Create a back-end database for ios & web apps using filemaker - database

I'm need to create an ipad app that has access to a relational database as well a lot of images (which should be hosted on the web). My boss suggested that I use Filemaker, as he has a license for one of the versions.
I searched the web for information on what is the best way to do this but I'm not 100% sure I got it right.
Is it possible to use Filemaker for the following?
Create a relational database
'Host' images
Run custom scripts (optional but not strictly required)
Publish all of the above to the web, to be accessed by an ios app (and later an web app) through an API.
I understand the the first three points can be done but couldn't find much on how to publish everything and then access it securely later.
Are there better alternatives?
Thank you in advance

FileMaker Server has a fairly good XML API that supports all operations, including FileMaker scripts. It can be used as is or through the official PHP client. There's also an unofficial Python client for it.

Related

QuickBooks connection using asp

May not be the best place to ask sorry if that's true.
I have worked on SQL and while I never worked on QuickBooks I am hoping it is possible to connect to it and just use it similar to a SQL Database. I am wondering I am wondering if it is possible to connect to QuickBooks using ASP. My purpose is to create simple forms and insert the data into QuickBooks similar to what is done on SQL.Occasionally I would just generate reports as well using web pages. All I am wondering is does ASP have the capability to connect to Quick Books and if so can I also run query's similar to SQL and is there any sources or reference available for research ? And what my options are for setting this up. If I have to use asp.net as a last resort that is fine too, though I would prefer to have to be without it.
Thank you
Update #1
While i am working on getting the Version of Quick-Books here is what information I have.
I plan on using ASP-Classic, and I want to develop web forms so this would be a website that can be accessed. This will not be a desktop application I plan on making but various webpage's where you can view Quick-books data, and insert records into Quick-books using forms, similar to what I do for SQL. And the Version of our Quick-Books is 2013 Enterprise Windows Desktop USA edition.
All I am wondering is does ASP have the capability to connect to Quick Books
Yes.
can I also run query's similar to SQL
Maybe.
QuickBooks itself does not provide an SQL-based interface. Communication with QuickBooks is via XML. However, QuickBooks Enterprise comes with something called QODBC which provides an ODBC interface to the XML interface QuickBooks provides, which might get you what you need.
One problem you want to watch out for -- there are times when you won't be able to connect to QuickBooks. e.g. it is not an "always-on" solution like a typical SQL database is. If you're in single-user mode in QuickBooks, or someone closes QuickBooks, or someone is doing a QuickBooks backup, or someone is updating QuickBooks, then you won't be able to connect. You'll have to plan for this in your application.
A better solution might be to use the QuickBooks SDK (specifically the QuickBooks Web Connector). If you download and install the SDK there is example code included. The SDK install also includes about 600 pages of PDF documentation on topics which you are asking about.
Striking out the below stuff since you've provided more details now: But unfortunately you didn't provide anywhere near enough information for anyone to actually give you a decent answer.
How about providing some actual details so that people can actually help you? Like, maybe:
Is this QuickBooks ONLINE, or QuickBooks for WINDOWS, or QuickBooks for MAC? (they are three entirely separate products, with entirely separate sets of capabilities)
What version/year/edition/country of QuickBooks?
ASP classic or ASP.NET?
Is this a website you're connecting from, or is this a desktop application, or...?

How to develop a simple database based project

I want to start an information provider service. It works this way:
Some employees will find the information needed and fill a database manually.
Users will request data they need on their client side apps on their own platforms. Some of the project specifications is as follows: 1) Data that will go between database server and clients is really small(Suppose some ordinary images). 2) The client side apps don't need to be kept updated. Once the user of app clicks update button(for example) the app will request the server to send required information. 3)It's important to run client side apps on several platforms like: windows, windows phone, android, ios,... 4) Database doesn't need to be vary fast or vary big.
Note: And It's important to note that I'm not expert and I have some limitations. I know java and html, css, javascript. But I think those are enough for this project. (Am I right?)
So I decided to design this development architecture:
1)Using hibernate and provide a layer for server which stands above hibernate and is used to do database-specific tasks. This layer provides some protocols for client side apps to communicate with server. It enables me to change database later without changing client side apps. 2)Using PhoneGap which is a framework that uses html, css, javascript and produces apps for many platforms.
I really appreciate any suggestion, comment,... Thanks!
The fastest way in Java world would be spring boot. Basically you can configure whole application: datasource, orm, persistance layer and rest services just by adding proper annotations. There are many examples of how to do it. Basically with current implementation of spring jpa and web services you can bind mapped resources to rest services. Also current JPA can generate SQL for you using DAO method name. SO e.g. findPersonByName will generate proper sql for you (of course you need to map your db model in entities but this is also simply done with annotations).
Yes, this is a sufficient tech stack to accomplish your goal. You will have to decide how much logic to implement server-side vs app-side.
Pick a java framework for providing an API so that you can expose a restful API to your apps.
Here are a couple of comparisons from stack overflow:
Which is the best Java REST API?
Easiest frameworks to implement Java REST web services
no! for database you need server side scripting language, like php or perl, java-script is client side and will only work on browser. i recommend first learning mysql database, just the basics how to create Db, table, insert and fetch. then some PHP. i think these will set the ground for your project. '
for development environment : download XAAMP! it comes complete with Sql-database base and PHP.

Is Brandoo Wordpress safe for production environment?

