charles_hall
asked on
Best web development tool for RDBMS application
I have a client that has a simple Relational DB application. They are currently working with a single table webex DB solution , but would like to take it to the next level - ie cross link a master table with two supporting tables. MS Access would be ideal for this, however the company is small (4 users), they run on Macs, and they have no IT department so no central servers, and work out of home offices across the states. Expected number of records is 1000 per year.
My expertise is not in web database app development, and in researching this a bit, I have discovered there are a myriad of web development platforms out there, with nothing to help guide a newbie - lots of camps focused on their chosen tool, but nothing to help choose the best tool for this application. Also, the tools do not seem to be as powerful as would be desired, so development costs would likely be high. What would be ideal is something that had the power of Access, its ability to build forms with embedded subforms. And a report generator like Access' which can put together a report that had master records, followed by sub records on the same page.
Thanks - Charlie
My expertise is not in web database app development, and in researching this a bit, I have discovered there are a myriad of web development platforms out there, with nothing to help guide a newbie - lots of camps focused on their chosen tool, but nothing to help choose the best tool for this application. Also, the tools do not seem to be as powerful as would be desired, so development costs would likely be high. What would be ideal is something that had the power of Access, its ability to build forms with embedded subforms. And a report generator like Access' which can put together a report that had master records, followed by sub records on the same page.
Thanks - Charlie
Last Comment
sherriweb
You can get a cheap hosting service with a mySQL database and a phpMyAdmin interface to administer the db. This would be cheap, powerful, flexible and very easy to manage. If a web/hosted solution is ok.
ASKER
Hi,
Are you saying that phpMyAdmin has forms and reporting capabilities similar to Access? And that would solve the problem I describe in my question?
Thanks
Are you saying that phpMyAdmin has forms and reporting capabilities similar to Access? And that would solve the problem I describe in my question?
Thanks
Well, phpMyAdmin does give you a form-based interface to create, edit and populate your db tables. You can also use SQL to do this in phpMyAdmin if you are technically inclined. And yes you can have a master table that links via foreign keys to subtables.
The best thing is that most hosting companies will already have mySQL and phpMyAdmin installed and configured for you. you just have to log in and start creating tables. Then you have the flexibility to write applications to use the db if you want via php, perl, python, Java etc.
See: http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/try.php for a demo and screenshots. It is also skinnable if you don't like the default theme.
The best thing is that most hosting companies will already have mySQL and phpMyAdmin installed and configured for you. you just have to log in and start creating tables. Then you have the flexibility to write applications to use the db if you want via php, perl, python, Java etc.
See: http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/try.php for a demo and screenshots. It is also skinnable if you don't like the default theme.
Also b/c it's a web interface they can access it from anywhere on any type of computer (macs included). And you can get unix hosting for under $9 / month.
ASKER
I can see how the form-based interface would be good for me as an administrator, but I was wondering about a form-based interface for my users - something that I would create (easily) and they would run - and something that supported the subform within a form concept? Are you suggesting that phpMyAdmin would work for that application as well?
Thanks
--Charlie
Thanks
--Charlie
I don't know. depends on how web savvy your users are. You might just whip up a simpler interface for them with php and html.
ASKER
So for the user interface, are you suggesting php directly, or are there frameworks (if that is the right term) that would fit my application and accelerate the development ?
Well, phpMyAdmin is a database management interface. Used for DB savvy users who are not necessarily strong with SQL. So it will aid you in creating tables, setting keys, indexes etc.
However if you want something fool-proof and customized to YOUR tables, your best bet is to write your own mini-admin area with a few forms to insert/delete/update data in the tables and maybe run a few reports (whatever your users need) if you're only talking about a couple tables and needing some basic functionality a full framework would be overkill for you. Do you know any server-side programming languages? if not, a professional PHP developer could whip something like this up for you for a few hundred bucks I think.
However if you want something fool-proof and customized to YOUR tables, your best bet is to write your own mini-admin area with a few forms to insert/delete/update data in the tables and maybe run a few reports (whatever your users need) if you're only talking about a couple tables and needing some basic functionality a full framework would be overkill for you. Do you know any server-side programming languages? if not, a professional PHP developer could whip something like this up for you for a few hundred bucks I think.
ASKER
Thanks for the suggestions - I have continued to research possible solutions and have discovered a product called Iron Speed (www.ironspeed.com) which seems particularly suited to my needs although it is expensive relative to your suggestion of a PHP developer. Do you have any experience with Iron Speed, or could you look at them and let me know if you think they would provide a reasonable framework for my application?
Thanks
Thanks
Sorry, I've never used IronSpeed.
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Xlinesoft? Hmm.. nope.
ASKER
I am not sure how to close this question - I think I found two framework solutions and would also accept one of your responses - so the solution would be a combination of two of my answers and one of yours - I could not find how to score this properly - please help - thanks
You could give it a score of B... or mark as an assisted answer maybe. *scratches head* I'm new to Experts Exchange myself! :)
PS I'm curious as to what you decided to go with.
PS I'm curious as to what you decided to go with.
ASKER
Maybe you can find out how to score this since it appears I can either accept one of my solutions (not more than one) or I can select more than one solutions that I did not suggest, but more than one solutions, whereI contributed some of the answers appears not to be possible.
I am leaning towards Xlinesoft's phprunner, but it is up to the client and I presented several different options, so it will depend on their criteria.
--Charlie
I am leaning towards Xlinesoft's phprunner, but it is up to the client and I presented several different options, so it will depend on their criteria.
--Charlie
If you feel I only partially contributed, why not just mark it as the solution with a lower grade? It's really not a big deal.
ASKER
I would have thought it was important for other users to know what the solution was - and it seems the solution assignment system does not allow me to do that.
As such, I will mark the solution which was closest to the answer and hope other users read this exchange to see there were other solutions as well
I apologise that this means your efforts are not rewarded - since it is "not a big deal" I suspect it is acceptable to you. Thanks again for all your help!
As such, I will mark the solution which was closest to the answer and hope other users read this exchange to see there were other solutions as well
I apologise that this means your efforts are not rewarded - since it is "not a big deal" I suspect it is acceptable to you. Thanks again for all your help!
That's fine. Good luck with your project.
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