rwp@cup.portal.com (Roger William Preisendefer) (11/28/89)
I have to choose a database for my work place to serve 1-5 386 PC's on a server (also to be chosen, but not by me.) I need a decent PC database (running under MSDOS) that can handle all thousands of records, a server, print decent reports, and be easily operated by computer novices. Any reccomendations (or ones to stay away from)? Roger Preisendefer
kherron@ms.uky.edu (Kenneth Herron) (06/15/90)
Hello, Our local Humane Society has just received a donation of an IBM PS/2 model 30/286 (or whatever) and I've volunteered to assist with computerizing their record-keeping. I'm currently looking for a few good databases to recommend. I'm pretty well experienced with Clipper/Dbase 3+ and Rbase, but, due to budget constraints, I'd like to find something cheaper. Our requirements: 1) Must be a relational database. Flat-file won't do what we want. 2) Must have a programming language. The primary user is almost a total computer illiterate, so virtually all of the database access has to be through a very user-friendly program. If you've seen what one can do with the Rbase application generator, that's what I'm aiming for. 3) Doesn't have to be as powerful or fast as Dbase/Rbase. #1 & #2 notwithstanding, we probably won't be building huge databases. 4) Must run under PC-DOS 4.0 and be available on those little disks. 5) Price must be reasonable, but if you know the database of the century, don't let the price stop you--we can always hit up the company to donate a copy... Any and all products are being considered, including shareware and "integrated" packages, so long as the database is up to snuff. In particular, if you have worked with any of the following packages, we'd be grateful if you'd let me know what you think (not just whether it meets our requirements, but how good it is): Shareware: Wampum, PC:File-DB, PC:file, EDB 3.1, Zoomracks Integrated: Microsoft Works, PCF:First Choice, AlphaWorks Other: DataEase, Paradox, Foxbase If I've left anything off this list which you think we might use, please let me know. Please mail replies to me; I'll prepare a summary if there's any interest. Kenneth Herron