[olug] Software suggestion

[Daniel Pfile]

Craig Wolf wrote:
> I have been approached about a solution for a location and I need some input from my friendly fellow geeks here.
> Background: 
> These people help out less than fortunate families by loaning out toys/books/etc. to thier young children for a set period of time.  They want to move away from the Filemaker Pro DB they are currently using.  I believe that it is time for them to have a server vs 1 laptop running this db.  
> What I am looking for is a Linux backend running a "DB" with a frontend of WinXP/Access or browser based.  If need be, a frontend Linux machine could be setup also dedicated to this function.  Items COULD be barcoded to use that functionality but not a requirement.
> This could be free backend software OR pay for, just looking for ideas before I meet with them again.  
>
> Thanx to anyone for their suggestions and ideas!!
>   

If you want a thick client app that you write yourself, a-la-access, try
open office. It's cross platform, and can connect to mysql. You could
bang out an inventory system in no time, just use a number for the
inventory id and a sharpie to mark stuff to keep it simple.

Main table:
thingid (pk) <- write this on the stuff you loan
short desc
long desc
date loaned out
date due
personid (int)

People table:
personid (pk)
name
phone
addy
etc

You could get more complicated if you want, but that should keep it
simple. I googled for open source stuff, and most is either simple dvd
collection tracking, full blown library management stuff, or ERP.

There's a web based database front end creator at
http://www.dadabik.org/ as well, if you want a web front end.

-- Daniel