On Thu, 2 Jul 2009, Amy Kelly wrote: > Mostly for my own education, I want to set up a database that would track > names, addresses, contact numbers and email addresses, and hours worked > monthly and be able to pull it into a report every quarter, plus be easier > to keep updated than their current paper system.
Amy, Yes, postgres will work well for what you want, but there is an alternative approach that is easier to learn, easier to maintain, and will fit the organization's needs quite well. It will also allow you to focus on learning SQL and DBA with a comparatively simple system; you can expand your knowledge from this base. Take a look at SQLite <http://www.sqlite.org/>. It's a fully relational DBMS that can be embedded in applications written in juat about any language. Single file, easy maintenance, no hassles to maintaining it on a server or workstation. I use Python (with the wxPython GUI widgets) as the front end and middleware with SQLite as the back end. Works great. Since you have the time, read Joe Celko's "SQL Programming Style" and "SQL for Smarties, 3rd Edition" and Rick van der Laans' "Introduction to SQL, 4th Edition." The latter has a great section on time-based queries which you'll want to use for reports on a volunteer time database. Have fun, Rich -- Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D. | Integrity Credibility Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc. | Innovation <http://www.appl-ecosys.com> Voice: 503-667-4517 Fax: 503-667-8863 _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
