Need database advice

I've been using Access for this purpose for 24 years, but in a pretty bare-bones way. It works for my one-man operation, but the way I've set it up isn't sophisticated enough to work well in a shared environment. The software is powerful enough, but as with most applications, the key to effectiveness lies in developing a robust user interface.

Jim, it's just me and my wife and our experience with Access is zilch.

I have been using ZTreeWin data manager since Windows 98 time to search thru my files for key words.

I would just use EXCEL, and make sure to have fields for each entity of the address. You can now IMPORT directly into Google earth and it will georeference your data on the fly. its pretty sweet!

Andy J, post: 438900, member: 44 wrote: I would just use EXCEL,

I suspect that Andy's advice is sound for your situation.

Given that

Just A. Surveyor, post: 438890, member: 12855 wrote: Jim, it's just me and my wife and our experience with Access is zilch.

Unless you want to make relational database design, VBA, and Access your area of practicefor the next large chunk of time - skip that approach. Poor database design will give you years of headaches and unreliable data. Even if you have good database design, you need to develop a front end that matches your business needs to effectively utilize that data (this can be done in Access). There may be sample databases that aren't real far from what you need but if you are developing a database application then you aren't doing billable survey work.

A well laid out spreadsheet is typically a better investment of your time for now - if you find an Access (or other database) based application that meets your needs, you can migrate your well organized Excel data forward then.

Andy's advice

Andy J, post: 438900, member: 44 wrote: make sure to have fields for each entity of the address.

should be applied to all of your data - try not to aggregate data - e.g. keep client name, address, city, state, zip in separate fields.

And, for every field you have in your db, Google will add that data into the little pop up window for the symbol you choose.

Andy J, post: 438912, member: 44 wrote: And, for every field you have in your db, Google will add that data into the little pop up window for the symbol you choose.

I'm bloody clueless how that could happen but keep talking and I will show this thread to my wife and since SWMBO is the smartest person in the world this should be child's play.

So....you have some way to import your excel spreadsheet data into Google Earth?

here's a pic of what mine looks like.. I imported over twenty years of data from an old version of Microsoft "Works" in an afternoon....

Andy J, post: 438916, member: 44 wrote: here's a pic of what mine looks like.. I imported over twenty years of data from an old version of Microsoft "Works" in an afternoon....

I like that. Keep talking and explaining cause SWMBO will be reading this.

Dang, brother, you own that town :clink:

Steve,

Go to google earth Pro (now free if you don't have it) , file pull down, IMPORT, then select the right extension. I just went from spreadsheet to .CSV, so used that. I'd recommend playing around with it until it looks how you like. andy

PS Message me anytime if you want some help !

FrozenNorth, post: 438919, member: 10219 wrote: Dang, brother, you own that town :clink:

yeah, and I just sold the biz!!! woop!

In my pic, the headers in BOLD were the names of the columns in the spreadsheet.

FrozenNorth, post: 438919, member: 10219 wrote: Dang, brother, you own that town :clink:

I have a video I made of both Sanibel and Captiva through GE, but couldn't upload it here... I think. who knows

I use Access in a similar fashion as Andy but instead of importing data into GE I use an ODBC connection to import the spreadsheet into our CAD land base maps that are essentially tax maps organized by township. Plots the SP coordinates in the spreadsheet where I have work so I can dial in past work in an area in seconds and use it to get going on new work. Allows me to toggle through records on the fly while looking at the new project. I frankly don't know how I'd function without it with a couple decades of work referenced in there.

Andy J, post: 438921, member: 44 wrote: yeah, and I just sold the biz!!! woop!

Nice! And not an easy feat for a small shop. Are you leaving the life or gonna practice elsewhere?

FrozenNorth, post: 438929, member: 10219 wrote: Nice! And not an easy feat for a small shop. Are you leaving the life or gonna practice elsewhere?

Thanks! Sold to my main competitor and am working for them. Some office time sounded pretty sweet these days.

Williwaw, post: 438928, member: 7066 wrote: I use Access in a similar fashion as Andy but instead of importing data into GE I use an ODBC connection to import the spreadsheet into our CAD land base maps that are essentially tax maps organized by township. Plots the SP coordinates in the spreadsheet where I have work so I can dial in past work in an area in seconds and use it to get going on new work. Allows me to toggle through records on the fly while looking at the new project. I frankly don't know how I'd function without it with a couple decades of work referenced in there.

Sweet as long as all your stuff is in SP.

Andy J, post: 438931, member: 44 wrote: Sweet as long as all your stuff is in SP.

Lots of the older stuff done in there was in a local 5000, 5000 system. Whenever I have some extra time and base cooking I tie in that older work and assimilate it into a control file for the area. Key is knowing you did a job just down the road ten years ago and knowing how to take full advantage of it.