MS Access - How good is it? - Page 2

Davey_Pitch · 26-10-2008, 04:56

Marc, if you wanted to use Access you still could, as you wouldn't necessarily need to give the teachers access to the database. You could recommend a system where the teachers/staff email their problems to a generic helpdesk email account, and the 3 technicians can then input the data into the database, which can in turn automatically send out an email to the member of staff with a job number. I think MS actually have a template for this on their website. I'll try and dig it out for you on Monday if you want

Daz · 26-10-2008, 11:43

Building a web based front end to a MySQL DB is a common solution, but that would be reinventing the wheel somewhat for a help desk - look here. Some highlights:

OTRS comes up a lot, as it's ITIL compliant and very customisable. Bit complicated though and pretty ugly.
I know a few guys who quite like OSTicket - not very feature rich but simplicity fits the bill sometimes.
RT is somewhere in the middle, sporting a vastly improved new look.

MarcLister · 26-10-2008, 12:29

Thanks but perhaps I wasn't clear.

This isn't for the ICT technicians but the site team (Caretakers). The ICT technicians already have a web-based system that staff can use to report ICT problems. The site team need a database so that staff can report broken windows etc.

I'm thinking I might try and get a copy of the ICT technicians database so I can modify it as it has a web-based interface.

Mark · 26-10-2008, 13:32

I was about to suggest HTML front/MySQL back, but Daz got their first, and as he correctly says, doing it yourself is reinventing the wheel.

Less hassle all round than the alternatives. You don't have to go around installing masses of software for a start, and even the software for the server can be obtained as a package deal if you're lazy.

MarcLister · 26-10-2008, 14:26

Mark are you suggesting using one of the progs Daz suggested? Would I be able to modify them to suit the caretaking team? It isn't an ICT system I need but one allowing staff to report broken windows and so on, for caretaker staff to view, prioritise and cost jobs. Then staff need to be able to see progress on the jobs they've reported.

Quite similar to a helpdesk system but with some fundamental differences.

Mark · 26-10-2008, 14:42

Still a helpdesk system. You're just helping a different department. Don't think you'll have a problem with that. Any system that can't be customised probably isn't worth using for ICT either.

AboveTheSalt · 26-10-2008, 14:48

I would echo what most people have said. Access will work but I would still advise MySQL. There has to be a reason why Microsoft have SQL-Server rather than Access-Server for serious users.

MarcLister · 26-10-2008, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Still a helpdesk system. You're just helping a different department. Don't think you'll have a problem with that. Any system that can't be customised probably isn't worth using for ICT either.

Just to be sure, are you suggesting I take the ICT database and customise that OR get a new database system, MySQL say, and use that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AboveTheSalt

I would echo what most people have said. Access will work but I would still advise MySQL. There has to be a reason why Microsoft have SQL-Server rather than Access-Server for serious users.

I'd quite like to use MySQL. I know that Access crashes/freezes with multiple users so I can't really use that.

Edit: Just checked http://www.opensourcehelpdesklist.com/ and it has some good stuff on there.

phykell · 26-10-2008, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumpychops

It'll do what you want, but if ever you want to expand on it you'll be pretty ****ed.

I can't agree with that. It's a pretty standard job for a developer to port Access applications to SQL Server (for example) - the latter has importing functionality specifically for Access. A simple Access application should present no barrier to porting to SQL Server for future development.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chumpychops

You should consider MySQL. Its open source, has LOADS of support, and you dont have to pay for it.

Good advice on the MySQL but it's then relatively difficult to find a developer, at a reasonable rate, who would extend or build on it for future development.

phykell · 26-10-2008, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by AboveTheSalt

I would echo what most people have said. Access will work but I would still advise MySQL. There has to be a reason why Microsoft have SQL-Server rather than Access-Server for serious users.

There are loads of reasons certainly, but there's a compromise - it's called SQL Server 2005 Express and is the successor to MSDE. Express is the free, redistributable version of SQL Server and is ideal for web applications, etc.

26-10-2008, 04:56	#11
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Marc, if you wanted to use Access you still could, as you wouldn't necessarily need to give the teachers access to the database. You could recommend a system where the teachers/staff email their problems to a generic helpdesk email account, and the 3 technicians can then input the data into the database, which can in turn automatically send out an email to the member of staff with a job number. I think MS actually have a template for this on their website. I'll try and dig it out for you on Monday if you want __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

26-10-2008, 11:43	#12
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Building a web based front end to a MySQL DB is a common solution, but that would be reinventing the wheel somewhat for a help desk - look here. Some highlights: OTRS comes up a lot, as it's ITIL compliant and very customisable. Bit complicated though and pretty ugly. I know a few guys who quite like OSTicket - not very feature rich but simplicity fits the bill sometimes. RT is somewhere in the middle, sporting a vastly improved new look. __________________ apt-get moo

26-10-2008, 12:29	#13
MarcLister Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leighton Buzzard Posts: 1,282	Thanks but perhaps I wasn't clear. This isn't for the ICT technicians but the site team (Caretakers). The ICT technicians already have a web-based system that staff can use to report ICT problems. The site team need a database so that staff can report broken windows etc. I'm thinking I might try and get a copy of the ICT technicians database so I can modify it as it has a web-based interface. __________________ Website (sod all on there!) \| MSN \| Email

26-10-2008, 14:26	#15
MarcLister Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leighton Buzzard Posts: 1,282	Mark are you suggesting using one of the progs Daz suggested? Would I be able to modify them to suit the caretaking team? It isn't an ICT system I need but one allowing staff to report broken windows and so on, for caretaker staff to view, prioritise and cost jobs. Then staff need to be able to see progress on the jobs they've reported. Quite similar to a helpdesk system but with some fundamental differences. __________________ Website (sod all on there!) \| MSN \| Email

26-10-2008, 13:32	#14
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I was about to suggest HTML front/MySQL back, but Daz got their first, and as he correctly says, doing it yourself is reinventing the wheel. Less hassle all round than the alternatives. You don't have to go around installing masses of software for a start, and even the software for the server can be obtained as a package deal if you're lazy.

26-10-2008, 14:42	#16
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Still a helpdesk system. You're just helping a different department. Don't think you'll have a problem with that. Any system that can't be customised probably isn't worth using for ICT either.