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UNIR2BOK's avatar
UNIR2BOK
Copper Contributor
Jan 02, 2022

Membership management software needed

If I create a membership database using MS Access, how do I set an external tablet to serve as a kiosk for club members to check in using the unique 4 digit pin assigned within the DB? Will pay anyone willing to help me with this.

5 Replies

  • UNIR2BOK 

    Kiosk style apps are, in theory, no harder to create than any other app...providing the tablet is used as a standalone device. In such cases, you just need to ensure the form objects work well on a small touch screen.

    As @arnel stated, I have created several such free example applications that you can look at including :

    Patient Login (Kiosk Mode)

    Kiosk Style App

    I also have a tablet edition of one of my commercial apps: UK Postal Address Finder 

     

    However, problems WILL occur if you want to have several users, each with their own copy of the front end and with a backend database on the network. Tablets normally use Wifi and Access really does NOT work well with a WIFi connection. There are huge risks of corrupted data in such situations.

     

    To get around that, you can try using the application offline then synchronise the data with a wired connection afterwards. If that sounds feasible, then feel free to contact me to discuss further. 

     

    If you do want to attempt this yourself, then I would highly recommend the developer (Crystal) that George mentioned

     

    So its do-able but there are lots of issues to consider

  • George_Hepworth's avatar
    George_Hepworth
    Silver Contributor

    UNIR2BOK 

     

    I am retired, so not a candidate and I can offer my advice for free.

     

    This is not a trivial project. A membership relational database application can be pretty straightforward, but as you add requirements, it'll get more complex quickly. So be sure, before you ever sign a contract--and you should not take on a consultant without a contract--that you have nailed down everything you want/need. We all suffer from "scope creep", or "just one more little thing...." and that leads to conflict.

     

    Also, don't go for the cheapest proposal. Like everything else, you get what you pay for. Ask for references. See what the consultant HAS done in the past. Know what you're getting. 

     

    Along those lines, I've had clients that I never saw face-to-face. In this day and age, the internet makes that possible. So, don't settle for someone local just because they are local.

     

    The kicker is going to be this kiosk installation. On the face of it, it should be pretty straightforward, but it does raise questions about architecture you need to have settled in advance. Access is Windows based application. The tablet you select must, therefore, run Windows applications. An iPad won't do. Low end tablets could be problematic. Don't get near the end of the project only discover the tools you selected are inadequate.

    And then there's the question of synchronizing data. If the same tablet can be brought back to your "home base" and connected to the in-house installation of the relational database application, that's good. If you expect to remotely connect the tablet to an in-house computer, that's going to be a lot more complicated -- i.e. expensive.

    Look for consultants who've done similar kinds of applications in Access. It's not that complex, but the more the consultant knows up front, the less expensive it'll be for you.

     

    Good luck.

    • UNIR2BOK's avatar
      UNIR2BOK
      Copper Contributor

      George_Hepworth 

       

      Thanks for the input. I’ve spent weeks searching for an existing software that could work for what I’m trying to do. Without much luck, this eventually led to me trying to convince myself maybe I can research and learn the process of app development…  Not long after, I realized this isn’t something I can just teach myself or learn from watching YouTube videos easily which then led to this post.. thanks for the advice, looks like it’s back to the drawing board for me

      • George_Hepworth's avatar
        George_Hepworth
        Silver Contributor

        UNIR2BOK You  know, I think there's a way to accomplish what you want (the software) and learn more about it in the process. Based only on your initial question, I was thinking more of a hired development consultation, and there are many highly qualified Access people. If you are willing and able to invest some time learning, though, I know a developer who specializes in that approach. She's been doing it for many, many years and is well known in the Access developer community. 

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