Portable Frontend Data input interface for SQL Server Database - user-interface

I have a SQL Server Database, I want a front-end graphical user interface for data input, which can be either web or desktop. But it has to be portable I mean it should be used without additional installation of any program. That front-end interface will be used by many users for input data into Database. Can you please help and suggest me?

Please see the link to the similar question. I find it quite helpful.
Which tool to build a simple web front-end to my database
and this
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/195850-does-anyone-have-a-quick-and-dirty-way-to-access-ms-sql-data-from-a-web-app
and if you have some free time also this
http://www.academia.edu/4948292/Design_and_Implementation_of_Graphical_User_Interface_for_Relational_Database_Management_System
and potentially this
https://ask.sqlservercentral.com/questions/89751/is-there-a-front-end-application-development-tool.html
I hope it helps (at least a bit!)

Not sure if anyone is still looking for this, but https://beekeeperstudio.io is an open source database gui with a portable build.
Windows has a portable exe
Linux has appimage

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Windows (Forms) Application Project Suggestion

I will start working on a Project soon, and as I am a noob in regards to coding (and general indecisiveness due to the lack of knowledge), I would like to have some suggestions in regards to what type of Windows (forms) application I should build (eg. payroll system, library system, etc)
I know there are a lot of ideas out there, but I would like some suggestions of an easy system to build, including a system that is easy to expand on. Will also make use of a database (connecting SQL Server to the application)
I will be using .NET / C# (VS)
Thank you in advance.
In my experience 90% of the commercial systems I've been hired to write just involve relatively basic storage and manipulation of data with some layers of security around access.
Maybe start with something like a payroll system, but keep in the back of your mind that you could scale to accommodate a full HRMIS (Human Resources Management Information System). Also, experiment with ASP.NET MVC and Web Technologies, in my experience, the majority of systems now are moving to a web-based implementation.
The possibilities are endless in the world of software development.
You could make a winforms program that calculates all the primenumbers between two user inputs. You could also then output these to a XML-file, and make a button that lets the user open an XML-file and reload whatever they input back then.
It's pretty simple, but still involves some Winforms basics and some XML data storage/manipulation.

UiPath terminal connection - internal vs EHLLAPI?

I'm trying to automate in an AS400 terminal using UiPath.
I experience stability problems where the screen "blinks", which can cause errors. This outputs a trace log: "XMLScreen:Render BUGBUG XMLScreen.Field is blank".
I am connecting with UiPath internal and wondering if that might be the cause of my problem. I've searched for hours, but cant find any information on what the difference is between UiPath internal and IBM EHLLAPI. The only difference I know is that EHLLAPI uses an already existing terminal session.
Is one way of connecting generally a better choice than the other regarding stability and why?
All inputs are greatly appreciated! :)
The two options work completely differently.
EHLLAPI works against existing installed IBM i Access for Windows or IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) software. It is a very specific, solid, and well established IBM proprietary API that does not use Telnet in any way. You would need to ensure that EHLLAPI support was enabled (e.g. http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas8N1010639 for ACS).
Your organisation may perhaps be using a third party emulator, e.g. Rumba - I think EHLLAPI is supported by some of these.
The UIPath internal option starts and writes to a TN5250 session, over which it sounds from the documentation as if you have little control (e.g. re keyboard mappings).
I would suggest you go with EHLLAPI if you can (i.e. if you have a suitable IBM or third party product installed as above).
But, are you absolutely certain you need to screen scrape this at all? Do you have no access to the IBM i source code, which would potentially allow you to write a suitable program to run natively? I feel honour bound to say this, because there is always grief with screen scraping IBM i applications (e.g. panels appear that you are not expecting, especially at sign on time, or if an error occurs).

