I need some sort of open source or paid Database Admin Tool that a non-tech savy can use to go in and filter, sort, edit or export data. It should have the ability to add/manage users and permissions.

PHPMYADMIN or MYSQLBUDDY type programs are not what I am looking for, they are too complex. Ideally this would be something with simple controls, filters (like a shopping cart) that someone can use. Also preferably software that is skin-able/theme-able.

I will code this form to post contents to that MYSQL Database:

link|improve this question
you should developer a webpage for them to do this. So something like login, user enters data, validation, submit to database? – Phill Pafford Aug 11 '11 at 15:49
Combining "non-tech savy users" with "tech-savy database admin tools" will never result in something simple, you should really reconsider what you are looking for. – Tom Wijsman Aug 18 '11 at 15:32
feedback

migrated from stackoverflow.com Aug 11 '11 at 15:38

This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.

closed as not constructive by random Aug 11 '11 at 15:52

This question is not a good fit to our Q&A format. We expect answers to generally involve facts, references, or specific expertise; this question will likely solicit opinion, debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

4 Answers

Well, I think PHPMYADMIN is about as simple as you're going to get without seriously abstracting away from what you're really doing. I mean, you say you want a "database admin tool"...

Ali mentioned MySQL's GUI Tools. That's a good option, but I don't think it's easier to use and I don't think it has theme support or anything like that.

I have found Django to be pretty handy at looking at existing databases and then using its admin UI to cruise around. But if you're finding PHPMYADMIN too much, then I doubt you'll find Django easier.

I suggest you give PHPMYADMIN another try. In case you're a Windows user, here's a guide on how to get it going on a workstation.

Here's a pretty decent PHPMYADMIN tutorial. Also, PHPMYADMIN supports themes, which you said you wanted.

If you intend for this to be used to have non-tech-savvy users access a database, maybe you should hire a developer to whip you up a UI ( and get them to use Django ;D )

link|improve this answer
Well again I am very fond of PHPMYADMIN, I don't have a problem with it. Clients will. That said, the screenshots on the DJANGO admin UI chapter 6 looks PERFECT!!!! – KevinOrin Aug 11 '11 at 15:56
"Being a Python Web framework, Django requires Python." that might post a problem – KevinOrin Aug 11 '11 at 15:58
Why is that a problem? It's a web application. So you set it up somewhere, write a bit of Django code to be able to make sense of your database and get your users to point their browsers at your server hosting Django..? – Doc Aug 11 '11 at 17:36
We are on rackspace hosting (sucks sometimes) and they said they can't install it because they use a older version or Python. – KevinOrin Aug 12 '11 at 13:29
@KevinOrin - you could probably use an older version of Django.. Or tell Rackspace to upgrade already. :) – Doc Aug 12 '11 at 15:34
feedback

Yes, Download MySQL GUI Tools

1) Unzip GUI tools on the users computer

2) Remove the EXE's they have no business with.

3) On the DB create a user who ONLY has select privileges on the scheme or table in question and ONLY has access from the IP address of their PC.

4) User MySQL Query browser to connection and query.

Other than this, if you are comfortable with iReports which is a front-end of JasperReports, that could work as well.

link|improve this answer
Sorry, I forgot to mention it should be installed on the server and accessed/used through the web. While PHPMYADMIN is great, our clients are financial analysts and the non-tech savvy and the interface/terminology would be a bit daunting. I need this to be stupid-easy with control over what tables/fields they can sort/filter export. I figured I would need to build it custom but someone convinced me the work/software might already be out there which would make it easy to use this on future sites as well. – KevinOrin Aug 11 '11 at 15:47
You could create the reports for them on iReports and deploy it on the server using JasperReports. They will be able to generate the reports and even pass some parameters and export to excel to do whatever they want. This of course would work better if you were using Java. An other option is to just give them a page in PHP that takes in a few character and spit out an excel file with the data in it for them to manipulate. – Ali Aug 11 '11 at 16:04
feedback

I don't know if you can get any easier than phpmyadmin, I have to say it is a very easy tool to use.

You can give heidisql a try but I'm not 100% sure if that's what you're looking for.

link|improve this answer
feedback

I use Sqlyog. You can give it a try.

link|improve this answer
feedback

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.