Data-driven web site using Sage???

[Funky Monk]

A customer of mine wants to create a Customer Service section on their web site where their customers can log on using a user name and password and access their account details, place orders, etc.

They use Sage accounting software for their offline orders at present. Is it possible to link Sage to a web site or would I have to convert the data for use in MySQL or Access? If this is the case, how do I go about it? I've never done any data-driven web stuff so I could really do with a hand. Thanks.

 

[Anthony]

I'm not sure of a conversion tool or online version of that software, so my advice would be to set up a PHP/mySql database that is password protected for the clients to access their information.

 

[Funky Monk]

Thanks for your reply. That was what I was thinking of doing, but that really means that the company has to input all their data from Sage into a MySQL database, which means twice as much work. The idea is so that their customers can check past orders, statements online in real time. If the info is in a separate MySQL database they then have to go and enter the info back into Sage?? What they need is for the info in Sage to be updated in real time.

Like I said, I really am totally new to this. I have some skills in Visual Basic 6 and was wondering if I need to build an application with that, but I don't feel very confident. I'm more used to using CSS and HTML to build pages. Guess I need to do some learning!

Any more advice appreciated.

 

[Anthony]

After reading your reply, I'm thinking there must be some XML way to link between the two databases. I'll search around some more to see if I come up with something.