Mac Database advice

[David Haynes]

If you really need a database application, Filemaker Pro is a true
relational database that's reasonably ("reasonable" to me at least) easy to
use. The issue, as you point out, is that earlier versions don't port very
well into the new version IF you have multiple files that you're trying to
relate. It can be done but it's a fair amount of work depending on how many
files you're working with and how big your database is - nonetheless, the
result can certainly be worth it. You can publish directly to a web site,
interface with a PDA, network, create forms, integrate photos, sound files,
graphics, even use bar codes, all the stuff you'd like a DB to do.


On 4/4/07 3:05 PM, "David Andersen" <david at davidandersenpianos.com> wrote:

> For just one computer---it doesn't network well---Outlook for Mac is
> good---actually great, really easy and easily, effortlessly
> customizable, with all the appropriate flags and archiving and
> capture facilities ya need.
> If you're ever going to grow, and add any computers to your network,
> the Now software, linked with Mac Mail, is the way to go. Elegant,
> simple, user friendly, instantly updated (from the master calendar in
> the office computer) any time my laptop goes online, and then
> instantly synchronizable via Bluetooth to my Treo. Slick. When it all
> works right, which is, so far, 99% of the time. And, with the
> DrivemyMac software, my computer guy can fix stuff anytime, anywhere.
> It's important to my dreams to set up the architecture for a bigger
> operation, and to always stay pretty darn current.
> It's what good, smart, upscale people expect, and are pleased by when
> it's done excellently. So there.<g.>
> xoxxoDA
> 
> On Apr 4, 2007, at 10:15 AM, William Morton wrote:
> 
>> 
>> On 4, Apr 2007, , at 6:47, Dave Doremus wrote:
>> 
>>> Anyone have any Mac database suggestions? Im about to upgrade my
>>> creaky G3. Ive been using Filemaker 4, just at a quick glance the
>>> newer versions (8 and 8.5) get really mixed reviews and mention
>>> all kinds of problems importing from older editions. Are there
>>> better options? Any help appreciated as always.
>>> -- 
>>> ----Dave
>> 
>> I went through the same process when I first got my MAC.  After
>> looking at
>> a bunch of different options, including Filemaker (which I thought
>> was expensive),
>> I settled on MYSQL.   It is free.  You have to learn how to write
>> SQL to use
>> it; no fancy screen-oriented user interface.  But it handles quite
>> large databases
>> very well, provides full backup facilities, and, when coupled with
>> a scripting language
>> such as PHP, it builds web-page displays of data very easily, which
>> you can then
>> access from your browser.   It also runs on a wide variety of other
>> hardware
>> so is "portable".  (I am not associated with the MYSQL folks--just
>> a user).
>> 
> 
>