Need some smart database guys' help

[tkdkid]

Originally posted by: dmurray14
tkdkid,

Sorry about that, I meant to include it in the previous message. No, they do not need to search data out in the field. They just need to be able to input it.

Rogue,

I would imagine both farms do have phone lines, but in all honesty I'm not sure. I like your idea, but the only problem is, it would mean that they would need yet another server over there, and we really are on a tight budget.

Evadman, I'm glad to hear that it can be done. I'll have to look at some websites and see if I can figure it out.

Thanks guys, keep it coming!

Dan

Ok, well now it's much easier. They just need a database on the laptop to store the information that they enter, an app to let them enter that info, an app to take that information and add it to the main database, and another app to search/update the main database.

Access with a VB front end should work fine. You can always move to SQLServer or mySQL if their needs grow.

 

[DT4K]

Yes, that does make it much easier.
If all they need to be able to do from the field is enter data, then there is no need to worry about a connection. You don't even need a db on the laptop or PDA. Just write a simple VB app that lets them enter the inventory data and stores it in a text file or xml file. Then write a function that they can run when they get back to the main site and connect to the network, that reads the file and does the inserts and updates to the database on the main server.

Then I'd just write another app in VB, to run at the office, that does all the lookups on the db.

I still don't understand why people say Access isn't good for searching. Maybe I'm confused, but I've never had any problems getting whatever I want to get from an Access db with plain sql queries.

EDIT: If they need to be able to do the uploads from one farm to another without going back to the main farm, you can use a dial-up modem without needing a second server. Just plug the laptop into a phone line and connect to the main server over the internet to do the upload function.

 

[dmurray14]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. So far, I think I should be able to get started, but I'll probably be back

DAM, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think I could let you do that while I get paid for it. Seriously though, thanks again, and i'll probably come back to you looking for help if that's ok?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: dmurray14
Hey guys,

Hopefully someone has some experience in this. I am looking to design an inventory control system for a Nursery (farm of trees) that just does basic things like storing all the inventory, and allowing them to sort by type of tree, location, etc. They would like this to be customized to their farm. Originally, I was going to do this all in ColdFusion, but they need to be able to update out in the field. They will have laptops (or 1 laptop for now) to go out and inventory the trees. CF could be used with wifi, except the farm is rather large, and they have two of them, one a few miles away from the office. So, they will probably need to take inventory on the laptop and then come back to the office and connect it to the network to download the information to a server that all the computers will have access to. Only problem is, I'm not sure what the best way to go about doing this would be. Any ideas to what I could use as a base program? I was thinking Access, but it doesn't seem to be intuitive enough, and I couldn't figure out how to allow them to do a search and sort by a particular item. As I said before, I would like to use ColdFusion, because I am rather familiar with that, but they won't be able to access the network half the time. Any other ideas? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan

use Remote Access/ Terminal Services.

 

[CaseTragedy]

I'd go with an Access or Filemaker solution.


-Case