sue@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (Sue McPherson) (11/09/90)
I'm looking on advice on appropriate database software for the Macintosh. I've been asked to develop a database application on a Mac (SE/30 or IIci). It needs to record details of patients, visits and tests done at those visits. There are about 500 new patients each year and roughly 600 visits at which there will be 10 to 30 tests performed (average of 20). There will be 10 years worth of old data loaded into the database. I want the screen to look something like this; +----------------------------------------------+ | Name.... DOB... | | Address.... Hospital No. | <--- patient table | .......... | | | | Visit Date, Time Biopsy Y/N | <--- visit table | Comment | | | | Test1 Result1 Test2 Result2 Test3 Result3 | | Test4 Result4 ..... | <--- test table | .... | +----------------------------------------------+ The main reporting requirement is to 'pull out all patients & visits which match the conditions'. This is where things start to get difficult as the conditions can specify ranges on more than one test. (ie. where the patient did TestA with a result > 5 and Test B with a result < 4) a number of tests may be specified with a range of results, although 4 different test is probable an acceptable limit. The end user is a retiring medical professor who needs a system which is VERY easy to use (ie. entering a SQL style query is too complex) so I'll have to be able to set up a screen where the user enters (up to four) combinations of test, condition (ie. >,<,=) and result. The user also wants to be able to browse through the data on the screen - much as they might through a paper filing system. I've used Omnis3+ before and I don't think it would be appropriate, for starters I don't know how I would get more than one test record on the screen during data entry/editing. This may be possible in Omnis5 but I couldn't find anything during a quick scan of the documentation. I think the fact that its really a network model (rather than relational) is an intrinsic limitation for this type of database. I spoke with a serious Hypercard user who assured me it could all be done in Hypercard - but it loked to me as if there would be an awful lot of 'scripting' required and it sounded as though I would have trouble with the reporting unless I used Version 2 (is it available yet?). I was also concerned about a vague mention on a size limitation on fields - I think he said that there was a 32K limit on the total of a field which meant that with 10,000 records the average length of a field (ie. the name) would have to be less than 3.5 characters. I'm sure I've got it wrong but it is confusing. I've also considered 4th Dimension but I don't know anyone who has used it, would it worth getting hold of a manual the check it out? Someone else suggested Oracle - but its very expensive and I havn't used it on a Mac. In summary, I need a reasonably powerful and programmable realtional database for the Mac, does anyone have any recommendations or warnings? Thank you. Sue McPherson sue@ariel.its.unimelb.edu.au P.S. reply to me and I will summarise to the net.
a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au (11/10/90)
In article <328@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au>, sue@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (Sue McPherson) writes: > I'm looking on advice on appropriate database software for the Macintosh. > > I want the screen to look something like this; > +----------------------------------------------+ > | Name.... DOB... | > | Address.... Hospital No. | <--- patient table > | .......... | > | | > | Visit Date, Time Biopsy Y/N | <--- visit table > | Comment | > | | > | Test1 Result1 Test2 Result2 Test3 Result3 | > | Test4 Result4 ..... | <--- test table > | .... | > +----------------------------------------------+ The situation here is tailor-made for 4th Dimension and can be done withoout any programming (for this screen) using an "included layout" to show all the test records. 4th Dimension is the easiest database we've found for designing screen layouts with this sort of information (3 medical systems to date) and the only major problem is using it in a multi-user environment. I think it would be far better for this system than FoxBASE (based on personal experience) and Omnis (based on discussions). > > The main reporting requirement is to 'pull out all patients & visits which > match the conditions'. This is where things start to get difficult as the > conditions can specify ranges on more than one test. (ie. where the patient > did TestA with a result > 5 and Test B with a result < 4) a number of tests may > be specified with a range of results, although 4 different test is probable an > acceptable limit. The built-in 4th Dimension enquiry builder is very easy to use and open-ended so would cope well with this. > Sue McPherson > sue@ariel.its.unimelb.edu.au Andy Dent A.D. Software phone 09 249 2719 Mac & VAX programmer 94 Bermuda Dve, Ballajura a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz Western Australia 6066 a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.AU (international) > P.S. reply to me and I will summarise to the net. (Sorry, I can only talk to the net)