Question DB entry without using Access

jb2_86_uk

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Hello all, long time reader, first time poster!

I've developed a basic asset tracking system for the manufacturing factory where I work - it's just a proof-of-concept before management spend cash on a commercial solution. It's about to be trialled but I am getting cold feet!

Our operators are going to scan bar-codes as they work on components, logging what part they worked on, when & which task they performed.

At the moment this is done with a simple UI on a protected excel workbook. A macro will capture the bar-code scans, apply a time-stamp and save the data as a record on a hidden sheet (the children) - It's worth mentioning at this point that the computers on the factory floor have the basic MS Office package, this does not include Access, and giving them Access is not an option.

I then have a central Access DB (the parent) which links to all of these remote worksheets and merges them together via a Union query. This is then used for a dashboard and reporting.

My problem is that despite my best efforts to protect these child workbooks, it will only take one being moved, deleted or renamed to throw a massive spanner into the works. I will be keeping regular back-ups

Are there any other reasonably simple methods of getting data into an Access table without storing large quantities of my eggs in such vulnerable baskets? I was considering if it could be done with an HTML page connected to my DB - but I wouldn't know where to start or whether the users not having Access would be a road-block.

Any advice or suggestions gratefully welcomed!

Cheers
John
 
You can use ADO code to run an append query into the target db.
No access needed
 
Thanks for both suggestions folks.

I'm starting with the ADO suggestion, however I am not a developer in any way shape or form (but I am keen to learn!), so I am starting with HTML 101 and working up to ASP & ADO queries by using tutorials on the W3 Schools website - any suggestions for other good HTML/ASP/ADO web learning resources?

A project to develop a basic intranet system may be in my near-future, so learning some more HTML besides how to bold & italicise test can only help! :D

But if this turns into a dead-end then the Access Runtime solution sounds promising. I'll need to start saving up now to bribe my IT manager though!

Cheers
John
 
Then there is "poor man's Access." If you were doing VBA code under Excel, you can give people copies of a "smart" workbook that referenced the ADO object in a Macro to do your ADO update without bothering with the HTML portion.

The "smart workbook" can even erase input rows once they have been transferred to the external tables of interest, so it would be like a self-resetting form based on Excel, not on Access. OK, Excel is not NEARLY as convenient for VBA, but it is possible.

This is just a thought that might or might not be appealing. Take free advice for all that it is worth.
 
John,

I'll throw in my 2 cents. It is based on my experience since 1985 developing 100+ Accounting system, websites using ASP-ASP.NET/PHP/JAVA, etc and training programmer who are switching to OOP.

... however I am not a developer in any way shape or form (but I am keen to learn!)

Very little of your current Access knowledge will translate well to ASP.NET and MVC and OOP.

You will need to quickly become a full time developer if you want to build a web based front end and intranet in the next 12-16 months. Faster is you spend a $7,500-$10,000, or more, on software and training.


If you go web based then you will need a web server. You should also upgrade the back end database from Access to an SQL Server.

The good news is that yu can still use Access as a front end and share the SQL Server database with the web front end.

Do you al=ready have an in-house Web Server?

But if this turns into a dead-end then the Access Runtime solution sounds promising. I'll need to start saving up now to bribe my IT manager though!

If you go with the free Access runtme it cost you nothing but the time to install it.

By using the Access runtime you can make a separate front end for the operators. It would link to the same back end that you use currently.

You can leverage all the skills you already have. You could probably be up and running in days. Compared to the months lit will take to go web based.

Which method to go with depends on how much time and money you have to
invest it the project.

From what I can tell, Access and the Operators use the Runtime version will be the fastest and cheapest way to use your current skills to get something working.
 

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