I have a Wordpress blog that is now running in Linux/MySQL. Now, I have seen a product called Brandoo Wordpress which let you run Wordpress on IIS + MSSQL.
Since I am using Windows Server and MSSQL for all my other projects I would very much like to use it on my Wordpress blog too. The wordpress site is quite big and important. The blog is beloved for its adult content. It has a revenue on thousands of dollars/month so I don't want to rush in anything here.
The Brandoo Wordpress is a part of the application gallery in Windows Platform Installer and also in Windows Azure.
So my questions are:
Since Brandoo Wordpress is a part of the apps in Azure, do you think it is quality assured by Microsoft?
I guess before Microsoft adds a web app to Azure and Platform Installer it has to be safe and bug free? Right?
I have tested my Wordpress locally with Brandoo Wordpress and it seems to work great so far.
I'm member of Brandoo WordPress team and I think I can help You. So... Brandoo WordPress is based on MSSQL. If You are using plugins that uses non-standard (same for MS and My SQL) db query You must face situation when You will must drop those plugins untill we will create translation for those queries that are not translated yet. There is also one thing. Brandoo WordPress is one step behind mainline right now. It's because some MySQL speciffic query in onsite search function. We do not want to fork WP and change it to MS schema so we are still working on translation or disabling this subfunction (If we willagree that this is a safe way to do it). If this is ok for You, then Brandoo WordPress is good for Your production.
I wouldn't call this a guarantee, but one of the principles of submission to the web app store is to "Be Safe"

Is it possible to create a database driven website with flash?

I am a newbie programmer and i dont yet have any idea of the WEB. I wish to start learning a technology that will allow me to build websites( database driven) i dont know which one to choose. I know some actionscript3 and flash.
Is it possible to create a database driven website using these alone? Or do i need to learn any other technology? If i do then what should i learn? I know j2se for the desktop and oracle SQL/MySQL
please show me a path. Also wanted to know if there is any technology like Wordpress for J2EE/flash
OK so i finally got the feeling that i need to learn PHP anyway along with css and javascript. So it is fine. Also another query. Which CMS should i consider? Wordpress or Joomla?
You can develop a database driven website using Flash, but only in the same sense that you can develop a database driven website using AJAX. That is, you can build the front-end using Flash/ActionScript but the back-end is built using other technologies. Just like working with JavaScript to develop a front-end, from ActionScript you would be communicating with Java or PHP or Python or something on the server using RESTful calls and then actually working with the database in the server-side scripts.
Honestly = this question is too broad and generic, and answers are easily found with some google searches.
That being said = of course you can build a data driven flash site. The one caveat here is that flash itself is fundamentally client-side technology, so we must rely on other remote tech to do the heavy data lifting. The options are profuse.
For example, a developer might create a front facing presentation in Flex, which is the streamlined, data-centric extension of pure flash. His database interactions are written in php, and these are constantly called upon to deliver content to the user.
So - what technologies to use? Whatever you know. And if you don't know, then learn the ones that are closest to what you know.
Finally, although I am a die-hard fan of flash, this type of project (you didn't specify what you had in mind) could be done with many different technologies. So - maybe flash is the right answer, but maybe javascript (ajax) could manage the same thing and do it without the need of plugins.
Yes you can develop database driven site in flash/action script but you still need and back-end technology i recommend you to check WebORB you can develop the back-end using Java, PHP, or .NET In addition you can use Flash Remoting technology Flash/Flex to communicate with a back-end
Flash can't be directly connected to database. You must use another technique which would be "mediator". I have developed Flash game with MySql database and PHP and I recommend you to use this combination. Here is visually presented this kind of communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRi-oxjFfCU
yes, it is possible to crate database driven website with flash and action-script. You would get an XML file when you do action script in flash, so you can store nodes of that XML file into database(mysql). You can then create an Admin interface to manage your database contents, that would indirectly change your xml nodes. So basically you can edit the xml file and store it in the database.

Update a local/client Microsoft Access Database from a server (MS SQL Server2005)

I've got a website that runs on a shared hosting environment, using ASP.net 2.0 (C#) and MS SQL Server 2005. I've recently been asked if I can integrate my website with a piece of third party desktop software that uses the Access runtime as its database (transparent to the end user).
Primarily I want to be able to offer users of my website the option of exporting their data into the Access database on their local machine. The data schema's match sufficiently, the question is how to actually do this, and in the simplest way possible for the user.
Simply having a webpage update the local Access database isn't possible due to the obvious security restrictions. I've considered asking them to upload the Access database to the server, so I can migrate the data then allow them to download it again, however the competency of the users of this software is such that even locating the Access database, let alone uploading and downloading it from the website might be too complicated.
I've also considered if Adobe Air or Silverlight could help here, but don't know them well enough to know for sure. Similarly I'm assuming another exe could be written to perform this task that the user could simply download and run, however my experience is in web development, not program development, so this isn't a 100% certainty for me, or an ideal development option for me.
So, can this be done, and if so what technique can achieve this, with the stated aims being ease of use for the end user, followed by ease of development by someone with web development as their main skill. Many thanks!
You may find this answer of interest: Best way to stream files in ASP.NET
It is about transferring a file from the server. You could save Excel or CSV and use that to update Access.
Instead of trying to do this in a web page you might just expose some views from your sql server to some client specific logins.
Then within the Access application, allow them to tie to your sql server. You might even provide an access application for getting the data from your site and stuffing it in their local access database.
In my work we have done something similar that is transparent to the user by creating an ActiveX control. The problem is that you are limiting the users to use only Internet Explorer.
I think that the best way to achieve what you are trying to do is by installing a service in the client's computer. If creating a service is beyond your experience you can post a project in a place like oDesk and find somebody that can help you with the development for the money that you are willing to pay to complete your project.
Good Luck.

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