Accessing the database directly

[T.J]

Hi,

Is it possible to create a front end for the database that actnic runs from? We run both an online store using business 6 and sell from a highstreet store, the problem is making pysical stock and actinics stock levels tally. Looked at using Link and Sage line 50 but its overkill, all we want to do is simply change a stock level in real time as an item is sold over the counter. Guess what i really want is some sort of invoice system for access thats directly linked to actinics database. Is there anyway of doing this?

Many Thanks
Liam

[ditch]

Actinic uses a database that you can alter in Access, perhaps you could use Access to solve your problem

[Jan]

You are the third person to mention this today! Perhaps something is needed to here bridge the gap.

You could create an offline store and then copy the order files up to the server to download them into your catalog - the only reason for using the offline store would be to make is quicker to use in the shop.

Depending on the number of products you have you could just keep a written note and then update the stock levels in Actinic each evening.

Or I believe that Norman Rouxel has a system to tie a till system and Actinic together that sells for a very reasonable price, so he might be worth talking to.

Regards,

[T.J]

Originally posted by Jan
You are the third person to mention this today!

Opps! Sorry about that, did a search yesterday and couldn't find anything. Site has upwards of 2000 products on it but at a push could scribble stuff down and update. Thanks for the pointer re Norman Rouxel will check it out.

Cheers
Liam

[garyhay]

If you really want to (I have clients doing this) just use Actinic for stock control. Tell Actinic everytime you sell something over the counter.

Or is that too simple??

[Jan]

Liam,

Panic not, the other two people telephoned me! I was just suprised to hear it again - it's like a number 3 bus really, none for hours and then three at once. This has never really been suggested to me before as a requirement and suddenly in one day three people need it (more including Gary's clients).

What you really need to be able to is somehow connect the till to a barcode scanner and then have the Actinic products also linked to the barcode scanner, then whenever something is sold it should automatically deduct stock from Actinic. Now if there were more hours in the day I would write this but ATM I don't have time so it is a great opportunity for someone else.

Cheers,

[T.J]

Originally posted by garyhay
If you really want to (I have clients doing this) just use Actinic for stock control. Tell Actinic everytime you sell something over the counter.

Or is that too simple??

Lol! No its not to simple but according to the peeps in the shop it takes too long to do....... What they want is a window where they can key in the product ref, the qty sold and then hit return - nothing more and nothing less. And then theres the issue of stock reports by section but thats another story altogether :-(

[T.J]

Originally posted by Jan
Liam,

Panic not, the other two people telephoned me! I was just suprised to hear it again - it's like a number 3 bus really, none for hours and then three at once. This has never really been suggested to me before as a requirement and suddenly in one day three people need it (more including Gary's clients).

What you really need to be able to is somehow connect the till to a barcode scanner and then have the Actinic products also linked to the barcode scanner, then whenever something is sold it should automatically deduct stock from Actinic. Now if there were more hours in the day I would write this but ATM I don't have time so it is a great opportunity for someone else.

Cheers,

Always the way.... Good idea and can see it working for many people but 90% of the products we use are not barcoded as there model car spares etc and the manufactures only use product refs :-( Pen, paper and manual updates are looking likly at the moment.

[malcolm]

Hi,
You can use Access 2000 and link to the tables in the Actinic Catalog. You can then create your own tables in the Access database and link it to the Actinic product id.

You can then produce your own forms drop down lists etc to quickly get to your product and put in the changes directly into the catalogue.

You can then refresh the web site on a regular basis so that the web site maintains the correct stock control.

Malcolm

[Jan]

Be careful of use the product reference as a link field, this field can be changed in Actinic so you might end up with broken links.

Regards,

[garyhay]

I have 90% completed a UI for this purpose. I will make it available next week.

It is very basic but allow you to type the prod ref or desc to access the stock field.

Just wont work with actinic open (record locking)