Freeside :: Windows :: And a whole lot of love.

[Ivan Kohler]

On Thu, 8 Oct 1998, Jacob Leaver wrote:

> Well, another solution, and I don't mind saying I think this one would be
> going a leetle overboard is to write a small client/server type application
> that would let the server handle the server-side issues and validation.
> But then you'd have almost written an entirely different product.

Well, an entirely different front end.  What you are describing is
appropriate for a Perl/Tk or Java front end (something I hope to see in
the future).  Note that all of the server-side stuff is non-UI-speicifc
so writing a new front end should be pretty straigtforward.

> The only other thing I could maybe suggest, is rather than writing an access
> front end, make changes to the web-interface to meet your needs, perhaps
> making some fields hidden, or somthing of that sort.

There is only so much that can be done with web forms.  The service
administration section, for example, is particularly klunky with web
forms and is well suited to a more robust UI.

-- 
Ivan Kohler <ivan at sisd.com> - finger for PGP key
Silicon Interactive Software Design - http://www.sisd.com/ - 888-670-SISD
Open-source billing and administration for ISPs - http://www.sisd.com/freeside
20 4,16 * * * saytime # please don't be surprised if you find me dreaming too

> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ivan Kohler [mailto:ivan at sisd.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 1998 7:18 PM
> To: Jacob Leaver
> Cc: cerkit at skyfire.net; ivan-freeside at sisd.com
> Subject: RE: Freeside :: Windows :: And a whole lot of love.
> 
> 
> On Thu, 8 Oct 1998, Jacob Leaver wrote:
> 
> > If one were to add a flag to the tables that need server-side things to
> > happen, then one could use a cron demon job to to the server-side stuff,
> and
> > then clear the flag.
> 
> Yep... it will require more than just simple flags added to the tables,
> though.  The first thing that comes to mind is home directory changes,
> which trigger a copy of the home directory from the old to the new
> location.  A flag would tell you the home directory has changed, but not
> the old location.
> 
> But it is certainly still possible, just a little bit more complicated.
> 
> > As far as adding garbage goes, I think that you could use accesses
> drop-down
> > lists, and error trapping to prevent garbage.
> 
> Which leaves the data validation client-side instead of server-side.  I do
> suppose it is the best that can be done, though.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ivan Kohler [mailto:ivan at sisd.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 1998 3:24 PM
> > To: cerkit at skyfire.net
> > Cc: ivan-freeside at sisd.com
> > Subject: Re: Freeside :: Windows :: And a whole lot of love.
> >
> >
> > The only caution I have is that while _reading_ database tables should
> > work, _writing_ or _modifying_ database tables will miss some of the
> > callbacks... for example, if you add someone to the svc_acct table
> > directly, the `useradd' command won't get run.  It might also be possible
> > to add garbage data normally not allowed (since, again, you are modifying
> > the database directly).
> >
> > Read access has all sorts of interesting reporting possibilities, though,
> > and in all likelihood the people who would need most reports at an ISP
> > would be happier with Access.
> >
> > As soon as I return home I'll setup Access on my roomate's Windows machine
> > and play around with this with you.
> >
> > On Wed, 7 Oct 1998 cerkit at skyfire.net wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > 	I'm currently doing testing with interfacing freeside
> > > database tables under mysql using Access, from Office97, through the
> > > freely available, MyODBC drivers obtainable on http://www.mysql.org
> > >
> > > 	If anyone is interested in sharing their experience, ideas or
> > > partaking in this venture please communicate with me here on the list.
> > >
> > > cerkit-------  --- -   + -- --  : --   '    \   / ------- -  +   +
> > > "The difference between the internet and a cactus plant is that the
> > > cactus has the pricks on the outside."
> > > -------  --- -   + -- --  : --   '    \   / ------- -  + at skyfire.net
> > > 			  ` icq 12416036 /
> > >
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Ivan Kohler <ivan at sisd.com> - finger for PGP key
> > Silicon Interactive Software Design - http://www.sisd.com/ - 888-670-SISD
> > Open-source billing and administration for ISPs -
> > http://www.sisd.com/freeside
> > 20 4,16 * * * saytime # please don't be surprised if you find me dreaming
> > too
> >
> >
> >
> 
> --
> Ivan Kohler <ivan at sisd.com> - finger for PGP key
> Silicon Interactive Software Design - http://www.sisd.com/ - 888-670-SISD
> Open-source billing and administration for ISPs -
> http://www.sisd.com/freeside
> 20 4,16 * * * saytime # please don't be surprised if you find me dreaming
> too
> 
>