I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart.

pengyou · 04-06-2008, 03:35 AM

I work for a foundation that has 4 orphanages in China, spanning almost 1,200 miles. Our China office is in Beijing. Our home office is in Philadelphia. I will be living in Portland for a year and 1/3 of the staff are very mobile, on the road about half of the time.

I want to make a database containing mostly textual information on the orphans and employees. I will also need to put at least one picture in each record as well, possibly more.

As I see it I have three options. One is to keep updating the file and emailing a copy to everyone concerned. The second option is to post the data file on a webhost somewhere and allow each person to access the data file using software on their own pc. The third option is to put the datafile online and use web based software as well, so that all the individuals will need is a pc and a browser.

The database is going to be very dynamic for the first year, until it is fully developed. After that it will be very stable with probably only 5 or 6 changes a month.

Are there other options? What do you think of these options? Which one do you think is the best choice?

BTW, the data files and maybe the software has to be able to support Chinese text. All three of the options I have mentioned will do this.

RegCom · 04-06-2008, 12:06 PM

The best option in my humble opinion is the third choice. Since the database is online, everyone who have access can make changes and do not have to send copies to everyone else. That way you can make changes and do not have to repeatedly send copies out.

**sobeit** · 04-06-2008, 12:46 PM

go to the following for some database scrips.

http://php.resourceindex.com/Complet..._Manipulation/

**carsey** · 04-06-2008, 12:56 PM

Try using MYSQL and have a website which requires login

snowman7000 · 04-06-2008, 05:48 PM

The main problem I see with options 1 and 2 is that when you are setting yourself for problems where branching of the documents could happen (more likely in the email version) or have multiple people open the newest version of the document at the same time then have one save over the others modifications (erasing the other work, and in many cases could go unnoticed).

EMAIL SHARING
I would very much recommend against emailing if you are all updating the same file in this many locations.

FILE SHARING
If you go with keeping a data file stored in one location on the web I would recommend using a version control system, it would limit how many people were making changes to the document at any one given time, but is very effective at keeping bigger problems from creeping up later.

DATABASE & WEB CLIENT
Keeping it in a database and writing you own front end should provide the best experience for workers (provided they all have reliable & reasonably responsive internet connection), the biggest benefits being any number of people can work simultaneously without affecting others work, you can customize the interface to tasks people are doing and insure everyone is working with with the most up to date information with the least management. However this probably will need the most work of the three to put in place initially, as the other options you could use available software.

If you go this way defiantly go to the extra effort of keeping backups of all source code for html, web scripts, DDL/DML and periodically back up the database to a machine the foundation physically owns.

Tips for using database and Web Client
1) If you stick to MySQL and PHP/Perl you will have more choices in free/low-priced hosting site.
2) It more efficient for the server to send photos when you store pictures on the server as a file and with a link to it in the database, than it is to store the binary data of the photo in a database.

pengyou · 04-06-2008, 07:01 PM

Thanks! I will look into the SQL options.

**Redcore** · 04-07-2008, 07:15 PM

As far as a database...Blist is pretty cool. It's meant for regular people (not for database administrators/professionals such as myself) and looks really easy to use:

http://www.blist.com/

Give it a look over and see if you can do anything with it :)

pengyou · 04-18-2008, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, blist is pretty cool and is worthy of thought. I would like to learn a little more about "front ends" I can use (meaning software that will provide a user friendly interface for sql - software is either on the server or on the individual pc's) Can someone give me some suggestions or insight into this?

snowman7000 · 04-19-2008, 01:20 AM

If your going with MySQL it has it's own GUI front end set of tools at http://www.mysql.com/products/tools/ you will want at least the Query Browser and Administrator (Oracle and SQL server have quality ones for their databases too, I don't which know what you are going with or have the budget for, I would recommend you stick with one of these three mabey PostgreSQL too, together they make up the bulk of most database used today and should be the easiest for you to find resources and assistance with along with tools).

ER diagramming tools, are another kind of application that are designed to make designing simpler by making them drag and drop (then they create the statements to generate the tables, some even will generate the code for multiple venders database engines). So far I have only used two of these Dia and Microsoft Visio. I will admit though I don't have much experience with diagramming tools as they are intended, I usually make the make the table by hand then used one of these to have a visual image to remind me later of how the tables were designed to relate.

