Mase
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Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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I'm looking at developing an intranet for work. Basically its a computer or CD based intranet that links to various PDF'd operation and maintenance manuals for pumps, valves etc. that we have to include as part our delivery of a project.
What I'd like to do is develop a way of creating a template that could be used for all projects. I want to see if a database driven solution would be viable and easy for all project teams to use with little tuition.
The major problem is my severe lack of knowledge of this type of thing, so was after some opinions as to whether this type of system would be suitable for my needs and how i could go about developing the database and GUI.
Cheers 
[Edited on 13-05-2008 by Mase]
Mase
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colour_golden
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Registered: 24th Feb 08
Location: Hull - UK
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It all depends what system and language you want to write it in. Their is ASP and PHP as the main coding laguages used to access databases.
ASP is microsoft so would need a windows server to run on. PHP is open source and so is MySQL (Database server) but php is, IMO harder to learn. I started on ASP then went onto PHP purely for the fact a website i was asked to work on was in PHP.
You need to decide what you want the system to do before you can decide which is best for you, if you simply want a document management system, products + manuals etc then there may already be something ready made for free over on sourceforge.net, this would cut out the hassle of making it yourself. For example http://www.doctaur.com/cgi-bin/intranet_version.pl
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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To do it using PHP and MySQL you could install Vertrigoserv on a computer and use that as your intranet server that you have your data on. Then you just need the site made up...
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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If you're giving it out on CD you need to weigh up what benefits a system of that nature will bring. Filesystem is a great thing if you're just talking about a load of PDF documents.
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Bart
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
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do you use your own server at work or anything similar?
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Mase
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Ian
If you're giving it out on CD you need to weigh up what benefits a system of that nature will bring. Filesystem is a great thing if you're just talking about a load of PDF documents.
yeah it would just be a load of PDF documents and drawings. I've put a makeshift thing together which is just a HTML website with links to the PDF's in seperate files, but its a bugger to update and takes ages, so I was looking for something a bit quicker really with a easy to use GUI. Have you got any links to this 'filesystem' thing? (unless i'm barking up the wrong tree and your talking bout the file system like windows explorer??)
Mase
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Mase
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Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Bart
do you use your own server at work or anything similar?
we've got servers and that, but i expect they'll want to keep it seperate from our systems.
Mase
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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Yeah I'm just talking about Windows filesystem - what additional functionality do you need?
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Mase
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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well thats what we usually did, but what I want to do is to split the manuals up into the different areas of the project so that engineers can access the correct manual faster, as well as extra information with details of suppliers and order numbers etc. for spares and assistance.
I just wanted to add a bit of an interface that everyone could use easily.
Mase
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Laney
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Registered: 6th May 03
Location: Leeds
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Are you planning on distributing the GUI on CD and keeping the data stored elsewhere?
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Paul
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Registered: 16th Apr 02
Location: Oop north.
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Have a look at this Microsoft Sharepoint
And best of all, it's FOC
[Edited on 14-05-2008 by Paul]
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Mase
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Laney
Are you planning on distributing the GUI on CD and keeping the data stored elsewhere?
ideally the complete standalone manual will be on CD or DVD, database and GUI.
Mase
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Doug
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Registered: 8th Oct 03
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Could you not just write a html website and put that on CD with the direct links to the relevant files stored on the CD aswell?
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Mase
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Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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Thats what I've done already, but i was looking to see if there was a quicker way of developing one that all project engineers could put together, some of whom struggle with e-mails.
Tbh, its looking like i'll be doing em for everyone at the minute, unless i can palm it off onto the IT guys....
Mase
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Laney
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Registered: 6th May 03
Location: Leeds
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quote:
Originally posted by Mase
quote:
Originally posted by Laney
Are you planning on distributing the GUI on CD and keeping the data stored elsewhere?
ideally the complete standalone manual will be on CD or DVD, database and GUI.
Cant help but think something more dynamic would be easier to maintain?
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Mase
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Sep 01
Location: Derbyshire
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Once the projects done, there isn't a need to update the manual as far as were concerned, as this manual only covers the kit we have supplied and installed at the time....
Mase
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