I operate a unix base wed site and I want my members to able to access
my data base of Vendors and Contractors.  What software or program is
out there will allow a viewer to search fields or category and then
view or download the results.

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Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 09 Aug 2003 00:55 PDT

Hello:
   Which database server are you using, Oracle, MySQL, etc?

Regards.

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Clarification of Question by donaldthomas-ga on 09 Aug 2003 04:32 PDT

I use MySQL

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Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 10 Aug 2003 23:21 PDT

Hello:
  Do you want a standard already made solution or a customized
solution to your database?

There is software out there to let other manage your database, but the
purpose is to *administer* a database, that is, with full access.

Let me know.

Regards.

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Clarification of Question by donaldthomas-ga on 11 Aug 2003 06:36 PDT

A Standard off the self product should work fine for now. I want to
manage my MySQL MySelf.

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Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 11 Aug 2003 08:01 PDT

Hello:
  I was about to answer this question, but I still have some doubts
about what do you *exactly* want, because if you want to expose your
database to some customers, I think you need some customized scripts
to do so. In any case, I post some utilities that may fit your needs:

MySQLDataManagement   
http://freshmeat.net/projects/datamanagement/?topic_id=68

"MySQLDataManagement is a set of PHP scripts to manage data within a
selected database. All databases and tables are shown, and you can
add, edit, delete, order, and list the records in any table."

Remote MySql Manager
http://rmm.sourceforge.net/

"PHP code to manage a MySql db over the web. Add/Drop databases and
tables. Insert/Update/Delete records. Enter your own SQL query. Import
text files into a table. Export tables as plain text. No config files
or installation scripts."

phpFriendlyAdmin
http://phpfriendly.sourceforge.net/

"This tool is a remote database management tool made specifically for
web developers who want to ease an audience into the world of content
management. After a database is set up, phpFriendlyAdmin is then
configured to abstract database structure. Every field and table is
given an alias and a description so as to bypass the complexity of
interacting with database variables and offer a simplified form-driven
approach to data entry."

And the best of all, althought is oriented toward professional users:
  
phpMyAdmin
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/

"phpMyAdmin is a tool written in PHP intended to handle the
administration of MySQL over the WWW. Currently it can create and drop
databases, create/drop/alter tables, delete/edit/add fields, execute
any SQL statement, manage keys on fields, create dumps of tables and
databases, export/import CSV data and administrate one single database
and multiple MySQL servers."

I don't know if this is what are you looking for but feel free to
request for any clarification regarding those packages.

Regards.

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Clarification of Question by donaldthomas-ga on 11 Aug 2003 08:25 PDT

I was looking to do something like this
http://pro-net.sba.gov/

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Request for Question Clarification by joseleon-ga on 11 Aug 2003 10:36 PDT

Hello:
   I think to get what you want yo need some customized scripts to
allow edit/view/search the data you want to expose. Wait a bit if
another researcher comes with a better solution, if not, I could
design those scripts for you.

Regards.

Hi Donald,

Well 3 ways you can do it:

1. Java Applets: There are scores of free applets available which
display databases>Tables>Rows&Columns That should suffice for
navigation, a bit of tweaking and you should be able to get it to
export into a CSV/TSV format for your users to download

2. PHP/PERL/Python: Again many scripts free to download from
www.freshmeat.net which allows you to navigate and then export to save
specific records.

3. Building your own script: If you wish to build you own script here
is what you need to do:

     a. Download an abstraction class from www.phpclasses.org
     b. Run SHOW DATABASES, SHOW TABLES, SELECT * FROM $line[x] 
     c. Download the Export to EXCEL class from www.phpclasses.org,
stream the output of the above into this class, and viola you have the
results all saved at the users computer in a neat EXCEL FORMAT.

Hope this helps, however if you do have queries please feel free to
ask, and I will revert back at the earliest.

Take care,
Paul Alapatt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.bernardlabs.com

awaken to the future!