Hello all: Happy New Year to you.
For probably nine years I've been developing MS Access databases (without formal training) and have had success when I was the only one needing the DB. The problem I'm finding as I mature as a coder is that few people outside of my bubble actually use or own Access. Or, they are often using a much earlier version. After a business fiasco late last year spending considerable time developing something that crashed and burned because of profound incompatibility, I've had it! What made this experience especially poignant was the fact that the intended users were employees at scientific and technology companies. In the development stage I thought--these folks must have Access. Admittedly, had I developed the sophistication required to use the significant Access Deployment tools, I may have had more success. And, I probably should have conducted a survey of the intended users before development. But really, I think I need to use a new platform. I have a fundamental understanding of data modeling, but I'm not a computer scientist. I'm much more of a hobbyist - having tooled around for years back-ending myself into VB and SQL code to automate key functions of an MS Access DB. What would you do if you were in my position--that is, having a good sense of how to solve business problems with databases, capable of using rudimentary visual basic and SQL, have some page layout skills to create pleasant interfaces, but need to work with a platform that's more universal? > Oracle is too expensive and too proprietary > I tried to get in to Postgresql (sp?) but it was taking too long for me to > generate enough momentum to get to escape velocity. > Filemaker (for the MAC) seems like it only works on MAC computers The answer is probably much easier than I realize, but again, I'm really more of a hobbyist than a true Computer Scientist, heck, I majored in Political Science. And yet, if I shared some of the code that I've developed over the years, you'll see that I can at least "wield the weapon". All comments welcome. Thanks, Arnold ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive from 1/1/2000 is on the MARC http://marc.info/?l=computerguys-l * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/computerguys-l@listserv.aol.com/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
