Access is not a clever way of collecting and distributing grades and reports - when it goes multi-user it slows down, and it's got too many buttons for most mortals to understand how to use it. However it is possible to keep your access database and publish it via web pages. Are you using an NT network? Because you are using scripts, you can use passwords at the server end to prevent the wrong person accessing data. One of the few advantages (!) of IIS is that it's easy to authenticate the logged-in-user rather than having to ask for a name and a password on the web page. Security becomes less of a issue because IIS is storing data in the database rather than the user directly. The microsoft solution: 1. You copy the access database to a windows server running IIS 2. You set up an ODBC connection so IIS can read/write the data from the access mdb file 3. You write asp/sql scripts which look up the data & sent it to the user or vice versa 4. You create web pages which request data from or send data to the IIS server - using forms. (You can minimise the number of forms you need to create by using asp to generate customised forms when needed.) A second Microsoft solution 1. Forget access, set up a database use SQL server 2 - 4. as before A 'free' solution Firsly I would recommend Postgres rather than MySQL because MySQL does not contain all the standard features of SQL - it's a subset. (Or it was last time I looked. SOmeone may correct me?) You need a Webserver running a scripting language which can use ODBC to look up data, just like the other solutions. 1. You set up a Postgres SQL database 2. You set up Apache with php, making sure that sql extensions are enabled 3. you write php/sql scripts to look up data 4. you create your web pages which request data just like before. If you can hack access, you can hack SQL - but be prepared for a learning curve if you haven't used it before. Thinking laterally, if you are willing to learn Java you can ignore browsers and write Java programs which will interact (server and client) to allow access to databases. Java has SQL classes allowing data to be stored. The advantage being that your applications can run on NT, Linux, unix or any mixture. e.g. NT station accessing Linux server or vice versa. This works. It's neat. Reporting tools - you still have your original access database and you can still use it where page control is vital. You can also use word mailmerge to gather data from an odbc source or from Access and format it - so longs the person running the word app. can see the access database wherever it is stored. [you can set up a server share so that name persons only can get into it] Crystal Reports is probably the best reporting tool if you want complex reports from various data soiurces inc. SQL - but it is less than free. A lot less. You might also want to do some searches for companies who have already gone down this road, because the investment in your time (and others in your school) is money, and this will take a lot of time to develop. e.g. asyst international, who have produced such systems and will happily host a database for you. try Phil Duffy mailto:pd@asyst-international.com or look at http://www.asyst.co.uk Maybe others in this group can suggest other companies? [this is not a plug. I have looked at their products but have not purchased - I'm thinking about this myself.]

-----Original Message----- From: Mike Rees [mailto:suse@glanymor.carms.sch.uk] Sent: 27 September 2001 12:08 To: suse-linux-uk-schools@suse.com Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Viable(read cheap) alternative to access PLEASE!!

Hi

At the moment we're using access(Ok, ok stop laughing!) to produce pupil reports. We're at the stage where (most) teachers can enter grades etc themselves.

(Un)Fortunately, we couldn't afford to equip everyone with a copy of office (present or future)

What are my alternatives?

Is is it possible to use a web based front end? If so, can these be password protected?

Are there any reporting tools which allow flexible layouts?

I'll try almost anything..especially if it's free!

Thanks in advance

Mike Rees Ysgol Glanymor School Heol Elfed Burry Port Llanelli SA16 OAL

-- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of inappropriate attachments and certain obscenities. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. ********************************************************************************