mysql database

mysql database

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I've inherited a number of different sources of contact and customer information.

We've got Outlook (contacts), Access (tenant and lease info), Sage Line 50 (sales and purchase ledger obviously), proprietry banking softward (tenant bank details).

I've been tinkering with it for a couple of years, trying to find a solution to bringing it all together, but have recently realised what should have been obvious from the start, I am an accountant not a database developer. I've therefore asked a friend of a friend to come up with a solution for storing our data efficiently.

He's suggested mysql. He used it for setting up our website which works very well.

Does anyone have any experience of mysql? I'd be grateful for any thoughts before I commit to the development of our database.

Also I've been told the software is free because it's open source. Is this correct?

We're a small company, 7 staff, 550 tenants, 1,500 other contacts.

Thanks

Kenneth
Kenneth Osborne

Replies (6)

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By NeilW
17th Nov 2006 10:11

MYSQL is not free
It is freely available. There is a difference. It is free to those developing free software and it is free to use.

However ifsomebody is developing proprietary software for you they need a license to use it.

And don't forget that a database is just somewhere to store data. It's just a fancy disk drive with a flash search facility. The key is in the application written to use the database.

NeilW

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
17th Nov 2006 16:42

Sage integration
Kenneth,

I didn't really explain in much detail about integration with Sage - but don't get too excited about it. Yes, there will be some integration benefits, since the databases for the two applications will probably reside within the same MySQL database management system (but they don't have to). The commands that control them will be the same and any upgrades and maintenance will be consistent.

But operationally, you typically deposit and retrieve information in a database using SQL, the structured query language (see previous thread) - and apart from minor syntax differences this is basically the same for MS Access, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle etc etc...

Or you might want to connecting to a data table using ODBC - and once again, this is a pretty open standard, so it doesn't really matter what database you use.

If I have not adequately summarised the nuances, perhaps JC or other, more expert database gurus might correct me.

John Stokdyk
Technology editor
AccountingWEB.co.uk

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
17th Nov 2006 11:22

Thoughts on MySQL and DIY software - Pt 2
4. While it's extremely encouraging that you've come to the realisation that you're an accountant and not a database developer, the comment that you've "asked a friend to come up with a solution" set the alarm bells ringing. Potential recipe for botched implementation, ineffective solution and terminated friendship. Are you entering a commercial relationship with your developer friend, and can you be assured that the person will do a rigourous job for you and be around to support the application for several years to come? My guide to Sage developers includes an entry for Hexagon, which sells a property management application called LandMark that starts from £4k - that may be overkill for you, but is a good benchmark for assessing the practicality of your bespoke approach. With the commercial app, you'll have a clear view of what you're getting, the development costs will have been spread between other users and the company will provide training and support for the product. With a DIY approach, your development costs will be pretty open-ended and you should mentally budget at least 10% of your upfront costs each year to deal with on-going maintenance/training etc.

5. Of course, if your developer knows what they are doing and are in it for the long term - and if you have some other, similar property companies among your contacts - you could consider a little flutter in the software business and market your solution to other firms who might not want to spend £4k minimum for a professional solution. It's risky, all right, but 'll bet that's how at least 50% of the companies in the Sage developers' guide got started.

Hope this helps a bit - and I'll be interested to find out how your development project progresses.

John Stokdyk
Technology editor
AccountingWEB.co.uk

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By AnonymousUser
17th Nov 2006 13:09

Further comments
Thanks for the comments.

jc - I just wanted to know whether or not it would provide a reliable and functional basis for what want it to do. I've absolutely no idea what Parameterized Queries or Stored Procedures are but I'll pass it onto my IT chap. Thanks

John - My friend is also an IT developer by profession and database design and management is what he does most days. I don't have any intention of replacing my lack of expertise with someone elses.

From the comments entered, it looks like mysql will do a good job for me at a reasonable price.

Am I also correct in thinking that if Sage are moving to mysql as the basis of Line 50, integration with our database will be more powerful?

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
17th Nov 2006 11:23

Thoughts on MySQL and DIY software - Pt 1
Kenneth - this is a really fascinating question and follows on a previous thread that was stimulated no doubt by Sage's decision to migrate Line 50 to MySQL.

I've got a few background observations & comments, both technical and managerial.
1. It's very interesting to see a practitioner like yourself beginning moving into the open source camp. Usually it's only software evangelists like AccountingWEB's back-room development team who take an interest in this stuff - although some large organisations (and government bodies) around the world are exhibiting concerns about being locked into Microsoft SQL Server.

2. Sage shares that view and though it supports SQL Server in its mid-range and enterprise product families, it is confident enough in MySQL to base its core products on the database - because of the lower cost of ownership it will bring for end users. There wouldn't be that much impact if you are using Sage Line 50, but the database management and information sharing will be slightly simpler if you only need to worry about the one database management system.

3. MySQL is pretty pervasive in the web world - [*correction* AccountingWEB used to run on it until 3-4 years ago], alongside our sister communities HR Zone, CMC and TrainingZone - the database held more than 100k content items and records on 100k+ members. I can think of just one or two instances back then when we had minor database problems. Just so you're aware of it, MySQL is the M in what as known as the "LAMP" software development platform, whcih consists of Linux, Apache (web server), MySQL and the Perl programming language (look for .php in web addresses).

.../more

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By User deleted
17th Nov 2006 08:57

MySQL - good move ....
Currently migrating systems from Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005 to MySQL - what do you want to know ?

Bearing in mind the huge commitment, if I did not think it was OK would not be converting away from MS

Not quite free (near as makes no difference) see http://www.mysql.com/

Get your IT Devt guy to look at Parameterized Queries instead of Stored Procedures (if he/she intends using SP's)

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