Access? FileMaker? or ???
Prof Wonmug
I would like to write a few fairly simple database applications mostly
for personal use.
I have Access 2007 as part of Office 2007. I have played around with
prior versions a few times, but always found it tedious. I've hard
that FileMaker has almost as much functionality and is a lot easier to
use.
Thanks
Steve Hayes
A lot depends on what you want to use it for.
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Prof Wonmug
<haye...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:42:22 -0800, Prof Wonmug <won...@e.mcc> wrote:
>
>>I would appreciate recommendations for a database program.
>>
>>I would like to write a few fairly simple database applications mostly
>>for personal use.
>>
>>I have Access 2007 as part of Office 2007. I have played around with
>>prior versions a few times, but always found it tedious. I've hard
>>that FileMaker has almost as much functionality and is a lot easier to
>>use.
>
>A lot depends on what you want to use it for.
...a few fairly simple database applications mostly for personal use.
1. To keep track of things I own with purchase dates, model numbers,
etc.
2. To keep records of things I consume with ratings like tea.
3. To keep track of online vendors and purchases with ratings.
4. To keep track of service on cars, bikes, smoke alarms, etc.
Things like that.
Steve Hayes
Do you want to do arithmetic with the results?
A database that I use a lot is askSam. I find it flexible and a lot easier to
use than Access, and probably better unless you want to do a lot of fancy
calculations.
More info at:
If you want to do calculations, a spreadsheet might do.
Access and other relational databases are best for applications where you need
to keep data in different tables - like vendors and the products they supply,
for example.
David Segall
I don't know FileMaker but they have a free trial so you can decide
for yourself. I doubt if anything is less tedious or easier to use
than Access but other products have similar characteristics and
different advantages. For example, OpenOffice Base
<http://www.openoffice.org/product/base.html> is very similar to
Access but is free and cross platform. Microsoft have several Express
Editions <http://www.microsoft.com/express/>. They are all free and
aid in developing CRUD programs but they give you a choice of the
underlying language and whether you want a desktop or web application.
Prof Wonmug
wrote:
I forgot about Open Office. I'll check it out.
I knew that FileMaker had a trial version, but it takes at least
several hours, if not several days. to really get to know a database
program.
I should probably stick with Access, since I already have it, and just
suck it up and learn it. Just a little lazy.
![Tony Toews [MVP]'s profile photo](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjVFNFhAO8kxGtutFBSPYzx5Lbrrty7WRKPHNhjuWtTEHvsoQdk=s40-c)
Tony Toews [MVP]
>I don't know FileMaker but they have a free trial so you can decide
>for yourself. I doubt if anything is less tedious or easier to use
>than Access but other products have similar characteristics and
>different advantages.
For simple stuff I would agree that all those programs would probably work reasonably
well. And likely meet the original posters requirements.
But one of the areas where Access really shines is the use of VBA to performance
extensive and complex logic. Indeed I spend 80% of my time in Access in VBA. I
very much doubt any of the competitve products come anywhere close to VBA. They
likely do have a macro language which Access also has.
Note though that if you look down at my sig you well see I have a bias. <smile>
Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Tony's Main MS Access pages - http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/
For a free, convenient utility to keep your users FEs and other files
updated see http://www.autofeupdater.com/
Granite Fleet Manager http://www.granitefleet.com/
Tony Toews [MVP]
See if some of the Access 2007 downloadable templates are close to your requirements.
David Segall
Actually, given your list of applications, I think you would probably
be better off with an HTML document rather than a database.
You could create a table (in the non-database meaning of the word)
using your preferred HTML authoring tool. Some columns in your web
page table will also be a link to a web site that contains extra
information. So, for example, clicking on the model number of a
purchase takes you to the manufacturers support site for that model.
My film diary <http://films.profectus.com.au> illustrates the idea and
is the only one of mine that is actually on a web site. Note that
Google can provide a search box that will search only those web pages
linked to my film diary.
Prof Wonmug
<tto...@telusplanet.net> wrote:
>David Segall <da...@address.invalid> wrote:
>
>>I don't know FileMaker but they have a free trial so you can decide
>>for yourself. I doubt if anything is less tedious or easier to use
>>than Access but other products have similar characteristics and
>>different advantages.
>
>For simple stuff I would agree that all those programs would probably work reasonably
>well. And likely meet the original posters requirements.
>
>But one of the areas where Access really shines is the use of VBA to performance
>extensive and complex logic. Indeed I spend 80% of my time in Access in VBA. I
>very much doubt any of the competitve products come anywhere close to VBA. They
>likely do have a macro language which Access also has.
This is an important point. Most of my little applications are not
that complicated from a database perspective, but I do want to do some
calculations on the data. I am familiar with VBA from Word and Excel,
so the learning curve there shouldn't be too bad.
Does Access have a macro language that is different from VBA? I
thought VBA was the macro language. If you need more than that, use
VB.net and have it call Access. No?
Do you know that FileMaker (for example) does not have a macro
language? Their website talks about "scripts".
>Note though that if you look down at my sig you well see I have a bias. <smile>
It's also an expertise.
Prof Wonmug
<tto...@telusplanet.net> wrote:
>Prof Wonmug <won...@e.mcc> wrote:
>
>>I would appreciate recommendations for a database program.
>>
>>I would like to write a few fairly simple database applications mostly
>>for personal use.
