Thread: Fw: Front end?
> Ray, > > On Dec 18, 2004, at 7:04 PM, Afton & Ray Still wrote: > >> Hello; >> I have spent a little time on PgAdmin III. I can see I'm playing with a >> lot of power. Now I need to figure out how to use the database. Is what >> I'm looking for the front end? (sorry haven't done much with data bases >> since paradox 3.) I'm looking for a front end(?) that is relativly easy, >> (I don't mind programing if necessary) cheap or preferably free, and has >> fairly good abilities for formated output. I would also like to be able >> to create a standalone application if possible. >> > > pgAdmin III is a generic front end for using PostgreSQL. It does not have > facilities for building interfaces or applications. PostgreSQL is just a > data server -- there are no interfaces building tools like you might have > had with paradox. > > It sounds like what you might be looking for is a development tool for > building a custom PostgreSQL interface? If you are looking for something > simple with interface building tools, maybe RealBasic > (http://realbasic.com/) or Revolution (http://www.runrev.com/). > > If by "standalone" application you mean something where the database and > application are integrated, you are probably using the wrong database. > PostgreSQL is a server type database and will be difficult to embed in an > application compared to something like SQLite. > > You can likely get some better suggestions if you provide more details on > what you are trying to do. > > > Best, > > John DeSoi, Ph.D. > http://pgedit.com/ > Power Tools for PostgreSQL > I admit I'm not real clear on terminolgy. As I understand it, front end means what the user sees and uses to input data and get information. The backend is what does the work and takes care of the details. Is this correct? So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to enter data into the data base using PgAdmin. So what I'm looking for is a way to enter data and get fairly good looking (well formated) reports. If I can get all of this I'll be happy, but idealy I'd also like to be able to create an aplication that I can give to a co-worker who is only semi-computer literate. It doesn't really matter if it's all self contained, as long as it's all transperent to the end user. I'm also playing with a very limited development budget. Any suggestions welcomed and appreciated. Ray --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.818 / Virus Database: 556 - Release Date: 12/17/2004
--- Afton & Ray Still <rastill@shaw.ca> wrote: > > So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to > enter data into the data > base using PgAdmin. So what I'm looking for is a > way to enter data and get > fairly good looking (well formated) reports. > > If I can get all of this I'll be happy, but idealy > I'd also like to be able > to create an aplication that I can give to a > co-worker who is only > semi-computer literate. It doesn't really matter if > it's all self > contained, > as long as it's all transperent to the end user. > > I'm also playing with a very limited development > budget. Does your co-worker have MS Office installed (I'm guessing that they probably do)? If so, do they have MS Access installed, or at least a license for it available? MS Access is most certainly not low-cost, but is so widely deployed in office environments, it is effectively a no cost solution in many cases. And it most certainly is a convenient way to quickly put together a functional database front end. > > Any suggestions welcomed and appreciated. > Ray > > > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system > (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.818 / Virus Database: 556 - Release > Date: 12/17/2004 > > > ---------------------------(end of > broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? > > > http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
Thanks to all for your suggestions. RealBasic may be good, but It's too expensive for the moment, I'll definatly keep Access in mind for letting others use the database, but as I don't have Access.... I've got Apache, PHP, and PostGreSQL up and operational so we'll see what happens. I should try to provide a summry of what I've learned to the group, but I'm not sure where to start. Probably, other than make sure you read the manuals, the main things are to install the three programs, and then test Apache by itself (can you see the Apache test page?), and then test PHP with Apache(a good test is phpinfo(). ) and finally get PHP to talk to PostgreSQL. Thanks everyone Ray > >>>>Now I need to figure out how to use the database. Is what I'm looking >>>>for the front end? > >>>>I'm looking for a front end(?) that is relativly easy, cheap or >>>>preferably free, and has fairly good abilities for formated output. I >>>>would also like to be able to create a standalone application if >>>>possible. > >>So what I'm looking for is a way to enter data and get >>fairly good looking (well formated) reports. >> >>I'd also like to be able >>to create an aplication that I can give to a co-worker who is only >>semi-computer literate. It doesn't really matter if it's all self >>contained, >>as long as it's all transperent to the end user. > > > I had only back-end experience for a while, and then wanted to make an > application also--perhaps similar to you. > > I like REALbasic. It has some quirks, but it's quite easy to use for > someone who is not a professional programmer. However you're looking at a > cost of a few hundred dollars. It will compile a standalone application > for Mac, Windows, or Linux using the same code. I've done some > crossplatform Mac/Windows stuff. Again, there are some quirks, but I > think you're going to find those everywhere. > > As a free option, I believe you can use postgres with php with a web > browser as the environment. THere are tons of books on php. However I > found the syntax of REALbasic easier. I think RB is also more powerful > when it comes to some things, although there are probably people who would > argue with me about that. THe REALbasic "networked user group" or "nug" > is a fabulous resource. You can get a free demo of RB. If you try it, > start by writing some "hello world" applications (the tutorial is > reasonably good) BEFORE jumping straight into database programming. > > HTH. I am also not a professional programmer. > > -Allan > > -- > Allan Berger, DVM, PhD, MBA > Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails Veterinary Service > <http://www.BrEBT.com> > -and- > Dept. of Internal Medicine > University of Iowa, 500 EMRB > Iowa City, IA 52242 > (319) 351-4256 (voice) > (319) 341-8445 (fax) -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.4 - Release Date: 12/22/2004
