RE: Best DB advice - very basic and general

SSC Veteran

Points: 223

October 25, 2017 at 11:15 am

#1965192

Lynn Pettis - Wednesday, October 25, 2017 10:37 AM

tommyleo - Wednesday, October 25, 2017 10:08 AM

First, you may have forgotten to upload the image you mention, but not worried.
I understand the desire to solve your own problems, I am the same way. What I have had to learn is when to start asking for help. With the task you have presented here, the sooner you get outside help, the sooner you can move forward.

Structured data, simply look at an Invoice as an example. There are elements that are common across them. You have a Customer Address and possibly a Billing Address. There are common elements to these, a street address or PO Box, a city name, a state or province, a country, a zip code or postal code (and maybe not if you look at some countries). Looking at the line items, you again can see a structure for the data.

Unstructured data, yes, things like Word documents and PDF files. These can be searched using full text search software. SQL Server has full text capabilities and can search documents with the appropriate filters installed.

We have used Adobe Connect, WebEx, and even Google Hangouts to support collaboration between remote sites. While in Afghanistan Google Hangouts was used to link teams together in Afghanistan to teams in Florida, Virginia, and Colorado while working resolve various technical issues we encountered.

Overall, what you are trying to accomplish actually sounds quite intriguing as well as challenging. Hopefully you aren't doing this all alone have at least some help from others in your organization. This is really a lot for one person to tackle by themselves. When I have more time I would love to add more to this conversation.

1. I uploaded the image.
2. Thank you for explaining, now I understand structured and non structured.
3. We already use these 3 communication tools: meetupcall, WhatsApp and Skype). We are looking a better communication tool that should be integrated to a project management programme that can allow Partners and project participants to use the same documents, telephone contacts, etc during a call. The programme should support primarily PCs but also Phones. (A) The communication facility should be able to simplify Partners' (or clients') teleconferencing needs: the conference proponent should select the participants, type in the call subject. The call could be requested immediately or scheduled. If Immediately, then the system would send a messge to all Participant's Phones (specific App?) or even call them directly. If scheduled, then the system should verify participants agendas and time zones. Once accepted by all, the system should call each participants using, for each one, the best carrier (internet or phone) according to signal strength. (B) The project collaboration facility should support the previous facility and offer a desktop with shared documents, telephone contacts. With deadlines, responsibilities of participants, send reminders, have privilege and/or authority to access documents, etc., etc ... a standard project management programme.
4. I don't have anyone helping me choose. I posted a job tender on UpWork for the communication and management programme to be developed. We have not chosen anyone as bids are in the region of 5000USD so we are looking for ready packaged programmes that can come close, if any.
5. I was hoping that someone here could help me sunderstand which DB would be best for our needs, so that we could start using it and, maybe, in future, integrate it into the communications/project-management system.

Again, I understand that it may be difficult to recommend a DB from a forum. I appreciate any and all help. If it is not possible, we will probably just try with what seems best and make experience with our mistakes as finances will not allow us to invest, right now.

Lynn, thank you for your time and expertise. I much appreciate both.