Best platform for building a network application

Question

Hello people, 

I am a new developer and I am looking to start working on a solo project that aims to create an application for a Reception Counter environment. 

There is one computer that will sit at the front desk. Another computer at some other location where people will meet a representative from company XYZ. Now, I want my visitors to go to the front desk, and input their name, contact info and obtain a queue number. The queue number signifies when the visitor will get a chance to meet a representative. When a meeting with the representative is over, the representative updates a database which removes the queue number from the list.

Now, I am still in the design phase, and I want to know which platform would be best suitable for me to learn to build an application that fits my scenario. I am a Visual Basic developer, but I have absolutely no knowledge about getting a VB application to run on a network. 

Kindly just guide me as to which language/platform would be the best to create such an application. 

Thanks in advance,

cyberbeast. :)

Answer 1

You could easily use VB.net(I suggest 2010) to access an SQL database over a network. I suggest exploring the SQLCLIENT Namespace. Here is a link to help you along your way.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.aspx

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If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

Answer 2

I have a long sopthiscated employee managemnet app that drags employees from munis which is an employee management system and then inputs their name into active directory.

In addition, you could organize your database by skill level and show which ones have certificates and other items so they can know some basic facts about someone before removing from list.

Organization is important though in any sql application.  Try out your sql knowledge first before diving into programming a network based database application. You could though have a table on sql server made that has a column called "meeting over" and is boolean so the other database app knows when the meetings over and marks that person as done.

I have codes for subs and teachers compared to other staff which i have placed into different areas for my program. You can if rep. likes a person retain info too on that person so the HR department can have something unless thats not your intent. look into munis though because its used by the government and educational insitutions heavily in some areas.

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Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. - "Sherlock holmes" "speak softly and carry a big stick" - theodore roosevelt. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering - Yoda. Blog - http://jefferycarlsonblog.blogspot.com/

Answer 3

You could easily use VB.net(I suggest 2010) to access an SQL database over a network. I suggest exploring the SQLCLIENT Namespace. Here is a link to help you along your way.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.aspx

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If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

Thank You Paul for your timely and valuable reply. I looked into the stuff you mentioned and it really helped me a lot. In fact I have started building the application. There are certain things that I don't understand but at least now I am a little more clearer about what I HAVE to know. 

I have progressed so far as to making a Log In System for my application.

Thank You again,

cyberbeast

Answer 4

I have a long sopthiscated employee managemnet app that drags employees from munis which is an employee management system and then inputs their name into active directory.

In addition, you could organize your database by skill level and show which ones have certificates and other items so they can know some basic facts about someone before removing from list.

Organization is important though in any sql application.  Try out your sql knowledge first before diving into programming a network based database application. You could though have a table on sql server made that has a column called "meeting over" and is boolean so the other database app knows when the meetings over and marks that person as done.

I have codes for subs and teachers compared to other staff which i have placed into different areas for my program. You can if rep. likes a person retain info too on that person so the HR department can have something unless thats not your intent. look into munis though because its used by the government and educational insitutions heavily in some areas.

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Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. - "Sherlock holmes" "speak softly and carry a big stick" - theodore roosevelt. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering - Yoda. Blog - http://jefferycarlsonblog.blogspot.com/

Thank you for the insightful reply. I gained quite a few tips about how I can improve my application. I will keep these things in mind. Thank you again.

cyberbeast

Answer 5

You could easily use VB.net(I suggest 2010) to access an SQL database over a network. I suggest exploring the SQLCLIENT Namespace. Here is a link to help you along your way.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.aspx

---

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

Thank You Paul for your timely and valuable reply. I looked into the stuff you mentioned and it really helped me a lot. In fact I have started building the application. There are certain things that I don't understand but at least now I am a little more clearer about what I HAVE to know. 

I have progressed so far as to making a Log In System for my application.

Thank You again,

cyberbeast

Sounds good, and if you have more specific questions, there is always someone in the forums willing to help. ;]

Also Just wanted to add...

Sql Injection

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms161953%28v=sql.105%29.aspx

And:

Make sure you are storing the MD5 password hash in the database instead of the actual password. I believe play station network made the mistake of storing plain text passwords.

http://lalawag.com/2011/04/26/sony-confirms-massive-playstation-network-breach-what-you-should-know/

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If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

Answer 6

You could easily use VB.net(I suggest 2010) to access an SQL database over a network. I suggest exploring the SQLCLIENT Namespace. Here is a link to help you along your way.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.aspx

---

If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

Thank You Paul for your timely and valuable reply. I looked into the stuff you mentioned and it really helped me a lot. In fact I have started building the application. There are certain things that I don't understand but at least now I am a little more clearer about what I HAVE to know. 

