SQL Manager or New Module/Menu Item ? What is the best practice?

[rv01]

Hi,

This is about best practice when you add a custom functionality to the back office.

 

Many of us (I guess) use a fulfilment service/external company. We have to give separate information on how to prepare and to send the orders.

There is nothing in the back office for that purpose.

 

To communicate with the logistics (fulfilment) we send CSV files: one  about the "ready to go" orders  packaging instructions and a second one about the customers addresses (labels).

 

Now, two different elaborated SQL "Select" recorded in the "SQL Manager" make the trick.

Problem: While SQL is easy to write and read, PHP looks quite an horrible "write only" code. 

 

It would be nice to be able to add those 2 "SQL" in the BO "Orders" menu, thus having 2 new modules/entries like "Prepare Orders" and "Send Orders", I guess.

 

Question: How to do that (in layman's terms please)?  

 

Thanks all.

Edited March 4, 2014 by rv01 (see edit history)