Re: Worksheet Database Maintenance Model

I don't have an exact use case but instead wanted to let you know about
Profound Logic's iData tool which is browser based, allows for cell editing,
and is written in RPG on the server side - pretty cool stuff. Think of it
as a web version of WRKDBF. Downloading and installing it might give you
some ideas on the usefulness of it's features in other business scenarios.

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com
http://mowyourlawn.com/blog/


On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 4:08 PM, Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts about using a "worksheet" for
database inquiry and maintenance, where each "cell" in a worksheet
represents a "record" in a database table. We're just beginning to implement
a worksheet model for viewing and entering grades & scores on student
assignments. See the screen-shot:

http://www.radile.com/rdweb/temp/worksheet.pdf

In this example, worksheet data comes from three (3) related tables or SQL
views - Students, Assignments, and Grades; where grades may be entered and
maintained, using a worksheet format. Actually the record may contain more
than one field, which are displayed in a popup when the F2=Change key is
pressed.

My question is, what other types of inquiry & maintenance applications
might the worksheet metaphor might apply to? Can you come up with other use
cases?

We're implementing a fair amount of JavaScript to support worksheet
navigation, horizontal and vertical scrolling, individual and block cell
selection, auto fill, and editing.

I'm considering structuring the browser and server components in a manner
that would make them more reusable - adaptable to other use cases. That
might make sense, if there are enough potential use cases.

My gut feel is that a Worksheet model could be applied to different types
of applications - but that's mostly based on the fact that so many people
seem interested in transferring IBM i data to Excel, and back again. What
are some use cases?

Thank's for you thoughts,

-Nathan.




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