ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
I've been mucking about with a package from panorama (http://www.provue.com/)....Its
entirely different and uses a brute force approach to database
manipulation, but pretty intuitive......the challenge I am trying to
solve, and where Filemaker may be easier, is to create different views
into the db, depending on the needs of the user....Panorama does have
multiple options for web based use.....One drawback: while the
documentation is highly detailed, I do not find it very user
friendly.......
On Feb 18, 2011, at 9:56 AM, Derrick Steinmeier wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> I have an option that you might want to look into, and the nicest
> part is that it is free. I run the exhibits workshop for Science
> World and I have been looking into and testing a free, web based
> Computerized Maintenance Management System. Everything that you
> describe can be handled by this system, and as it is an Enterprise
> level piece of software, it is designed to handle multiple
> facilities and can be accessed both internally and externally
> through the internet.
> Although it is primarily designed as a CMMS, the fact that it is
> based on a Derby/SQL database means that it is very flexible, even
> the menu options in the program can be turned on and off so what you
> don't use, you don't have to even see.
> It can keep track of your exhibits, suppliers, manufacturers,
> contractors, parts and supplies, people clock in and out on the
> system with a simple click on the home screen. The work order
> system is very slick and flexible, there is a tab for files to be
> stored not only with each exhibit/equipment piece but work orders as
> well, you can assign specific individuals or groups to every asset
> in the system, so any changes will automatically notify each
> involved individual if the wish etc... Work orders are task based
> so it means that multiple people can be assigned to specific tasks
> in a work order and enter their hours individually and mark
> individual tasks complete as they go. Warranty information is
> tracked, shelf life of supplies, ever par stock levels can be set
> and automated RFQ's can be sent out to suppliers of parts with
> minimum batch quantities being requested when quoting.
> There is a Scheduled maintenance system that can create your work
> orders very similar to the scheduler in Microsoft Outlook. You can
> use the system to do cost tracking as it will calculate wages used
> toward a specific exhibit based on time entered on work orders at
> each individual's pay rate and if you are using it for keeping track
> of your supplies and inventory it will factor in material and
> supplies costs from the parts and supplies consumed in your work
> orders.
> It has a very powerful reporting system powered by Jasper Reports
> which is a free open source product very similar to Crystal Reports,
> and the Designer software IReport is very nice and easy to work with
> and is also free. The system comes with quite a few "canned"
> reports already but you can modify these to suit your needs as well
> as creating your own reports from scratch.
> There tons of other features and capabilities that I haven't
> mentioned and if you are creative you can modify the use of features
> to an entirely different purpose that suits your needs. The nice
> thing being that you can download it and check it out to see if it
> suits your needs and it doesn't cost you anything. Oh, and it isn't
> trial ware or anything, it has no expiry date, no restrictions, no
> limited updates or any other hidden surprises. One final note, I
> don't work for the company or anything else, I have just been really
> impressed by the program and the company in general, and the fact
> that it is free is still a bit mind boggling at times. If you are
> interested, you can check it out and download it from www.maintenanceassistant.com
>
> Derrick
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Esther Hamstra <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Friday, February 18, 2011 6:21 am
> Subject: Databases for developing exhibitions
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
>> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-
>> Technology Centers
>> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
>> institutions
>> .*****************************************************************************
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> Does anyone has experience with managing or making exhibition
>> databases? My job at NorthernLight (exhibition design),
>> Amsterdam used to involve mainly 'content development', but I'm
>> starting to be more and more involved into 'content management'.
>>
>> I have once made a proposal to do this with Filemaker Pro, but I
>> have no idea if this could work and how (we are currently only
>> using it to keep track of our hours, planning, expenses, and
>> personnel). Are there any other (easier) ways of doing it as well?
>>
>> When developing exhibitions we normally list all exhibition
>> items (such as text panels, exhibits, objects, multimedia) in
>> one or more (depending on the size of the project) Excel
>> sheet(s). In these sheets we then keep track of all data, such
>> as: status, remarks, texts, materials, production methods,
>> dimensions, etcetera.
>>
>> Unfortunately this method has some disadvantages:
>> - Excel is 'too clever' and auto-correct or auto-fill can result
>> in mistakes.
>> - Several people at several institutions or companies are
>> working in the excel-documents by downloading them from an FTP-
>> server and uploading it again. Without notification of all
>> participants, there is always the risk to overwrite newer versions.
>> - With projects becoming bigger and increasingly more complex
>> Excel is just not good enough anymore. There must be better,
>> easier ways to manage data.
>>
>> So, I'm looking for ways to developing databases that can be
>> used by every participant of the project:
>> - Because they are and stay online (such as with Google-docs)
>> - Because they are easy to use and to set up.
>> I want to be able to make lists, but also to use it for data-
>> mining and to call up for all information of one (type of)
>> exhibit, or one subject, etcetera.
>>
>> I'm eager to finding out what your experiences are.
>>
>> Thanks a lot,
>> Esther Hamstra
>>
>> Content Developer
>> NorthernLight
>> _______________________
>>
>> Grasweg 77
>> 1031 HX Amsterdam
>> The Netherlands
>>
>> T +31 20 5353737
>> F +31 20 4235054
>> M +31 6 17580355
>> E [log in to unmask]
>> _______________________
>>
>> www.northernlight.nl
>> www.exhibits.nl
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ***********************************************************************
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>> Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit
>> www.astc.org.
>> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at
>> www.exhibitfiles.org.
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>
> ***********************************************************************
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>
> Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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