Mohammed Alam

A summary of the experience and expertise I will bring to the job

  • 9 Years of experience in developing software and Crystal Reports for Insurance,Energy,Telecom and e-commerce industries.
  • Worked extensively in developing and implementing reports on Crystal Enterprise 8.0/8.5, Crystal Analysis 8.5
  • Authorized Crystal Engineer ( ACE )certified from Crystal Decisions.
  • Worked extensively in developing Procedures, Triggers, Views on database like Oracle 7.3,8i, 9i, SQL server 7.0,2000,Btrieve, Pervasive and Access
  • Knowledge of processes like rule extraction, rule analysis, rule flows, and rulebase design.
  • Knowledge of programming languages like COBOL, C, JAVA 2.0
  • Experience in interacting with business users and rules analysts on multiple projects.
  • Expertise over preparing report specifications, database designs to support the reporting requirements.
  • Experienced in documenting different stages of developing reports and setting them up on Enterprise Report Server 8.0
  • Experienced in migrating reporting from COBOL mainframe to Web based Reports using Crystal Enterprise 8.0/8.5
  • Excellent knowledge of developing DHTML Web pages using tools like Home site and Dream viewer
  • Active team player and as an individual with Excellent Communication,Interpersonal skills, self motivated fast learner and good listener.

Technologies I worked with

Areas / Technology / Products
Languages / SQL, PL/SQL, C, C++, Java1.2 / Structured
Query Language
(SQL).
Reports / Seagate Crystal Reports 8.5,8.0/7.0/6.0,Crystal Enterprise 8.0,8.5, Seagate Info7.0,7.5, Seagate Holos,Crystal Analysis 8.5,Visual Basic Crystal Reports, Oracle Reports 2.5. / Crystal Decisions, Cognos, Microsoft, Oracle Microsoft Visual Basic
Development Tools / Homesite, Dreamviewer, SQL Programmer, SQL Navigator, Visual Age 3.5. Visio, Vantive / Visual Café, Rational Rose
RDBMS / Oracle 7.x, 8i,9i, SQL Server 7.0,2000, Btrieve, Pervasive, Domino, Access / Oracle, Microsoft SQL, Pervasive
Web Expertise / CSP, ASP, DHTML, JavaScript / HTML, JAVA 1.2,JSP
Web/Application Servers / IIS4.0, Apache Server , BEA’sWeblogic 5.1/6.1 / BEA’sWeblogic 4.5/5.1/6.1
Operating systems / Windows 2000,UNIX / WindowsNT, Windows 95/98.
Version control / Visual Source Safe. / Rational Clear Case.
Other tools / Symantec Pc Anywhere, Vantive. / Windows TS Client

Work/assignment history

Project / Executive Stock Options eReporting ( ExSOP – Reporting )
Client / Merrill Lynch
Duration / Mar 03 – Till Date.
Team size / 20
My role / Crystal Enterprise Architect / Crystal Reports Developer
Business Need / Merrill Lynch has been in the business of providing full-outsourced administration and brokerage stock option plan (SOP) services to US-based, publicly traded corporations since 1989. Among many services provided by Merrill Lynch, Plan Sponsors are provided with reports, which are sent to them based on the Standard Reporting Schedule: monthly, quarterly, annually. Plan Sponsor report facility provides plan sponsors with many flexible options, it enables the plan sponsors and plan teams to create standard and ad-hoc reports. In addition it provides saving, printing and export features for report creation.
Technology Solution / ExSOP eReporting had been designed using customized web eReporting using ASPs and CSPs. The Out-Of-Box features of Crystal Enterprise had been modified to fit into the look and feel of ExSOP website. In addition to the regularly scheduled reports there are many special requests from Plan Sponsors for Ad-Hoc reports – reports created specifically to accommodate company’s needs. A complete customized Ad-Hoc report application is developed allowing the users to choose the list of templates and go over developing their own reports.
Technologies: Windows 2000,XP, IIS 5.0, Visual Studio 6.0, Crystal Enterprise 8.5,9.0,10 Crystal Reports 8.5,9.0,10 CSP pages, Oracle 8i,9i, PVCS, Data Direct ODBC drivers.
Responsibilities:
  • Headed the team of Crystal Reports Developers, developed the reports as well as got them done by team on time for the releases.
  • Worked with team on customizing the out-of-box product to get look and feel of the ExSOP application and abilities of Crystal Enterprise like exporting, previewing, printing and emailing the reports.
  • Documented the steps of installing and configuring the Crystal Enterprise for the networking department to built the servers when we have releases.
  • Stress tested the crystal enterprise servers to determine ideal configuration for the best performance.
  • Responsible to support the issues with reports on the crystal enterprise environments ( Development, UAT, Test and Production )
  • Responsible to Sign-Off on the crystal enterprise and Ad-Hoc application after the release.
  • Responsible to see that every developer has the reports checked In into PVCS ( Version Management ) before the code freeze date.
  • Trained developers on steps involved in migration of reports from Crystal 8.5 to 9.0 and then 9.0 to 10
  • Migrated Crystal Web environment from Crystal Enterprise 8.5 to 9.0 and also from 9.0 to 10.
  • Tested and implemented SMTP email and FTP scheduling feature of Crystal Enterprise 8.5.
  • Developed the confirmation letter reports which get mailed to participants.

