Games type interface

[Pondlife]

i know....but

the users job is to say what they want
the contractors jobs is to say whether its do-able
the MD's job is to say lets do it

The users never know what they want. Some guy who once created something in access thinks this is the best way.

Next week you will be getting another request because customers placing orders in the new discrete DB are being told that they can have product despite no stock being available (cos that is in the other one).

Then planning/logistics will be on the phone saying that they need an extract/import of the orders into the main DB in order to know what to make/buy.

[krytonsheep]

It's bit hard to tell what the spec is,

For a desktop application with local database, I do Adobe Air application+ SQLite.

For a web based one I'd re-use the Air application (built as flash) and get it to use a remote database.

[MPwannadecentincome]

i know....but

the users job is to say what they want
the contractors jobs is to say whether its do-able
the MD's job is to say lets do it

Ermm but surely you can point out that the poor small companies may not be able to:
a) afford the hardware to run it on
b) have people to manage it
c) have any security policy in place to control access to it
d) even have the skills to do a backup / restore

I would be strongly recommending a shared DB system where the browser lets the company only see their own data within shared tables - this is what Software as a Service (SaaS) is all about, its all the rage now didn't you know?

[EternalOptimist]

Not wanting to go to far off topic EO but this sounds like it will be a nightmare for your client's planning dept to manage if they're on separate databases.

i know....but

the users job is to say what they want
the contractors jobs is to say whether its do-able
the MD's job is to say lets do it

[NickFitz]

Left-Right-Fire?

[VectraMan]

Yes via Web Service or ADO.NET Data Service.
Have a look at at http://silverlight.net/showcase/ to see what type of interfaces are possible

Doesn't look very game like to me. I was expecting to run through a maze looking for the red key to open the red door.

There's Flash as well of course.

[Not So Wise]

silverlight supports a database as well as providing an interface ?

Yes via Web Service or ADO.NET Data Service.
Have a look at at http://silverlight.net/showcase/ to see what type of interfaces are possible

Not wanting to go to far off topic EO but this sounds like it will be a nightmare for your client's planning dept to manage if they're on separate databases.

When client ask's for a "games type interface" for a business application someone is in for a nightmare from the get go and the only way from there is down

[Pondlife]

Not wanting to go to far off topic EO but this sounds like it will be a nightmare for your client's planning dept to manage if they're on separate databases.

[EternalOptimist]

Yes (indirectly) but it's more straightforward with a straight WPF application (which essentially uses the same UI technology as Silverlight) rather than a Silverlight application hosted in a browser.

Are you after an application or something browser based?

possibly both

but the users would have their own seperate dicrete db. not shared.

[voodooflux]

silverlight supports a database as well as providing an interface ?

Yes (indirectly) but it's more straightforward with a straight WPF application (which essentially uses the same UI technology as Silverlight) rather than a Silverlight application hosted in a browser.

Are you after an application or something browser based?

[EternalOptimist]

silverlight supports a database as well as providing an interface ?

[voodooflux]

Game like interface = Fancy looking but simple to use?

Have a look at WPF (Desktop/Windoze) and/or Silverlight (Internet Windoze/Mac)

That would be my suggestion too - it's very easy to knock up something with plentiful eye-candy in no time at all.

(And there's probably a double entendre in that statement somewhere.)

[Not So Wise]

Game like interface = Fancy looking but simple to use?

Have a look at WPF (Desktop/Windoze) and/or Silverlight (Internet Windoze/Mac)

[EternalOptimist]

Got an interesting request from client co.

Our big customer chains use a vb/sql planning tool for ordering stock.

potential smaller customers, one man bands, would not be able to support the cost of this solution.

MD has asked me if it is possible to build a games/like interface that supports a small database, that would be generic enough to appeal to a disparate clientele.

what language platform cost etc


tia