What is the best frontend program for my database needs?

Question

I am currently an Electrical engineer and I have been tasked to set up a database(outside my realm of expertise) that will be used by multiple users over a networked drive. There will only be a couple thousand data entries with images as well. I have currently thrown together a quick access database (I know access is frowned upon) to use as a temp until I figure out what is the best thing to do at this point. I know SQL enough to manage writing the backend, but I have no idea how to begin writing the program for a frontend, and quite frankly I think it will be much better if the front end was written by a profession to allow for proper security and functionality. I am not a CS guy, I can manage, and I do know a few languages(C, Java, VB), but I don't have the background to present something that I think would be adequate. I need some help finding a frontend program that would be very secure and easily manageable to allow for proper functions like: searching, exporting to excel, emailing, and displaying images from records. I'm thinking about using SQL server to do the backend, but that is subject to change based on what people would suggest.

I'm am storing part names/SN, ID addresses, website urls, and the part pictures.

So long story short what would be the best frontend program that would preferably work with SQL and allow for the functions I specified? A little explanation as to why you think a specific program is best for the job would be great!

Thanks,

asloss

Answer 1

FileMaker

FileMaker is a relational database client server database that run on Mac, Windows, iOS, and web. It combines a database server with a form-building tool and a proprietary programming language. Very simple to get up and going quickly. Has built-in features for user to do data-entry, exporting, reporting, and printing. Also has full JSON and support for linking to SQL tables.

FileMaker has always been aimed people who want to get started building databases without hiring professional developers to get started. FileMaker is a full-blown relational database supporting 1 million tables per file and up to 8TB in a single database.

It's the best RAD tool from desktop to web that currently exists.

4D

Similar to FileMaker in that it combines a database server with a form-building tool and a proprietary programming language. Also similar in that it has built-in features for user to do data-entry, exporting, reporting, and printing. But different in that it has as more powerful programming language, supports SQL and other back end databases and has a version that can be compiled.

Vaadin & H2

If you really want to work with SQL and your Java skills, look at the pure Java database, H2 Database Engine. H2 can be used as a database server or it can embedded within a Java app. H2 is open-source, free of cost, and actively developed.

For building the user interface, I strongly recommend Vaadin. This open-source free-of-cost toolkit is quite powerful, relatively easy to learn, and uses pure Java to build and run your app on the server-side. Vaadin automagically renders your desired user-interface in the user’s web browser using standard web technologies, so no JVM or Java applets on the client-side.

To deploy Vaadin you need a Java Servlet server (“container”). Either Tomcat by Apache or Jetty by Eclipse would work equally well and require only Standard Edition of Java rather than the more complicated Enterprise Edition.

Answer 2

I have done something similar using Drupal content management framework running on a company's intranet.

1. By default it gives you a multi-user environment. You can even expand it with its LDAP module to enable login using Active Directory/LDAP accounts.
2. It uses MySql database. You can email users, add images, files, etc
3. You can create "content types" for your information, and use the Views module to create simple queries/display of the information.
4. The Views Data Export module can enable export views data to csv, xls etc.
5. The Search modules with search_api_db, search_api_solr etc can enable you create simple or sophisticated searches

Of course, there is some learning curve to put it all together. I believe other content management environments can provide similar.

Answer 3

I suggest JBoss for Java, it allows to build a complete master-detail CRUD interface for your database. Fields in the detail page can be organized in tabs and accordions. A bit of coding will be needed in the future, if you will have to apply modifications to the legacy system.

I strongly suggest Evolutility (www.evolutility.org) written in C# for MS SQL Server, that is a turnkey solution in effect, as it doesn't require coding at all and you won't even need to know C# or install a copy of Visual Studio (to edit .aspx files you can use any plain text editor). If interested in Evolutility, or if you need responsive layout for mobile devices, please also consider its recent rewrite, Evolutility.JS, in pure JavaScript wth backends available for PostGreSQL and MongoDB.

In this case, probably Evolutility will be your best bet. Just describe the existing DB structure with an XML file (more details in documentation) and you're done. You'll need a Windows server with IIS and SQL Server (Web edition is enough) to run the production system, but Evolutility can run on any shared Windows hosting with the above specs. To save money you can also begin with a shared Windows hosting plan cloud instance for a bunch of € per month.

Answer 4

dbFront found at dbFront.com

I am the founder and this tool was created for those exact scenarios. Create the SQL database and point dbFront at it and you would be 90% there. Zero front-end code is required.

dbFront is designed to understand SQL joins and automatically creates a connected application with all kinds of searching, reporting, importing, and exporting functionality build it.

Lots of options for advanced functionality and security as well.