Tool needed for DB interface

[BobRoosth]

I need to build a web interface to a simple database. One form would be for entering data. That seems manageable. The second has to allow query/search and modification of the data. I don't even know where to start. The last time I did this sort of thing was 15 years ago using MS Access.

I could probably do what I want with a custom salesforce.com page, but that is massive overkill (cost and capability). Can anyone suggest a tool set that would get me started? I found one that would handle the data entry, but not the query.

[donmcc]

The normal method to do this is through a combination of mySql and php. Problem is, both require a bit of programming knowledge to use. Both programs are open source, and probably are available on your web host. You might be able to find a simple php password program on the web, if that is all you need.

[BobRoosth]

Understood. The trick is writing the PHP to collect the terms for a query and generate the HTML to display the results. I found an inexpensive package that will collect data from a form and write it to MySQL, but that doesn't deal with the query/display problem. Either someone here will know of a package that does not show up in the searches I have done, or I'll find a developer who can help.

[john_b]

Perhaps I'm missing something but - assuming it's a MySQL database - wouldn't phpMyAdmin (http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/index.php) do the job?

John

[BobRoosth]

I want something a non-techie can use. phpMyAdmin is built into my cPanel interface, so it can be used to pre-load data and do queries that a developer might want. It's not the sort of thing one would give to a normal user.

[john_b]

Ah well, you never specified who the end-user was to be...;-)

[Bo Aakerstrom]

Although seemingly using a sledgehammer as a nutcracker - Drupal can do what you want and when some techie person has set it up it is easy to use.

There might be some more 'lightweight' CMS that can do the same.

[BobRoosth]

I'll look into it. Converting the entire site to Drupal might be an interesting exercise. It's for a non-profit organization and I maintain the site as a volunteer.

[Bo Aakerstrom]

Converting the entire site to Drupal might be an interesting exercise.
Depends on your interpretation of the word interesting! Anyway - I got it to work and I still have some hair left.

Aquia's Drupal stack is a good starting point as it easy to delete your site and start over if it comes to that.

[BobRoosth]

Good advice. What specific tool will handle the MySQL interface I want?

[Bo Aakerstrom]

Sorry, I am not near my PC at the moment. I'll have to get back about that later on. By the way there is lots of good advice on the Drupal forums (which is where I learned what I know).

[Bo Aakerstrom]

The two links below should prove useful:
The Drupal handbooks (http://drupal.org/handbook)
How to connect to your existing database (http://drupal.org/node/18429)