Thread: Good database program

I use access (because we already had it as part of office) for a client database. It works well enough for what I use it for. But if you haven't already got it, probaby not worth the money. But that's not for online websites. SQL would be the way to go for that.

Im a DB developer (in SQL and Access) so heres my 2 cents worth. You have 2 issues from what I can gather:

1) to store information about customer on a DB
2) have a web front end to the DB

The first one can easily be achieved using Microsoft Access as part of the Officer suite. The second one is more complex, requires something like ASP.NET to program the interface for web usage. This IS EXPENSIVE, but you get the cadilac of front ends and more felxibility (such as customers themselves updating contact details). But theres security issues if your going to have a web interface outside your firewall. (yes, IT stuff gets complex)

If a web front is not really needed, I suggest either using Access forms for a front end or something like InfoPath (part of Office 2003) for the front end. You dont need to go to SQL if you dont expect hundreds of thousands of records, plus theres added complications such as SQL server licenses etc etc.

At the moment im using InfoPath forms with SQL2000 for a project im working on, and its more than sufficient (much better than Access forms).

Cheers,

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Thanks for all the suggestions guys, currently downloading a few trial versions of various programs plus Outlaw has been helping me all this morning with some options too.

Will hopefully find something suitable soon so I can get on with the business.

Cheers, Mick

Hi,

I am a Datawarehouse analyst and we use Oracle 10g.

However, in your case, I think the best suit will be Access db while you can use Access, VB.NET or ASP.NET to do the frond end. Or on the other hand, you can use MySQL together with PHP (which is free of charge).

Hope this might help,

Cheers,

Greg

Originally Posted by MickG

I used to use Filemaker Pro and Goldmine, both of which have advanced beyond what I really need

... and you guys are trying to push him down an Access or xxSQL/Oracle route?

Mick - if you want a simple GUI-driven tool that is reasonably configurable I'd stay with FileMaker and run the web publisher extension to get to it via the web. Otherwise you're going to be mucking around in higher-end developer stuff. How good are you at understanding relational database theory and how that couples to a scripted server environment like PHP or .ASP/.NET?

wow - theres a few geeks on this forum

there is more than a few....


it gets scary from time to time...