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A couple of our more recent projects include a , and modifications to create useful reports.

Client-Server Database

This was designed to be accessible across a network, with an initially small number of users which was expected to grow quickly.

A robust solution was needed, but due to the requirements of the company, cost was a major issue. To reduce the cost overhead, the system was developed with a Microsoft Access Database back-end (on the server), rather than a more expensive database server such as Microsoft SQL Server. The cost was further reduced by the design of the system which did not require users to have Microsoft Access installed on the client PCs, rather their interaction with the data was via a web-browser. Thiswas therefore a client-server database application running over an Intranet.

Due to the selection of a web-browser for the user interface, cost for the user software became negligible – any system with an up-to-date browser now became suitable for using the database. This created further design considerations, as the database was required to be secure. The solution was to add password protection to the system. This was added, and at the same time, in consultation with the client, this was further enhanced by setting multiple user account types, to enable some users to have greater access to the data than others – some could add new, and other could add new and edit existing data. The “admin” level accounts also had the ability to add/remove other user accounts. This gave the client more confidence in the system, knowing they could assign different users different access.

Below is a screenshot of the solution developed (all data has been removed from the picture)

A database itself is useful for storing information, but what use is information if you can’t see reports of the information held within? Further consultation with the client confirmed they would like to be able to generate reports from the data. A proposal was put forward which would allow the customer to generate reports based on multiple factors. This would allow the client to generate reports on almost any combination of data stored within the database, without the need to know complex sequences of statements required to create the reports. The solution allowed the user to select, with simple engish options what data to look for, and what criteria to match the data against.

Having designed and presented the system to the client, they further requested an email facility, so that when data was added/modified, a user could optionally send an email to one or more people informing them of the changes. This would normally have been a much harder task, had this been a typical database solution, but due to the choice of an intranet client-server database design, this was an easier task to perform and it was added as per their requirements.

Microsoft Access Database Modifications

In this project, the client had an existing database which was intended to be used to create reports that could be sent to the head-office. The database was being used to import data in various formats into tables, and then Microsoft Access reports were generated to be sent by post to the head-office. The client was having problems importing the data, and the method of using built-in reports to send by post resulted in slow delivery of information to the head-office in a very limited format.

We discussed with the client what they had actually intended the database to facilitate. During the meeting a number of required reports were identified that did not exist, and those that did were not all working they way they should. Our approach was to offer a solution which met all their requirements, and went further still. Rather than producing reports that would be printed and sent by post, we suggested the reports be generated as Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets, that could then be emailed to the head-office. This would improve the existing solution in two ways, first, the reports could be sent faster (email should arrive within minutes rather than post which can take days), and second, the data would arrive in a usable format, for further analysis at the head-office.

The client requested we make the system as user-friendly as possible, to reduce the need for a skilled user, so that the creation of the reports could be delegated to any member of staff. To meet these needs, the whole process was designed around a user-friendly form, with a few buttons. Each button describing its action fully; to import data of type x, or, create report x. The user would then be prompted, with a standard “file open” window, for the location of the import file (if an import button), or be prompted for the specific criteria (usually a date range) required to generate the report (if a report creation button). To reduce imort of data that another user may already have imported, a check was put in place to make sure data already in the database could not be added twice, thus simplifying the import process – if unsure, import again (any duplicate data would not be added, and a message would be displayed confirming this).