Database development

Since our formation in 1993, Alvechurch Data have worked on the design and development of a wide range of database projects in Microsoft FoxPro, Visual FoxPro and Access. Most of our work is done in Birmingham and the midlands but we cover the country and provide remote support to overseas customers.

Some of our projects have been in database maintenance, the extension of an existing system, and here we have had to work within the structures that are already in place. On other projects we have been able to start our development work with a clean sheet.

Development process

Like many other aspects of programming, database development is still more of a craft than a science and we like to approach the work in a series of careful steps rather than trying to jump to a final conclusion:

  • Talk to you to find out what you are trying to achieve.
  • Talk to your users to find out what they need from the new database.
  • Develop a simple prototype to prove that we have understood your needs.
  • Demonstrate, discuss, and refine that prototype.
  • Deliver and support the database.

We like to see a database application in productive use as soon as possible. There is often no reason to wait until development is complete, the new application can be put into use as soon as it is more useful than the existing one. Doing this helps the process of development by giving us feedback from the real world. It also helps the users because they are introduced to a simple form of the new application and can learn new features as they are added.

Client Testimonials

"Service contract management and invoicing have improved markedly over the last 12 months with Alvechurch Data's assistance & experience"
Will Farrell, Service Manager, Direct Air & Pipework, Coventry

"I just thought I would drop you a line to say thank you for the time you spent with us last month. Both Jackie and myself thought that the training was superb and were especially appreciative of the extent to which you tailored the course and the extra time you spent to help us with some of our more complex issues."
Thomas Still, Research Executive, Product Perceptions Ltd, Crawley

"Geoff Franklin proved to be very responsive to my request for urgent help with Access database information. He took me from a standing start to producing simple reports in 1 day and solved a long outstanding problem with extracting Foxpro based tables , which our reseller had failed to complete. At the end of the day we had a short usable outstanding Purchase Orders report - a first in 10 years! Highly recommended."
Bob Lock, Skyline Systems, Cheltenham

"As a trainer, Geoff Franklin has the rare skill of getting trainees to work through the material themselves without him taking over the keyboard. As a result they have confidence to apply the learning after the session."
Peter Jackson, Holly Training, Leamington Spa