Project / Claims/Operation Maintenance Department Data Warehouse
Client / Factory Mutual Insurance Co. ( FM Global )
Duration / Oct 02 – Mar 03
Team size / 4
My role / Report Migration Project Lead
Business Need / Migrate existing Cognos web environment to Crystal Web environment. Setting up the Base for Crystal Reports web environment using Crystal reports 8.5, Crystal Enterprise 8.0. Advise on choosing the products from Crystal suite of products according to needs of project. Analyze the Crystal Reports 9.0 and help FM Global in decision making on selecting Crystal Reports 9.0 and RAS processor licenses for customized Crystal web reporting. Train the report developers extensively on crystal suite of products.
Technology Solution / The enterprise reporting System is designed based on a multi-tier architecture. In the data tier Oracle 9i / MS SQL 2000 had been used. The database had been re-designed with customized views and Stored Procedures after analyzing the Impromtu reports to enhance the performance of the reports. The main idea was to replace the Cognos web environment with same kind of web environment with Crystal at background. Going with RAS server processor license was considered above using crystal enterprise as the amount of customization will be same even if we go with crystal enterprise. Also with promising Crystal Reports 9.0 Advanced edition and Report Application Server SDK it was easy to implement the same customized web look as of Cognos web reporting.
Technologies: Windows 2000,XP, IIS 5.0, Visual Studio 6.0, Crystal Enterprise 8.0,8.5, Crystal Reports 8.5,9.0 CSP pages, Oracle 9i, MS SQL 2000, Cognos Impromptu, Cognos Web Reporting, Microsoft Visual Source Safe.
Responsibilities:
  • Headed and helped the decision making team to finalize the crystal products after analyzing their Impromtu reports and Cognos web environment.
  • Played key role in developing, implementing and demonstrating the successful pilot project using Crystal.
  • Designed, Developed and Implemented around 45 plus reports for 2 departments on development server as Pilot project.
  • Involved in re-designing or customizing the existing Views and Stored Procedures to suit the reporting needs.
  • Designed the data requirements by analyzing the existing Impromtu reports.
  • Designed and Developed existing Impromtu reports in Crystal Reports Developer 8.5
  • Implemented Crystal Enterprise development environment by installing Crystal Enterprise on IIS 5.0 web server.
  • Recommended changes and updates on Views used by Impromtu reports.
  • Deployed and tested the Crystal Reports on Crystal Enterprise 8.0 environment.
  • Configured and trained users to use Crystal Reports 8.5 developer.
  • Demonstrated Crystal’s strength by enhancing the report performance as much as 70 percent when compared to Impromtu reports mainly by using materialized views and stored procedures to develop Crystal Reports.
  • Tipped the developers with tricks in crystal reports development.
  • Trained developers on steps involved in migration of reports from Cognos to Crystal.
  • Migrated Crystal Web environment from Crystal Enterprise 8.0 to 8.5
  • Tested and implemented SMTP email and FTP scheduling feature of Crystal Enterprise 8.5.
  • Demonstrated the various features included in Crystal Enterprise 8.5 and gave and idea what can be expected in CrystalEnterprise 9.0 which is due to release shortly.
  • In charge for training and handling the entire project to the employees or rather developers at FM Global.

