I want to send myself a random message from a list of pre-set messages once a day. Do I need to use a database??? very confused got out of the programming game 10 years ago with VB6. not looking for someone to do the work for me just please let me know where to find the answer. thank you for your time

Soory it is for the Iphone

Hi @chillimouse1, Welcome to buzztouch! I think there are probably lots of ways you could do this, but one way would be to create a mySQL database somewhere that contains all your random messages. Then, create a PHP script that would call one of those messages each time you open up an HTML screen, or called a link to that database...something like that. You could even have a modal window pop up each time you access a particular HTML screen, that would display a message based on a call to that DB. Does that sound like a viable way to go? Let's keep the discussion going if you need more help! Mark

Also...sign up for the v1.5 Early Adopter program from the My Account tab...way more features than v1.4 has! Mark

Mark - do you have any decent Buzz docs that cover HTML Data Entry Forms in BT >> PHP Scripts >> MySQL Lite DBs in Android?? I have built the forms, found a non BT doc covering -- Creating and Using Databases in Android -- (http://www.devx.com/wireless/Article/40842/1954) which is quite complicated ......but what I am really missing is how it all fits together I have built a website few years ago using HTML & PHP & MySQL DB server side so if its the same principals, wont be hard to learn again.....Do I need to know JAVA to do this in Android? Alternatively, do you have a basic Android App containing HTML Data Entry Forms in BT >> PHP Scripts >> MySQL Lite DBs in Android that I could take a look at?

Yeah that is what I was thinking, I really appreciate it if I have any other issues i'll be sure to contact you... thank you again

@ dkeds66: Forms / Data Entry. For sure this is a idea that can go tons of different ways. Every single step of the design is related to others and the best approach is sometimes hard to figure out. Example, you could gather data with an HTML form then post to a backend database (like web programming). Or, you could create native input screens that communicate with a database you're running in the actual android devices. And, of course you could do tons of different things that combine these two ideas. It's very very challenging for non-programmers and beginners to get their head around these ideas, I applaud you for exploring them at all! Generally it boils down to taking these design considerations into account first... a) Where does the data need to be stored (persistent storage). Online, in the device, both? Online, and NOT in the device is almost always easier for web developers becuase HTML forms and scripts to receive the data are so common. b) What types of data are you looking to collect? Simple values, complex values? Simple numbers and words (like names and addresses) are much simpler than long complex data like images, videos, long text entries etc. c) How secure should the data be? Data on an Android device is not nearly as secure as most folks think. HTML + Script isn't either out of the box. But, it's generally easier to use a web technology, like https: to 'secure' transmissions to a backend database than it is to encrypt data in Android. Lots of opinions on this topic alone. It's hard to say what the best approach for you is without understanding more about the project. However, my hunch is that regardless of what you're trying to do, you'll be well served by reviewing all the pros / cons of data entry and storage BEFORE jumping into any code, it'll save you major time ;-)

Hey David - much appreciated......here's a little background on me and my app (hope this is sufficient for you to guide me accordingly - happy to share more detail surrounding my project via email if needed) Although I am not a developer, I have done business / systems analysis, requirements definition/use case, minor solutions design and project management within various IT environments for over 20 years - I am also an advanced excel user / VBA developer so have dabbled in code for many years inclduing web development - so am not phased at rolling my sleeves up. The business idea behind my app idea has been in my head for a number of years (I originally tried to launch it on CD using VBA but the hassles of maintaining upgrades/service packs/ XP /Vista / MSIs etc etc became really time consuming so I gave up before it had chance to take off). With regard to your very relevant design questions here are my responses:- a) My app is designed specifically for folks who will be on the road so due to signal strength / web access constraints, all components of the App MUST be stored in the device and this includes the data and all calculations performed locally on device. b) Basically, the App will require the user to enter & maintain reference data relating to the Apps main objects (short object text descriptors, numeric values & dates related to those main objects - but nothing complex like images, videos, long text entries) and this reference data MUST be stored in tables within the devices. As and when required by the user, the user can select one of the objects in the database, enter additional data (numeric values) via a different screen, then on hitting submit, perform complex sql calculations using the reference & additional data values with the results (including additional data) also being saved back to a table in the devices database (for subsequent data export by user if required or as prompted by the App to keep data volumes low). c) The data is not uber sensitive per say I am not capturing credit card type data so no need to encrypt. With the above in mind what would you recommend is the most efficient approach bearing in mind my skillset? Cheers Dave

Glad to be on this thread learning new stuff! David is the man when it comes to these things...might end up in a document someday! Mark

Indeed - great that David has taken an interest in this post. TBH, its the lack of E2E documentation in BT (and I understand why, so that's not a criticism), this is a bit of struggle for me with my background. I am reasonably intelligent and usually capable of working things through if I have sufficient resources at my disposal but I have hit quite a few dead ends but I'll not give up (it's not in my nature) :)

That is a great question, gonna learn a lot from this thread