Programming Project Please Help!!

Chong

Ok here's my situation, I have a database (Incidentally its Ms Access Db) right which holds information on prize draws that have taken place for safety. What I need to do is have computerised draw process, where the user can just press a button to produce a winner. Now I was thinking of programming this in java right as I have good knowledge in this, furthermore I thought I could create an ODBC between the db and the program. What it is right then if you have won a draw in lets say 1995 and the draw takes place in 2005 that effectively means that you go in ten times, where as if you have won the draw in 2004 you only go in once. Any ideas lads would be much appreciated.

Regards

Willem d

mathie

I think a bit more information might be required.

"that effectively means that you go in ten times"

go in what?

Are you looking for advice on how to program this or what language would best be suited?

M

scargill

i've seen some loose specs in my time but this takes the biscuit ?!

could you explain that again please

Chong

Thanks for your swift reply Mathie, ok the ten times bit means the persons name goes into the draw ten times. Effectively for arguments sake if I haven't won the prize draw since 1950 my name would be in the prize draw 55 times when the draw takes place in 2005. Basically both on your second question, I would like advice on how to program this and what language would be best suited, although I only have good experience in Java.

mathie

Willem D wrote:

Thanks for your swift reply Mathie, ok the ten times bit means the persons name goes into the draw ten times. Effectively for arguments sake if I haven't won the prize draw since 1950 my name would be in the prize draw 55 times when the draw takes place in 2005. Basically both on your second question, I would like advice on how to program this and what language would be best suited, although I only have good experience in Java.

I'm still a little confused.

Do you want to basically click a button and then be informed of a winner?
Does every entrant hold a certain amount of tickets? (based on how long since they've won the last draw)

M

Chong

Spot on, then I want it to be written back to the database.

mathie

Willem D wrote:

Spot on, then I want it to be written back to the database.

I'd use ASP with VBScript and some Javascript (but then again I usually do).

I don't imagine there would be much programming to this.

In your DB have a table RESULTS with userid, date (and if you need anything else) and have a USERDETAILS table with the relevant info userid, firstname, second name etc....

The scripting will be able to work out the date difference between now and when a user last won and then allocate them a number of tickets.

Just use some random number generator code to pick a winner.

M

Chong

Could I do it all with Javascript as I learnt all about that last year at college, I am a little unsure about ASP & VBscript.

mathie

Willem D wrote:

Could I do it all with Javascript as I learnt all about that last year at college, I am a little unsure about ASP & VBscript.

You will need to interact with you DB and as far as I know (I may be wrong) you cannot connect to a DB with Javascript.

Doing it with ASP/VBSCRIPT is quite easy. I'm sure a quick google show you the way.

M

BizzyC

If you already know Java and Javascript I'd recommend JSP.
You'll be able to use all the same JDBC stuff as you'd use with Java.

mewso

If you are a Java programmer then Asp.Net with C# would be easy enough (similar syntax) and very easy to integrate with an MsAccess DB.

rsynnott

mathie wrote:

You will need to interact with you DB and as far as I know (I may be wrong) you cannot connect to a DB with Javascript.

Oh, but you can! It's unspeakably horrible, tho; involves a Java bridge...

is_that_so

ASP/VBScript is probably the most straightforward to do. I'd stay away from Java and jsp for such a simple project.

Very small bits of code for db connection and retrieval with ASP.

As the man said google for it, especially "recordset" and "response.write".

Good luck

Chong

All this advice is great lads I am going to give the VbScript an Asp a go , I am going to check out a few tutorials.

mewso

is_that_so wrote:

ASP/VBScript is probably the most straightforward to do. I'd stay away from Java and jsp for such a simple project.

Very small bits of code for db connection and retrieval with ASP.

As the man said google for it, especially "recordset" and "response.write".

Good luck

Why are people still suggesting asp/vbscript when it's virtually obsolete and effectively a newer and superior version (asp.net) has existed for quite some time.

Mutant_Fruit

I have to say, if you've done any programming, ASP.net and C# is pretty handy (assuming you have someone to ask questions if you can't figure something out).

I've picked up a fair bit in the last two weeks. I know enough to connect to a database, get any info from it via SQL, bring it to a webpage, use dropdowns to apply filtering and suchlike if needed. All in all, not bad for 2 weeks learning. Fine, my knowledge is a bit sketchy at the moment, but i'm getting there! Give me an example and i can figure out what i should do i my project to achieve the same effect.

is_that_so

musician wrote:

Why are people still suggesting asp/vbscript when it's virtually obsolete and effectively a newer and superior version (asp.net) has existed for quite some time.

Agreed but ASP is very easy and does the trick here. "Horses for courses"

PhantomBeaker

If you were using postgresql I could think of some useful bits and pieces that would make a good sql statement that would do most of the grunt work. I'm sure access has similar functions (I'm thinking mainly of the random() function in pgsql that allows you to order a table randomly)

Basically the idea would be, in pseudo-pseudo-code:
select the properties you want
from wherever you want
order it randomly (using a random function)
where the date is greater than the start date and is less than the cutoff date (i.e. if you want the draw results for year 95, then the cutoff year is either 95 or 96 depending on how you write your condition)
limit it to 1 result.

You can suit this to your tastes.

Now you could put that as a subquery in an insert statement. That makes the choice of programming language trivial as you now have just a long statement to send to the database, and doing that is generally just a one-liner, especially if they have odbc support. So then you just choose which one you're most comfortable with.

Chong

I am so unsure now what to do I have only experience in Java, Javascript and HTML. Is vb script and asp easy to use, do I need something like microsoft visual studio. Remember this is only a small project, thats why I thought I could do it in Java with JDBC.

is_that_so

Willem D wrote:

I am so unsure now what to do I have only experience in Java, Javascript and HTML. Is vb script and asp easy to use, do I need something like microsoft visual studio. Remember this is only a small project, thats why I thought I could do it in Java with JDBC.

Catchword here is "simple". I can see why you're confused.

You are using Access which is fine for your project.
No need for Postgre,Informix,SQL server, Oracle or My SQl.

I'd say go with the Java / ODBC if you think you can do it quickly and easily enough or if not use ASP.
ASP, although old, is simple enough to learn but it will do what you need without huge chunks of code.
There are also oodles of tutorials and bits of code out there.

Good luck.

mewso

As I said before if you are from a Java background c# will be a piece of the proverbial. Assuming you are using a Windows machine-

1. Download and install the .Net Framework 1.1
2. Download the free Asp.Net Web Matrix development tool (i.e. no you don't need Visual Studio)
3. Have a read of the tutorials.

None of this will take very long. You may find it useful.

Chong

Thanks again guys. I have spent the day learning asp and vbscript and seems quite easy.