Purpose
This project is intended as an administrative database for managing a number of PCs. It allows records to be kept of computers and available software packages as well as lists of software installed on each computer.
The system holds data on:
- Software packages (including licence key information).
- Operating systems.
- Computers (including hardware specifications).
- The software installed on the computers along with the installation date.
- Software installation todo lists.
Database Backend
The system operates from a PostgreSQL backend database server. The database contains tables holding data on:
- Software packages (software).
- Operating systems (os).
- Computers (computers).
- Software installed on different computers and the todo list (swinstall).
There are also tables containing the values for attributes of software/computers such as the category and the platform.
Full information about the relationship between the tables may be found in the Database Diagram (PDF, 19KB).
Users may either be authenticated onto the database server or clients may connect as a guest who may only view records.
Windows Client
This client written in C#, that runs under the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 provides a purpose-built graphical user interface to the Computers Database system. It was developed in Microsoft® Visual Studio 2005.
It provides:
- Graphical interface to browse the software library and list of computers.
- A means to filter the lists to search for specific items or classes of item.
- A graphical means of updating and deleting records from the software library or computers list.
- A means of adding software packages or computers to the database.
- An easy way to add a package to a computer's installed software list or the todo list for a computer.
- A means of viewing or updating a computers installed software or todo list.
- A simple interface to execute manual SQL query statements for more control over the results as well as means to automatically build SQL query statements from a set of criteria.
An option is available on the connection dialog to connect as the guest user. When connected as a guest, the options to modify entries such as the add/modify dialogs are hidden along with the commit changes options on the other dialogs.
The program employs a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) design to facilitate the user in performing multiple tasks at once and to make it easier to compare data in different parts of the database..
Screenshots are available via links below. They will open in external windows. The screenshots are in PNG format (which any sensible browser should be able to open). Please note that all screenshots are ©Copyright 2006 D Wilkins unless otherwise stated.
- Connecting to the Database Server
- Browsing the Software Library
- Add & Modify Software Entries
- Browsing Computers
- Add & Modify Computer Entries
- Installed Software and Todo Lists
- Install Software or Add to Todo List Dialog
- Manual Query/View Data Window (showing the "Query Builder")
WWW (PHP) Interface
Also available is a World-Wide-Web interface to the Computers Database system, written in PHP. The WWW interface may be installed on any web server (e.g. Apache, IIS) with PHP and the PostgreSQL extension.
Screenshots are available via links below. They will open in external windows. The screenshots are in PNG format (which any sensible browser should be able to open). Please note that all screenshots are ©Copyright 2006 D Wilkins unless otherwise stated.
- The Welcome Page
- The Logon Page (to gain access to all functions)
- Browsing the Software Library
- Modifying an Entry in the Software Library
- Adding a Software Entry
- Brwosing Computers
- Viewing Packages Installed on Computer
- Installing Software or Adding to the Todo List
- Manual Query
Download
Source Code
Source code is released under the terms of the GNU General Public Licence and is included with the distributions available on the Download Page.