I work for a law enforcement agency and we're having issues with our current database system. Our current database system is written in Cobol by a programmer who works for the county. It's not a user-friendly interface and I think our entire system could be handled by Access. Here's what it would entail:

1. Our records division maintains records on just under 150,000 subjects that have been booked into our system. Each person has a unique number and folder assigned to them. Our records clerks would need to be able to go in and add new persons who have never been booked into our system. This would be the "Master Name Index". This index would need to be incorporated into other parts of the database. It would be necessary to attach a digital photo to each record, and also have the ability to pull up past photos as well. The database would also need to be able to import all the records that are currently in the system.
2. The records division also maintains all the warrants currently active, which are currently approximately 104,000. These warrants would need to tie into the Master Name Index.
3. There are instances where one person will visit our jail SEVERAL times in their lifetime. Each time they were booked in would be a new booking record, but still work off of the ONE record in the Master Name Index. Our jail would need access to their portion of the database.
4. The database will need to include forms that can be filled out and printed.

In other words, we need an all-inclusive database that would handle a large number of records and be easily maintained.

Questions:
1. Can Access handle this many records?
2. Could this database be used by as many as 100-150 people and still maintain its integrity?
3. Would it be better to create one large database, or divide it into sections?
4. Are there people that are knowledgeable enough in Access to design this database and maintain it, and what would someone charge to do it, ballpark? If someone has designed a database on this scale before, just tell me what you charged.
5. Could Access import all the data that's already present in the old database?

This could mean quite a bit of money for someone if the county could be convinced that Access could handle this task, but they would have to be extremely knowledgeable in Access database design.

Thanks for any advice and help.

Edited by: jroden144 on Thu Nov 11 17:35:00 EST 2004.

1. Can Access handle this many records? Yes
2. Could this database be used by as many as 100-150 people and still maintain its integrity? Possibly, but that depends in part on whether they are using it SIMULTAEOUSLY
3. Would it be better to create one large database, or divide it into sections? One database
4. Are there people that are knowledgeable enough in Access to design this database and maintain it, and what would someone charge to do it, ballpark? Yes If someone has designed a database on this scale before, just tell me what you charged. I charge hourly, other developers have their own policies; you'd need to have an estimate of time to get a quote.
5. Could Access import all the data that's already present in the old database? It depends on how they are stored now, but the likeliehood is high that they can be.

HTH

George

OK, say this took 100 hrs. to do. What would be hourly rate be, and what would be the best way to shop for a developer that could handle this task? Would 100 hours be a reasonable amount of time to do this? How about updates, additions, or corrections? Would that cost extra? Could someone just do it for a flat fee, say $10,000, and include all necessary future corrections, additions, etc?

I'll contact you via PM.

George

jrodden
it is funny that you are talking about such a project beacause i am develping one myself, look at this attachment, it only has the tables and the relationship structure, there are more elements that are under contruction but it will give you an idea

By the way, i am doing this one for free, for personal professional carrer development, and the ability to network with government officals in my county
why am i doing so, because i am a criminology student wanting to end up working for the government.
Will i do one and give it to you to for free also, no not really, would i do it for money, not that either.
BUT
it will give you an idea of what it might look like in access as far as the relationship structure.


P.S, the forms are not very functional yet, so dont bother with them.

man???
22 downlaods?? ther must be some very interested people out there