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dlorenc
Posting Yak Master
172 Posts |
 Posted - 2011-07-13 : 17:46:23
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| I was considering using excel as a 'easy to use' front end to a sql table..for input and output...the application would only have a small (10 staff) number of users...anyone have any experience using excel w/ data connectors for input AND output? |
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robvolk
Most Valuable Yak
15732 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-13 : 17:57:46
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I've done both, output is much easier than input. I've only done VBA macro code to upload data to SQL Server, I've been using Excel for 15+ years so I'm not well versed on the newer features.  If they've got a built-in data connector that saves directly to SQL Server, I haven't used it, and frankly wouldn't allow anyone else to use it either.MS Access would be a much better program as a front-end to SQL Server (and that's a really sad statement). Between data projects and linked tables you should be fine, and you have some hope of controlling and maintaining data integrity. The biggest problem with Excel is that it IS easy...to make mistakes. |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 05:56:49
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| Both are pretty poor in terms of scalability, but of the two I agree with Rob; choose access. And please make sure that you create some forms with data validation on top of the linked tables so that users just can't enter anything they like. There is a reason why people say that Excel and Access is the devil... But if you're 110% positive that this app you're making isn't gonna grow beyond 10 users Access could be a decent alternative.- LumbagoMy blog-> http://thefirstsql.com/2011/07/08/how-to-find-gaps-in-identity-columns-at-the-speed-of-light/ |
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dlorenc
Posting Yak Master
172 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 09:26:23
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| mmmm... I hear ya... what are the better alternatives?..just do a .net web app?how bout sharepoint?...it is fairly simple data architecture... the result of vulnerability scans of servers... pretty much straight one worksheet rows and columns (in excel parlance)... |
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robvolk
Most Valuable Yak
15732 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 12:05:11
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quote:
how bout sharepoint?...it is fairly simple data architecture
 Compared to what? SAP, Dynamics CRM, JD Edwards, Peoplesoft, I'd agree, but those are all crap architectures anyway. I'd agree (reluctantly) that Sharepoint is simple to set up basic form entry for small tables, but I wouldn't recommend it for anything that could grow substantially. And if they're really that small a shop, you could do a custom ASP.Net app using a SQL Express instance, which won't work for Sharepoint. |
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dlorenc
Posting Yak Master
172 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 14:35:39
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| this would be in a large enterprise, the IT service center, the group of 9-12 tech staff that scans 4-5000 server farm for vulnerabilities, then issues the project work to do the remediation tasks...this app would be used by those 9-12 staff to track vulnerabilities cradle to grave... currently using several excel spreadsheet to log the v's...then several other spreadsheet to log remediation activities and results across mainframe, windows and unix servers and web databases. |
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Lumbago
Norsk Yak Master
3271 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 14:48:37
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| Sounds like you are trying to reinvent the wheel here...there are quite a few tools out there that are made for this purpose, at least from what I can understand. Have you looked in to System Center Operations Manager? Nagios? Sharepoint is definitely NOT what you're looking for though, it's made for a completely different purpose.- LumbagoMy blog-> http://thefirstsql.com/2011/07/08/how-to-find-gaps-in-identity-columns-at-the-speed-of-light/ |
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saurabhwise
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 15:02:20
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| Hello All,After reading this post I'm hoping someone would here be able to help me.I need to use an Excel file and retrieve data according to the client number in the excel file.Excel file has the client number and I need to retrieve DOB, Amount Owing etc from Database for the clients in the excel file.Any help will be greatly appreciated. I am very sorry to post a question Im not trying to Hijack your discussion.Thanks |
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robvolk
Most Valuable Yak
15732 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-14 : 15:22:35
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quote:
I am very sorry to post a question Im not trying to Hijack your discussion.
http://www.sqlteam.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=163007 |
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parody
Posting Yak Master
111 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-15 : 09:03:07
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| We have used infopath for some simple read/write table access, served its purpose well. |
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dlorenc
Posting Yak Master
172 Posts |
Posted - 2011-07-15 : 11:34:30
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| lumbago - while I am not familiar with all the rich features of operations manager; I believe the Operations Staff does use a service monitoring suite to keep the servers cooking... and maybe there is some feature that provides intruder alerts...dunno...but the group I'm working with does an annual vulnerability scan using several different tools...not only scanning for infrastructure vulnerabilities (lan, wan), service vulnerabilities (server/os), database farm vulnerabilities, web app vulnerabilities, and I think they scan files for sensitive data (like ssn's) that are not encripted...sooo...this is not related to operational intrusion detection, but more of a annual holistic test for vulnerabilities..and tracking of the volnerabilities from cradle to grave (which could take many months (I call this a project, not maintenance) if application software needs to be modified significantly)..so, I dont think I could use any existing operational suite...mm? |
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Excel as a SQL front-end?