[Wolves] Yet another non Linux question ;-) - well nearly at end

[Wayne Morris]

Hi,

Its quiet on here so another Q to test your knowledge of other things ;-)

Foxpro (spit) based database for tracking tenants payments in rented 
accommodation - commercial package that promises everything, but does it 
all really badly -
one of the built in reports generates a 40 page report on arrears - 
detailing every last transaction missed when all we really need is 
balance, have they made a payment in last couple
of weeks (so at least they are trying) if so how much  - two items per line.
Tech support answer - there isn't a 'balance' field , everything is 
calculated on the fly from data in paid table, owing table - can't give 
you a database schematic or field list -
you should be able to work out what field is what (there are 300+ all 
oddly labelled!) , and 'that will be a really complex query to compile, 
good luck'
Not getting anywhere with making a query as don't really know where to 
start!
Horrible thing.

Against -
  a MS excel spreadsheet - the old system used prior to purchase of the 
above - only dropped because the only thing no one could figure was how 
to add an audit
trail to the file - ie who changed what last to prevent fraud by users 
(eg collecting £300 from tenant, updating spreadsheet to show paid...)


So which is the easiest thing to achieve - bugger about getting the 
right foxpro query or creating a security level over a spreadsheet?

Or is there a nice little mysql/php package out there that will just be 
easy to fiddle with and start again?

(see, dragged it almost back to on topic at end)  ;-)

cheers

Wayne