Single use only setup for a specific hardware

I am a newbie and not familiar with the setup environments and stuck at some point. I am developing a very simple database application using visual studio 2010. I want to release a demo program and want the demo setup to be executed just one time for a specific computer hardware. For example when one user downloads the demo and installs the setup, the demo setup content, a simple configuration file embedded in the setup or "what so ever I do not know" should be changed, so that setup (when coppied to another computer) could not be used in other computer hardwares.
The sollutions or design ideas for this specific problem should not include any online services checking that the user executes that install or not. All the problem should be solved locally if possible :) and be as generic as possible.
Any design ideas or a starting point
will be very appreciated.
Thanks in advance
This is not possible of course. Whatever breadcrumb you leave to record that the program was ran has to be left on the same machine. Leaving any user with sufficient skills or good enough tools (like SysInternals' ProcMon) to find out where you dropped it and remove it again. Assuming they care enough about making the effort.
The simple solution is to intentionally cripple your demo so that an important feature is missing that would make it useful. Like File + Save. Not just disabled, completely missing in the code as well so hacking the demo program doesn't work either. Easy to do with an #if directive in your source code.

How to create PDF reports using PL/SQL

Is there PL/SQL package or engine available which would enable the creation of PDF reports from stored procedures?
If your looking for a freeware or open source package, their is this. I've not used it, but it has good reviews. lPL_FPDF If you have a budget, then this, which enterprise class product, meaning excellent documentation, is available. plpdf.
The commercial package is written in native Pl/SQL so will be very easy to use. The open source package I don't know.
If your running in an Oracle environment, with any of the reports servers, then all of then support PDF being emitted both to the printer and stored in the db as blobs.
Its a fairly tedious task to configure it, from what I remember.
Hope that gets you started.
B
PL_FPDF has many problems, such as 32k page limitations and many bugs. I've modified the code and renamed it to wpdf. You can get wpdf here: http://databaseknowledge.com/services.htm
You may want to look into Oracle Application Express to create PDF reports, but depending on how the output is coming out from your stored procedure, it may not be an easy tool to use.
You can find directions here:
http://www.oracle.com/technology/obe/apex/apex31nf/apex31rpt.htm#t1
Oracle Application Express - printing features not to be forgotten. You can use interactive reporting from browser and decide what you need to print. You can apply XSLT also and decide the printing format.

How do I make Remote Assistance as painless as possible?

I need to provide remote assistance to the users of my app, through the Internet. I need a reference for doing this, and I need to make the whole connecting to remote desktop process as easy as clicking a menu of my app for my users.
I don't want them to get too involved with the procedure. I believe the built-in remote assistance features of Windows XP and Vista are fine, I just need to make it very simple.
Anyone any ideas?
P.S. A comprehensive reference on the whole Windows Remote Assistance would also be appreciated.
I highly recommend Mikogo. It's free, fast to install and setup, works great, and is very simple. I actually prefer it to the more expensive services ($30-$40/month) because of it's simplicity. Only thing is, I'm not sure how they make money, they have some advertising when you visit the home page, but it's very minimal.
There are many commercial tools that do make this operation effortless. I won't mention any names because this isn't an advertising forum. A quick search should turn up a handful of possibilities; I've used many of the more popular ones and found them satisfactory.
Our support desk typically uses WebEx which works really well.
There are a large number of tools which will do this. Your best is to pick a tool which has a reverse connection from the person who needs help back to the helper. This will make sure that you do not have users try and configure firewalls/open ports etc. Webex is a good recommendation by Old Nick. Another option is GotoAssist, there is also Gotomeeting which can have the same remote control functionality and is cheaper i believe. The main thing is making sure it is as easy as it can be for your users, trying to walk a user through installing an active-x control can be hard enough.
I'd suggest trying LogMeIn. It's nice because once you have the user set up the client software, you can arrange with them a time to leave their PC unattended so that you can remote in and take a look (with the option to disable local keyboard/mouse and monitor access). You can also connect such that the local peripherals are enabled and watch "over their shoulder" as they replicate a problem.
There is of course also Copilot by Fog Creek. Have never used it myself, but it looks pretty easy to use, also for non-technical people.
I use CrossLoop for that kind of thing

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