04-06-2008, 03:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
pengyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 156 OS: xp & 98	I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. I work for a foundation that has 4 orphanages in China, spanning almost 1,200 miles. Our China office is in Beijing. Our home office is in Philadelphia. I will be living in Portland for a year and 1/3 of the staff are very mobile, on the road about half of the time. I want to make a database containing mostly textual information on the orphans and employees. I will also need to put at least one picture in each record as well, possibly more. As I see it I have three options. One is to keep updating the file and emailing a copy to everyone concerned. The second option is to post the data file on a webhost somewhere and allow each person to access the data file using software on their own pc. The third option is to put the datafile online and use web based software as well, so that all the individuals will need is a pc and a browser. The database is going to be very dynamic for the first year, until it is fully developed. After that it will be very stable with probably only 5 or 6 changes a month. Are there other options? What do you think of these options? Which one do you think is the best choice? BTW, the data files and maybe the software has to be able to support Chinese text. All three of the options I have mentioned will do this. Last edited by pengyou; 04-06-2008 at 03:36 AM.

04-06-2008, 12:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
RegCom Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saint Louis Posts: 39 OS: Windows XP	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. The best option in my humble opinion is the third choice. Since the database is online, everyone who have access can make changes and do not have to send copies to everyone else. That way you can make changes and do not have to repeatedly send copies out.

04-06-2008, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. go to the following for some database scrips. http://php.resourceindex.com/Complet..._Manipulation/ __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

04-06-2008, 12:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,688 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. Try using MYSQL and have a website which requires login __________________ Submit New Articles Here

04-06-2008, 05:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
snowman7000 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 26 OS: xp(sp2), OSX(10.5)	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. The main problem I see with options 1 and 2 is that when you are setting yourself for problems where branching of the documents could happen (more likely in the email version) or have multiple people open the newest version of the document at the same time then have one save over the others modifications (erasing the other work, and in many cases could go unnoticed). EMAIL SHARING I would very much recommend against emailing if you are all updating the same file in this many locations. FILE SHARING If you go with keeping a data file stored in one location on the web I would recommend using a version control system, it would limit how many people were making changes to the document at any one given time, but is very effective at keeping bigger problems from creeping up later. DATABASE & WEB CLIENT Keeping it in a database and writing you own front end should provide the best experience for workers (provided they all have reliable & reasonably responsive internet connection), the biggest benefits being any number of people can work simultaneously without affecting others work, you can customize the interface to tasks people are doing and insure everyone is working with with the most up to date information with the least management. However this probably will need the most work of the three to put in place initially, as the other options you could use available software. If you go this way defiantly go to the extra effort of keeping backups of all source code for html, web scripts, DDL/DML and periodically back up the database to a machine the foundation physically owns. Tips for using database and Web Client 1) If you stick to MySQL and PHP/Perl you will have more choices in free/low-priced hosting site. 2) It more efficient for the server to send photos when you store pictures on the server as a file and with a link to it in the database, than it is to store the binary data of the photo in a database.

04-06-2008, 07:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
pengyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 156 OS: xp & 98	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. Thanks! I will look into the SQL options.

04-07-2008, 07:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Redcore Design Team Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jamestown, CA Posts: 718 OS: Linux Mint 7 My System	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. As far as a database...Blist is pretty cool. It's meant for regular people (not for database administrators/professionals such as myself) and looks really easy to use: http://www.blist.com/ Give it a look over and see if you can do anything with it :) __________________ Free Resources PC Protection - Comodo Firewall \| AVG Anti-Virus \| WinPatrol \| Ad-Aware \| Spybot S&D \| SpywareBlaster \| Web Design/Programming - KompoZer (Editor) \| Paint.NET (Graphic) \| GIMP+GIMPShop (Graphic) \| FileZilla (FTP Client) \| Free Hosting \|

04-18-2008, 08:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
pengyou Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 156 OS: xp & 98	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, blist is pretty cool and is worthy of thought. I would like to learn a little more about "front ends" I can use (meaning software that will provide a user friendly interface for sql - software is either on the server or on the individual pc's) Can someone give me some suggestions or insight into this?

04-19-2008, 01:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
snowman7000 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 26 OS: xp(sp2), OSX(10.5)	Re: I need a database that has to be shared by people who live 10,000 miles apart. If your going with MySQL it has it's own GUI front end set of tools at http://www.mysql.com/products/tools/ you will want at least the Query Browser and Administrator (Oracle and SQL server have quality ones for their databases too, I don't which know what you are going with or have the budget for, I would recommend you stick with one of these three mabey PostgreSQL too, together they make up the bulk of most database used today and should be the easiest for you to find resources and assistance with along with tools). ER diagramming tools, are another kind of application that are designed to make designing simpler by making them drag and drop (then they create the statements to generate the tables, some even will generate the code for multiple venders database engines). So far I have only used two of these Dia and Microsoft Visio. I will admit though I don't have much experience with diagramming tools as they are intended, I usually make the make the table by hand then used one of these to have a visual image to remind me later of how the tables were designed to relate.