Hey guys, I have a girlfriend that needs a DB to collate customer details like phone, address, lease type, etc. It needs to be accessible and changeable by two offices (both can access the server) and around 10 computers.

What would be the best options for this job ? License requirements, etc. Really not my cup of tea.

TIA

The easy option - Access
The best option - MySQL+PHP/Ruby but will require longer development time.

Sharepoint ftw

isn't sharepoint more of a document repository/sharing system that actually uses ms-sql as the underlying db?


you might not even need php to be able to easily utilise mysql, there's a couple of win32 apps you can use to interface with mysql, possibly a couple of linux ones too

Also, Sharepoint. From what I understand, if you have Windows 2003, sharepoint services is free and it will do what you want with pretty interfaces - ie. you don't need db skills to set it up, plus it integrates well with office 2003/2007.

edit: not sure about licensing the db side of things

last edited by Strange Rash at 09:57:17 24/Jun/07

Sharepoint Portal Services tied in with Microsoft InfoPath might work quite nicely if they're non-technical. But there's still going to be some development time involved, and you're still going to end up needing to store some data in a MSSQL DB as Jim says.

There is a pretty decent open source one floating around. The catch is that you would require some technical knowledge to set it up.

for a demo check:
http://opensourcecms.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442

but its free! there is a commercial version that has extra stuff.

edit: looking at it, it might be overkill

last edited by Thundercracker at 11:19:47 24/Jun/07

If you are a vaguelly competent .Net / win32 developer then the Express SQL Server 2005 may be a good option.

There are some limitations compared with the licensed version but these are mainly centered around database size limitations that only affect larger projects that wouldn't worry a smalle homegrown project.

The above all assumes that you might be working with a Microsoft technology to put the product together. If you're not then you're probably better off grabbing one of the other platforms noted above.

Basically if you're writing the front end in a Microsoft-flavoured language like C# or VB or something, then SQL Server is the ideal back end as it will save you a fair bit of f***ing around, the components are all designed to 'just work' together. If you're not using a MS product for the front end then you should go with whatever the vendor is best paired with it.

Don't create hassles for yourself mixing and matching components of the project just because you can!

Edit: Just re-read your post and I think I'm off base. I don't think you're looking for a DB, rather a complete product? No idea re. that sorry.

last edited by Hogfather at 11:38:34 24/Jun/07

Wow thanks for all the responses guys, definitely some quality info to pass along

Here's one where they've done all the work for you, and have a free 21 trial version for you to download: StromaSoft CRM

Technical Features
* Network support for multiple users.
* Import existing contacts from any data source, ODBC, CSV file and MS Outlook.
* Mail merge for MS Word.
* Custom fields available for tailoring to specific needs.
* Access or SQL Server database
* Windows or Web versions available.

Looks like for 5 user network version is US$500. I don't know anything about this product i just googled: cheap easy crm, figuring you shouldn't have to do something yourself these days considering your basic requirements.

Casa can write you a filemaker DB!!!!

i vote for access

just use a template out of the box and she would be up and running in no time

also she prol already has it so no extra expense

how does access handle multiple concurrent write operations, I thought it was a flat file type thing, not an actual server

MySQL + PHP on Linux or Windows if you really must. There are plenty of ready made OSS CRM type apps on sourceforge

how does access handle multiple concurrent write operations, I thought it was a flat file type thing, not an actual server

Access does actually attempt to handle concurrency, and it does it OK I guess. It has the facility to enable table and row locking etc, especially if connecting to it via ADO. I guess an Access Form could also do that.

Its still a kind of very s***house platform for development. There's many good reasons why DAO has been scrapped. The need to compact and repair the database to avoid corruption is kind of bollocks. Also the inability to embed logic more sophisticated than a rather simple SELECT query makes it pretty much inappropriate for serious work as you have to place s***loads of business logic in the client.

But I like it that people continue to create Access and Fox Pro databases, or run their business off eleventy brazillion spreadsheets. It gives me something to do when they finally realise that their system sucks :)

last edited by Hogfather at 11:04:32 25/Jun/07

Why not active directory or exchange?

I am sure there is some type of system in there that can store that data.

cos they are massive overkill and bloated behemoths, would be my response to that question

learn some php functions to get/put data from SQLite

yeah sounds like a crm need, as mentioned theres a few oss crm's out there. Personally ive used and installed sugarcrm http://www.sugarcrm.com/crm/
very good and well supported community, free if you do it yourself or i think you can pay for them to host it / set it up etc (Web based)

runs on a regular LAMP server. Fairly easy going install, requires a little tech knowledge, even easier on an OSX Server.

Sugar is very business process / inventory based. That becomes a pita.

For something simple check out MindQuarry http://www.mindquarry.com

It handles document check out/in well and tracks edits like the code development tool, Trac.

For a competetive hourly rate I can even install it / configure the thing if your needs are such :-)

from the brief description of the requirement it seems like they want more of a contact inventory based process. Rather than some document tracker. Dont get me wrong I like mindquarry. Just to me doesnt fit what it sounds like they need. Might be getting too hung up on the multiple access part.

Hey she probably doesn't even need as much as a full blown crm system. Something like an online spreadsheet ala Google Spreadsheets or editgrid.com would fill the gap.

Heres a useful post of links from ReadWriteWeb, even if it's not exactly fitting her type there are some goods jumps in there.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/web_20_backpack_web_apps_for_students.php

I like Filemaker. I'm used to it, it works, its cheap enough.