Hope some one can Help 1

[FPEngineer]

I have an idea for a project database that I want to develop for my office to help in communicating and storing information and hopefully make projects run smother. I am starting from square one so I am open to suggestions. I would like to use either MS Access or possibly a MySQL. My experience is limited to a small Access database used to track equipment assigned to individuals as well as their personal data.

The function of the database would be to store project information (project number, Project Name, location, date started, principal, project manager, others that are assigned etc.) budget info (total value of project, hours allowed to each person, update hours used by each person as the project moves along, ) a log of project materials received and shipped, deadline dates. This is the basic idea.

I would like to have some type of simple interface to enter the data much like the forms used in access with drop down menus and text boxes etc. I would also like to be able to lock certain people out from entering or changing certain information, for example the receptionist is allowed to enter in materials received from the client but she is not allowed to change or enter in budget information. If I were to go with MySQL I am not certain how to make this interface, I have read that you can use an Access front end and MySQL back end but I am not sure if that is recommended. What other methods are there?

I know I have a lot of reading and learning ahead of me and any advice would be very helpful.

I am going to post this in the general database forum as well as the MS Access and MySQL Forums in hopes that someone will be able to put me on the right track.

 

[Shrum]

Not to sound *offstandish* but why not just use MS Project? I believe it does all this already and is somewhat customizable.

I also *believe* that the data can be exported to different formats (dbl-check me on this)

Sean Shrum

http://consulting.shrum.net

 

[FPEngineer]

I have considered project but was looking for something a little simpiler (not to develope but to use) not everyone in the office has or knows how to use project (i am a novice at it myself).

esentially looking for a GUI that is user friendly and simple.

Currenly we have project opening forms, active project lists, project budget sheets, no tracking of information recieved or sent except for digging though project files and the list goes on. Some of the information is kept electronically on excel spreadsheets, some is kept on personal hard drives some is kept in paper project files. the whole system seems pretty inefficient. not to mention my mail box fills up with all this paper that is hard to sort through for needed info.

I do apreciate your sugestion on project and i will do some reading on it and see if i can make it do what i want it to do. I am not one for trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

[sleipnir214]

It may not be necessary to reinvent the wheel. There are open-source, web-based project management packages out there. ZenTrack and PHProjekt are two that come to mind.

ZenTrack:

http://zendocs.phpzen.net/bin/view/Zentrack/IndexPage

PHProjekt:

http://www.phprojekt.com/

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!

 

[FPEngineer]

Thanks I wiil check into these. I like the open source ided since this is a self imposed project, And I know the copany won't shell out any money for this. in their eyes it ain't broke and doesn't need fixing.

Hopefully the above mentioned solutions are customizable and I can get them to do what I want them to, I haven't had an opertunity to expore them yet.

Thank you for your help.