Online Database?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jm
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J

jm

I'd like to try to figure out how to get a small simple database on line for
my business. I'd like to host it myself but I have no idea what would be
required. I need for both customers and employees to run queries and post
new information. Can anyone help me figure out where to start. Thanks,
John
 
jm said:
I'd like to try to figure out how to get a small simple database on line for
my business. I'd like to host it myself but I have no idea what would be
required. I need for both customers and employees to run queries and post
new information. Can anyone help me figure out where to start. Thanks,

What database do you use now?
Access, SQL server, something else?

What web server do you use now?
IIS (included into Window)?

IIS supports querying to such databases and
it supports security so that you can allow/
disallow based on the user.

Access is more suitable for small numbers or
users, low volume etc.

This is not extremely difficult but it requires
quite a bit of fiddling, and can be quite tedious
unless you understand both IIS and your Database.

And you may do better to cross post to the relevant
groups (include them in your message Newsgroups
TO: line) if you will use the above.

People who do database-IIS setups everyday will
be more likely to help you.
 
jm said:
I'd like to try to figure out how to get a small simple database on
line for my business. I'd like to host it myself but I have no idea
what would be required. I need for both customers and employees to
run queries and post new information. Can anyone help me figure out
where to start. Thanks, John

Microsoft Access is a great application for this type of thing, however
there is a considerable learning curve, depending on how complex the db is,
how many people will be using it, and how much you know about computers and
database applications. If you own a copy of Office Professional, it
includes Access.

My suggestion is to get a copy of Access installed and play around with the
sample databases and read some of the documentation to see if you have a
feel for it and grasp the basic principles well enough to proceed.

I assume that if you want customers to be able to enter data you will need
an externally facing UI, such as a Web application that customers can
access from the Internet.

If this is the case and you don't have Web application development
experience, you probably should consider hiring a local Access developer to
create the database and app for you. This is particularly true due to
security concerns -- you don't want to accidentally expose your database to
the whole Internet.

--
James McIllece, Microsoft

Please do not send email directly to this alias. This is my online account
name for newsgroup participation only.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
Herb,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful response. Sorry that I omitted that
mine is an MS Access database. I developed it and I am pretty familiar with
Access on a wizard level. I did have to look up IIS though. It looks as
though I've got a lot to study up on but am encouraged to find out that what
I have in mind might be possible.

Thanks again,

John
 
jm said:
Herb,

Thank you very much for your thoughtful response. Sorry that I omitted that
mine is an MS Access database. I developed it and I am pretty familiar with
Access on a wizard level. I did have to look up IIS though. It looks as
though I've got a lot to study up on but am encouraged to find out that what
I have in mind might be possible.

It is definitely possible, it isn't even extremely hard,
but it is a lot to understand/learn/fiddle all at once.

Linking the web pages to the database is not that bad
but you also have to create the web pages to support the
queries, answers, etc.

You might even look at FrontPage (which can help with
much of this) -- that would be especially good if you had
ever used it previously but otherwise it is another chunck
to sort out.
 
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