I work at a small computer repair/network troubleshooting company. I recently made the switch to running linux for my desktop at work. I am currently trying to reduce the number of time I have to boot into XP to do things.

What I want is this. We have a small Access database that the technicians use to track service calls by customer, hours worked, parts used, services performed. I want to get rid of this database entirely.

I have another pc running linux that will be designated as a server for the purpose of running this database. I want to find a program (meaning php programming through a web browser) that uses php, mysql, postgre sql, etc.... I want to be able to access the database no matter what operating system we are using whether it be xp, linux or just through a web browser. The web browser would be the best bet probably.

The program does not necessarily have to track accounts receivable or anything like that, it is simply used for us to print out our hours and services as techs and to have a record as to what was performed on a customer's system. This is then printed out for the accounting dept. to make the actual invoice and track AR.

If you know of any pre built databases and php pages that does this, please let me know. If not, could someone point me to a site that would teach me how to write this in PHP and MYSQL so I could create it on my own.

I would really love not to have to boot up into windows.

Thanks,

Do a search on freshmeat, I recall seeing a few projects that seem to be what your looking for.

I'm not very proficient with Abscess (didn't touch it
in ... 7 years?) but I would imagine you should be
able to just map the tables structures into MySQL
or PostgreSQL and the rest is probably just a little
bit more of programming than in the MS thing.

Cheers,
Tink

Thanks!

These links look pretty good. I found one called WebInvoice. It seems to do what I need.

I may still try to write one in php though. I would like to "try" to do one for myself also. Any good PHP programming links or how to do MySQL links?

In case anyone else lands here searching for the same - the best starter resource around IMO is Tizag.

http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/mysqlconnection.php

Under the mysql tutorial section you'd want to know everything from the connect statement on down to the delete statement.

Unfortunately Tizag only demonstrates the most basic best case scenario's. While this is great for quickly showing you the fundamentals it doesn't show the ropes of some of the tricky caveats and pitfalls you're going to find when you need to code a real world application.

For that you'll have to find more specialized php discussion threads specific to what you're trying to do at the time.

Of course there's always an abundance of info available at mysql.org - if you know what you're looking for.