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Drupal is our tool of choice for building CRUD apps. Depending on the data, you can either do an import, or you can connect directly to the data in an external database. Filemaker will likely need to be converted. Modern Access might be able to connect directly through PDO, although I would avoid that. Thanks, Cary On Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 2:03 PM, Paul Butler (pbutler3) <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi All, > In the last week the library has been approached by two different departments across campus that have small databases, one FileMaker Pro and one MS Access, that they would like to make available online. The interfaces would be nothing fancy, with a backend that allows for adding/updating/deleting resources. > > I've had a chance to look at the FileMaker Pro data. Not the worst I have seen, it needs normalized, but the data itself is fairly uniform and would map easily enough to Dublin Core. So far just text, though they say perhaps, someday, they might want images. I have yet to see the MS Access data. > > I've worked on various personal/school projects using SQL, PHP, HTML, CSS, and various repositories/CMS. For personal use and fun I've thrown together a few LAMPs using VMWare, but nothing production. > > I would prefer not to build too much from scratch. I don't think I want/need a full blown repository for either (though I help admin ours and it is due for a complete hardware/software overhaul later this summer< http://archive.umw.edu/>. I am thinking of transitioning it to more of an IR with disparate content.) > > So, what would you do or have you done? I want something nimble. I would love to build it once and then duplicate it. I get the sense once I start helping folks other departments will come forward. > > I am thinking of tossing together a virtualized LAMP, secure it, build the bones of a site, and then clone the thing and put the data for each project in its own copy onto a webserver. > > Is there a better/easier way? Am I doomed to a life of pain and suffering (besides that due to being a librarian)? Have a LAMP distro with a CMS to suggest? Any suggestions are welcomed. > > Cheers, Paul > +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ > Paul R Butler > Assistant Systems Librarian > Simpson Library > University of Mary Washington > 1801 College Avenue > Fredericksburg, VA 22401 > 540.654.1756 > libraries.umw.edu > > Sent from the mighty Dell Vostro 230. -- Cary Gordon The Cherry Hill Company http://chillco.com