Website creates reports on data stored in client's network

[MBorofsky]

We are trying to create a web-enabled reporting system.

Their is a database somewhere on the client's network which we cannot have access to but the client can. The data must never be uploaded to our server, it must stay local.

The client would log into our website. Our website would need to generate reports based on data queried from the client's database.

None of us know anything about web-programming. Is this possible? Where do we start?

 

[PHV]

None of us know anything about web-programming
I recommend you see a consultant.

 

[Sheco]

Anything is possible.

But if you want it done anytime soon you'll need professional help.

This is way to complex of an issue to tackle on these forums alone, especially if you don't know any programming. You need someone to either do the work for you or explain it in person.

 

[MBorofsky]

We have 2 months which I think is enough time. I am an experience VB6 developer, I have just never done anything with the web. I did do some limited things with ASP a couple years ago - just creating a website that lets you enter data into a database on the server but what we need is leagues beyond that (I think). I could probably create a web-site that accesses data from a database on the server (with much work because I remember almost nothing) but when it comes to accessing data on the clients side when we can't have access to it I am completely lost.

What I really need is what the terminology is for these concepts and what languages support them. From there I would be able to do research to look up the right classes for what need or find resources on the web.

 

[PHV]

I guess you have to write some clients side downloadable components.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ222-2244

 

[Sheco]

If you want your website to display THEIR data then your options are:
1. Some method for pulling their data to your web server.
2. You website directs their client browsers to fetch the data themselves.

I thought about listing the pros and cons of each, but so far I can only think of the cons.

 

[MBorofsky]

#2 would be the only option. Due to privacy requirements of the data we CANNOT see the data. It would be totally unacceptable to me personally as a gross violation of privacy and very likely a HIPA violation.

I did a little research and I decided that in all liklihood the only options were either Java or Javascript. VBScript only works in internet explorer making it 100% worthless....

I just wasn't sure if client-side programming would actually allow you to have the client computer access a database from their side instead of the server-side. All of the tutorial websites I've seen (and classes offered) have offered to teach connecting a web page to a database your server can connect to. But this (from what I remember) was relatively easy. I don't remember how precisely to do it today but I remember tackling it without any difficulty in a day or two. This problem seems almost entirely different. I am reminded of the 'sandbox' metaphore.