Software

[richblend]

Hi people.

Im doing a booking system for an acypuncturist at the moment. its all pretty easy stuff, just putting appointments into a mysql databse and stuff. heres the thing. this whole booking system is very 'online' you know? like the acupunctureist has to use a browser to get to their admin section to manage their appointments and stuff. what i wanna know is, how do companes like that manage appointments and stuff? surely their whole client list isnt always online.. is there software available that would do this same kinda thing but in a windows kind of environment? where they can just start this windows program and it would show their appointments and stuff.... if people see what im getting at...

cheers for you help, sorry im so vague.

Rich

[weekender]

a database, maybe - ever used microsoft access? you could have the db in access or mssql, then access it both by using access or write a php front end for the web

adam

[richblend]

ok, thats getting me somewhere cheers. hows about this then... online bookings to be made going into an access db, and then creating a simple app in windows (visual basic) which can also interface with this db?

im just wondering how the slightly larger companies do it really.

[weekender]

you don't need to create a vb interface - use forms and reports in ms access

big firms might use ms sql server, with an access project as 'in-house' front end, and an asp/php website for online bookings

adam

[richblend]

well yeah, thing is, this all came from something i saw on tv....

in my experience ive always done this klinda thing with an admin section of thje site. then i saw this thing on tv about a website, and they had a content management system to keep their catalogue up to date, but instead of having an admin secion using html, php etc, they had a windows program running. maybe it was one of those pre made shopping cart system things you can buy, im just curious about it. like if one day i have a client, who perhaps runs their client databse as access on a local machine, and they want me to somehow interface it with online booking and stuff. im thinking a nice custom made visual basic front end would be nicer for them than fannying around with access.

[weekender]

you can do some pretty convincing stuff in access - such as creating your own menus, toolbars, help etc. You can make it so the user can't even tell that it's access underneath - it's not that hard, and has the benefit of having full security and data integrity built in

adam