Need online database that multiple users can update; need recommendations on everything
Hello,
I am running Windows XP Pro. I am a web designer (stress the designer, not the programmer!) for fun and occasionally for a little money. I would consider myself pretty good at HTML programming using Dreamweaver (which some disdain because it's a WYSWIG editor).
I am working on a project for a non-profit of which I am a member. We can't afford to pay a lot of money, we aren't on a time crunch, and I want to learn how to do this, so I'm using this as an opportunity to learn.
We need to create a web site/portal where several of us can go (password-protected, which I know how to do) and update records in a database. What we're doing now is just emailing an Excel spreadsheet to each other, and obviously you can imagine the tedium and potential for mistakes that this can cause. So we want to each take our stack of stuff that needs to be entered, go home, log in and update an online database as we have the time.
The more I read, I feel that SQL is the way to go; it seems to be the most flexible. Currently I'm hosted on a server (www.websitesource.com) that will support pretty much anything--PHP, ASP, whatever. However, if we need to change hosts, that is not a problem; I can do that.
I realize this is going to be a big learning curve. I do own MS Access, but it seems like that is just not the best way to go; Access is more user-friendly, it seems, but MySQL seems more versatile.
I have tried going through a tutorial and installing MySQL on my machine, but I am so stuck it's not even funny. I need to know where to start.
This may be way too wide-ranging for help here...I may be too far gone! But if you could give me some advice and pointers, I'd be so grateful. I want to learn this, and I think it's a good opportunity.
Thanks!
I am running Windows XP Pro. I am a web designer (stress the designer, not the programmer!) for fun and occasionally for a little money. I would consider myself pretty good at HTML programming using Dreamweaver (which some disdain because it's a WYSWIG editor).
I am working on a project for a non-profit of which I am a member. We can't afford to pay a lot of money, we aren't on a time crunch, and I want to learn how to do this, so I'm using this as an opportunity to learn.
We need to create a web site/portal where several of us can go (password-protected, which I know how to do) and update records in a database. What we're doing now is just emailing an Excel spreadsheet to each other, and obviously you can imagine the tedium and potential for mistakes that this can cause. So we want to each take our stack of stuff that needs to be entered, go home, log in and update an online database as we have the time.
The more I read, I feel that SQL is the way to go; it seems to be the most flexible. Currently I'm hosted on a server (www.websitesource.com) that will support pretty much anything--PHP, ASP, whatever. However, if we need to change hosts, that is not a problem; I can do that.
I realize this is going to be a big learning curve. I do own MS Access, but it seems like that is just not the best way to go; Access is more user-friendly, it seems, but MySQL seems more versatile.
I have tried going through a tutorial and installing MySQL on my machine, but I am so stuck it's not even funny. I need to know where to start.
This may be way too wide-ranging for help here...I may be too far gone! But if you could give me some advice and pointers, I'd be so grateful. I want to learn this, and I think it's a good opportunity.
Thanks!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
I guess what I need to do first is figure out which program/language I want to use to build the database. Then I would create the database, then integrate it with a web interface. Would that be the correct sequence of events?
I'll break this down into specific questions from now on--that will help me get more specific answers. Thanks!
I'll break this down into specific questions from now on--that will help me get more specific answers. Thanks!
I would start with the programming language. If you decide for PHP, then MySQL would be the perfect choice.
However, the scope of Visual Studio 2005 (soon 2008) is much wider, and it goes by default with Access and SQL Server and with a free plugin with MySQL.
/gustav
However, the scope of Visual Studio 2005 (soon 2008) is much wider, and it goes by default with Access and SQL Server and with a free plugin with MySQL.
/gustav
Yep alot will depend on which programming language you choose, personally I would go with PHP and MySQL, but its only my personal opinion.
There are lots of pros and cons for each, however it really depends on what you want to use it for specifically and which suits the best in terms of development.
There are lots of pros and cons for each, however it really depends on what you want to use it for specifically and which suits the best in terms of development.
ASKER
Sorry to be dragging this out. I've been doing a lot of research today on PHP/MySQL vs. ASP Visual Studio vs. Coldfusion. I'm trying to figure out which one is going to be the easiest for me to learn.
It sounds like Coldfusion would integrate well with Dreamweaver, and I'm a fan of Macromedia/Adobe's products. I don't mind spending the money if it's going to be easier to learn. That has been my problem with PHP and MySQL, it just seems so foreign to me and it's really hard for me to learn.
I know it's a hard question (since you are not me!) but what do you think has the gentlest learning curve? Or maybe what I mean is, do they have lots of "wizards" and things to help newbies like me?
It sounds like Coldfusion would integrate well with Dreamweaver, and I'm a fan of Macromedia/Adobe's products. I don't mind spending the money if it's going to be easier to learn. That has been my problem with PHP and MySQL, it just seems so foreign to me and it's really hard for me to learn.
I know it's a hard question (since you are not me!) but what do you think has the gentlest learning curve? Or maybe what I mean is, do they have lots of "wizards" and things to help newbies like me?
To me (again my personal opinion) I have touched on a lot of programming languages, and personally I have found PHP to be one of the EASIEST and tidiest languages to learn and implement, especially with MySQL.
Feeling foreign when learning a new language is normal, I am sure no matter what you choose that you will feel much more confident in that language after only a few hours of playing around and testing with it :-)
Feeling foreign when learning a new language is normal, I am sure no matter what you choose that you will feel much more confident in that language after only a few hours of playing around and testing with it :-)
If you decide to learn a language, you can learn it given you spend some time.
I even bought a book on PHP and MySQL but never liked that combo. After 10 years with Access and VBA I decided for Visual Studio and C# (which is very much like Java). With 2005 it became easy to use different databases including MySQL and XML.
One point I think is very important as a database programmer, is the ability to separate design code from the database and application code.
But, as said, the situation for you may be very different. Look for tutorials and videos, like the JumpStart code download for Visual Studio and the book:
http://examples.oreilly.com/vbjumpstart/
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbjumpstart/
and "Learn Visual Studio":
http://www.learnvisualstudio.net
/gustav
I even bought a book on PHP and MySQL but never liked that combo. After 10 years with Access and VBA I decided for Visual Studio and C# (which is very much like Java). With 2005 it became easy to use different databases including MySQL and XML.
One point I think is very important as a database programmer, is the ability to separate design code from the database and application code.
But, as said, the situation for you may be very different. Look for tutorials and videos, like the JumpStart code download for Visual Studio and the book:
http://examples.oreilly.com/vbjumpstart/
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbjumpstart/
and "Learn Visual Studio":
http://www.learnvisualstudio.net
/gustav
ASKER
Hey, just an update--I found an online service that I think is going to work for us. It's not a situation where I'm going to learn anything, but this way we can get this rolling and I can take my time to learn. I think I am going to learn PHP--it seems to be the most flexible and the most likely to be around for a few more years! The online DB I picked is pretty nice--very basic, but it meets our needs. it's at www.trackvia.com.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Nice, well done, good luck in learning PHP and MySQL!
Its a fun language to learn, I am sure you will enjoy it.
Its a fun language to learn, I am sure you will enjoy it.
Then, get the free Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa975050.aspx
It comes with examples, and learning videos are available around, some for free. That is learning too, but much much more fun than struggling with MySQL.
Finally, pick another zone too; this one is for Access.
/gustav