Ray, Depending on the complexity, you may want to consider maypole (http://maypole.perl.org/) for interacting with the database. Uses class::DBI for the model, which can work with postgres. Haven't tried it myself, yet, but planning on it. Sean On Dec 23, 2004, at 4:53 PM, Afton & Ray Still wrote: > Thanks to all for your suggestions. > RealBasic may be good, but It's too expensive for the moment, I'll > definatly keep Access in mind for letting others use the database, but > as I don't have Access.... > > I've got Apache, PHP, and PostGreSQL up and operational so we'll see > what happens. > I should try to provide a summry of what I've learned to the group, > but I'm not sure where to start. > Probably, other than make sure you read the manuals, the main things > are to install the three programs, and then test Apache by itself (can > you see the Apache test page?), and then test PHP with Apache(a good > test is phpinfo(). ) and finally get PHP to talk to PostgreSQL. > Thanks everyone > Ray
i'm heading down the same development route. you may want to look into using adodb as a database abstraction layer. you never know when it may make sense to use a different database to host your work. adodb can simplify the work required to change the database. i think i will use that route to develop my future projects. --- Afton & Ray Still <rastill@shaw.ca> wrote: > Thanks to all for your suggestions. > RealBasic may be good, but It's too expensive for > the moment, I'll definatly > keep Access in mind for letting others use the > database, but as I don't have > Access.... > > I've got Apache, PHP, and PostGreSQL up and > operational so we'll see what > happens. > I should try to provide a summry of what I've > learned to the group, but I'm > not sure where to start. > Probably, other than make sure you read the manuals, > the main things are to > install the three programs, and then test Apache by > itself (can you see the > Apache test page?), and then test PHP with Apache(a > good test is > phpinfo(). ) and finally get PHP to talk to > PostgreSQL. > Thanks everyone > Ray > > > > >>>>Now I need to figure out how to use the > database. Is what I'm looking > >>>>for the front end? > > > >>>>I'm looking for a front end(?) that is relativly > easy, cheap or > >>>>preferably free, and has fairly good abilities > for formated output. I > >>>>would also like to be able to create a > standalone application if > >>>>possible. > > > >>So what I'm looking for is a way to enter data and > get > >>fairly good looking (well formated) reports. > >> > >>I'd also like to be able > >>to create an aplication that I can give to a > co-worker who is only > >>semi-computer literate. It doesn't really matter > if it's all self > >>contained, > >>as long as it's all transperent to the end user. > > > > > > I had only back-end experience for a while, and > then wanted to make an > > application also--perhaps similar to you. > > > > I like REALbasic. It has some quirks, but it's > quite easy to use for > > someone who is not a professional programmer. > However you're looking at a > > cost of a few hundred dollars. It will compile a > standalone application > > for Mac, Windows, or Linux using the same code. > I've done some > > crossplatform Mac/Windows stuff. Again, there are > some quirks, but I > > think you're going to find those everywhere. > > > > As a free option, I believe you can use postgres > with php with a web > > browser as the environment. THere are tons of > books on php. However I > > found the syntax of REALbasic easier. I think RB > is also more powerful > > when it comes to some things, although there are > probably people who would > > argue with me about that. THe REALbasic > "networked user group" or "nug" > > is a fabulous resource. You can get a free demo > of RB. If you try it, > > start by writing some "hello world" applications > (the tutorial is > > reasonably good) BEFORE jumping straight into > database programming. > > > > HTH. I am also not a professional programmer. > > > > -Allan > > > > -- > > Allan Berger, DVM, PhD, MBA > > Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails Veterinary Service > > <http://www.BrEBT.com> > > -and- > > Dept. of Internal Medicine > > University of Iowa, 500 EMRB > > Iowa City, IA 52242 > > (319) 351-4256 (voice) > > (319) 341-8445 (fax) > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.4 - Release > Date: 12/22/2004 > > > ---------------------------(end of > broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
Ray.....
> Probably, other than make sure you read the manuals, the main things are to
> install the three programs, and then test Apache by itself (can you see the
> Apache test page?), and then test PHP with Apache(a good test is
> phpinfo(). ) and finally get PHP to talk to PostgreSQL.
Don't forget there is a PGSQL support for PHP, if you compiled or
installed the package right you should see it listed in phpinfo.
There is also a PGSQL PHP list you will want to subscribe to if you
haven't already.
The two websites in my signature are exactly that, PGSQL, Apache and PHP
running under Debian.
later....
brew
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