5/30/96

We currently have users book microscope time by writing with a pen on booking sheets made of paper. We are contemplating changing this antiquated system to a computer booking system which would permit people to book (and to check existing bookings) over the net.

Does anyone know of software to do this? Please take into account that we would want the software to meet the following conditions:M

It should work for several instruments.
It should prevent one user erasing another's booking.
It should allow staff to change the bookings of users.
If a user deletes his or her own booking, a record of the booking and the time of the cancellation should be kept.
It should be possible to program booking rules into the system. These rules may be different for each instrument. The rules would include such things as how many sessions may be booked at any one time and how long a session may be booked.
It should be possible to include various degrees of access for the users. Some users may be allowed to book evenings and weekends while others may only book daytime sessions.

We feel that unless the software we use can meet most of these requirements, we will be better off staying with pen and paper. Your suggestions would be most welcome.

Alwyn Eades
eades@uimrl7.mrl.uiuc.edu

You should be able to do all of this by networking one or more database files by using a database manager such as Filemaker Pro (Claris). The drawback to this approach is that a copy of the program (or site license) all the user computers (or at least for all of those running at once) should be purchased in order to be legal. Unless your campus has a license.

On the other hand database managers can be used to maintain several different files.

Bill Trevarrow
e-mail: trevarro@uoneuro.uoregon.edu

I have found it very difficult to get Filemaker Pro to do something like this. We have attempted to get around this problem by having a Web browser front end that communicates with Filemaker Pro using an applescript cgi which does the access privelege part.

The disadvantage of the system is that, even for a University, the number of copies of Filemaker we have (one for each microscope for logging of hours rather than booking of time) represents a ridiculous expense. We could have a Web browser do the logging part too, but suspect that it will get used for Web browsing rather than data entry!

The main advantage of the system is that relatively little human intervention is necessary for the generation of monthly billing statements.

Stuart McKernan
stuartm@maroon.tc.umn.edu

Alwyn,
Try FileMaker Pro by Claris. It is available for Windows, Windows95 and Macintosh. It is a fully relational, customizable, open architecture database that has extensive password level protection. It can be learned in a few hours and has endless capabilities. Trying to find a specific software for "microscope sign-up" will be close to impossible unless one of these kind folks on this server will share one of their previous efforts. Even then you will find it is a template from a relational database or spreadsheet.

Lawrence Kordon
nikon@jagunet.com

We implemented our NET=BOOK software to do precisely this about 4 years ago. It was custom witten in C++ by our Chris Martinic and runs under DOS on our network. It effortlessly handles bookings for 4 EMs, microtomes, coating units, image processors, analysers, and so on.

It carries out the functions you prescribe. As it is custom made it can be easily modified when further good ideas are proposed. Chris is off sick today but I predict he will be back on deck in about 7 days and would be ready to field further questions.

mel dickson
m.dickson@unsw.edu.au

Might I suggest a small business accounting package? They are set up for just such situations. Many packages contain business templates that can be modified to fit your specific needs. Two that come to mind are Peachtree Accounting and QuickBooks.

Crossman, Harold
crossman@rd.sylvania.com

This thread may be a little old, but we have had a system for this for many years and it is way better than paper. Ours is not commercial, and I quake at giving it to anyone else (it works, but it is a mess). I found out today that a system which has been installed on a couple of other microscopes here is being sold commercialy, at a rather low (I think) price. If you are interested, contact Richard Benassi at rbenassi@mcs.com . Before you ask, I have not commercial interest in this, neither does Northwestern University.

ldm2@apollo.numis.nwu.edu
(L.D.Marks)

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