Common Vivaldi Questions

Currently you would need to handle that in MySQL Views, or by a javascript/jQuery event that you place in your customer.js file or the form's header/footer properties. We do have it on the roadmap to include calculated fields native to forms. For a MySQL View, you can define a column with standard arithmetic such as `yourfield`*`yourfield2` as `calcfieldname`
  • MySQL version 5.4 or higher
  • A web server that supports PHP 5.3 or higher
Presently we only support MySQL. If you're interested in a different database, let us know!
Vivaldi comes delivered with a super administrator role and user. Other than that, you are free to create roles, assign users to them, and then assign what menu items and forms each role is permitted to work with. Users have a unique, secure login when you create their accounts. They receive an email with the username and password. You can disable users and roles at any time.

Step 1: Migrate your Microsoft Access database to MySQL

Choosing a MySQL host

You have many options when it comes to choosing where to host your MySQL database.  We've listed a few here to help you get started.
  • Your current web host - if you have a website currently you likely have free MySQL databases included.  1&1, GoDaddy, InMotion, and others have low-cost packages with MySQL included.
  • A cloud host - Amazon RDS, Microsoft Azure, Google, or others.  You'll pay by the cpu time your database uses, a good "pay as you grow" option.
  • Your corporate IT - if you are in a large company, you'll likely have some MySQL servers around.  Whether you can get access to one to manage your own database is going to depend on your IT organization.  But always worth  a try!
  • Your own server - if it's just for your internal network, you can use a tool like XAMPP to stand up a complete MySQL and web server with very little effort or know-how. Your machine would need to be available (up) for as much time per day as other users need to access it.

Moving your tables to MySQL

Free tools like Bullzip to create a new MySQL database and automaticaly copy your data too.

Creating MySQL views from your Access queries

In MySQL, "views" and the equivalent of "queries" in Accesss. Most queries can be recreated by copying and pasting the SQL from Access into MySQL Workbench. Just be sure to create them in order - any queries that reference other queries should be created last.

Step 2: Create Your Web Application using Your New MySQL Database

  • Copy the Vivaldi files to your web server directory
  • Connect Vivaldi to the database (editing 4 lines of text)
  • Use Vivaldi to visuallly design the forms needed to view/add/edit/delete records without any coding.  See all of Vivaldi's amazing features >>
  • Use Vivaldi to manage user security, role assignments, and dynamic menus
Your Vivaldi purchase includes lifetime support via email, and when coordinated in advance, phone or web conference.
Lifetime updates are included with your license. Upgrades are "at your own" risk, you should thoroughly test an upgrade on a dedicated test instance of Vivaldi first. This can be as simple as a separate folder with a duplicate installation of Vivaldi that you use to test upgrades, or by taking a backup of your Vivaldi directories before apply ing your upgrade. Note that your config/databases.php, js/customer.js, styles/customer.css, and styles/customer_htmlhead.php will not be overwritten, nor will your forms and menus be modified. OpenGate may adjust system forms and menu items with each upgrade, however. Follow these steps to upgrade:
  1. Review the Release Notes for new features and notes to be aware of when upgrading.
  2. Download the latest version of Vivaldi from the support site.
  3. Unzip the downloaded file.
  4. Copy all of the files into your Vivaldi directory.
  5. Uploaded your files to your site if needed.
  6. Open your browser and navigate to //yoursite.com/youvivaldidirectory/ogs/upgrade.php
Main Vivaldi Support Page