jgt@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (John Tsang) (09/11/89)
Among those inexpensive databases: Reflex+, Reflex for the
Mac (Are they the same?), File, FileMaker, DBM in Works,
Panorama, DAtabase, Record for the xxxxx, etc., which ones
are relational type?
(I think) I need a relational DBM, because it is for
a company personnel records, which need a file for the
application data, a file for the hiring data (W2, State W2,
Payroll form, I-9, etc.), a file for Absence, No-Show, Late,
..... etc., a file for daily performance checklist, a file
for Sales &/or # of customers handled each night, a file for
hours worked per week &/or per day -- to keep track of the
full-time employees, and, a file about med. insurance given.
Oftentimes, it is essential, for example, to search
who has been full-time but hasn't given the med. insurance,
or, who has dropped to part-time but still hasn't been
cancelled insurance; or, to check the Performance Checklist
(file) against the Sales &/or # of customers records -- to
check if the employees are good in sales, efficiency,
service and other duties & performance. Thus, it needs to cross search
several files simultanously. [It probably may be too slow
to put all the data of one person in one record in one
file.] (By the way, it is for a restaurant with about 70-50
employees -- and will expand to 100 in the near future.)
I don't want to incur the expenses and time on heavy-duty
DBM software, such as, Foxbase, Double Helix, 4th Dimension,
dbMac, etc.
However, I'm not eliminating to consider them, if
it's necessary.
Or, I actually don't need a relational database.
(Both database for the Mac or pc are suitable: we have access to both
systems -- however, preferably for the Mac.)
* Please reply directly via E-mail.UH2@PSUVM.BITNET (Lee Sailer) (09/16/89)
In article <4812@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>, jgt@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (John > >I don't want to incur the expenses and time on heavy-duty > DBM software, such as, Foxbase, Double Helix, 4th Dimension, > dbMac, etc. This sounds like a false economy, to me. You are going to spend many, many hours creating this database, and users are going to spend even more hours using it. If you seriously consider these human costs, you will see that the price difference between a $200 package and a $800 package is insignificant. The cheaper packages are usually lacking some important features or capabilities. You might not need them today, but you will a year from now. I have seen to many cases where people spend a year building a database in Reflex, for example, only to eventually rebuild it in RBase because Reflex wouldn't do what they needed. ouch! Also, discounts are often available. For example, RBase lists for about $800, can be found mail order for $500, and can be purchased by Penn State employees for $200. Lastly, and no offense, but it sounds to me from the way you ask your question that you still don't have a very good idea of what Relational Databases are. I suggest you hit the library for some good books on Database Analysis and Design. See section QA76. In your case, I'd suggest looking for textbooks designed for MIS, CIS, or IS majors. lee
jgt@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (John Tsang) (09/20/89)
Among those inexpensive databases: Reflex+, Reflex for the
Mac (Are they the same?), File, FileMaker, DBM in Works,
Panorama, DAtabase, Record for the xxxxx, etc., which ones
are relational type?
(I think) I need a relational DBM, because it is for
a company personnel records, which need a file for the
application data, a file for the hiring data (W2, State W2,
Payroll form, I-9, etc.), a file for Absence, No-Show, Late,
..... etc., a file for daily performance checklist, a file
for Sales &/or # of customers handled each night, a file for
hours worked per week &/or per day -- to keep track of the
full-time employees, and, a file about med. insurance given.
Oftentimes, it is essential, for example, to search
who has been full-time but hasn't given the med. insurance,
or, who has dropped to part-time but still hasn't been
cancelled insurance; or, to check the Performance Checklist
(file) against the Sales &/or # of customers records -- to
check if the employees are good in sales, efficiency,
service and other duties & performance. Thus, it needs to cross search
several files simultanously. [It probably may be too slow
to put all the data of one person in one record in one
file.] (By the way, it is for a restaurant with about 70-50
employees -- and will expand to 100 in the near future.)
I don't want to incur the expenses and time on heavy-duty
DBM software, such as, Foxbase, Double Helix, 4th Dimension,
dbMac, etc.
However, I'm not eliminating to consider them, if
it's necessary.
Or, I actually don't need a relational database.
(Both database for the Mac or pc are suitable: we have access to both
systems -- however, preferably for the Mac.)