Re: Filemaker or Access?
- From: AllYourSpam@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: 31 May 2007 12:43:41 -0700
On May 31, 3:19 pm, Bob Alston <bobalst...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
AllYourS...@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I work for a small company just over a year old. I have them sold on
the idea of a database for tracking their sales and order entry (plus
many other duties). We are going to develop our own database and are
trying to decide which software to use. We are windows based, have
Access, and a trial version of FMP 8.5. I have used Access for the
past few years and would call my skills above intermediate but
definitely not expert. I used FMP years ago (before it was relational
~ 1987) but loved it. One of the owners is our IT manager and knows a
lot, but not about database (theory or practice). He is leaning toward
FMP because of the security issues (he says it should be easier to
utilize and less vulnerable when on the Internet). Nevertheless, we
are still about 50/50 in our decision.
Either way, I am the most knowledgeable on database management. I have
been reviewing the trial FMP and I quickly remembered what I loved,
however some of the database basics I don't see are like assigning a
primary key; it almost seems as if FMP goes out of their way not to
use the term in any of their documentation or even the "Bible" I
purchased at Borders.
After reading a lot, I understand FMP used to be relational by linking
files, but now it can all be done with one file, multiple tables. Yet
the fast solutions Filemaker's website offers seem to make me link all
these files. It almost feels like I "know too much" to use FMP. I'm
looking for terms and ways to set up the database that don't exist in
FMP. Is this just a learning curve or what am I missing?
I am honestly open to using either program. What are your suggestions?
Since you asked your question in a newsgroup devoted to MS-access
issues, I would guess you would get answers supporting the choice of
MS-Access. That would be my recommendation only because I know and like
Access and don't filemaker.
If you are planning to put an application on the web make sure you know
about Access' limitations. You can't really build web apps with Access.
Yes, you can use Data Access Pages but Access seems to be moving away
from them.
If you use your Access database on the web as a database server, and do
it correctly, I don't think you have to worry very much about security.
But certainly if in doubt, SQL server would be the way to go.
But also note that SQL server is just a data manager. Both Access and
FM have an application development component as well. Access'
application development component can work with SQL server data as well
as its own built in Jet database. I assssuuummme that Filemaker can do
so as well.
Bob- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
To be fair, I asked the same question on the Filemaker board too.
To clarify, what we would put on the Internet would be just to have a
few remote workers in other states access the order entry system too,
not for the general public. Now that is where I start to decline in my
knowledge base. I'm not sure how the IT guy plans to host, which
server system to use, etc. All I know is that he stated a few concerns
on making it secure so it wouldn't be hacked and allow our people
logins to certain areas only.
One other issue I forgot is that the database (either Access or FM)
will need to "talk" to QuickBooks. With either program I have found
3rd party software that will transfer data to and from QB. I have
worked with the Access one, but the one for Filemaker seems more
involved (programming wise) and I don't have a Filemaker database
structure set up yet so I can't really test the transfer capabilities.
Thanks all - for all your help!
.
- References:
- Filemaker or Access?
- From: AllYourSpam
- Re: Filemaker or Access?
- From: Bob Alston
- Filemaker or Access?
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