RE: On databases again - front ends
- From: Jamal Mazrui <empower@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:03:00 -0400 (EDT)
Is a database currently being used (not Excel)?
Jamal
On Wed, 9 Apr 2008, Ken
Perry wrote:
> Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 17:24:55 -0700
> From: Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
>
>
>
> Yes I agree they can learn to run them in the Access database but that is my
> point exactly. I can't make the reports or the forms in access the way I
> want because its not accessible well it might be but I haven't had a chance
> yet to get into the scripts and see if they can be made more accessible.
>
> Yes some training is done but the simpler it is the better. Meaning if I
> can make it as easy as a menu driven ATM then there won't be any mistakes.
> You would be suppressed the error checking that is in our current database
> so that people don't make mistakes.
>
> I will be trying out your tool though and if it helps it does but it doesn't
> seem to do what I need at first glance. I will know more later and will let
> you know what I think.
>
> Ken
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal Mazrui
> Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 8:44 AM
> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
>
> Thanks for explaining and for your feedback on DbDialog. Certainly, it does
> not have nearly the form and report customization capability as MS Access.
> Such customization is limited enough that I did not use the term custom form
> or custom report in the documentation. However, let me make sure you're
> aware what customizations are possible.
>
> The buttons and field layout are standard, but you can choose what fields of
> a table are available for input or display on the status line, and can
> choose the label of each field. Only columnar output is available, but you
> can choose which fields, their sequence, and the sort order of the records.
> You can filter what records are included in various ways. Output may be
> saved to a file or the clipboard.
>
> I would think that some training would be important before letting
> volunteers enter new client records, parking permits, etc.
>
> Add a new client = Pick the client table and choose the Add button
>
> Issue a parking permit = Pick the permits table and choose the Add button
>
> Log a donation = Pick the gifts table and choose the Add button
>
> Since the database can be in .mdb format, more sophisticated reports can be
> created with Access, itself. Usually, more advanced users would run such
> reports, and they can learn to execute a report from a list of predefined
> ones in an Access database.
>
> Searching is easy -- either the Jump or Filter commands to find
> record(s) of interest.
>
> Jamal
> On Wed, 9 Apr 2008, Ken Perry wrote:
>
> > Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 06:10:14 -0700
> > From: Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Reply-To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
> >
> >
> >
> > Ah you see there is the problem they have to learn it. A database
> > application usually has a menu of things people can do for example the
> > Disability resource Centre here in Victoria has a current database
> > that comes up with a single menu and says something like.
> >
> > Add New Client
> > Issue Parking pass
> > Search Parking passes
> > Take donation
> >
> >
> > There are a bit more but that is the choices that the person gets
> > there is not a lot of clutter when the person picks what they want
> > forms are displayed and there are ok and cancel buttons that lead the
> > user through a wizard to do each task. It has to be this simple
> > because the DRC uses mostly Volunteers to do the front desk work so
> > they can not afford to have to train people which is where the problem
> > is coming in there are a few things right now that they have been
> > having to teach people to use Excel because when ever they add a
> > contract they work on lately they just tell the front desk to open a
> > spread sheet and enter the data which gets to be a mess. They want
> > all the system that they currently open 4 programs for all in one
> > database. Now this should be a simple process but because of the
> > accessibility of Access and the crappie way some of the web interfaces
> looks for a new user it is not something I can do quick enough to do pro
> bono.
> > Now if your database manager can create easy user interfaces with a
> > simple menu at the front and wizards I can walk them through then you
> > have exactly what I am looking for but I have installed it and read
> > the documentation and not found what I wanted.
> >
> > Also I found that I had trouble just closing the interface there was
> > no way to just alt-f4 was I missing something?
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal
> > Mazrui
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:02 AM
> > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
> >
> > Can you elaborate on what you mean by an interface for someone else?
> > To me, an advantage of a general-purpose database manager is that the
> > same interface is presented regardless of the database table being
> > used. Once a user learns the commands for manipulating data, they are
> > transferrable to any table that one defines for DBDialog, which then
> > become available on a pick list of possible tables to work with.
> >
> > Jamal
> > On Tue, 8 Apr 2008, Ken
> > Perry wrote:
> >
> > > Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 20:22:20 -0700
> > > From: Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Reply-To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The database manager which I do have installed seems to only let you
> > > create and modify the database. It does not make it so you can make
> > > applications for users. The tool will do for what I want to do for
> > > fun here at the house but it will not work for the application I
> > > want to develop for my wife or work. It still will be a good tool
> > > in developing the database but that is not what I am having trouble
> > > with the trouble comes in in creating the interface for other than my
> self.
> > >
> > > Ken
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal
> > > Mazrui
> > > Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 2:35 PM
> > > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: Re: On databases again - front ends
> > >
> > > A couple years ago, I developed a speech friendly database manager
> > > called DbDialog. It is open source in the AutoIt language, and uses
> > > Microsoft Access databases by default -- though almost any with an
> > > ADO API
> > will work.
> > >
> > > http://EmpowermentZone.com/ddsetup.exe
> > >
> > > FYI -- A page with all my open source application is at
> > > http://testsite.blind-planet.com/node/17
> > >
> > > and all my fruit basket programs are at
> > > http://testsite.blind-planet.com/node/28
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Jamal
> > >
> > > __________
> > > View the list's information and change your settings at
> > > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
> > >
> > > __________
> > > View the list's information and change your settings at
> > > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
> > >
> > __________
> > View the list's information and change your settings at
> > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
> >
> > __________
> > View the list's information and change your settings at
> > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
> >
> __________
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>
> __________
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>
__________
View the list's information and change your settings at
//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
Other related posts:
