Today we look at how you can use ChatGPT and dbFront to rapidly create or extend custom database applications. In this case we are going to add a module to handle asset depreciation.

Asset depreciation refers to the decline in value of an asset over time due to usage, wear and tear, and obsolescence. Tracking asset depreciation is essential to ensure accurate financial reporting, to meet taxation requirements, and to plan for asset replacements.

Generating the Database Structure

ChatGPT describes itself as a "powerful language model that can generate natural language responses to any given prompt." Today we are going to examine ChatGPT's functionality as we attempt to generate the required database structure for an asset depreciation module. We are going to start with a simple request.

1. Browse to chat.openai.com, and...

Today we look at how you can use dbFront to create quick reports. For an example we will be building a report to view the age of submitted expense reports using the Expense Report app.

Setup

To create a new report, click on the Quick Print button. By default this button is only available to Administrators but you can easily enable it for your regular users.

From here, you can now prepare the report. If it is merely a one-time report, click run after you have selected the template and table columns.

If you are going to need to report on the same thing repeatedly, you can save the report as a button. Just provide a caption for the button and save your report.

Report Type

There are two report types to...

With the release of dbFront version 1.2.5, users can now create their own Custom Search Buttons. This allows users to quickly move between different views of the same data. Because finding what you need is key to being productive and happy!

This originally was in our Christmas blog post.

User Created Search Button

Custom Searches are created directly from the advanced search. When you click the Save icon on the advanced search banner, you will receive the following prompt:

NOTE: Contact your admin for “My Layout” access, if you don't see this dialog.

This allows you to still save the search criteria as your default search, or now you can create a button. Click on the “Create Custom Search” option that brings you to the next prompt:

Be sure...

As this year draws to a close we would like to thank all of our clients, and wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

And with that a gift from us!

With the release of dbFront version 1.2.5, users can now create their own Custom Search Buttons. This allows users to quickly move between different views of the same data. Because finding what you need is key to being productive and happy!

Please check out the post on how to create these buttons.

dbFront offers up to three (soon four) ways to perform searches on your tables: Simple, Advanced, and Full-Text search (Enterprise Only). Today we look at a quick overview of these features using the Expense Reporter app created in dbFront. Coming in the next release of dbFront: Custom Quick Search buttons.

The Simple Search

Do not let the name fool you as the Simple Search feature in dbFront is quite powerful. The feature is available on all table views as a Search box on the top right section of the banner:

On smaller table sizes, dbFront will filter in real-time as you type in your search criteria in the field. On larger tables that cannot be loaded into memory, dbFront will wait for you to hit Enter before executing the Search; this is...