[pianotech] Microsoft Access info

[G Cousins]

I've used MS office suite since they first put it together. Good suite. Little chance of MS going out of busineess unless Congerss can find a profit (read tax advantage) in taking them over (just joking gang) 

Access is a good platform and workable although, like S&S their top dog status is always being bashed about by everyone. 

 

If you want to go into the world of open source programs, in which I am involved, I HIGHLY recommend Open Office.  It essentially is the MS office suite taken to the next level but in open source programming.  One feature that i like is the way to convert the files into PDF files with ease. There are many many other cool features and way too similar in look adn functionality to MS office without the worries of being virus hacked.

Another BIG advantage is Open Office is FREE! They just released ver 3.1  To check it out goto  www.openoffice.org  you won't be dissapointed.

Gerry Cousins

WCUPA



 

Will,

 

I have been using Access since 1996.  I can't 
tell you how many people have tried to get me to use designer databases and none 
of them is as versatile or stable as access.   

 

Like you, I think Access will be around for a long 
time, or what ever Microsoft replaces it with will work with there 
platforms.  I just got two computers for my wife and myself from Dell and 
that is pretty middle of the road, but it works every day with no 
excuses.

 

William

 

 

 



----- Original Message ----- 

From: 
William 
Truitt 

To: pianotech at ptg.org 

Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 10:05 AM

Subject: [pianotech] Microsoft Access 
info






To the 
list:

 

This mail is directed to 
those of you who may be using Microsoft Access as your database for your piano 
business.  I am contemplating the changeover from Lotus Approach 97 (yeh, 
it’s that old!), as I have recently learned that even the most recent versions 
of Approach will not run in 64 bit Vista.  I cannot assume that Lotus 
will continue to support Approach into the new operating systems, as Lotus 
Smartsuite has largely gone by the wayside.  My home computer died a 
couple of weeks ago, and I replaced it with the beast I am writing to you on 
(HP with AMD Phenom Quad Core, 8 GB RAM, 750 GB hard drive, 256 MB ATI Radeon 
video card, and a 20 inch HP monitor; running 64 bit Vista Home Premium – all 
for $730 from Staples!!).  So far, no problems loading most of my old 
programs on, although I doubt PScale will run on it (haven’t tried yet).  
It is pretty fast – 64 bit Internet Explorer loads in a little over a 
second.  Drivers are still being written for it though, as FLASH won’t 
run on it as the 64 bit version is not available yet.  For those of you 
who may be contemplating a new computer purchase in the near future, it is 
astounding how cheap everything is once you get away from the bleeding edge of 
technology. 

 

The machine at the shop is a 
4 ½ year old Compaq Windows XP machine.  It’ starting to get a little 
flaky, so the handwriting is probably starting to get on the wall.  I 
need to be proactive before this machine dies and my database software becomes 
an orphan.  Hence my consideration of MS Access.  I’m running MS 
Office 2003 on that computer, so I should be able to buy Access as an upgrade 
for a little over $100. 

 

12 or 13 years ago I designed 
my own databases in Approach.  A fair amount of work, but not 
particularly hard.  I was able to convert my files and import them into 
Approach from Symantec Q & A.  I will want to build new databases in 
Access and import the data from Approach.  I have been able to find out 
that Access can import data from Dbase IV, which is the format used by 
Approach (Or at least they say it is possible, the proof is in the 
pudding).  

 

It is likely that, by the 
time I replace this shop computer, most everything will be running 64 bit 
Vista.  So I will need to plan for a database that runs on that 
platform.  At home, I have MS Office 2007 (without Access).  It 
loaded with no problems, as did my file transfers.  


 

For those of you using 
Access, did you find it particularly difficult to build your databases?  
Any foibles I should know about?  The usual – the good, bad, and 
ugly.  

 

Thanks in advance for 
whatever you wish to share.

 

Will 
Truitt


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