Local booking system

Russinating · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:19

I'm going to be exhibiting at a show next month and we need to be able to take bookings on a laptop.

I was going to set up a HTTP server and build a semi-basic PHP/MySQL driven system to take the orders, however once you start thinking about editing orders, customers coming back later to amend details and general functionality it starts becoming less basic.

So, does anyone have any other ideas? The only other thing I can think of is Excel which is just messy, unbrandable and not great for data protection.

I only know PHP/MySQL so I guess I'm just seeing if anyone's got any ideas as to how best to go about this using those languages.

GravyMonster · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:20

Access (spit) front-end app?

*edit*
sorry just noticed you wanted PHP/MySQL... which TBH limits your options a bit

Russinating · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:24

Well I used to write VB at college (spit, again) but it's been so long it'd be quicker if I created something more complex in PHP :/

Russinating · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:26

Also, on the same subject, I've only ever installed Apache/phpMyAdmin on a PC, but we'll be using a Mac (spit) at the show. Anything I need to be aware of compatibility wise?

Smit · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:34

rghjones said:
Also, on the same subject, I've only ever installed Apache/phpMyAdmin on a PC, but we'll be using a Mac (spit) at the show. Anything I need to be aware of compatibility wise?

I am guessing you could just use Xampp? (never used it on a Mac but there is a Mac OSX version.... I use this on windows with no problems)
That should set everything up for you in regards to Web Services.

If you are just using forms then as long as you have a unique field (email address for example) then returning the relevant order info should be easy if anyone needs to modify anything.

Then a simple UPDATE statement rather than INSERT for those orders.

wozencl · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:35

Why would using PHP/MySQL be too hard? You can make the system as basic or as complex as you'd like.

I am sure you would be able to find a lot of the functionality you'd need out there on the web already.

Russinating · 7 Sep 2009 at 13:48

Smit said:
I am guessing you could just use Xampp? (never used it on a Mac but there is a Mac OSX version.... I use this on windows with no problems)
That should set everything up for you in regards to Web Services.

Thanks, just installed and it's much easier than standard Apache,

fez · 7 Sep 2009 at 15:20

Yeah, use mamp and get your PHP and MYSQL on the go. If you need any help just give us a PM. I have been doing a lot of .net recently but need to get my php skills up to scratch again.

Russinating · 9 Sep 2009 at 22:11

Thanks for all your help guys. Finish the system this morning and didn't take as long as I expected at all. Helps that it's just a local/temporary system so there's barely any validation or security.

Anyway, thanks for suggesting Xampp, great piece of kit.