RE: On databases again - front ends
- From: "Georgina" <gena@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:59:19 +0100
Hi
Many thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. My situation is
similar to that of Ken's. They are sighted users who have a variety of
computer literacy skills. Thus a few simple rules have to be built into the
management of the database. Like only presenting the relevant information
to achieve the desired task.
I too will be playing with Jamal's utility. Which I didn't know of
previously.
Thanks for your contributions.
Gena
-----Original Message-----
From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal Mazrui
Sent: 10 April 2008 13:03
To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
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
> > >
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