Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Database Help, Suggestions Please

T

typo19

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 27, 2007
5
0
I am trying to create a databse that is similar to the one in the link below. I am on a non-intel mac. Also, the database needs to be web-based and be accessible from any computer using all the popular browsers using no external software for access. I will not be hosting the database locally rather it will be located on the servers provided by the host. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also keep in mind that i need to deploy this rather quickly.
Thanks everyone, Cheers!

Typo
 
What exactly are you asking? How to build an invoicing system for a beginner? Are you trying to implement the functionality from the screenshots? This is not something you can just "pick up" real fast.
 
I am creating a basic work order database that can be accessed via web browsers. My client gave me the link to that particular site because it has the necessary components he is looking for. Basically he needs a database that has a user registration with login and password that clients can login to their accounts once created and edit their own jobs and track their status. I have no intention of making it as complex a system as the link he gave me, I was just looking for some quick suggestions that may help in pointing me in the most efficient direction. Thanks for your response and I hope to hear back from you.
 
High risk venture for someone new to databases. You have financial risk and private data risk here (logging into account to look up prior work orders implies private data stored on a web server...security now becomes really important)

My advice: Tell the client it will cost $$$ and sub contract it to a firm with a proven track record of developing ecommerce systems. Or choose a readymade product like OSCommerce (or some other package), be prepared to do a lot of learning, and live within the limitations of the system -- meaning the client can have it any way they want, as long as it's standard in the package you decided on.

Or walk away from it. If you try to roll your own on this you stand an excellent chance of *#* up big time. Make sure your liability insurance is paid up. (no, I am not joking. What do you think the client will do if their customer orders are dropped and they lose the business? Or if the data is hacked and they are sued?)

What did the web host say when you asked them what was available?
 
fuzzwud said:
looks like a perfect solution for Filemaker. it allows web access too!
Click to expand...

OK now that is a less than useful answer. Remember, the OP said specifically that they will not be hosting it on their Mac, that it will be hosted commercially.

In order to serve Filemaker databases to the web (whether through Instant Web Publishing, CDML, PHP, Lasso or some other middleware) to more than a few people, you have to run Filemaker Server Advanced ($1500) on the web server or on a machine connected to the web server.

You can count on one hand the number of hosting organizations that offer that service, and the price starts at about $75 per month.
 
CanadaRAM said:
OK now that is a less than useful answer. Remember, the OP said specifically that they will not be hosting it on their Mac, that it will be hosted commercially.

In order to serve Filemaker databases to the web (whether through Instant Web Publishing, CDML, PHP, Lasso or some other middleware) to more than a few people, you have to run Filemaker Server Advanced ($1500) on the web server or on a machine connected to the web server.

You can count on one hand the number of hosting organizations that offer that service, and the price starts at about $75 per month.
Click to expand...

Yes, there are companies that can host Filemaker on their servers. $75/month isn't very expensive at all. Also, check out Filemaker 9 which I believe does not require Lasso anymore. I can refer you to my Filemaker developer if you want to PM me.
 
fuzzwud said:
Yes, there are companies that can host Filemaker on their servers. $75/month isn't very expensive at all. Also, check out Filemaker 9 which I believe does not require Lasso anymore. I can refer you to my Filemaker developer if you want to PM me.
Click to expand...

LOL. I've been putting FM on the Web since 1997.

What I am saying, is that given the OP's experience, and the fact that they already have a web host, who with a 99.9% probability doesn't support Filemaker; the advice to use FM, while a viable option in some situations, is not particularly appropriate to this one.
 
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. As far as the security risk, there will be no financial transactions taking place at all through this database. My client is handling that outside and in person. Any personal information is going to be strictly office based contact info that anyone has access to through the business pages in the phone book or via company websites. Basically the final product is nothing more than a portal through which orders are placed, tracked and filled. Both the owner and the client can login to perform these various tasks. All other business will be performed over the phone. So i believe that i am going to up up using Filemaker onn the front-end and use a "Filemaker Server" provider on the back end for hosting. Please let me know your thought as this has been very helpful as I am not a beginner but I am always looking for other ways to increase efficiency of deployment and i really would like to avoid PHP and MySql on this one. Thanks again everyone.
 
Security is always an issue. Work orders is more than "yellow pages" public information.

Would the clients be happy about their competitors being able to see what their work orders were?

You have to design it with sufficient protections so that the clients don't have to worry about that. This means implementing a username/password database, and assigning each account a unique password.

How do you plan to integrate your front end with the Filemaker web server? They will be 2 separate databases, one on the machine in the office, one on the Web host. First of all, only one database can be the master. You can't make changes to both databases and then reconcile them (without a huge amount of programming, that is). So the usual scenario is that the web database is the master, and is periodically copied down locally and imported into the office database. Your front end database will not be connected 'live' to the web database (unless you set up hosting in the office and create a permanent connection to the web server ... which has its own set of challenges.)

I am concerned through this whole thread, that the practical problems involved are being glossed over.
 
CnadaRAM. you are so on top of this, extremely helpful and i appreciate it so much. I am in fact implementing a username/password specific to each account through an initial registration. If I use the databse as the master is there a way to create it so that changes can be made through an admin login via the web browser rather than copying it down locally? I am looking to have this hosted by a filemaker server host. The practical problems are absolutely the core of this thread and I really appreciate you getting down to the root of what I am asking. I look forward to your generous time and thoughts on this matter as it is really helping me as I move forward.

Typo
 
To plan this out for you would be getting a bit too close to what I do for a living to do it for you online.

At this point you should be contacting a programmer and paying for a consult to define your requirements and architecture, based on a proper understanding of your business.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back