On Thursday, July 31, 2003, at 01:19 AM, Tony LaFemina wrote:
> Bill Rising wrote:
>
>> ... or at least something other than a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets are
>> a fanastically easy tool to use (at first) which are fantastically
>> dangerous because of their structure.
>>
>>
Stuff cut out ...
>>
>>
> Hi Bill
>
> Much of what you say about spreadsheets is true, but once you get past
> the basics, there's no comparison to a database program. Even with a
> half-way decent spreadsheet program like AppleWorks, you can make your
> own software. Something you can't do with a database.
>
>
Actually you can. If you pick up the developers version of FileMaker
Pro, you can create custom front end packages that use FMP as the
"engine" and then sell the program. A lot of built to order accounting
packages are front-ends to FMP. Especially in the windoze world. Which
is quite ironic because these same packages are not available on the
Mac.
Jerry
> As for data validity checks, you can make the whole spreadsheet go
> blank if you want to, when bad data is entered. And that can't be
> ignored. When it comes to sorting, that's much of what you do with
> databases, but you can eliminate sorting with a spreadsheet if you
> want to.
>
> I have a whole bunch of AppleWorks spreadsheets at my web site that do
> all sorts of things. The one called Checkbook has a few Quicken
> features including categories. If you enter an improper category or
> subcategory, a dialog box alerts you. I could have just as easily made
> the spreadsheet go blank. The only problem with that is, what do you
> do next? But there are other ways to stop the action until the error
> is corrected.
>
> However, since everyone has their favorite, go with whatever makes you
> more comfortable and confident.
>
>
> --
> Tony LaFemina
> When you want to do more than just buy software
> http://hometown.aol.com/visitmacland/index.html
> mailto:remacs at optonline.net
>
>
>
>
> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will
> | be August 26. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>.
> | This list's page is <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>.
>
| The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will
| be August 26. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>.
| This list's page is <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>.
