Lawnmail v2.0

[Steve]

About 7 years ago I started a programming project called Lawnmail. The goal was to allow a lawn care business owner to set up a log in page on their website so customers could log in and review their information. Since then I have been doing some continued programming and came up with the online estimation software you can see here. http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=8012 I was doing a bunch of testing with it and decided that it would be really cool if I released the php code to forum members so instead of having to use a database on my server, you each could use your own database on your own server. It's going to take a bit to change the code a little to make it useful for a single lawn care business owner versus the way I have it online now for multiple users. As I do this, I will document it and post the code so you can use it on your site. If you have played with the online estimator previously, give me some low down on what you liked or didn't. What you would add or take away. Step by step, if you have a little php coding knowledge, we can make this project grow.

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[Steve]

How to get lawn care customers - Vol 2

Download and unzip the files and folders. Then put them on your web server. You will need to have mysql running on your web server and you will need to know the host, username, and password to gain access to it. Open the estimator_db_login.php in a php editor or possibly a notepad program and insert your database host, username and password information as seen in the attached picture. Then run the file create_database.php file on your server and click on the button Create Database. (this will create your tables) After you do that, you should see some kind of message and if you know how to review your database and tables in your mysql database, you should see them in there. Try it out and let me know what happens. Download the zip file here. lawnmail-install-2.0.0.zip

Attached Images

host-setup.jpg (30.8 KB, 56 views)

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[Steve]

A member wrote me on ideas to improve the online estimator and I wanted to keep track of it for anyone else to add thoughts.

lnbn1975 wrote

I just signed up for the on-line estimator. Looks fantastic. I have an idea for the program if it isn't already built in, if you would be interested. When the user brings up the Customer List, they could "click" on individual customers, or have the customers assigned to a route. Then, the user could print out route sheets for use on a daily basis. When the route sheet is printed, it would include notes on each customer, what the crew is to watch out for (dog, water pipe sticking up, etc...), time in-time out, check boxes for "mow" "Trim" "blow", and a small space for notes (couldn't mow dog pen as occupied, saw window broken on garage upon arrival, etc....).

I tried making something like this in an .xls format, but I am just a beginning user and don't know how to be able to list all my customers, click on the ones I want to print out on an individual sheet, etc.. What I ended up with is a blank sheet and I'll fill it in in advance, then print each sheet as needed, but it would be great if the user could change routes on a moments notice.

[Steve]

I updated the coding now. This will now let you build a log in page onto your website. Where are growing this step by step.

Download the lawnmail.zip files as instructed in the first post.

What I added now is the ability for you to enter an admin name and password during installation as well as the ability to install the database or if you are having problems installing the database, you can do it manually through your database server.

Then you can go to your main_login.php page and log in with that information.

Try it out and let me know how it works.

Here are some screen shots of what I am talking about.

[Steve]

I did more updated and LawnMail is now fully operational from the start.

It's now a fully functioning Lawn Care Business Web Platform.

It creates a website for you and has a couple of template you can choose from to use. (more will follow & you can make your own templates)

You can enter your customers in and they can log in to check their balances.

Customers can also fill out a form for a free estimate.

You can change seasonal templates.

[jeffcs]

is there a website that can give me step by step instructions on setting this up
thanks

[Steve]

Hi Jeff,

Not yet. I am working on making this install process easier. Do you have access to a db on your web server?

Have you been able to run that install file to create the database tables yet?

[Jake&Sons]

I to am having trouble with lawn mail. Do you need to be running the Gopher Software in order for it to work? I do not have a website up and running yet, is that essential? Please help! I have set up an account with godaddy.com and also web hosting but really need more in put I would like to have this up and running soon. Thanks in advance for any help. Jake

[justin_time]

Originally Posted by Steve

Hi Jeff,

Not yet. I am working on making this install process easier. Do you have access to a db on your web server?

Have you been able to run that install file to create the database tables yet?

Do we have to create tables for the setup ?

I have the Database connection error.

I will figure something out. I haven't played with PHP in a little while hehe

http://www.jitys.ca/lawnmail

[jeffcs]

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Originally Posted by Steve

Hi Jeff,

Not yet. I am working on making this install process easier. Do you have access to a db on your web server?

Have you been able to run that install file to create the database tables yet?

i have the db set-up, but cannot get the tables in - never done this kind of thing before.