To help with the development of an automatic website scraper, a number of steps can be taken. One of these steps is reducing the noise on the website. Secondly to create an automatic xPath extraction which basically defines the path to a certain element within the website.
I was tasked with developing a Google Extension that automatically removes the noise whilst also automatically calculating the xPaths for all the required fields from within the website. These fields are then passed to a system which then starts the automatic scraping.
Rupert from the Falcon Hotel approached me to produce a digital interactive drinks menu with the intention of improving the experience for their customers whilst they enjoy a relaxing meal at the Falcon Hotel.
The result is a bespoke system that is clean, clear and easy to navigate, to be viewed on both mobile and tablet devices. These devices will be available to anyone on arrival at the restaurant. I paid close attention to the mobile version of the site, enabling customers to retrieve the information they need as quickly and easily as possible.
The menu can also managed by the staff, allowing prices and drinks to be edited and changed at any given time.
If you’re looking for similar Bude Solutions, whether its a bespoke system to automate your business processes or you are interested in having a similar digital drinks menu created, then please feel free to contact me by visiting my contact page here.
I was approached by Tourist Information Centre to integrate a 3rd party bookings system into their existing system, as a part of the website’s revamp, whilst still allowing staff at Bude TIC to continue adding/modifying new pages to the website without interfering with the booking system.
Using the 3rd Party API documentation, I set about creating a bespoke WordPress plugin to interact with the booking data from their system, using PHP as the programming language. This allowed me to develop a page showing which of the accommodations in the system were available to book, for both online and telephone/offline bookings. After a booking has been selected, the data is then passed back up to their system with the parameters arrival date, departure date and many others for them to process the booking. All this is done seamlessly between Bude TIC and the 3rd Party company. I then created a bespoke availability calendar using the data from the 3rd Party system to make it easier for the pupil when searching for a booking.
The main issue with this project was understanding how WordPress would retrieve its data from the 3rd party system when viewing an individual accommodation. The solution involved mapping accommodation entities in the 3rd party system, to the accommodations posts created in WordPress. This in turn allows accommodations to be created in the booking system, enabling staff at Bude TIC to link it to an accommodation post within WordPress.
Whilst developing the plugin, I made sure all programming standards and practices as set out by WordPress were used. This ensures any future updates to the core of WordPress does not affect the website.
For all your cornwall software development needs, get in touch by telephone or drop me a line to start discussing.
Working with Dean has been an integral part of the re-design, branding and continuous marketing of Bude and developments to the VisitBude website. He is consistently able to take our brief and work his magic in creating a strong, impactful result that has seen positive feedback from locals and visitors to the area. We continue to work with Dean on numerous projects and value his input when required.
Mark - Director, Bude Area Tourist Board Ltd.