Project / Enterprise Reporting
Client / ArlingtonCounty Government
Duration / Dec 01 – Oct 02.
Team size / 6
My role / Report Architect/Lead
Business Need / Migrate the existing paper reports to web environment. Set up the report distribution with proper security measures. Train the users to access reports, using the new capabilities of exporting them into any format. Allowing the users to do Adhoc reporting, providing them the data designed in Oracle 9i by getting the data from vsam files.
Technology Solution / The enterprise reporting System is designed based on a multi-tier architecture. In the data tier Oracle 9i had been used. The database had been designed after analyzing the cobol programs and vsam files which are used to generate reports on mainframe side. EasyTrieve is used on mainframe side and an automated VBScript is used to load the data from mainframe side to oracle 9i. Once the data tier is ready, the reports are analyzed and developed using Crystal Reports 8.5 developer. After developing and testing the reports the reports are uploaded in Enterprise Environment using Crystal Enterprise 8.0.Reports of different departments are placed in different directories on server and are assigned proper rights based on deparment users.
Technologies: Windows 2000, IIS 5.0, EasyTrive, VB, Crystal Enterprise 8.0,8.5, Crystal Reports 8.0/8.5, Crystal Analysis 8.5, CSP pages, Oracle 9i, Cognos Impromptu, Cognos PowerPlay, Windows TS Clients.
Responsibilities:
  • Involved in all phases of designing the database to suit the reporting needs.
  • Designed the data requirements ( data needed from mainframe side ) by analyzing the cobol code.
  • Implemented Crystal Enterprise development and production environment by installing Crystal Enterprise on IIS 5.0 web server.
  • Configured and trained users to use Crystal Reports 8.5 developer.
  • Designed, Developed and Implemented around 50 reports for 5 departments on production and test servers.
  • Evaluated Cognos Impromptu and Cognos PowerPlay for moving to BI solution
  • Designed the above reports in Cognos Impromptu and placed on Cognos Web Server.
  • Given the demo comparing capabilities, advantages and disadvantages of using Cognos Impromptu, PowerPlay and Crystal Reports,Enterprise and Analysis.
  • Developed an OLAP environment for the developers from different departments to do Adhoc reporting using Crystal Analysis 8.5.
  • Trained and Developed documentation for administrators to follow steps to add, modify, delete or change rights for different users of different departments.
  • Used NT authentication extensively on Enterprise side to authenticate users into Crystal Environment
  • Developed and Implemented customized CSP pages into crystal enterprise environment.
  • Developed report on log files generated by Web Component Server to track the users accessing reports using Enterprise portal
  • Interacted with the users to analyze the changes for improvement they need in existing reports and developed the reports to satisfy their needs and requirements.
  • Developed architecture archive the reports on Enterprise server.
  • Migration of Crystal Enterprise 8.0 environment to Crystal Enterprise 8.5.
  • Implementing LDAP authentication using Crystal Enterprise 8.5 and Novell Directory Services.
  • Testing and implementing SMTP email and FTP scheduling feature of Crystal Enterprise 8.5.

Client / Structure Consulting Group (DYNEGY), TX
Duration / May 01 to Dec 01
Team size / 10
My role / Sr. Reports Analyst
Business Need / Structure Consulting Group are a rapidly growing global company with 200 professionals and offices in Houston, San Francisco, Sacramento and London. The Structure Group is a international software and consulting company providing integrated solutions for market participants in the new energy economy. Structure’s software products provide market participants with one simple solution for bidding, scheduling, dispatching and settling energy trades in complex, regional markets. One of such Product we were working on was nMarket – ERCOT which was to be delivered to one of their client DYNEGY. I had developed and Customized reports at Client Side ( DYNEGY )., analyzing the requirements with the users at DYNEGY.
Dynegy Inc. (NYSE: DYN) is a leading provider of energy and communications solutions to customers around the globe. The company's leadership position extends across the entire convergence value chain – from power generation, wholesale and retail marketing and trading of power, natural gas, coal, emission allowances, weather derivatives and broadband to transportation, gathering and processing of natural gas liquids.
Technology Solution / There were around 20 reports to be developed, customized and distributed across intranet/internet using Crystal Enterprise. Distribution of Reports was done in secured manner by preventing unauthorized users to access certain confidential reports, allowing authorization only to viewers who need to view them.
Technologies: Seagate Crystal Report 8.0/8.5, Crystal Enterprise, Oracle 8i,Visual Studio, CSP, HTML, PL/SQL, and Win NT 4.0.
Responsibilities:
  • Understand and Analyze the Business Flow and Standards set by ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas).
  • Develop the Stored procedures and Views to be able to customize the report according to specifications.
  • Develop reports for the latest release of “nMarket - ERCOT “
  • Analyze, make Specifications and develop the reports for modules like Scheduling, Bidding, Settlements and Dispatching.
  • Regularly analyze and Review the reports developed and make enhancements to them if recommended by users.
  • Develop views using base tables and customized them to use it in the reports.
  • Support the report issues and administration of Crystal Enterprise Server.
  • Understand DLL’s sent by ERCOT on daily basis and then analyze the data to develop variance reports.
  • Developed hourly and 15 minute interval data for different types of Energies bided.
  • Develop Price Settlement Variances between ERCOT and DYNEGY by Plant Level.
  • Develop the Variance reports between ERCOT Meter reads and DYNEGY internal meter reads which are provided by C3 ( A consulting Firm.)
  • Oracle 8i was the backend database used.
  • Upgrade Crystal Reports 8.0 to Crystal Enterprise.