>>
>>I have Access 2007 as part of Office 2007. I have played around with
>>prior versions a few times, but always found it tedious. I've hard
>>that FileMaker has almost as much functionality and is a lot easier to
>>use.
>
>See if some of the Access 2007 downloadable templates are close to your requirements.
OK, thanks
I see that you have a software company. Do you offer consulting /
tutoring to individuals or only larger development projects?
Prof Wonmug
wrote:
Interesting suggestion and one I would never have considered.
I will need the relational database capability to link tables so as to
normalize the data. Can HTML do that?
Does HTML have a macro language?
Nice website.
Tony Toews [MVP]
>Does Access have a macro language that is different from VBA? I
>thought VBA was the macro language. If you need more than that, use
>VB.net and have it call Access. No?
Yes, there is a macro language and VBA. MS enhanced the macro language in A2007 and
again in A2010.
>Do you know that FileMaker (for example) does not have a macro
>language? Their website talks about "scripts".
All I know about FileMaker is that it exists.
Tony Toews [MVP]
>I see that you have a software company. Do you offer consulting /
>tutoring to individuals or only larger development projects?
Yes and yes. Although for basic level tutoring I'd suggest Crystal Long , fellow
Access MVP. Email me and I'll give you her email address.
Steve Hayes
>On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:09:39 GMT, David Segall <da...@address.invalid>
>wrote:
>>My film diary <http://films.profectus.com.au> illustrates the idea and
>>is the only one of mine that is actually on a web site. Note that
>>Google can provide a search box that will search only those web pages
>>linked to my film diary.
>
>Interesting suggestion and one I would never have considered.
>
>I will need the relational database capability to link tables so as to
>normalize the data. Can HTML do that?
>
>Does HTML have a macro language?
>
>Nice website.
How much do you need to normalise the data?
The sample applications you gave didn't appear to greatly need it.
Prof Wonmug
<haye...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:55:26 -0800, Prof Wonmug <won...@e.mcc> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:09:39 GMT, David Segall <da...@address.invalid>
>>wrote:
>>>My film diary <http://films.profectus.com.au> illustrates the idea and
>>>is the only one of mine that is actually on a web site. Note that
>>>Google can provide a search box that will search only those web pages
>>>linked to my film diary.
>>
>>Interesting suggestion and one I would never have considered.
>>
>>I will need the relational database capability to link tables so as to
>>normalize the data. Can HTML do that?
>>
>>Does HTML have a macro language?
>>
>>Nice website.
>
>How much do you need to normalise the data?
>
>The sample applications you gave didn't appear to greatly need it.
Well, to keep track of purchases, I would want a Manufacturer Table, a
Vendor Table, and a Purchases Table at least, each with a primary key
and foreign keys to link them. My exsperience with database
applications is that they tend to grow. Tables beget tables.
Prof Wonmug
<haye...@hotmail.com> wrote:
I used askSam some time ago when it was more or less a search engine.
I didn't realize that had morphed into what looks to be something like
a cross between a desktop search engine and a database program. Might
be worth playing around with some.
>If you want to do calculations, a spreadsheet might do.
I do use Excel for a lot of things that are *just* calculations.
>Access and other relational databases are best for applications where you need
>to keep data in different tables - like vendors and the products they supply,
>for example.
Yup. I guess I'm just being lazy. I'll have to take the time to learn
the UI for one of the relational database programs. And, since I
already have Access, that's probably the place to start.
Thanks
Steve Hayes
>On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:40:48 +0200, Steve Hayes
>>A database that I use a lot is askSam. I find it flexible and a lot easier to
>>use than Access, and probably better unless you want to do a lot of fancy
>>calculations.
>>
>>More info at:
>>
>>http://www.asksam.com/
>
>I used askSam some time ago when it was more or less a search engine.
>I didn't realize that had morphed into what looks to be something like
>a cross between a desktop search engine and a database program. Might
>be worth playing around with some.
As far as I know, it's never been a search engine, though it does search its
databases.
It's a database that allows you to store both structured and unstructured
data, and to search, sort, and produce reports.
It's not relational, so if you have large amounts of data it may not be
suitable, but for the kind of applications you describe, it may be worth a
look. I find it much easier to set up and more flexible thatn relational
databases. From what you described, using something like VBA would be overkill
on your applications.
>>If you want to do calculations, a spreadsheet might do.
>
>I do use Excel for a lot of things that are *just* calculations.
Spreadsheets can be used for simple "flat file" databases too.
>
>>Access and other relational databases are best for applications where you need
>>to keep data in different tables - like vendors and the products they supply,
>>for example.
>
>Yup. I guess I'm just being lazy. I'll have to take the time to learn
>the UI for one of the relational database programs. And, since I
>already have Access, that's probably the place to start.
I found a lot of that was wasted effort. I learnt a lot of stuff, and by the
time I was ready to begin using it, they brought out an upgrade, and I'd have
to start learning all over again.
I got tired of spending all my time learning to use database programs and then
finding them useless before I'd actually entered much data.
>
>Thanks
Steve Hayes
True.
If you're running a business, and buy a lot of stuff, keeping that information
in separate tables is the way to go.
But if you're keeping track of personal items, and don't have 50 cars from
different manufacturers, say, keeping that information in a field in one table
is not really a problem. We have two cars in our family. I can record the
manufacturer information in a field in one table without too much hassle. If I
ran a fleet and was reordering every 6 months, I'd want a relational database.