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Database - Web Based

I have a potential new customer that runs a non-profit organization that wants a web based database; it would be used to find and track donors, referrals, do some billing and follow up. Right now, as I have been told, there are running multiple Access databases along with some Excel spreadsheets. They want to do web based data entry accessible via the Intranet or Internet with Secure Login; ablility to make adjustments to the fields and they are open to any programming languages. Although this is a minimum amount of information - is there anything anyone would recommend in order to do this?

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Jeffrey Coachman

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Daren Anderson, MSIS

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I do have many years experience using Access as well as many other higher end databases - SQL/Oracle; as well as a lot of experience in web design. So I will agree this would be a huge undertaking for someone with less experience. I probably should have not put this in the Access category. Also, the details were very incomplete for anyone to make a educated guesstimate on it. I am not sure on their budget but since it is a non-profit; I would think it is minimal. Also, I am trying to find out there existing infrastructure - i.e. servers, SQL, etc. I dont have that information as of yet. I was thinking of looking at doing something in asp.net or something along those lines but with time constraints, I was wondering if anyone may recoomend something else with the very bad specs I have given.....

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Rey Obrero (Capricorn1)

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Daren Anderson, MSIS

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Yes I have used SQL Server Express in the past....good thought..

Jim Dettman (EE MVE)

If the current setup does what they want, then you may consider simply putting the Access databases on the web with something like this:

www.eqldata.com

Another alternative is to run a terminal services server and have users remote in.

However if there truly a need for a web based end user app then you have two choices:

1. Use Access with Sharepoint - Expensive and as Jeff pointed out, may not be capable of doing everything you want.

2. Re-write the apps with something like ASP.Net.

Jim.

Jeffrey Coachman

CFProcessMgr,

Thanks for the clarifications.

We always have to mention the skills required, because many user (with limited experience) will presume that this will be easy
(Just click the "Make web database" button)
;-)

Then all my initial posts should still be valid.

;-)

Jeff