Project / IDX Rad ver 10.0.184
Client / IDX Systems, VT
Duration / Feb’01-May’ 01
Team size / 12.
My role / Sr. Reports Developer.
Business Need / Resolving issues with reports in the previous version.
Technology Solution / IDX Systems supports and markets the product “IDX Rad” which is a solution provider for Scheduling ,Tracking and Billing patients in a hospital. It has about 1500 customers for the current build of IDX Rad. It also supports imaging suite in the hospital management. The application was completely developed using ASP,VB ,JavaScript and Oracle 8i was used at the backend. The reports module of the application was handled by Seagate Crystal Reports (Ver 8.0).A total of about 350 reports were there for modules like Scheduling, Tracking, results and Billing. Stored Procedures were developed for few reports which had the performance problems.
Technologies: Seagate Crystal Report 8.0, Oracle 8i, HTML, PL/SQL, PcAnywhere, RAS, Vantive and
Win 2K
Responsibilities:
  • Develop reports for the latest release of “IDX Rad “ ver 10.0.184.
  • Analyze and make Specifications for the development of the reports for modules like Scheduling, Tracking and Billing.
  • Regularly analyze the reports in earlier builds and make enhancements to them if possible, and include them in the current build.
  • Develop the Stored procedures to be able to customize the report according to specifications.
  • Developed views using base tables and customized them to use it in the reports.
  • Developed stored procedures and made enhancements to older code which were having performance issue.
  • Support the report issues in “IDX Rad” version 10.0.183 as well as in latest build 10.0.184.
  • Solve Crystal Report issues on Client site and fix it at their site by RAS or PcAnywhere.
  • Used Vantive extensively to get the test and Web Server information for client sites. Regularly check Vantive for complaints from clients regarding crystal reports.
  • Was responsible to make changes on reports with issues, and include the changes in the Current Build for the release of the next version.
  • Also helped the development team by updating them on the critical problems faced by the current version and recommended the changes, to avoid problems in future builds.
  • Was responsible to develop customize reports requested by Clients.
  • Also responsible to see the smooth running of reports from the Application on the client sites.
  • Also help the installation Engineers by providing information and support on Crystal Reports issues.

Project / Eclaro.com, NY
Client / Eclaro.com
Duration / Oct’00-Jan01
Team size / 9
My role / Sr. Developer.
Business Need / The reports were meant to be seen by employees at the higher level such as Hiring Managers and the Recruiters at higher level.
Technology Solution / The main reports involved the data which helps to analyze the performance of the vendors for the requisitions and the submittals they had received for particular requisitions. The Second set of reports helps the recruiters to view and analyze the time cycle or the time taken by each job category to get the submittals. The reports were further divided by State and Cities and there percentages and summaries were also provided for them. Also the summaries part was done using Cross tabs to provide clear and compact idea about the requisitions and submittals. The Third set of reports were aimed at the low recruiter level whereon these recruiters were provided with the Submittal Worksheets of the details of the Job Requisition and the complete details of the submittals to the particular requisition. The users were provided by the parameter, which prompts them to enter the requisition number and get all the details pertaining to that requisition and the submittals to follow up. Stored Procedures were used in report to comply with the results required by the requirement of the report. Had extensively written the procedures to get the proper linking of the tables and retrieving data a needed.