Re: Postgresql back-end - INTEGRATED - Excell Spreedsheets

Hi!
I would suggest that you use PG ODBC drivers to make a system data source
(Setting-Control Panel-ODBC-Add... , after installing PG ODBC driver of
course).

Then, you would use VB for App or whatever excel Macros you do to fill in
those external tables. I have not tried this, but, as far as I know, it
would work, and would be reasonably efficient. I did it with Access
applications, that, in all regards would be very similar.
With some programming, you could even make the secretaries edit the real
tables (or a copy, but still on the PG DB) directly from their m$ excel
spreadsheets.

Any comments ?
Cheers, Silvio

> Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 18:42:31 -0800
> From: "Blake Starkenburg" <blake(at)webintention(dot)com>
>
> Hello All,
> I am looking for opinions and suggestions on setting up integration between
> a back-end PostgreSQL database engine hosted on a web server and a client
> using Excel spreadsheets to store and print internal product information and
> pricing.
>
> Here's the scenario: I am using a Linux web server, Apache, PostgreSQL,
> PHP3.
>
> The client's secretaries input all product information currently into Excel
> spreadsheets, at there office location on there workstations, dial-up
> Internet connection, they will not at the current time switch to complete
> web integration. Each month they update product pricing and new products
> additions into the excel spreadsheet. On the client's web site we have a
> back-end database with the same product and pricing information. The
> problem, I need to develop a way for the client to upload an exported excel
> spreadsheet in tab-deliminated format to the server and rebuild or update
> the PostgreSQl database on the web to reflect the changes.
>
> My first thought on the situation would be to write the proper scripts to
> allow the client to upload the file to the web server, then click on a
> button via a web browser that would run a compiled PHP command to grad the
> uploaded file, put it into a variable and run the command psql pg_dump and
> rebuild the database with the updated information. This seems inefficient
> however, along with the problem of the server running as 'nobody' and I am
> wondering if a more efficient ways exists and if you all would have any
> suggestions?
>
> Thank you everyone,
> Blake S.
>

--
``````````````` Silvio Emanuel Nunes Barbosa de Macedo '''''''''''''''''''
smacedo(at)ic(dot)ac(dot)uk smacedo(at)inescn(dot)pt
Imperial College, University of London INESC Porto
Intelligent and Interactive Systems Telecom. and Multimedia
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