John, Sandy is right: PHP/SQL is way easier than C and might be a better solution for you.
There is another approach that I that I think you would find even easier and that is to use FileMaker for the front end to SQL databases. FileMaker is unique in that its basic user interface is very WYSIWYG and relatively non-intimidating to new users. Once you are set up with a basic app that connects to the SQL data (which I do all the time) I have no doubt that you would be able to tweak it yourself to your hearts content in the years to come. I also have no doubt that the learning curve would be quite a bit less than attempting to learn a "real" programming language like C or even a scripting language like PHP. With PHP you will still have to learn the language of SQL, which while pretty straightforward and logical is not inconsequential. FileMaker abstracts that out for you and makes working with SQL data structures very intuitive. What would take paragraphs of SQL can take just minutes to point-and-click your way through in FileMaker. I can show you some things if you want to go that way. Indeed, everything you mentioned about the app (Data access, user interface, functions, file conversions, emailing, etc.) can all be done very easily in FileMaker. We also have a FileMaker users group here in Louisville that includes a wide variety of users from hobbyists to professional developers. Let me know if you're interested and I can point you to a bunch of resources. I can also meet with you to discuss what you will need to do. You're a Mac user so you will understand this: FileMaker is the Apple of the database world. In so many ways! j. On Dec 30, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Sandy Price <[email protected]> wrote: > John -- > > I'm a self-taught PHP programmer and mostly use mySQL for database. It's not > too difficult to learn if you get a good book (I would recommend one of the > OReilly books, but there are lots available). There are some books that teach > PHP/mySQL jointly. Set aside a couple of hours 2 or 3 times a week to work > thru the book. > > Start with the basic, 'Hello World' script and build from there. I'm happy to > try to answer PHP/mySQL questions. > > As for the Cocoa and Objective C, I've not worked in those languages, so > can't help you there. > > Good luck, > > Sandy Price > > Sent from my iPad > > On Dec 29, 2010, at 10:29 PM, John Robinson <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I wrote to the programmer tonight, here is what he uses: >> >> >> >> As far as the program, you are right, there are lot's of pieces and each one >> is coded in a different language. It seems silly to do it that way, but it's >> like anything, you use the best tool for the job. Here is the list: >> >> >> Silent Partner Monitor: written in Objective C using the Cocoa application >> library >> the file conversion tools, cbotdtl2sql, cmeprice2sql, cmesettlement2sql: all >> written in C >> misc. procedures, functions, & triggers written in MySQL >> user interface written in PHP >> emailing triggers written in AppleScript >> >> >> So, I am toast!!! I still want to begin, I will call some of the schools >> but who in the world will teach something in Cocoa for the Mac? -- Jonathan Fletcher FileMaker 9 & 10 Certified Developer Fletcher Data Consulting [email protected] http://www.fletcherdata.com 502-509-7137 Kentuckiana's FileMaker Users Group Next meeting: January 20, 12:00 pm to 3:00-ish 1234 S. Third Street, Louisville Info & RSVP: http://fmpug.com/scheduleMeetings.php Listserv signup: http://fmpug.com/mailman/listinfo/louisville_fmpug.com Blog: http://www.kyfmp.com _______________________________________________ MacGroup mailing list [email protected] http://www.math.louisville.edu/mailman/listinfo/macgroup
