I know that this message is not 100% related to network administration, but my hope is establish contact with someone who has already purchased or developed such a system and not have to reinvent the wheel. Who knows if you work with supporting research labs, your Faculty might too be interested in such a system. Below is an email message from one of my users, it appears that his needs could be met by a system is a cross between an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System and a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Does anybody know of such a system (like he describes)? Does anybody know of a system that I could modify to meet his requirements? Thanks, LD ******************* Message follows ************************************* I am trying to find a software that can help me to organize my lab materials and project better. I guess it should be some database type. You have sent me some links but I couldn't figure out how to use them. My purposes of using such program are: 1. Inventory management: keep track of purchase orders, information of vendors, product, and other related information. 2. Book of samples, microorganism isolates, and others. This is critical if I can have such a system. It will be powerful, and efficient to keep all kinds of records and retrieve them in any way. We are dealing with thousands of samples and isolates. It would be easy if we work on a secure database. 3. Keep track of research projects. Ideally it allow multiple users to input information or data on one specific file or project. The status can tell you how much has been done, who did it,and what needs to be done. 4. Calendars and project schedule. I have tried MS Access, but it's not a pleasant experience. I wish there is something easier and quicker, and can be loaded on the web so that we can operate the system remotely. With so much information coming up everyday, I think it is good to use this type of database to manage the lab, both data and materials. In a long run, those data are retrievable and useful. Since I am not familiar to this area, I just keep asking whoever has this experience. Cassandra and I had a business trip last week. She thought her husband's lab is using something like that. I was so curious to know more about it. ******************* Message End *************************************