SQL

[lingk]

Hello.

I have a project at work. This project is to develop an SQL database of information about computers and severs on our network. Also need to develop a Web Based front end to the database so the information can be accessed from out intranet. Does any one know any good website that I could use to help me with this? I know how to make the SQL database and get the information into it. I need help with developing the web based front end for pulling the information and displaying it.

Thanks a lot.

[CoffeeFiend]

You're not really giving us enough infos to help you much.

You only say "SQL database" (which really means nothing - that's akin so saying "a vehicle with wheels"), but fail to mention which actual database it is (or could[n't] be). No mentions about the schema you intend to use either (you don't say how or when you intend to fill & update the DB or with what data exactly, but we'll forget about that for now).

You also fail to mention which server side tech you intend to use for your web app, nor how you mention any types of features it needs (list what? how? secured how? tie in with what? what type of architecture? etc).

Not knowing what database, not knowing the schema, nor the server side tech you want to use, we can't really help. You didn't mention any resources you might have, be it hardware to host all this, software (DB, OS, web server of some kind, etc), or personnel (web master? DBA? programmers? anything?) or their qualifications/preferences (mainly which techs they know and like), nor how much time or money you can afford to spend on this.

With so little information, we can't even be sure you have everything you need to make it happen, or what you really want/need in the first place. Hard to give any recommendations based so little information.

If you want some in-depth/helpful answers, we'll definitely need WAY more details.

Until then, you can look at the existing solutions that do this kind of thing. There are some expensive and not-so-expensive commercial ones, freeware ones, and even open source ones (some hosted on sourceforge). Or you can even hire someone to do it for you or to customize an existing app...

[lingk]

Ok, I’m working with a Microsoft SQL Database that gets updated from a 3rd party application that scans the computers on my network and gives information about the hardware that is on the computer, the software that is on the computer and the users that use the computer. I already have the data base set up for the most part. I just need to do some linking and such things. The database is running on w2k3 that is fully up-to-date.

I am looking to make a web based front end that I can access from our intranet. It will give me a drop down list of all the computers listed in the database and gets updated every time the database gets updated; once I pick the computer it gives me a list of info about the computer, IE hardware info and software info that also gets updated when ever info in the database is changed.

I’m just looking for a good site to get some info about how to program a web based front end. My budget is 0$ so I have to make the system up my self. I have access to Visual Studio 2005, IIS, and dreamweaver 2004.

I want something that is light weight and very stream line. I don’t want a lot of over head so it runs fast.

[CoffeeFiend]

That's a much better post!

So you're using MSSQL and IIS, and even have VS2005 - too easy! If I had the schema, I could even make some simple pages for you to get you started...

I don't know if I'd have a dropdown with every single PC listed in it though... Unless you don't have many PCs then that'd be OK I suppose. Scrolling through 2000 PCs in a dropdown would get frustrating real quick IMHO.

As far as coding this, there are 2 main ways you can pick...

1) the "quick and dirty" solution - read the from tables directly, and just dump the contents into tables... Nothing fancy, that would take only a few minutes to put together in asp.net

2) the "enterprise grade" solution - a solid n-tier architecture, using OO concepts extensively and all. You can accelerate this using ORMs and code generation, but if you want something simple and easy and don't have a lot of coding experience... I doubt you want to to do for something so trivial.

(I'm taking for granted you already know [x]html, if not, then tiem to visit w3schools! Same story about basic SQL queries and such. Oh, and some basic C# or VB.Net, ado.net basics and basic knowledge of the .net framework req'd too...)

As for learning how to... There are countless resources for learning asp.net:

www.asp.net has a learn section;

there's also the quickstarts (and the old ones);

there's the Visual Web Developper (free app) guide here that shows how things works (not just to use VWD);

There's videos and webcasts (some made especially for beginners), they've got help forums (and newsgroups), there's some extensive training DVDs available for the price of shipping, even w3schools have a asp.net section, there's some resources from moving from classic asp to asp.net (webcasts and such, if you've used classic asp before), many community sites like 4guysfromrolla have a asp.net section with a bunch of articles (and learning links at the bottom). There are starter kits (which could help you a great deal - seeing how some pre-built apps work and play with them a bit), the entire documentation (MSDN lib) is available for free direct from MS' website (just like the BOL for SQL Server; and the .NET SDK too which also contains some samples). MSDN has a asp.net development section too. There are some sample chapters available for some good books which you may also find helpful. There are FAQs... There is so much stuff out there - it's unbelievable.

There are data (ado.net) tutorials and resources out there too (just as many as there are for asp.net). Be it websites, pdf docs, videos and webcasts, etc.

It may seem like a lot of stuff to learn (C# or VB.Net, ado.net, the .net framework, asp.net and all), but don't worry it's quite easy.

With some basic asp.net knowledge, one could write an app to do this in a few minutes...

As for dreamweaver... Yuck! What a useless steaming pile of [censored]... No need for it thankfully