RE: On databases again - front ends
- From: Jamal Mazrui <empower@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:52:04 -0400 (EDT)
Whatever solution you come up with, please let us know if possible.
This is probably a common scenario!
Jamal
On Thu, 10 Apr 2008, Ken Perry wrote:
> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:43:45 -0700
> From: Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: On databases again - front ends
>
>
>
> Yes the problem is they have a database in access to do one task then
> another database in access to do something else. Then they have two or
> three things that they do in Excel, then they have 2 things they write notes
> on in word because when it was set up they didn't know there was access. So
> what we have is a screen full of crap that could be made into one simpler
> application like the two others. It's a big mess is what it is.
>
> Ken
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal Mazrui
> Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 5:03 AM
> 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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