Database help

[jcaithness89]

Hello, I am new to these forums and my buddy owns a video game retail store near my house. Last week he said he wanted me to create a database to keep track of customers and merchandise credit. Is there an easy way to do this? I don't even know where to start.

[rdivilbiss]

Creating a database isn't difficult, it is creating the wrapper program to allow access to the database which will require a little effort.

What computer platform (Windows, Linux, Mac) will you target and what programs or programming skills do you possess?

[Kevin3NF]

I would start with soe of the templates included when you install Access.

If you've never created an Access application before, that is the absolute best choice for step 1...

[jcaithness89]

Creating a database isn't difficult, it is creating the wrapper program to allow access to the database which will require a little effort.

What computer platform (Windows, Linux, Mac) will you target and what programs or programming skills do you possess?

He is running windows on the work computer, and I don't have any programming skills. I am trying to teach myself C right now though.

[SSirica]

He is running windows on the work computer, and I don't have any programming skills. I am trying to teach myself C right now though.

Might I suggest trying to crawl before you jump right to walking.  Visual Basic might be a better starting platform.  It's just a lot easier to learn than C.  I've been a programmer for over 15 years and I still have trouble reading C code. 

[rdivilbiss]

I do not disagree with SSirca's comments re: VB vs. C, but would also add, why reinvent the wheel.

There are many low cost (even free) video game rental software packages. (Cheaper than a copy of MS Office Pro - which has Access)

Absent that I'd start with Access and VBA as per Kevin3NF or look at OpenOffice.org's free office package.

[VGR]

Hello 8-)

If I understood well, you are not a programmer, ***but*** if you know how to write HTML pages, then I may suggest a good solution : build the form(ulaires) for your buddy to edit/add/delete his records for his shop, then wrap them as PHP scripts and run them through a local Apache webserver, and simply create and use a local MySql database.

This WAMP stack is 5 minutes to install, download time included. I estimate the "programming" work to something like 3 hours, the DB creation (two or three tables) to 30 minutes, and live you go.

Best regards