Database interfaces

write yer own in PHP - its pretty simple

PHPmyadmin is a good place to start as well.

In message , The Natural Philosopher writes

I might have a go, as I started on similar lines once before.

On the old machine, I have Xampp, but can't remember how far I got, ran out of time, and life here is just as hectic now,

That's why I was hoping someone might have a suggestion for a ready made "shell" program that doesn't need to run a web server.

You could install one of the many database connectors to interface directly with the database, e.g:

You can then talk directly to that in any number of languages and environments. No need for a web server then.

Is there some reason this has to be done with mySQL? Are there hundreds of users or only the OP?

In message , Tim Streater writes

Here's where I am today.

Spent all free time messing with Xampp, PHPmyadmin and transferring the

I am still not sure that this is the right approach for me. I was lucky with time availability today because I had a 4 hour window while our 'house guest' was at hospital. Usually breathers come in 15 minute lumps, if that.

I have played with odbc connectors in the past when using C++ Builder to write small programs, and maybe that was what I used when trying to interface with Libre/Open Office? I can't remember now.

The reason I like MySQL is because it seems stable and unlikely to become totally obsolete. Yes, users are just me and occasionally a son or two, but I can usually knock up a list of something or other in it pretty quickly. I have to get these other older lists of data off old and unsupported things (like the Palm database) and into a common, standard to me, format. And, if I wanted to get into relational databases, it's there.

I had problems when trying to use DBase4 a long time ago, and Access over the years, and have had all sorts of software in the past. Even back to a circular database I wrote in machine code for a handbuilt Z80 device.

I am surprised that I can't find anything that does what I want. With my memory, lots of lists are essential. As I mentioned earlier, HeidiSQL isn't far off.

I haven't given up yet. Thanks for the suggestions, they all help.

In which case why are you futzing with mySQL, which requires you to set up a server. Just use SQLite instead, which is built into PHP and requires no server at all.

In message , Tim Streater writes

writes

I'll have a look at SQLite, but the database engine is not really the sticking point, I don't think.

My hope was to find a simple general purpose UI that could be populated with specific columns for specific uses and give a standard way of looking at, updating, amending, printing etc. So, for example, the Contacts list would work in exactly the same way as the lists of audio and video files, with the latter being able to be played by a simple click on the list.

Really, I suppose it's just a sort of spreadsheet-like interface that would keep me with a system that could be expanded in future if more complex database features were needed.

IME of writing front-ends to databases, they take a lot of work to get to where you want them. Even customising a spreadsheet can take some time (e.g. so it doesn't strip the leading 0 off your phone numbers because it thinks they are - numbers).

I used 4D on a Mac in the 80s, but nothing since then along the lines of Access or FileMaker, everything I've done since then has been written in PHP/javascript. I can only suggest trying a database forum or newsgroup.

If you have used C++ Builder, then you will be familiar with the standard DB aware grid and list controls that are available in the VCL. They sound like a pretty good match for the requirements, and are also very quick and easy to use. Just slap a DB interface component on your form and point that at the db/server. Then link your controls to the interface component.

(also check out Lazerus - a open source implementation of Borland Delphi

- somewhat updated, but a close match for the old VCL)

In message , John Rumm writes

Thanks, John.

My problem with C++Builder, which I used a lot up to about 12 years ago, is that after it stopped being Borland, the machine it was on died.

Although I had backups, for some reason it became un-registerable on other machines, and the only way it would run was in an image of the dead machine in a VM.

We closed that business at about that time, and I basically gave up programming. I had been just writing small helper files and some audio diagnostics and on-the-fly realtime audio conversion and transmission systems. So I don't think I ever looked at database programming.

In the fullness of time, I'll try to resurrect Builder on one of the current VM's here, and I'll have a look at Lazerus.

Thanks again, sorry I'm coming across as sounding a bit negative.

Bill. what operating system is this all on?

Current stuff is all on Windows 7. I have a W10 machine, but don't use it in anger (or should that be I do use it in anger?).

The C++ stuff all ended on XP, but I did a lot on W2k and earlier OS's such as W95/8.

All Windows, I'm afraid, but I do run backup servers on Linux.

Tis ok, it did not sound negative... Laz is a resonable fit, and would be mostly familiar in style and use to builder - save for the language obviously being based on object pascal rather than C++. (but hey, if you can do ugly in C++, then elegant ought not be as much of a culture shock as the other way around!)

Pretty sure there are free versions of Visual studio about as well now that will do C++ (and quite number of other languages).

Mmm. Id honestly say that the simplest thing would be to move all of your data onto those servers, and stick a copy of apache on one of them

Then phpmyadmin is the logical way to do basic editing, and if you must have fancy forms create those in PHP.

YOu aren't limited to a single desktop then, either.