help a newbie!

Gaz1988 · 22 Nov 2007 at 15:49

basically trying to create some kind of web interface for a database i have created in access... its a fault logging database so i would like to be able to log faults etc through the site. I know html and how to create a basic website but that is as far as i can get. Obvioulsy i know i would need to learn php/javascript or something but im unsure which language is the best to perform what i need to do? the most simplist way is the one i prefer!

PaulB · 22 Nov 2007 at 15:53

PHP is a decent choice.

Head over to W3Schools for some tutorials to get you started.

Red and White · 22 Nov 2007 at 15:59

ive made one of those before, used asp.

its not easy though

Fourstar · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:05

Here is a guide on how to use php and access together
Microsoft Access Database ODBC and PHP

ASP may have better support for Access?

What computer will it be running on? That might make the choice for you.

SiriusB · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:12

My choice would be PHP, but since you are using an Access database ASP could be better.

Either way it should be fairly simple.

There will be millions of tutorials on the web showing how to do basic database tasks using PHP/ASP/Whatever

Sic · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:23

seems PHP is a possibility with Access

http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/PHP/Recipe/163447

SiriusB · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:32

Not really ideal though. Only works on PHP4, so no chance of upgrading to PHP5+ and it requires you to be on Windows..

I think if you are stuck with Windows anyway, you might as well use ASP

Sic · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:37

PDO supports ODBC, too and that's PHP5. I took a pretty short look at ASP and decided against it

(but that's just me, obviously)

LazyManc · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:48

The OP has only just created the database so he might as well start again with a proper RDBMS like MySQL / MSSQL (there's a free "lite" version of some description IIRC). Probably MySQL for the easy route if using PHP.

If there's already data its fairly trivial to dump it to sql / csv and re-import into the new system.

Gaz1988: get hold of XAMPP which is an easy to install webserver/database/scripting language pack that includes Apache / PHP5 / MySQL (and it's free).

Then start on some simple PHP + MySQL tutorials.

SiriusB · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:57

I use XAMPP and I think it is great. The OP should be forewarned that by default XAMPP is not secure as it is a development environment. You can secure XAMPP at the click of a button though, so it is not a huge matter.

If you can use MySQL rather than Access you will be doing yourself a favour. You instantly remove platform issues and PHP and MySQL are a match made in heaven.

Swordfish · 22 Nov 2007 at 16:58

IMHO the best language to use is ColdFusion but access to a server running it is not cheap. PLus use SQL instead of access - better features

refresh · 22 Nov 2007 at 19:29

if you can redo the database in MySQL then look into Ruby on Rails (heck, have a look anyway!)

toothe · 23 Nov 2007 at 10:19

if you must use Access its very simple to do with asp. what exactly do you want the interface to do, displaying data is mega easy, as is inputting it. what else do you wish to do?