I have progressed so far as to making a Log In System for my application.

Thank You again,

cyberbeast

Sounds good, and if you have more specific questions, there is always someone in the forums willing to help. ;]

Also Just wanted to add...

Sql Injection

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms161953%28v=sql.105%29.aspx

And:

Make sure you are storing the MD5 password hash in the database instead of the actual password. I believe play station network made the mistake of storing plain text passwords.

http://lalawag.com/2011/04/26/sony-confirms-massive-playstation-network-breach-what-you-should-know/

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If you want something you've never had, you need to do something you've never done. If you believe something to be true, then one day you will be called upon to demonstrate that truth.

Yes paul md5 hashs can be if used correctly can be effective at security (are not able to unencrypt from what i hear is that still true?). I will have to call up my friend and ask him about how he did his md5 hashs. His programming is more web oriented but still same principle. SQL injection has been around for awhile though. I always like to write clean SQL code which is hard to do when you have undocumented databases and my recent project you can only view the tables in visual studio.

Heres some helpful code to start you out (some desing habits too for databases!):

A helpful hint is to practice good database design habits:

1. Having simple organized columns when creating a table is important to limit confusion.

2. Split up data into different tables as necessary.

A quick tutorial that involves simple code for accessing databases (below is my code):

   On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
        Dim munistest As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection()
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand
        Dim clicked As Boolean = True
        If clicked = True And Me.Visible = False Then
            munistest.ConnectionString = "Server=208.64.234.108;Database=databasename;User ID=username;Password=password;Trusted_Connection=False;"
        ElseIf clicked = True And Me.Visible = True Then
'above and below is login information for sql server
            TxtMunisdatalocation.Text = "database address - i.e. - ip address or hostname"
            TxtDatabasename.Text = "name of database"
            TxtMunisUsername.Text = "username"
            TxtMunispassword.Text = "password"
            munistest.ConnectionString = "Server=" + TxtMunisdatalocation.Text + ";Database=" + TxtDatabasename.Text + ";User ID=" + TxtMunisUsername.Text + ";Password=" + TxtMunispassword.Text + ";Trusted_Connection=False;"
        End If
'query is below
        cmd = New SqlCommand("SELECT prem_lname, prem_minit, prem_fname, prem_dob, prem_emp, prem_loc, prem_act_stat,prem_p_jclass, prem_inact FROM mu9195.psst.psst_prempmst WHERE (prem_act_stat = 'A')", munistest)
        If munistest.State = ConnectionState.Closed Then munistest.Open()
        Dim munisexportfile As System.IO.StreamWriter = New System.IO.StreamWriter(Application.StartupPath + "\munisexport.mxp")
        Dim sdr As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
        While (sdr.Read = True)
            munisexportfile.WriteLine(sdr.Item("prem_fname"))
            munisexportfile.WriteLine(sdr.Item("prem_lname"))
            munisexportfile.WriteLine(sdr.Item("prem_dob"))
            'the employee id number?
            munisexportfile.WriteLine(sdr.Item("prem_emp"))
            'the emplyee location number?
            munisexportfile.WriteLine(sdr.Item("prem_loc"))
            munisexportfile.WriteLine(sdr.Item("prem_p_jclass"))
        End While
        munisexportfile.Close()
        sdr.Close()
        If clicked = True And Me.Visible = False Then
            Log("munis database connection to 208.64.234.108 successful")
        ElseIf clicked = True And Me.Visible = True Then
            Log("munis database connection to" + TxtMunisdatalocation.Text + "successful")
        End If
        Return "success"
        Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
        Log("Error:" + Err.Description + "Error Number:" + Err.Number.ToString + "Error Source:" + Err.Source)
        Connecttodatabase = "Error"

 Follow the comments which have an ' above and then replace user information with your own but you can also data bind the textboxes and some other elements to a database.

P.S. i currently use this code to make active directory users out of our employee managment system. Its simple yet effective like a college paper.

I do error checking and other username and policy checks to make sure it follows the format the state set and not conflict with their programs. One check is making sure a user is not inside another staff ou in active directory.

You will have logic checks like mine such as seperating subs into a special sub ou that doesnt have any school scripts run on it.  

Note: the code above is a slightly modified version of what i used with important information removed. 

Hint: you could have the representatives program have a check sub placed inside a timer which checks for updates inside the database for if a person has been interviewed or not  and removes them from the database.

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Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. - "Sherlock holmes" "speak softly and carry a big stick" - theodore roosevelt. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering - Yoda. Blog -http://www.computerprofessions.co.nr/