[Hidden-tech] Database program suggestions for printed/online resource guide

Scott Main scottmain at verizon.net
Wed Apr 27 09:38:44 EDT 2011


Hi Deb:  I’ll try to glean a bit more information about this project by
asking a few questions:
 
-          Is this a ‘one time’ gathering of data or is this a situation
where the resource guide would need to reflect on-going changes?
 
-          Is the type of data you are gathering commonly assembled
frequently by people, for instance:
o   Genealogy:
§  You’d be better off buying an existing program that meets the needs you
have OR

 
o   @#$%^ - Well, this information has never before and will never again be
collected by a Human Being.
§  OK So here you most likely need to create a data structure to accommodate
storing this information
·         The nature of the data  may be supported in a simple structure,
(like a ‘flat’ Excel sheet)
·         OR The data may be a bit more complex and need a relational
database.
o   This sort I relational database can be prototyped very quickly and
inexpensively as a starting point.
 
-          I would help to know how many elements you have that make up the
full Online Guide set, for instance:
o   I’m creating a Phone Book:
§  Great! – then you have: Full Name and Full Address
An you are done!
 
o   OR, well say it is Genealogy information you are gathering:
§  Well now you have elements like:  Full Names, Relationship Types, Dates
of Birth and Death, maybe Address information etc
 (you can tell I’m not a
Genealogy expert) 
 
-          These questions mainly deal with assembling the information first
so there are other questions like:
o   What software will you use to create the guide 
o   What does the (Blank Structure on the Existing Website) look like and
what format does it need?
o   And more questions as the answers come

 
I’m flexible to meet with you Thursday or Friday of this week to help being
to guide you down a good path for this project in terms of collecting,
storing and displaying your data.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Scott Main
413.246.9235
Main Consulting Services
www.mainconsultingservices.com
 
 
 
 
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Deborah
Chandler
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 1:50 PM
To: Hidden-Tech Tech
Subject: [Hidden-tech] Database program suggestions for printed/online
resource guide
 
Dear Hidden Techers,

Happy Spring! Finally, some flowers and buds...

I am working on a project with a group of about 8 people, gathering data
about community resources, which will then be put into a printed resource
guide as well as an online guide (on an existing website, with an existing
(blank) structure in place) There will be 3-4 of us entering data, all at
different locations. I am the only one using a Mac, everyone else is using a
PC. One person is using Linux.

Then, I will be creating a printed guide on my Mac, using this data.

So, the question is: What database program should we use to input the data,
which is fully searchable, and has the option of sections being rearranged
and which can then allow me to pull this data to put it into a printed
guide.

The people working on this project range from fairly tech savvy to novices.

We have a budget to purchase software, and if needed, we could consider
hiring a consultant to help us use it.

Thanks, I would love to bring this info to a meeting early tomorrow
afternoon.

Deb
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