Creating software?

Rich08

Hello
I was wondering if there is such a thing as a relatively easy programme that could help me turn a spreadsheet ive drawn up into a software programme.
The idea being it would track my invoices and linking the invoiced items i can automatically cost items for sale and also automatically update my stock holding prices etc etc.
Its more of a project ive got interested in relating to my work as a chef as the software programmes on the market costs hundreds of pounds and id like to have a go myself as the spreadsheet on its own is lacking in areas......but with minimal/no programming skills it crossed my mind there maybe software that can help me build this??

thanks for all replies

nickmack

Rich08 wrote: »

I was wondering if there is such a thing as a relatively easy programme that could help me turn a spreadsheet ive drawn up into a software programme.
The idea being it would track my invoices and linking the invoiced items i can automatically cost items for sale and also automatically update my stock holding prices etc etc.
Its more of a project ive got interested in relating to my work as a chef as the software programmes on the market costs hundreds of pounds and id like to have a go myself as the spreadsheet on its own is lacking in areas......but with minimal/no programming skills it crossed my mind there maybe software that can help me build this??

It sounds like what you're after is a cheaper or free versons of the software you mention. Do you have any packages that would do the job and maybe someone can suggest an economy alternative?

With minimal/no programming skills, this could be a difficult/time consuming task to implement yourself.

isofa

If you want to keep it in Excel, then you really need to learn VBA, the programming tools behind Excel, you can program (or script) Excel to a very high degree, turning it into an application which looks nothing like Excel. Try and have a look for books on Amazon, and teach yourself. Books by John Walkenbach on Excel and Programming Excel are always excellent.

Rich08

Thanks for the replies
I do realise im asking alot in the sense of having no programming experience but the hope was there was a shell that with some study i could build upon.
Your right Nick in that im looking to create my own package but not only because f financial constraints but also because ive downloaded some of the packages out there and they dont do all id hope they would do(even with price tags of £350.00 in most cases
Isofa...I was hoping to move away from it being an excel based package and using the format ive set up on excel as a blueprint......and to be honest id try to market the end result at a fraction of the cost of some other kitchen cost control programmes.

The alternative would be to find someone with programmimg skills but frankly i think that could prove too expensive for me.

thanks again

isofa

A database will suit you better, I assumed you wanted to keep in Excel.

FileMaker is a great way of learning databases with some good examples, simple to use the basics, but has the lots of power when you are ready to learn how it works, to create some very powerful applications.

You might be able to get slighter older (and legal) versions on eBay, or if anyone in your house is eligible for education discounts, that'd be a cheap route too.

Similar with Access, only it's harder to start with than FileMaker, and you'll need to learn VBA again.

A good expert with programming skills will cost you thousands of pounds, bespoke software is highly crafted, costs a lot of money, but fulfils a brief precisely. Teach yourself is my advice, if it is for your own use.

I write and create bespoke database and financial packages for clients (from small businesses to large corporates), so this is my advice - if you are trying to enter a market without the skills needed - it's a non-starter, unless you are prepared to invest in a skilled programmer / software designer and do some detailed research. There are many low-cost accounts/small business databases about at present and many databases such as FileMaker and other applications come with templates to set-up a business system very easily - so you'll be competing with these head to head. Any package which outputs financial data, for a business, must ensure 100% accuracy and auditing for accounts, VAT, and all sorts of other procedures, so ensure you read up in detail, as mistakes can be costly. Then what about the support, if you are going to sell such a package cheaply, how are you going to support all the users? Users can be an enormous drain on your resources, many don't follow instructions and will expect you to be answerable 24x7.

benjus

If you fancy taking the plunge into programming you can download Microsoft's Visual Studio Express edition: http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/default.aspx

Visual Basic is probably the easiest to get started with (and is also similar to the VBA language used by Excel); C# is harder but more elegant; C++ is too complex for a newcomer.

If you are not in a hurry and fancy picking up some new skills, go for it. If you need something quickly, it's not going to happen I'm afraid. Read some online tutorials and see how you get on. Then go and buy a book on the subject if you want to continue.

converse

You are asking a lot!! There is a reason these packages for niche businesses cost hundreds (most cost thousands) of pounds, because they take skill to create, develop, update, and company to run and support as iSofa mentioned above. If it was easy everyone would do it, development is a very skilled job.

Read some books, but without any programming knowledge you are going to find it hard going to start with. If you want to craft a custom database, which would be a good start, you need to learn the basics, understand relational databases and how they work, perhaps an introduction/evening classes would help.

Rich08

Thankyou all very much for some great advice

Im seeing this as a long ongoing project so the idea of night classes ive thought of and it does appeal and who knows maybe the tutor would let me do this as an assignment.

Isofa...you ve hit the nail on the head describing it as a database application and thats very much where im finding my excel version limiting, also it does appeal to build something from scratch overtime.
the support point you make is very valid; but i already consult part time in some small catering businesses so the initial test period would be carefully monitored and onsite support given and its invaluable feedback in building up a questions and answers session over time to broaden the market scope.

Converse;;I do understand and respect the skills programmers put into their software and under no illusions i ll need to apply myself and know to really take this project where id like to will require learning new skills which im certainly not opposed to doing .....and reading the feedeback from you guys its clear theres no shortcuts on this one if i want o do it right.


Thankyou all again for some invaluable advice and im off now to take a look at the software mentioned above

cheers...Rich

Rich08

Just one further question to help clarify in my head where to start.
Here is an example of the type of software im referring to with the question being which programming language is it most likely to have been built on and what other kills would be required to build something along these lines??

http://www.restaurantprofits.com/cheftec.html

thanks in advance

rmg1

From what you put in previous posts, Excel could be made to do what you want in fairly short order. The best thing to do is write a detailed plan of what you want the software to do, how you want it to look and what outputs you want and then post it as a reply on here. I'm good with Excel and VBA (the programming language behind it), and I'll give you what help I can.
Another good place to go for advice with Excel is http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10
You'll need to register (which is quick and free) and the people on there can always help with even the most outlandish of problems (as I've found out!!)

isofa

Rich08 wrote: »

Just one further question to help clarify in my head where to start. Here is an example of the type of software im referring to with the question being which programming language is it most likely to have been built on and what other kills would be required to build something along these lines??
http://www.restaurantprofits.com/cheftec.html
thanks in advance

Hi Rich,

It's looks like it's been built with VB (Visual Basic, or something very similar for Windows, hard to tell exactly), it's not a very good design IMO, the toolbars look like they are from the 80s. It looks flat and lifeless, very dated. You could achieve this quicker with a custom Access system, migrating to standalone VB later if you wanted to.

You need database tables, so to be honest I'd start to look at database development rather than the Excel route, although agree with rmg1 the basics can be done in Excel. But Excel isn't a database and it lacks the power and speed of a true database.
I've written some complex apps in Excel, including a relational database (to prove it could be done) in Excel and VBA, but it's a waste of time, as you have to write every last routine, databases have all the data manipulation and query language built in. You also have to manipulate data cell by cell in Excel (in general), but in a database you can batch update millions of records using a language called SQL, writing what are known as queries.

Books - get some books