
This
routinely involved troubleshooting their network configuration and their backup
strategies.
CHEMDATA (ACT)
Programmer
·
Chemdata produces specialised software for pharmacies and front-of-shop.
·
I started
out using UCSD p-System Pascal for various projects then began to specialise in
communications with cash registers. I later worked on many programs that
communicated with the pharmacy's wholesaler to place electronic orders and collect
invoices via modem.
·
Next I
worked on device drivers in UCSD 8088 assembler for a multi-tasking version of
the UCSD p-System and performed a fair amount of troubleshooting of software
and hardware problems, as well as providing technical support for other staff.
·
I also
played a fair bit with low-level calls to an operating system called
"System Manager" which is distributed by a company called Datapac in Sydney. System Manager is based upon DR
Multi-User DOS.
·
Besides
programming, I spent time providing tech support to the helpdesk for the
various programs I worked on.
·
I
developed and taught a beginners training course on DOS and other multi-tasking
operating systems for the new helpdesk staff.
CSIRO - Division of Wildlife and Rangelands (ACT)
Systems Manager
While completing my final semester of study at the
CCAE I was employed to install and run a MicroVAX computer network at the CSIRO
Division of Wildlife and Rangelands site in Gungahlin. This involved all sorts
of tasks such as evaluating tender documents, installation of hardware and
software, the laying of cable for terminals, the laying of fibre optic cabling
between buildings, modifying software to work with new hardware, as well as
showing the scientists and staff how to use the computer system for their tasks
and performing troubleshooting.
CCAE - Canberra College of Advanced Education (ACT)
Class Tutor
While studying for my Bachelor of Arts in
Computing Studies I began tutoring classes of 10-16 students in Programming
Systems 1, Computer Organisation 1, Computers & Computing, and Basic
Information Systems. I found that I quite enjoyed running these tutorials and
continued to teach after completing my degree in 1987.
DEPT OF TRANSPORT - Dept
of Transport, Bureau of Transport Economics (ACT)
Programmer
During the summer break from studying at the CCAE I
was writing software in FORTRAN and COBOL. I was working on software to assist
in deciding when and to what level road surfaces should be upgraded.
CCAE - Canberra College of Advanced Education (ACT)
Duty Programmer
During this period I was one of the Duty
Programmers at the CCAE. This involved helping the students solve any problems
they had using the computer systems, or programs they were writing on the
computer systems.
CSIRO - Division of Water and Land Resources (ACT)
Programmer
During the summer break from studying at the CCAE I
was writing software in FORTRAN on a VAX/VMS system. I was working on a hybrid
data-base/expert system for local government planning applications called ADAPT
(A Decision Aid Planning Tool).
1988 – Dec 1999
PC USERS GROUP (ACT)
Dec 1992 - Dec 1999
Bulletin Board Assistant Sysop / Sysop
The PC Users Group provides its members with access
to a 5 line Bulletin Board System. I've written numerous programs to automate
the day-to-day running of the BBS.
The BBS consists of a Novell server with 7
workstations each with a 33.6K modem.
I have also spent several years serving as a
committee member for the PC Users Group (ACT).
1989 - 1996
Secretary / Committee Member
1988-1990
Training Officer
As the training officer for the PCUG I initially
created the outline for some introductory computer courses and taught them.
Later I recruited other people to help design and
teach other computer related courses.