Looking for a simple web-based relational database system.

Lien Antim

Hello all, we have just launched a startup. Now, we are looking for a simple web-based relational database system where we can easily add tables and connect them to one another through foreign keys. For example would we want to create a suppliers database in which we could perform a query such as "show me 1. all suppliers 2. for a certain product type 3. which is based in a certain region 4. and offers the product type within a certain price range". We are a team of five which means the database should be accessible for 5 people through a web interface. We know the basics of database modelling. But unfortunately none of us is experienced in writing (my)SQL code. Thus, we would wish to find a system which comes with a tool-based development environment. Eventually, our budget is limited and we therefore would prefer a cheap system over an expensive one. We would appreciate any ideas from you

Andrée Starå

Hi @Lien Antim

I hope you're well and safe!

It sounds like Smartsheet and the Reporting feature would work for your needs.

Can you describe your process/needs in more detail and maybe share the sheet(s)/copies of the sheet(s) or some screenshots? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@workbold.com)

Let me know if you'd like me to request a trial so you can test it out.

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Lien Antim

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/322680#Comment_322680

Hello, appreciating your quick answer. What we need is just a system similar to Microsoft Access through which we can create a few tables which are related to each other through key attributes. And through which we can get a 1. Form/Subform functionality and 2. run queries. This has been very simple and effective with MS Access for more than 20 years. And there must be a way to do the same on a web-based tool-supported development environment. Or in other words: There must be a system similar MS Access which can be used web-based in a cloud.

Andrée Starå

@Lien Antim

Happy to help!

There are web-based tools similar to Access, but I'd like to explore if we could solve what you need in Smartsheet.

Would you be open to scheduling a quick call to discuss and share more information?

phillfri

Our company uses Smartsheet for project management purposes. We have been tasked with reviewing Smartsheet for use as a replacement for an existing legacy desktop MS Access contracts database. Although we have just commenced with this review (and I am new to Smartsheets), some of my initial observations are as follows.

I would note that many of these issues or concerns have been raised by the Smartsheets community for years now, with no resolution being forthcoming from Smartsheets. Be mindful that Smartsheets is an online subscription service. The goal of such companies is to generate revenue by serving customer "needs". There is little incentive for such companies to address customer "needs" beyond the major purpose of their products (in this case Project Management), which changes would in turn reduce their own consulting fee revenues.

Smartsheets has no macro language. Any changes or customizations to the way Smartsheets is hard coded to respond must be programmed with the Smartsheets API. If a company doesn't have a Smartsheets API level programmer, any changes to Smartsheets will involve consultant fees.

Smartsheet Forms are all email based. It appears that one is REQUIRED to take on the overhead of an email transaction to utilize any Form in Smartsheets or to update a smartsheet.

While Smartsheets Forms can be used to create records in a smartsheet, they cannot be used to update a smartsheet record. All smartsheet forms always append a new record to the end of a smartsheet, without updating the original smartsheet record.

The only way that a smartsheet can be edited is to manually open a smartsheet and scroll through the columns to modify, add or delete smartsheet record data. With a typical database form and a good search function one can locate a database record and display a record based form with all the values one needs to update in 1-2 seconds. Such forms are not available for a smartsheet and one will never achieve that level of user interface update efficiency with a smartsheet without customized API code.

Based on some comments I have read, even the Smartsheets API has limited capabilities to isolate and update individual columns in a smartsheet. The main operational "functional unit" of Smartsheets appears to be the smartsheet "row" rather than the smartsheet "cell". This is ok for importing, exporting and reporting purposes; but not for updating purposes.

Smartsheet dropdown box value capabilities are extremely limited. The dropdown value list must be in the same Smartsheet that is using the dropdown list values. One cannot utilize a different smartsheet (say, a smartsheet containing client names) to provide a list of dropdown values. (In other words, Smartsheets is a collection of data flat files with no database style relationships between them.)

Based on these limited observations to date, I'm inclined to conclude that setting up a database in Smartsheets is like trying to force a square peg into a round hole. You're going to need some "machine tools" to get the job done, and likely will be frustrated with the end results.

Matt Kirby

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/337729#Comment_337729

Hi, it's been almost a year since you wrote this insightful comment. Do you still feel the same way or have you seen some improvements to the Core platform that allow it to operate more like a relational database?