How do I avoid giving full access to client ?

[fmprof]

I am an employee of a school board and realized that a database would make work easier for staff as it would allow them to enter data once and then show in all different layouts so I created a database and sold the board on the idea. When I submitted a bill for the database, two companion files and in my business name they ignored it and paid me the amount I requested but for clerical work. Every school ( 1000) uses it.

For the last two years they have asked me to make cosmetic changes to the way the layouts look but did not want to pay me . I insisted that because this database developer work is not in my job description and I did it at home on my own time, it needs to be valued over and above my work as a teacher and consultant.

They now say that they will pay me but that I must

1) give them a password so they can do any future editing

2) teach another person on staff how to edit.

I have thought about this long and hard and believe that asking me to give them a password is tantamount to asking a developer to give them the code.

1) Do you agree?

I think that they should have access to their layouts only( letters) but not the main menu.

2)Is there a way of giving them editing access to layouts and and the ability to add fields but no access to the scripts and calculations ? [color:"blue"] [color:"blue"] [color:"blue"]

[Anatoli]

Maybe silly, but I would charge every school $1 per day license to use it and I will develop the solution further for them.

Is the solution worth $1 in savings per day?

Nice income, wouldn't you say?

Protect your rights!

[Vaughan]

You yourself know that it'll take more than a couple of afternoons to teach some other member of staff how to edit the database. More likely the other person will screw something up.

I'd be tempted to give them the password, show somebody else the how to do the work, then charge them a decent rate to fix it up.

[kenneth2k1]

More likely the other person will screw something up

This is true! Once management gets hold of full access, I think they like to see what they can screw up.

I think its ok to give up the master password, as long as it is clear (i.e get it in writing) that you will no longer be able to support the product under the normal warranty, and if they screw it up and need your help, you reserve the right to charge em up the ass!

Ken

[Vaughan]

"the right to charge em up the ass"

Now there's a lovely mental picture.

Might I suggest "the right charge them current commercial rates" instead?

[kenneth2k1]

Haha.

Ok, charge them commercial rates. But depending on what they have screwed up, they're going to get charged up the ... well, you know