VB Database App with Serial (COM) interface.

We would like to integrate our office operation by building a singe client/server application (preferably in visual basic) that does the following: 1. Customer management. 2. Scheduling. 3. Inventory. 4. Billing. 5. Serial data acquisition. CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT Ability to add/remove/modify customers from a back end database. The database will most likely run on MySQL. SCHEDULING The system will allow the operator/secretary to schedule appointments for our customers. The appointments will be linked to customers -- and subsequently, generate a bill for that customer. INVENTORY The office also maintains a small inventory of goods. BILLING In addtion to appointments, customers will purchase products. These will be listed in the "inventory" database. General billing is calculated based on known "billing codes". So each time an appointment is scheduled, a billing code is attached by defualt. SERIAL DATA ACQUISITION We have three medical instruments that have a serial link. The program will read data directly from the device and attach it to the customer record. In the future there may be more devices, so the code needs to be flexible enough to allow us to add support for more devices in the future. So far we have tested this successfully using the MS COMM control that comes bundled with Visual Basic 6.0 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - Security In addition to the above, the program will be secured by login/password. Each module (billing, scheduling, etc.) will have access permissions tied to the user database. An administrator will be able to assign access through an "admin" interface. - Configuration The user should be able to select which device is attached to which port, and what type of device it is. The results of the serial input will be interpreted based on the type of device and the data that it returns. ## Deliverables 1) Well documented code using resource files for strings, etc. 2) Complete and fully-functional working program(s) in executable form as well as complete source code of all work done. 3) Installation package that will install the software (in ready-to-run condition) on the platform(s) specified in this bid request. 4) Complete ownership and distribution copyrights to all work purchased. ## Platform APPLICATION The application will run on Win32 platform. DATABASE The back-end database will run on MySQL on RedHat Linux 8.0. We will provide the database.