task automation, save staff labor

[aw]

First, perhaps I need to just ask for a feature addition to PC+.

Enable PC+ to provide task automation. An example could be automatic emailing to board members of an upcoming board meeting triggered by a date set in the calendar. One also might seek automatic report generation and printout on some calendar schedule. Or one might automate a daily HTML page output of the church calendar. (Then using pscp on windoze, one can automatically transfer the calendar file to one's web server.)

If this is already possible, let me know.

If not, I understand ODBC queries of the PC+ Foxpro database can do some automated things. To do that I need some guidance:

1) Is there a FoxPro database daemon running at all times or only when PC+ is running. {I assume ODBC commands have to communicate with such a daemon, right?}

2) What are some software tools external to PC+ that can interact with a PC+ database? Could the PHP scripting language be such a tool?

Staff resistance to IT solutions is very high unless it makes their life easier. Automated tasks can do that.

[Zorak]

Hi Allen, thanks for the suggestions. People have had success connecting to the database externally, though it is risky business. Files changed outside of PowerChurch are not guaranteed to work properly in the program. Search the forum here for some information from other users who have done it. Our staff won't be able to help with that.

As far as automation, we have included an external program, PCTask10.exe, which can be added to the Windows Task Scheduler to send e-mail reminders about tasks that are assigned to upcoming events. The parameters for this are set under File > Preferences > Events Setup.

I know it isn't exactly what you were asking for, but for what it's worth, there you have it.

[Zaphod]

1) Is there a FoxPro database daemon running at all times or only when PC+ is running. {I assume ODBC commands have to communicate with such a daemon, right?}

There's no running process necessary for foxpro. The data tables can be accessed regardless of whether or not PowerChurch is open. In fact, you'd probably have more success if you were accessing the data while PowerChurch is not open. When you're setting up the ODBC data source (you'll have to download the FoxPro ODBC driver from Microsoft), make sure to specify "free tables" as there is no database container.

2) What are some software tools external to PC+ that can interact with a PC+ database? Could the PHP scripting language be such a tool?

It's hard to say if PHP would be the best choice. I know there are some ODBC capabilities, but I've never used them. Basically, anything that allows an ODBC connection should work. Access and Excel are two choices that immediately stand out.

Normally, this isn't the sort of thing we're able to support, so I hope this little bit of information helps.